Another Eagle passes.
Remembering Randy Meisner.
I don't normally write tributes about musicians who have died, but I had to write something meaningful about the late, great Randy Meisner.
I cannot imagine which direction my guitar practicing might have gone as a kid, had it not been for the Eagles. When I first started taking guitar lessons in 1976, I didn't know anything about the Eagles except for some of their hit songs. The great thing about Eagles songs is that most of them are easy enough to learn for most beginners.
At 13 years of age, I was certainly a beginner; and I learned how to play many of the hit songs early on. I didn't have access to sheet music back then, so I had to learn these songs completely by ear. For me, this was relatively easy. I learned a handful of open-string chords, and I figured out the rest. Maybe that's why the Eagles influenced so many would-be guitar players back then.
I remember hearing that really cool bass-line intro to the title track, "One of these nights" on the radio, and being blown away by all of the high vocals being sung in the last chorus of the song. I actually thought that it was a female singing that ultra-high note. What sort of man can sing that high, and so crystal clear?
Turns out, it was Randy Meisner singing that high "G" note, two octaves above middle "C". I had no idea men could sing that high. A few years later, I learned that he was the bassist in the band. Playing low and singing high - very cool!
The album, "One of these nights" would boast two other huge hits. One was "Lyin' eyes", and the other was a song that Randy sang lead vocals on. Randy would find his own successful from this Eagles hit, affectionately referred to as the "Credit Card Song", otherwise know as "Take it to the limit." Unfortunately, Randy became uncomfortable with singing such high parts consistently during live shows. He just didn't have the confidence in himself.
Randy's last work on an Eagles album was on Hotel California where he sang lead vocals on "Try and love again". Such an amazingly unique voice for a seemingly quiet, reserved personality. Randy left the Eagles after the success of Hotel California due to exhaustion and was ultimately replaced by Timothy B. Schmit.
In 1978, I began learning the bass guitar. I was influenced by many styles of bass players of that era. Meisner and Schmit were right there at the top of that list. These were two bassist who consistently sang exceedingly high vocal harmonies. This became a benchmark for me when I played bass guitar in many bands. I was the bassist and I always liked to sing high vocals.
I should add that Van Halen bassist, Michael Anthony also helped me understand that it was possible to bang on those low notes and while reaching beyond my grasp for the high notes.
Randy unfortunately saw his fair share of tragedy. He lost his wife to an accidental gunshot a few years ago. Randy like many shining stars of years ago, eventually faded away into relative obscurity. Those of us who grew up with that amazing music from so many years ago - well, we never forgot them. Randy Meisner, died last night - July 26 in Los Angeles at age 77, due to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD). Rest in Peace, Randy Meisner.