Randy Meisner

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Randy Herman Meisner (born March 8, 1946) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles. Throughout his professional musical career Meisner's main role has been as a bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as both a group member and session musician. He is best known for the Eagles hit song "Take It to the Limit", which he cowrote and sang.

Early life

Randy Herman Meisner was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, the second child and only son of sharecroppers Herman (1911-1995) and Emilie Meisner (1911-2010). Randy recalled his mother was always singing around the house. His grandfather Alex was a Russian classical violinist. The family grew beans, alfalfa, corn and sugar beets on their farm. Randy developed an interest in the guitar at ten years old, after seeing Elvis Presley perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. He began taking lessons and playing in local bands. While attending Scottsbluff High School, one of Randy's teachers suggested he take up the bass. "I loved R&B and the bass players on the Motown stuff were great. They really inspired me. I can't read music. Once I learn a part it's there. My bass playing came real naturally." In May 1963, at 17 years old, Meisner married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer Barton, and the young couple had a son, Dana Scott Meisner in September 1963. The couple had two more children, twins Heather Leigh and Eric Shane Meisner, born in May 1970, before divorcing in 1981.

Randy Meisner (1978 album)

Randy Meisner is the self-titled debut solo studio album by Randy Meisner. It was released in mid 1978, on Asylum in the United States, and in the United Kingdom. The track "Bad Man", was featured in the film FM, which also included an appearance by his one-time employer Linda Ronstadt.

Critical reception

Retrospectively reviewing for AllMusic, critic Bruce Eder wrote of the album "The songs run between the extremes of fluid, guitar-driven rockers ("Bad Man," "Every Other Day") and ballads draped in flowing lyricism with harmony singing ("Daughter of the Sky"), including major contributions from his one-time teenage bandmate Donny Ullstrom. Apart from a somewhat dullish rendition of "Save the Last Dance for Me," the album works well, particularly a soulful and highly personalized rendition of "Take It to the Limit.""

Track listing

Randy Meisner (1982 album)

Randy Meisner is the third solo studio album (and the second self-titled) by Randy Meisner. It was released in mid 1982, on Epic in the United States, and in the United Kingdom. It is to-date Meisner's final solo album of original material. The album features a duet with Heart's lead vocalist, Ann Wilson.

Critical reception

Retrospectively reviewing for AllMusic, critic Bruce Eder wrote that the album "is a gorgeous country-rock production with a hard electric edge in all the right places and soaring melodies throughout" and he added that, "There are pleasing guitar hooks throughout, and the album's mix of raw power and subtle lyricism has endured very well over the decades."

Track listing

Randy Meisner (disambiguation)

Randy Meisner is an American musician and songwriter. It is also the title of two eponymous albums: