The Randy Meisner “One More Song” album was Randy’s second solo album, and it was produced and engineered by Val Garay. The album was released Oct. 1980 and is on the Epic label. Jack Tempchin wrote “One More Song”, and the album also includes the hits “Deep Inside My Heart” and “Hearts On Fire”, which were both co-written by Eric Kaz and Randy Meisner. Along with the Silverados, special guests on the album were Kim Carnes, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley. Several videos are below. Marc Eliot, author of “To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles”, wrote a very special tribute to Randy after Randy passed away. That Marc Eliot tribute is below on this page. There are quite a few photos on this page…some maybe new to people.
While Randy was working on this album he also was able to help Bob Welch, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, by singing background on two songs on Bob’s solo album ‘Man Overboard’, which was released in September 1980.
John Kosh was the album designer and art director, and he was also the designer of Randy’s 1978 solo album, 1982 solo album, and the Hotel California album.
There is an excellent interview with Dave Zimmer that appeared in BAM Magazine (Bay Area Music) and is actually a chronology of Randy’s career starting with The Poor. The article is from November 7, 1980, so it ends with Randy’s “One More Song” album. It’s worth the read.
As a special promotion with Candie’s Shoes (details below), there was a give-a-way of a record which included “Hearts On Fire”.
The hit song, Hearts On Fire, was featured on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1981.
Teenagers loved it and danced to it.
“Jack Tempchin penned ‘One More Song’ for Meisner which recounts the singer’s departure from the Eagles. The song also reunites Meisner with Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey for the first time since Meisner left the band.”
Billboard magazine – Dec. 20, 1980
“One More Song” full album and song list
From CD insert
Randy Meisner One More Song album front and back covers
It’s really small to read, but the lower right corner states Henry Diltz, Aaron Rapoport, and Wayne Williams were the photographers.
Album sleeve front
Album sleeve back
Silverados: Don Francisco, Bryan Garofalo, Craig Hull, Craig Krampf, Sterling Smith, Wendy Waldman
Special guests: Kim Carnes, Don Henley, Glenn Frey
Original backside
(Click to enlarge)
Inverted black & white for easier viewing
(Click to enlarge)
Special insert with One More Song vinyl album
Wikipedia
“One More Song” lyrics by Jack Tempchin
“One More Song” from the album
“Hearts On Fire” official video with Wendy Waldman and the Silverados
Marc Eliot’s remarks of July 29, 2023, upon learning of Randy’s passing:
“I want to tell you and everyone what a good man he really was, someone I knew, who was totally cooperative, and with great honesty, when I was writing ‘To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles’. I don’t think he ever received proper credit for his key role in creating the original band, through to ‘Hotel California’ that made it the biggest-selling group of all time. He was a gentleman, and supremely talented; he was a true rocker, a bar band personality who had difficulty with the enormity of what became the corporation known as ‘Eagles’. Check out his great solo recording of ‘Deep Inside My Heart’ with Kim Carnes (uncredited in the single release), a terrific track from Randy’s solo album ‘One More Song’. Below is the cover of ‘To the Limit’, and a pic of Randy and me, at his home in Los Angeles, taken while I was writing the book (1997).”
Marc Eliot and Randy at Randy’s house in 1997.
Randy and Kim Carnes rehearsing “Deep Inside My Heart” for their video
(per Craig Krampf, drummer)
Parker MacDonell’s blog called “Stay Loose” – July 30, 2023
“As soon as he started to sing, it seemed that every eye in the place was on us. This was the unmistakable voice of the guy who sang ‘Take It To the Limit’ for the biggest band of the decade.”
The Rigors of Record Making with Val Garay, producer and engineer, of the One More Song album
John Beaudin of Rock Hisory Music interviews Val Garay briefly about Randy
(The red 1957 Corvette that Randy owned had been bought from Val Garay.)
Sam Emerson, Photographer
Val Garay in his studio
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – June 19, 1980
You can listen to a podcast of Val Garay talking about the ins and outs of producing a record on the Master Your Mix podcast show.
Record World magazine – Sept. 27, 1980
Val Garay’s studio
Don Henley and Glenn Frey sang background on the title track “One More Song”
Val Garay’s studio
Randy Meisner and Don Henley
Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA) – Nov. 14, 1980
Randy Meisner and Don Henley
Producer Val Garay’s website has one of Randy’s photos from the Jerry Brown Benefit as one of the rotating photos in the banner.
Randy is in Palm Springs relaxing and hanging out with his friend, Vince S., after returning from a trip to Disneyland with Vince’s family. Vince recalls that this photo was taken in 1980, which was the year the One More Song album was released. Randy is wearing his Nebraska shirt that is featured in several of the promo photos on this page. Vince said that Randy “was the sweetest person that I have ever met”.
Dick Clark introduces “Hearts On Fire” on American Bandstand – 1981
Randy at Epic’s New York office right after album was released
Record World magazine – Nov. 1, 1980
The Duquesne Duke (Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University campus newspaper) – Nov. 20, 1980
A drawing to win dinner at the Cafe Amalfi restaurant in Boston and a limousine ride to and from the restaurant
Boston Phoenix (Boston, MA) – Feb. 24, 1981
Record World magazine full-page ad – Oct. 25, 1980
You buy-a my album, or I break-a your face.
Loyola Greyhound
(Loyola Univ. of Maryland student newspaper) – Oct. 21, 1980
Radio and Records magazine full-page ad – Jan. 23, 1981
Radio and Records magazine half-page ad – Jan. 9, 1981
Fred Griffith, host of the Cleveland “Afternoon Exchange” talk show, interviewed Randy prior to Randy’s show at the Cleveland Agora to promote both the show and the One More Song album – March 9, 1981
Janet Macoska, photographer
Promo photos
October 11, 1980
Henry Diltz, photographer
The first photo below was apparently flipped during scanning from the slide, since Randy’s mole should be under his left eye.
BAM magazine 3-page interview with Dave Zimmer – Nov. 7, 1980
This interview was shortly after the One More Song album was released in October 1980.
BAM (Bay Area Music), was a free bi-weekly music magazine in the San Francisco Bay Area founded in January 1976 and continuing on for 23 years until 1999 when the printed version ended. It is now an online digital magazine.
Pg. 26
Pg. 27
Pg. 28
Randy on the poster behind Les Nessman of “WKRP in Cincinnati”
BAM cover for Nov. 7, 1980
Randy Meisner with his song-writing partners of Wendy Waldman & Eric Kaz
Wendy Waldman, Randy Meisner, and Bryan Garofalo
Wendy Waldman and Randy Meisner
Chili-eating contest in Toledo for “Hearts On Fire”
“Hearts On Fire” lyrics
written by Randy Meisner and Eric Kaz
“Hearts On Fire”
Randy with Therese Heston and the Silverados on the Fridays TV show which aired Feb. 27, 1981.
This is the show that Michael Richards (aka Kramer on Seinfeld) introduced Randy Meisner as Rick Miser. That’s why Randy, before starting the song, says “call me Randy”. Wendy Waldman, instead of Therese, sings on the album.
The show episode ending segment
Bob Welch, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, released his solo album ‘Man Overboard’ in September 1980. While Randy was heavily working on his own album, he took time out to sing on two tracks of Bob’s album. Don Francisco and Wendy Waldman of the Silverados also sang on Bob Welch’s album.
Man Overboard album – “Fate Decides”
Both Randy and Wendy Waldman sing on this song
Man Overboard album – “Reason”
Both Randy and Wendy Waldman sing on this song
“The title cut–an old Jack Tempchin tune reworked by Jackson Browne–takes a mythical look at Meisner’s last night with the Eagles (you can tell it’s only half true because it’s set at a sleepy little bar in San Diego instead of Dan Tana’s).”
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Oct. 12, 1980
“One More Song is an album of hope, and of a new beginning. Val Garay’s excellent production and great songs from Jack Tempchin (writer of the early Eagles hit ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’), and Meisner himself have resulted in a refreshing version of the country-rock made famous by the Eagles.”
Loyola Greyhound (Loyola Univ. of Maryland student newspaper) – Oct. 21, 1980
Correction: One More Song is Randy’s second solo album.
“It features producer Val Garay and writer Eric Kaz who cowrote songs with Meisner. Helping out Meisner are the Silverados: Don Francisco, percussion; Bryan Garofalo, bass; Craig Hull, guitars, pedal steel; Craig Krampf, drums and Sterling Smith, keyboards.”
Billboard magazine – Oct. 25, 1980
“As a writing duo, Meisner and Kaz hit it off from the start. The two Meisner-Kaz tunes–‘Deep Inside My Heart’ and the rollicking ‘Hearts On Fire,’ with Wendy Waldman on harmonies–are album standouts.”
Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA) – Nov. 14, 1980
“But the sleepers of the album are ‘Gotta Get Away’ and ‘Trouble Ahead,’ two of four songs Meisner co-composed with Eric Kaz and Wendy Waldman for the album.”
Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, IN) – Nov. 16, 1980
“The Meisner name may not be familiar to everyone, but the music should be. ‘One More Song’ should be one more hit.”
The Times-Tribune (Scranton, PA) – Nov. 22, 1980
“With the release of One More Song, however, Meisner has taken a big step toward establishing himself as a major solo artist.”
“Another of the album’s strengths is the songwriting. Meisner’s initial solo effort suffered from a lack of quality material, giving the impression of a rushed product. But on the new album, Meisner has written or co-written five of the eight cuts, as compared to only one song on the first album.”
The Captain’s Log-Christopher Newport College (Newport News, VA) – Dec. 4, 1980
“In the spring of 1979, he signed with a different record company, Epic, rented a home in Studio City and began working with producer Val Garay and an all-star song-writing team–Eric Kaz, Wendy Waldman, Jack Tempchin, and fellow Poco member Richie Furay.”
The Park City Daily News (Bowling Green, KY) – Dec. 5, 1980
“Despite help on that single from Kim Carnes and the further assistance by Wendy Waldman and Eagles Henley and Frey, the album is totally Meisner.”
Beaufort Gazette (Beaufort, SC) – Dec. 12, 1980
“Jack Tempchin penned ‘One More Song’ for Meisner which recounts the singer’s departure from the Eagles. The song also reunites Meisner with Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey for the first time since Meisner left the band.“
Billboard magazine – Dec. 20, 1980
Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) – Jan. 3, 1981
People Magazine – Jan. 12, 1981
Randy and the Silverados
“But Randy’s fine new follow-up LP, One More Song, is climbing up the charts. ‘He’s one of the nicest guys in the business and he deserves it,’ says friend James Taylor.”
“The title song of his new album is a mythical tale of Randy’s last night as an Eagle.”
The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, FL) – Jan. 14, 1981
The Enterprise (Riverside, CA) – Jan. 14, 1981
“Henley and Frey help out on harmony vocals with the title track – a haunting Jack Tempchin ballad that contains hints of Take It To The Limit.”
“This is unlikely to be a top 10 album but should appeal to many, who share Meisner’s predilection for harmony vocals and a gentle blend of acoustic and electric guitars.”
The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) – Jan. 15, 1981
“‘When I went back to Nebraska the last time, he says, I realized I couldn’t live that life. I realized I had to be here. My music is what I do.’ Following that realization, he set to work on One More Song.”
Teen Magazine – Feb. 1981
“While Randy doesn’t come up with surprises, he does come through with nine new songs, most of which he wrote with Eric Kaz and Wendy Waldman. ’One More Song,’ the title track, even features old friends Don Henley and Glenn Frey (both Eagles) on background vocals. It indeed sounds like The Eagles of old, as does ‘Hearts on Fire’.”
Berkeley Gazette (Berkeley, CA) – Feb. 1, 1981
“Meisner includes Poco-cohort Richie Furay’s ‘Anyway, Bye, Bye’ and Jack Tempchin’s humorous ‘White Shoes’ on the new collection.”
Randy was on the cover of this issue of Cash Box.
Cash Box – Mar. 7, 1981
“I’d been singing mostly background my whole life, he explains. And I figured I was missing something by not singing out more.”
Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia, PA) – Mar. 13, 1981
“Ex-Eagle Meisner who currently has the top 20 ‘Hearts On Fire’ single and the top 60 ‘One More Song’ LP on Epic, originally had written a batch of r&b songs. ‘It was really good stuff but there are still Eagles fans out there and you don’t want to lose that,’ she explains of her rerouting Meisner in a more mainstream vein.”
Billboard magazine – Mar. 14, 1981
“Meisner is comfortable enough these days to recount his final hours as an Eagle on the title track, originally written by Jack Tempchin, and tailored for Randy by Jackson Browne, who took the lyrics and turned them into a mythical account of Meisner’s final bow.”
“Meisner had informed the band of his decision to leave after a show in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was, he emphasizes, no quick decision. ‘I’d been thinking about leaving for a year; we were doing a lot of touring, and it was just really getting to me’.”
Circus Magazine – Mar. 31, 1981
Philip Bashe is also the author of “Teenage Idol Travelin’ Man: The Complete Biography of Rick Nelson”.
“Meisner complimented the Eagles, too, particularly Frey who indirectly inspired him to take a chance on a solo career. ‘I was there in the background trying to figure out if I could make it on my own. I looked at the way Glenn had improved over the years. At first he didn’t sing in tune a lot of the time, but he developed into a good singer–now he’s always on the money. I looked at the way he developed and I figured I could, too’.”
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Apr. 5, 1981
“He was rescued by a friend, Steve Edwards, who rekindled his interest in the music business. Meisner returned to Los Angeles last year and discovered that the record companies were more influenced by his failed solo album than his years with the Eagles.”
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Apr. 5, 1981
Randy won the Cash Box “Top New Male Vocalist of the Year” Award for 1981
Cash Box – 1981
Candie’s Shoes Promotion
Cash Box – Apr. 25, 1981
Promotional record free with the purchase of a pair of Candie’s shoes at any store
7″ vinyl, 33 1/3 rpm, approx. 7-8 minutes of music per side of record
“Hearts on Fire” is on the promotional record, and the Candie’s Shoes ad ran in newspapers during April 1981.
Discogs: Promotional record free with the purchase of a pair of Candie’s shoes
Advertisements for a free record with purchase of Candie’s shoes appeared in newspapers across the country during April 1981
Central Michigan Life (Central Michigan University student newspaper) – Apr. 8, 1981
St. Joseph Gazette (St. Joseph, MO) – Apr. 2, 1981
Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) – Apr. 9, 1981
You’ve complied so much information about Randy’s second and most successful solo album. I loved reading all about it, especially that Jack Tempchin wrote the title track for Randy and that Jackson Browne tailored it for Randy. “…a mythical account of Meisner’s final bow.” That’s a tear jerker for sure. Great job, Diana!
Oh yes, that part is sad. I hope Randy didn’t let the sadness of it all get him down.