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View Full Version : EARLYBIRD the band: Leadon, Meisner & Felder



GettheLeadonOut!!
10-29-2009, 02:57 AM
Just imagine the setlist of Bernie, Randy & Fingers billed as......... (what else?!).................

Earlybird

My dream Earlybird setlist:

Silver Threads Intro>
Take it Easy
Earlybird
Witchy Woman
Too Many Hands
Take It to the Limit
My Man
Bitter Creek>
Certain Kind of Fool
Hotel California
Try and Love Again
Journey of the Sorcerer>
Midnight Flyer>Twenty One>
Saturday Night
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Already Gone (dedicated to Glen)
Victim of Love
Outlaw Man

encore:

One of These Nights
Lazy Days
Train Leaves Here This Morning

2nd encore:

How Long
I Wish You Peace

Do you think Irving Azoff would promote!!!....(You gotta admit this band would be hot as shit!!)

Brooke
10-29-2009, 10:33 AM
Great idea, but I'm betting Azoff won't get within 10,000 feet! :lol:

I like the name 'Earlybird'!

Ive always been a dreamer
10-29-2009, 11:12 AM
Well GLO - your set list for your dream band is interesting. However, I don't think I'd want to see them do some of the songs that are so closely associated with Don or Glenn, especially if they didn't have a hand in writing them. I'm specifically talking about Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Already Gone, and How Long. Now, I know that Glenn didn't have a hand in writing these (except for Take It Easy), but, IMO, these song are so closely associated with him that they would best be left off the set list of any of these guys performances. (And OBTW - they can dedicate Already Gone to Glenn if they want but I doubt that he would ever have to eat his lunch all by himself unless he wants to). :wink: :grin: Now, as far as Witchy Woman, One of These Nights, and Hotel California, I know that at least one of your dream band members helped write them so I can see why you would include them even though they are very closely associated with Don. I am puzzled as to why you didn't include Visions though.

Now, I'm not trying to be argumentative - just offering an observation. As you said, since this is just a dream list, so you can put anything on your list that you want. :wink: I was just thinking that in Felder's live shows, he actually does perform some of these songs, and he is entitled to do so, of course. But, IMHO, I think it is ill-advised to perform them.

luvthelighthouse
10-29-2009, 11:29 AM
I wouldn't mind TIE, because Randy and Bernie played on that... and Randy can clearly be heard on all hamonizing. Also, on the 70's version of HL, both Randy and Bernie had parts, so I'm okay w/that one too.

I'd scrap PEF, but that's only because Glenn sings that song to me! :hilarious: (at least in my little mind he does)

MikeA
10-29-2009, 11:30 AM
I never thought about "associations" when looking the set list. I was just thinking of the "style" of the early Bird songs.

I'd love to hear a set by these guys playing them together though it might be a bit anemic without the vocals of Glenn and Don.

Ive always been a dreamer
10-29-2009, 11:49 AM
I agree Mike - but, I guess part of the point I was trying to make is that to me, performing those songs would make them come across as nothing more than a cover band, and take away some of their legitimacy. There are plenty of other songs that they could perform very effectively.

whitcap
10-29-2009, 01:09 PM
I like the set list you've come up with for your dream band GLO. I think its fine to include some Glenn and Don songs. Randy already does Take it Easy and Already Gone whenever he plays with the World Classic Rockers. I personally think his version of Take it Easy is pretty good and I've only heard a clip of him doing Already Gone but from what I've heard I like his version of that as well. The only thing I would add is a few solo songs. I don't know Bernie or Felder's solo work but I can think of a few Randy songs I wouldn't mind hearing if this ever happened.

sodascouts
10-29-2009, 01:22 PM
Fun question!

I wonder if the naming session would go down like this:

Bernie: We're calling this band Earlybird.

Felder: Hey, why are we naming our band after a song just you two wrote? How about we call ourselves the "Visionary Earlybirds" Or maybe "Too Many Earlybirds"? Or "Hotel Earlybird"?

Randy: Well... er....those are kind of, I mean, no offense but...

Bernie: Um. No. Those suck. You're gonna be an Earlybird and you're gonna like it.

;)


I'll work up my own dream setlist this evening when I get home from work.

lynnzop
10-29-2009, 01:48 PM
Bernie: We're calling this band Earlybird.

Felder: Hey, why are we naming our band after a song just you two wrote? How about we call ourselves the "Visionary Earlybirds" Or maybe "Too Many Earlybirds"? Or "Hotel Earlybird"?

Randy: Well... er....those are kind of, I mean, no offense but...

Bernie: Um. No. Those suck. You're gonna be an Earlybird and you're gonna like it.

;)

That made me LMAO, Nancy. :laugh:

GettheLeadonOut!!
10-29-2009, 03:02 PM
Thanks for all the input guys. This dream setlist is not any slight against Don or Glenn who I admire very very much. But lets face it, these three guys have every right to play these songs, for heaven's sake their vocals and instrumentation are all over the studio originals. I mean, if Tim can cover Randy's parts and Joe play Bernie's guitar solos and Stuart play Felder's parts....then why not?!

Here's how I'd break it down:

Silver Threads Intro>
Take it Easy (Randy sings lead with Bernie's signature harmonizing and his classic guitar solo)
Earlybird (Felder covers Glenn's slide parts)
Witchy Woman (Bernie sings, Felder handles Glenn's guitar parts)
Too Many Hands (classic Felder/Leadon guitar interplay on this Meisner/Felder penned classic)
Take It to the Limit (one more time Randy!!)
My Man
Bitter Creek>
Certain Kind of Fool (the Desperado tribute medley!)
Hotel California (Fingers takes lead vox and Bernie takes a stab at Joe's guitar interplay w/ Felder on the outro...how cool would that be!)
Try and Love Again (Bernie on Gretsch guitar)
Journey of the Sorcerer>
Midnight Flyer (Felder on slide)>Twenty One>
Saturday Night (Randy on lead vox w/ Bernie on mandolin)
Peaceful Easy Feeling (Bernie on lead vox playing his classic b-bender guitar solo!!)
Already Gone (Randy on lead vox and that amazing Leadon/Felder guitar interplay is back...sizzling!!)
Victim of Love (Felder lead vox, Bernie on slide)
Outlaw Man (Bernie lead vox)

encore:

One of These Nights (Randy on lead vox, that funky Leadon/Felder interplay is back as is Finger's blistering guitar solo and Randy's otherworldly chorus vox)
Lazy Days (Bernie, baby!)
Train Leaves Here This Morning

2nd encore:

How Long (Randy & Bernie...just like '73!)
I Wish You Peace (Patti Davis joins the band....just kidding!!)

sodascouts
10-29-2009, 05:19 PM
I can't be as elaborate as GTLO's dream setlist because I don't have his musical knowledge, but I will specify leads and link to the versions I have where these guys sing lead if possible.

I'm structuring this like an Eagles show - long, but with a break, and inclusive of a few solo songs.

Here's how mine would go down:

Earlybird (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/multimedia/live/EarlybirdABCInConcert73.wmv) (Bernie lead - but no lame bird sound effects)
How Long (http://www.glennfreyonline.com/multimedia/MP3/HowLongBerkeley73.mp3) (First Bernie, then Felder, then Randy, then Bernie again)
Victim of Love (Felder lead)
Too Many Hands (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/../multimedia/MP3/TooManyHandsSpringfield75.mp3) (Randy lead)
Witchy Woman (http://www.donfelderonline.com/multimedia/MP3/witchywomanwindsor2009.mp3) (Felder and Bernie trade off leads - I think that would be interesting)
Heavy Metal (http://www.donfelderonline.com/multimedia/MP3/heavymetalwindsor2009.mp3) (Felder lead)
Certain Kind of Fool (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/../multimedia/live/CKOFBBC73.wmv) (Randy lead)
Bitter Creek (http://www.bernieleadononline.com/multimedia/MP3/BitterCreekTokyo91.mp3) (Bernie lead)
Saturday Night (Randy lead)
Hollywood Waltz (Bernie lead)



Journey of the Sorcerer (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/multimedia/MP3/JOTSBoston75.mp3)
Midnight Flyer (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/multimedia/live/MidnightFlyerKirshner74.wmv) (Randy lead)
Lazy Day (http://www.bernieleadononline.com/multimedia/live/fbblazydaylive.wmv) (Bernie lead)
Visions (Felder lead)
Everybody Want (http://www.bernieleadononline.com/multimedia/MP3/EverybodyWantStudio2004.mp3) (Bernie lead)<--- THIS would take on an extra layer of meaning now with the "You sue me, I'll sue you" line - at least for Felder!
Hearts on Fire (http://www.randymeisneronline.com/multimedia/live/HeartsOnFireFridays80.wmv) (Randy lead)
Train Leaves Here This Morning (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/../multimedia/MP3/TLHTMBBC73.mp3) (Bernie lead)
Most of Us Are Sad (Randy lead)
Those Shoes (Felder lead)
As Time Goes On (http://www.bernieleadononline.com/multimedia/MP3/AsTimeGoesOn.mp3) (Bernie lead)
My Man (Bernie lead)
Try and Love Again (Randy lead)
Hotel California (Felder lead)


[B]1st Encore
Take It Easy (http://www.randymeisneronline.com/multimedia/MP3/TakeItEasyWalecki2000.mp3) (Randy lead)
Twenty-One (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/../multimedia/live/21Kirshner74.wmv) (Bernie lead)
Already Gone (Felder lead)

2nd Encore
Take It to the Limit (https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/multimedia/MP3/TITTLNagoya76.mp3) (Randy lead)
Seven Bridges Road (http://www.glennfreyonline.com/multimedia/live/SevenBridgesRoadSeattle76.wmv) (re-arranged for three part harmony, although as such it might lose power. Hard to say)
I Wish You Peace (Bernie lead)

3rd Encore (hey, it's a DREAM setlist right? So I say there's a third encore! lol)
One More Song (Randy lead - change "We were known as the Silveradoes" to "We were known as Earlybird" - lyrics are ideal for a last song/third encore)

whitcap
10-29-2009, 08:58 PM
I love your list soda. I agree that One More Song would make the perfect closer. Personally I would have Randy sing Already Gone but that's just my opinion. I'd also put Tryin' somewhere in the set list but once again that's just my opinion.

GettheLeadonOut!!
10-30-2009, 02:01 AM
Wow soda, excellent setlist!! Your 3rd encore was great! (Felder was a big fan of the 3rd encore :angel:)

But I love that bird calling intro on "Earlybird". That stays dammit!! When those bird chimes start chirping, you better take your seat godammit...here comes Bernie's mexicali countout..."Uno! Dos! Tres! Quatro!" the lights come up.....that banjo!!....I give you Earlybird!!

Good heavens!!!

and I forgot about "Tryin"...definitly as it was always in their early setlists. Randy's "Take the Devil" would also be insane to hear. And hearing Bernie play the HC/Long Run tracks would be enlightening as would Randy on Felder's Those Shoes and Disco Strangler....oh the possibilities with this lineup!!

the fourth encore is when Joe jumps up on stage wearing a shit-eating grin, bear hugs Randy and Bernie and slaps Fingers on the back. They tear into "Life in the Fast Lane"!!.......

sodascouts
10-30-2009, 02:58 PM
Glad you liked it, guys! I came thisclose to including Tryin', but my setlist was getting crazy long so I dropped it. I agree that since they have performed it before, it would probably make the setlist if this were to ever happen (ha!) in place of a more obscure song like Most of Us Are Sad. Still, I adore that song, so it stayed!

I gave Already Gone to Felder because I heard him sing it live and he did a great job with it, but also to give him more leads. I was tending towards Bernie and Randy leads because their voices are stronger. I'm not trying to insult Felder here - he's magnificent on guitar - but he doesn't have Bernie's vocal flexibility or Randy's vocal distinctiveness. Bernie can go from country twang to bluesy growl to soft ballad with equal ease. Randy's pure vocal with that hint of vulnerability is all his own, and he can use it to sell a song like, again, Most of Us Are Sad which could have been simplistic but with his vocal becomes beautiful. The way he sings "Weeping woman, try to smile..." SIGH.

I realize that I put way too much thought into this, lol, but it was fun for me. Thanks for the idea, GTLO!

Scarlet Sun
10-30-2009, 03:49 PM
Let's remember that on the original recording of Already Gone, when the song modulates near the end, Randy sings lead

sodascouts
10-30-2009, 04:40 PM
Eh, I think it's kind of a stretch to call that few seconds where his voice is prominent "Randy singing lead"!

GettheLeadonOut!!
04-14-2010, 05:04 PM
If only EARLYBIRD were more than a dream. Bernie needs to put down the surfboard and give Randy and Felder a jingle.

Better yet, Don and Glenn need to give Bernie & Randy a ring. The world is ready for the "core four" reunion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocz8Uq6EGds

GettheLeadonOut!!
04-14-2010, 07:07 PM
I guess I'll just keep dreaming that someday Earlybird might take flight...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G24tqTqZUA&feature=related

whitcap
07-11-2010, 02:02 PM
While Earlybird may never happen, this site (http://www.starclustermusic.de/artists/eagles/meisner/bio/biotext/meisner2.htm) shows that Bernie and Randy were briefly in the band Black Tie together. Bernie only played a couple shows with them before leaving.

Scarlet Sun
07-13-2010, 03:38 PM
W/2 original Eagles and a Bread, that would have been a very interesting band

sodascouts
07-20-2010, 12:53 AM
While Earlybird may never happen, this site (http://www.starclustermusic.de/artists/eagles/meisner/bio/biotext/meisner2.htm) shows that Bernie and Randy were briefly in the band Black Tie together. Bernie only played a couple shows with them before leaving.

Interesting! I wonder what turned Bernie off of the group? Guess we'll never know!

Eagles7
06-21-2016, 02:43 AM
Yeah, Felder finally gets to sing Vision of Love.

Hey, I wonder what happen to the cuts he did of that song before Don went in and recorded it while Felder and Irving are eating dinner. I'd love to hear them and see how they really sound.

Annoying Twit
06-22-2016, 02:23 AM
Yeah, Felder finally gets to sing Vision of Love.


<pedant>Victim of Love</pedant> :)

Funk 50
06-22-2016, 09:54 AM
I think I'd like to hear Visions Of Love :grin:. A mash up of Victim Of Love and Visions sounds better than the sum of it's parts.

I suppose a future sub-Eagles band would now, more likely include Walsh and Schmit than Meisner and Felder. I'd still love to see Meisner making music again in some form.

I enjoyed reading through the back pages. The set lists were fun.:bye:

Eagles7
06-23-2016, 05:01 AM
Sorry about the little Victim of Love / Vision of Love mix up. Guess I was all alone at the end of the evening...and the bright lights had faded to blue...couldn't see what I was typing.

Annoying Twit
06-23-2016, 08:14 AM
Sorry about the little Victim of Love / Vision of Love mix up. Guess I was all alone at the end of the evening...and the bright lights had faded to blue...couldn't see what I was typing.

Maybe you're on a roll. Can you write the rest of the lyrics for "Vision of Love"?

Eagles7
06-24-2016, 03:03 AM
Maybe you're on a roll. Can you write the rest of the lyrics for "Vision of Love"?

Haha, I'm on it.

Funk 50
07-26-2016, 02:24 PM
I was looking up the name of Felder's nearly band from the early nineties, (Malibu Men's Choir), (apparently Felder's studio is in Malibu) and I found a 2013 Guitar World article which featured some fan questions answered by Don. http://www.guitarworld.com/dear-guitar-hero-don-felder-answers-readers-questions-about-gear-eagles-and-more

One question directly addresses the "Earlybird" band project:


Are there any plans in the works to form a band with other former members of the Eagles, even as a studio project? — Chris Nolan

Don Felder — At one point, Bernie and Randy and I were talking about putting together a group. In the interim between the period when the Eagles hit the “hold” button— I think it was ’81 or ’82 through ’94—Timothy B. Schmit and I put together a band with Paul Carrack and Max Carl, who’s in Grand Funk Railroad now. We got together at my studio in Malibu and recorded 10 or 12 songs we’d written together, one of which wound up becoming “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” which was on the Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over record.

Anyway, Randy, Bernie and I have talked about doing it, but there are a few problems involved. Bernie doesn’t play very much anymore; he’s kind of semi-retired from the music business. Meanwhile, Randy has some health issues. He was in a group recently but had to stop doing that because of his health. I think that option is quickly expiring.


It's kinda uncanny how these bands didn't just fall apart after a short time, they never even got off the ground.

I wonder if any other songs from the Malibu Men's Choir project, besides Love Will Keep Us Alive, have sinced surfaced. Don did say that they recorded 10 or 12 songs. :singer:

NightMistBlue
07-26-2016, 05:16 PM
That surprises me to hear Don F. say that Bernie wasn't playing very much anymore. Of course, because Bernie went on to be a featured guest of the HOTE tour and did a fine job, but I mean also doesn't he just seem like the type of musician who's always playing, who always has a guitar or banjo in his hands? Things can happen though. Perhaps he became disillusioned or disappointed.

NightMistBlue
07-26-2016, 05:19 PM
While Earlybird may never happen, this site (http://www.starclustermusic.de/artists/eagles/meisner/bio/biotext/meisner2.htm) shows that Bernie and Randy were briefly in the band Black Tie together. Bernie only played a couple shows with them before leaving.

Aw snap, the link has expired.

sodascouts
07-30-2016, 12:20 PM
That surprises me to hear Don F. say that Bernie wasn't playing very much anymore. Of course, because Bernie went on to be a featured guest of the HOTE tour and did a fine job, but I mean also doesn't he just seem like the type of musician who's always playing, who always has a guitar or banjo in his hands? Things can happen though. Perhaps he became disillusioned or disappointed.

He might play every day in private, but I think Felder means he lost interest in being a professional musician. Even when he was a recognizable name in the 70s, he only put out a joint effort LP and didn't tour behind it. Later efforts were sporadic. Why? One can only speculate.

Bernie did release an album in 2004 called Mirror, his first completely solo effort, but he didn't tour for it outside of a few special promotional appearances. His jaunt with the Eagles was a thrilling surprise; I think it took something of that epic scale to get him out in the public eye again. Thank goodness he said yes!

Funk 50
07-31-2016, 07:23 AM
I was hoping that the couple of years Bernie spent on the road with the Eagles would motivate him to reignite his solo career in some form. I suppose it's still early days yet and I'm presuming that he has new music to share with us after the decade or so since Mirror.

Like Felder, I don't think Bernie has the charisma to be a major solo artist and his past record shows that he doesn't stick around in bands for much more than a couple of years.

Some kind of Eagles project, still looks a good option for the future.

Freypower
07-31-2016, 06:49 PM
I was hoping that the couple of years Bernie spent on the road with the Eagles would motivate him to reignite his solo career in some form. I suppose it's still early days yet and I'm presuming that he has new music to share with us after the decade or so since Mirror.

Like Felder, I don't think Bernie has the charisma to be a major solo artist and his past record shows that he doesn't stick around in bands for much more than a couple of years.

Some kind of Eagles project, still looks a good option for the future.

Bernie may well work with other former Eagles in the future. But it won't be an 'Eagles' project.

UndertheWire
08-01-2016, 08:25 AM
Didn't Bernie tour as a backing musician for Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in 1999?
They recorded an album, produced by Glyn Johns and Bernie is credited for 9 (!) different instruments:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall:_The_Tucson_Sessions

ETA: Yes, Bernie was on that tour, as was Ethan Johns (son of Glyn) and Greg Leisz.

sodascouts
08-09-2016, 09:09 PM
That's right, and I even have a live DVD of that. How embarrassing that I forgot it!

Still, no leads from him. :(

Delilah
10-05-2016, 12:05 PM
From Poco's 1990 Japan tour...

http://i.imgur.com/Yt27M34.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1iKDn6b.jpg

According to thegearpage.net, Bernie was a "special guest" for the encore. Imagine if Don F had joined him...

NightMistBlue
10-05-2016, 04:50 PM
Domo arigato, Delilah-san!

Delilah
10-06-2016, 09:20 PM
You're welcome! If Felder had been there, it would have meant a lot of country rock musical history on that stage. But I don't think "Earlypocobird" sounds quite right.:lol:

Vector
01-03-2017, 09:11 PM
Just imagine the setlist of Bernie, Randy & Fingers

--

I Wish You Peace

---

Do you think Irving Azoff would promote!!!.

First of all, I think your idea is great, regardless of what they call it. It kind of reminds me of Chickenfoot with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony formerly of Van Halen, along with Joe Satriani & Chad Smith.

To get things started, it would be great if Felder were to invite Leadon & Meisner to join him on his tour with Styx to get the ball rolling, and see if they all enjoyed it. (This presumes of course Randy is up to it).
Heck if the Eagles are really done, invite Schmit & Walsh along as well as special guests.
Having Leadon, Felder & Walsh all on stage playing guitar together would be worth the price of admission.
Ditto for having the great vioces of Meisner and Schmit together as well.

---

I have always felt "I Wish You Peace" was an underrated song.

Now I know according to Henley it was "not up to band standards", and they supposedly threw Bernie a bone to keep him happy.
The heck with that, it stands on it's own.

I suspect ( though I cannot know for certain), part of the issue was because it involved Patti Davis.
I know the mods here do not like discussion of politics, but the Eagles in the form or mainly Frey & especially Henley, allowed their personal politics to dictate a lot of decisions.
Had it not been for that fund raiser for ultra leftist Alan Cranston, maybe the band wouldn't have blown up the way it did. Or at least not as soon. :mrgreen:

---

As to Azoff, why would they want that little gnome to be involved?
I am not sure about how Leadon feels about him, but I know Felder & Meisner feel he torpedoed them in their solo careers, and looked out only for the interests of Frey/Henley above all else.

This potential group you propose would do well.

So get right on it!

Funk 50
01-06-2017, 07:17 PM
Despite having chart success right from the off, the Eagles didn't hit the big time until that "little gnome" became their manager. I'd probably have preferred them to continue knocking out great music every 12 months without making much money but I'm sure the band appreciated the opportunity to take much more time to make their records, while being richly rewarded for their efforts. They've all benefited from Irving's attributes in his role as manager of the Eagles.

It'd be a fine project to put a band together to focus on the pre-Joe era of the Eagles. Tim Schmit and probably Steuart Smith would also be a great fit for that band but they've all expressed a liking to Rock A Little (to quote a S Nicks title). Bring in Walsh and Vitale and you're a great lead singer short of a tasty, versatile, rock band..... and so much better than teaming up with Tom Petty or Styx. :rockon:

I wonder if Joe and Tim fancy teaming up with Ringo again, 25 years since the last time.
The way Felder talks about his backing band, I'm not sure if he'd want to go on tour with people he doesn't want to hang out with. I can't remember if he enjoyed touring with the Eagles or not. :hmm: