Randy's voice

[luvthelighthouse]

I've been listening to OTB, to gear up for Survivor. Then I continued to listen to the early albums. You know, every time I do this, I think, wow, Randy has an amazing voice! It's so beautiful! I can't even describe what it is that I enjoy so much, but it's very distinct and smooth. Whenever I listen to TIE on my iPod, blasting in my ear, I hear him in the background and am continually blown away.

Just wanted to give some love to Randy and those amazing vocals he contributed!

[sodascouts]

Randy's voice has a purity and vulnerability to it that is very effective in songs like "Take It to the Limit" and "Is It True" - also, it can have an edge to it such as in one of my favorite Randy songs, "Too Many Hands." He's an ideal harmonizer because he's able to blend well with the lead singer and not overtake him, but still be distinctly audible. He was a great asset to the band and it's a shame he kind of fell off the radar.

[Brooke]

I agree, Randy has a gorgeous voice. Just loved it in those early years/songs.

[Ive always been a dreamer]

I would agree about Randy having a gorgeous voice. As a matter of fact, this thread reminded me of a thread that I meant to start a long time ago, but never did. So what are your favorite Eagles songs where Randy sings the lead vocals? I hope I didn't forget any, but here's mine:

1. Take It To the Limit
2. Try and Love Again
3. Certain Kind of Fool
4. Midnight Flyer
5. Saturday Night (co-lead with Don)
6. Most of Us Are Sad
7. Too Many Hands
8. Is It True?
9. Take the Devil
10. Tryin'

There are also the songs where Randy sings a prominent harmony, but I didn't include them in my list. Might have to do that separately.

[sodascouts]

1. Take It to the Limit (surprise, surprise lol)
2. Too Many Hands
3. Saturday Night
4. Midnight Flyer
5. Most of Us Are Sad
6. Try and Love Again
7. Certain Kind of Fool
8. Is It True?
9. Tryin'
10. Take the Devil

(I think that about covers his whole catalog with the Eagles!)

If I included Seven Bridges Road, that would be right under TITTL, but I wasn't sure if that counted since everyone shared the lead.

[Freypower]

How is Saturday Night a co-lead with Don? Randy only sings the 'she said tell me, oh tell me' part.

He also didn't sing on the recorded version of Seven Bridges Road.

In terms of preference:

1. Take It To The Limit
2. Try & Love Again
3. Certain Kind Of Fool
4. Too Many Hands
5. Most Of Us Are Sad
6. Is It True
7. Take The Devil
8. Tryin'
9. Midnight Flyer

[Brooke]

here's mine:

1. Take It To the Limit
2. Try and Love Again
3. Certain Kind of Fool
4. Midnight Flyer
5. Saturday Night (co-lead with Don)
6. Most of Us Are Sad
7. Too Many Hands
8. Is It True?
9. Take the Devil
10. Tryin'

These would be my favorites with the exception of Midnight Flyer. It would be last. Just don't care much for that song-too much banjo for me there.

[TimothyBFan]

Take It To The Limit (big surprise from me also)
Certain Kind Of Fool
Take The Devil
Midnight Flyer (despite the banjo)
To Many Hands

[CBC]

Randy's voice has a purity and vulnerability to it that is very effective in songs like "Take It to the Limit" and "Is It True" - also, it can have an edge to it such as in one of my favorite Randy songs, "Too Many Hands." He's an ideal harmonizer because he's able to blend well with the lead singer and not overtake him, but still be distinctly audible. He was a great asset to the band and it's a shame he kind of fell off the radar.

The more Eagles' & Randy's songs I listen to, the more I understand what you're talking about Soda! His harmonizing/blending is truely a precious treasure to the band, which makes me instinctively stick to listening to "older" version of Eagles' songs where Randy was in.
And following are my sweeties (I do not care whether Randy's singing lead or backing, I can even hardly range them properly):

1972 EAGLES:
Take It Easy
Most of Us Are Sad
Nightingale (I never notice this is such a beautiful song until yesterday)
Take the Devil (I personally think Randy's vocal is even better that HC period)
Tryin' (Like live version better)

1973 DESPERADO
Saturday Night (Henley & Meisner are definitely my no. 2 & 1 band members, for vocals and appearance as well)

1974 ON THE BORDER
Already Gone
Midnight Flyer
OL'55
Is It True
Best of My Love (listen to the crowd when Don & Randy sing simultaneously in any live show available, WOW!)
James Dean

1975 ONE OF THESE NIGHTS
Too Many Hands
Take It to the Limit
One of These Nights (I'm kind of addicted to the harmony part of this song)

1976 HOTEL CALIFORNIA
Try And Love Again

[thelastresort]

I have maintained for a while that Take the Devil is probably Randy's best Eagles vocal (obviously save the note at the end of TITTL). Love how young and naive sounding it is.