"Never Been in Love" by Randy Meisner

Song#:  1122
Date:  07/31/1982
Debut:  84
Peak:  28
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Meisner's second LP after he departed the Eagles, 1980's "One More Song," scored two Top 30 singles including the #19 "Hearts on Fire." His self-titled third album featured this lead single that just made it into the Top 30. It would be his last solo pop chart single and his last solo album until he issued a pair of LPs in 2002 and 2005. He would make a return to his former group Poco later in the 80s and be part of their final pop chart single, 1989's "Nothin' to Hide" (#39), on which he sang the lead vocal.

ReduxReview:  Some of Meisner's solo work was not too far from Eagles territory, so it was nothing that piqued my interest since I wasn't an Eagles fan. But this song was something different. It hooked me right off the bat with the piano opening and when it crashes into the chorus, it comes close to arena rock territory. It is easily Meisner's best song and is one of my favorite solo songs by any member of the Eagles. I really don't know why this song did not do better on the chart. I pegged this as an easy Top 10 and I remember being bitterly disappointed that it barely got inside the Top 30. This song needs a revival stat!

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  Around 1970, Meisner was ready to throw in the towel on the rock 'n' roll dream. He had basically been fired from Poco and his marriage was failing due to him being gone and her left on her own in Nebraska (Meisner's home state). He moved back home and began to work in a John Deere dealership. But the lure of music was too much and when he got an offer to play in Linda Ronstadt's backing band, he couldn't refuse and took off again. That backing band soon became one of the most famous bands in rock - the Eagles.

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