Incredible longevity

[Ammagamalin Crew]

Bertha>Greatest Story opener was happening back in 1972 and still in 1989 or maybe even later?

I didn't realize it was in place as an opener as early as 1972 until listening to 9/10/1972 today.

Incredible longevity⚡.

Now I know and so do you

[bs69]

Great opening combo,  I would have guessed it started in 71

[Ammagamalin Crew]

8/22/72-2/20/95

21 1/2 year span

Tells you how important it was to Jerry and Bobby and the band. 

They were at every one!

Both songs evolving from the GSET second leg 72 jam out to the growling Bertha in 89.

Can we get a dissertation from someone who has every version in their collection?

 

[BillK522]

4 minutes ago, Ammagamalin Crew said:

 

Can we get a dissertation from someone who has every version in their collection?

 

 

That is JohnA's wheelhouse.

 

Praise DSO.

[Tea]

11 hours ago, BillK522 said:

 

That is JohnA's wheelhouse.

 

Praise DSO.

Amen to that.  

 

I was racking my brain to see if there was a show-opening 2-song combination that had a longer running tenure than Bertha > Greatest Story.  I'm thinking next longest would be Help > Slip which would might be 75-95 despite the 85-89 hiatus.  Deadbase anyone ?

[bs69]

2 hours ago, Tea said:

Amen to that.  

 

I was racking my brain to see if there was a show-opening 2-song combination that had a longer running tenure than Bertha > Greatest Story.  I'm thinking next longest would be Help > Slip which would might be 75-95 despite the 85-89 hiatus.  Deadbase anyone ?

How about Promised land>Sugaree?

[Tea]

3 hours ago, bs69 said:

How about Promised land>Sugaree?

I like that choice but I feel like Promised Land got shelved as an opener around 78/79.  No deadbase to confirm tho..... 

[Ammagamalin Crew]

Not much of a hiatus, but a notable 76, 77 and 78, coming back solidly in 79 with it's new pairing Alabama Getaway > GSET (think Riverbend 85 as a rendition), then Pittsburgh 89 tripping with GSET>Bertha

Weird evolution of both songs as they changed radically. Lots to consider, esp the actual words of each song bleeding together for one message, one song.

Both uniquely Grateful Dead and indicative of Jerry and Bobby alternating songs at a show.

 

[Greg from Chestertown]

Bertha is my favorite rockin’ Jerry tune. Quintessential Grateful Dead. Only his ballads rank higher with me. 

[John A]

On 1/31/2023 at 6:58 PM, BillK522 said:

 

That is JohnA's wheelhouse.

 

Praise DSO.

You rang? 😀

 

Bertha > Greatest Story was played 63 times, whether opening the show (obviously more typical), closing the first set, opening the second set (rare but not vanishingly so) or in the early 70s sometimes showing up in that order later in the 2nd set.

 

Perhaps more surprisingly, Greatest Story > Bertha occurred 11 times - and this also spanning from '72 through '95!

[John A]

On 2/1/2023 at 6:03 AM, Tea said:

Amen to that.  

 

I was racking my brain to see if there was a show-opening 2-song combination that had a longer running tenure than Bertha > Greatest Story.  I'm thinking next longest would be Help > Slip which would might be 75-95 despite the 85-89 hiatus.  Deadbase anyone ?

Don't forget the 6-9-77 through Spring '83 Help > Slip hiatus. 

[Tom Banjo]

I just played that Hampton 83 help slip franks breakout for Whitney the other night.

And I listen to the 6/9/77 show regularly. That 3 night winterland run is epic.

[Ammagamalin Crew]

I thought hsf was a Warlocks breakout in 1989?

[Greg from Chestertown]

You’re both right. 75-77,83-85, 89-95. I found a site called grateful seconds. Com that lists the times played for help on the way. Kinda covers help/slip/Frank. Looks like I might get a passing grade without even owning the textbook. Thumbs up ! 

[John A]

On 2/6/2023 at 3:52 PM, Ammagamalin Crew said:

I thought hsf was a Warlocks breakout in 1989?

That was breakout #2, after the '85-'89 hiatus.  Get your break-outs straight, man.  😜😂

[Tea]

So Bertha > Greatest is the longest runner for show opener combo?  Gotta imagine it took off a couple years here and there..

[John A]

On 2/7/2023 at 9:29 PM, Tea said:

So Bertha > Greatest is the longest runner for show opener combo?  Gotta imagine it took off a couple years here and there..

Not so much "here and there", but this is correct.  The combo itself was on hiatus from 10-18-74 through 6-7-80, and the show opening combo was on hiatus from 9-19-72 through 12-14-80. In fact, it was only an opening combo 3 times prior to 1980.

[Greg from Chestertown]

Makes you wonder about the band not knowing what song they’re playing next yet we can have conversations like this. The predictability to their unpredictableness. Even random’s last name is order. I love it. Set list conversations are my favorite.

[John A]

Because the Grateful Dead is all about serendipity and coincidence, of course in my car yesterday when I tuned into the Sirius channel they were playing Greatest Story -> Bertha from Portland 6-24-73.  Pretty damn sweet transition into Bertha to boot. 😀