Jerry Garcia's feelings on "Bertha" through the years

[blackie411]

Love 'em all differently, but since I fell in love with this music in 69, I favor the period when PigPen was still a part of the band, even though cases can be made that 73 and 74 had more creative, yet refined, improvisation. Still everything that came after the 75 hiatus was a little less ballsy than what preceded it and the scene changed too, in more bad ways, than good ones.

[schmabit]

@blackie411 77 englishtown was my first show....agree with you..early 70's to end of Kieth were the best years for the Dead...never cared for brent s voice, songs, or his h .....rot in hell midland

[reubenandcherise]

Jerry's Bertha solo from 5/23/77 is my all time fav piece of pickin

[tzipple]

1970-76 were golden years for the Dead. Their greatest material was recorded in these years and their live work was never better

[Darrylizer1]

My favorite is the '74 bouncy version followed by the raw energy of the '71. I like the single drummer versions more I guess, though they're all really good. Nice video btw, thanks.

[5321jerry1]

@budfox7 (BTW funny name) Almost right on. But it was the year of Phil 1977. The Spectrum in Philly. Best bootleg to date. Scarlet Fire melt ur brain.

[rjl032653]

'71....cuz they were young and edgy.  Less refinement, more raw energy. Everything else came later.

[ChynaRider]

74 Sounds like Montana...

[AliIKarimi]

Can you do one of these for Sugaree please ? I'd love you.

[nativecheese]

I know this gets done a lot, but 4 dislikes what the hell? Were they high....? ... wait... ummm.

[budfox7]

Phil 79' gets my vote

[dmowings]

Thanks for this!

[taylor410ce]

cool very well done!

[cunnidvd]

so sweet

[kewe65]

great idea for a post and nicely put together, but don't forget for a moment that this is the grateful dead's 'feeling's' on the song through the years.

[rollnaway]

My vote's for 74, smoooooooooooooooth

[hammer41184]

pot-->acid-->booze-->cocaine--­>heroine



[jeffdachef]

Would love to see something like this for every song through the years, what a herculean task but I am sure someone is up to it, hint, hint! What was truly transcendational about this group of musicians is that each night they played, it all came together, so tuned to each other it was as if they were each wired to each others brains and fingers!

[icecoldhubbas]

1974 is awesome because of the play of each member. Its unreal and different than all the others. 1977 is my fave because of the momentum. The rolling thunder!

[jimaroo100]

Great idea for a post - really enjoyed it. The man could hear music in the music that no one else heard until he played it. 11974 was my favorite but that is probably because that was my time....

[09jackstraw]

The change in Jerry's picking style after the Egypt shows is very evident here. This a cool thing you put together. And to think he said in an interview late in his life when asked what else he'd like to achieve and he said "I'd like to learn how to play the guitar"! Shows what a truly humble and down to earth guy he was and when comparing himself against players like Django or Wes Montgomery, he really felt there was a lot for him to learn. The joys he gave us though! I'll always treasure them.

[suzfilippi]

'77 is my favorite.  Just a happy, skipping vibe.

Awesome video thanks!!!

[BMWproductionCo]

@suzfilippi shoulda been there 10 years earlier

[taylor410ce]

@suzfilippi Listen to To Terripen thats a great 77.

[wharfrat10]

Please post a link for the tape from 1995 townshend! There are not too much good shows from that year and from that Bertha it could be one of the better ones.

[Lotshman]

81 is one hell of a solo

[mijknahs]

1981 is about the same tempo as 1971.

[JimmyPageisGOD]

I love the picture of jerry playing a Les Paul...god why cant trey switch it up for one fucking time? 

[notmefuckingname]

@JimmyPageisGOD lol cuz trey has a languadoc

[Parkwoodparkenfarker]

That 74 lead is the stuff, it's some of his best work.

[bferris19]

@BWParker - agreed I've listened to it a few times too and it's definitely not the show from this sequence. I looked it up after Edparker1964 said that it was further down in the thread. It's pretty good though.

[bferris19]

Found that 74 Bertha on Internet Archive.org - the soundboard is protected by Dick's Picks but I found a pretty decent recording of the show (8/4/74 at Civic Convention Hall Philadelphia.) You gotta search using keyword 1974. Sick lead Jerry!!!

[bwparker1]

@bferris19 I got a soundboard and have determined that the 1974 show is not from 8/4/1974. Riffs are not the same, and my wife agreed with me after several listens.

[bferris19]

@BW Parker - I have this Bertha on tape - thought it was Cornell, but I stand corrected and will take your word for it (now I want to know what show it was!)

[bferris19]

The 77 is Cornell

[bwparker1]

@bferris19 Dude, wrong, they didn't even play this at the Cornell Show.

[bwparker1]

@bferris19 Dude, wrong, they didn't even play Bertha at the Cornell Show.

[fbskier20]

@bwparker1 it was the opener for the new haven show 3 days before--you weren't far off!

[bwparker1]

@fbskier20 Sorry, I didn't mean to seem condescending, but I went to Cornell and it's my favorite show, so I knew that there was no Bertha from that show!

[Mu51ch3r3]

@townshend1969 Just curious do you know all the shows these are from? This is an interesting video, I really enjoyed hearing Jerry's sound throughout the years.

[augustweest]

that's got to be 3.24.85 springfield civic!

[rawkus1167]

@augustweest A little off-topic but seriously I dont understand how some deadheads can tell a what show a song performance is from just from listening to it. I gotta admit thats pretty boss. I consider myself a pretty big fan but if u played me a random Jack Straw or Bertha IDK i could guess the date/venue off the top of my head.

Now that's Deadication!

[Fluffyfluffyhead]

@rawkus1167 If you've listened to a version of a song for years its pretty easy to recognize.

[stupidlittleguitar]

what a lucky find on the tube...defines not fade away, thanks for doing this

this brings back the memories of this as a joyous welcoming show opener

I was thinking last night thats its been over 15 years since Jerr shuffled off. and left the greatest band ever. I 've been singing and playing more and more of his and Hunters tunes lately.. forever grateful

[cvdover]

I wish I knew the answer to the 74 Bertha, but I don't. However, if you like this version, you'll probably love 8-6-74 at archive dot org. No soundboard is available, but the audience recording is pretty damn good (especially considering the era).

[dylanlenn]

wanna know the dates for all of these

[bxaxdx30]

i love the rosebud guitar from 95 im building the same one

[bxaxdx30]

i love the 77 solo the dead were really peaking in 77 music wise and lyric wise just loved every thing from 77

[estimatedeyes]

Jerry is speaking to us on the 77 version. I can hear him so clearly....♥

[dbell10]

i gotta know the date of the show from 74!!!!

[FoodForThoughtDonna]

Can someone please tell me from which specific show the '74 solo (the second in the selection) is from. How incredilbe!!!!!

[Parkwoodparkenfarker]

the second solo is something no mortal could ever hope to do again. By far the best bertha ever. The lilting sweet wanderer.

[thegunnydog]

Very cool combo and idea! Loved it., brought back to life memories of the various incarnations of the band. TS

[PhotoCher]

@ ptugman

So many big electric kool-aided fans who would whirl--isn't that what they were all about? ♪"ain't nuthin wrong with the way she moves"♪

[rjl032653]

Great compilation....my 1st intro to the Dead was in Boston, 1971 - during their "Wall of Sound" sonic surprise era. Interesting to hear the evolution of Jerry and the band. Brash, energetic, and sharp in the 70's, transitioning to a more thoughtful, complex, dare I say mature sound in the ensuing decades. A band, well played.

[edwatson1964]

the show you're looking for is 8/4/74, Philadelphia. This show was released as Dicks Picks 31, but WITHOUT this killer version of Bertha. I have a soundboard in mp3. PM me if you're interested.

[randeezydizzle]

What's the date on that 74 version?? I need that show!!

[breeze418]

Jerry fuckin rocks. There aint nobody better!

[poityify]

Any idea what show the 1974 version is from?

[ztubs6]

god damn- jerry can bend a note in a way nobody has or ever will again.

[bxaxdx30]

@ztubs6 The Lead guitarist in my band does a good jerry

[MrPeggyo]

"Jerry was a cool dude" Phil Lesh

[AthenaOfArgos]

Bertha just might be the best song to Twirly Dance to!!!

[MrSharkey11]

Bertha has always been one of my favorite songs! Why? Because of the great versatility of the tune! There is really so much you can do with it. It's such a happening song, and in my opinion it's impossible to fuck it up wthout coming up with a new variation if that makes any sense?........Peace!....

[ptugman]

Bertha is about large electric fan that had a wobble and would walk around. Very few Dead lyrics should be taken at face value. With that in mind how do some of you feel about Jerry now?

[damian363]

Nicely done.  Cool retrospective/perspective on one of my favorite Dead songs.

[phunkhead88]

nice but def missing 72 and 89

[XDrums34]

@shuguproductions I agree, where's '89, not to mention '90. By far 2 of the greatest years for the Dead.

[TubeFuKu]

Bertha, a steady staple played throughout the bands 30 years. This compilation showcases the richness and abundance of live recordings from the Grateful Dead.

 More bands should allow their fans to tape shows.

[nichobo]

'74 poetic

[nichobo]

'74: poetic

[CrazyFingers75]

Nice Compilation. Could just as well call this Bill Kreutzman's thoughts on Bertha though. Some people forget that Jerry wasn't necessarily the main force molding the sound of the tune at any given time. (Not saying that applies to you OP.)

[friscobay01]

74 is wolf-a-licious, haha. They were so damn good then.

[aoxomoxoa88]

I like 'em all, but the first one best!

[WEIR4EVER]

Love the soaring groove of 74! That was two years before I discovered them, and ... 7 before actually seeing them.

[ShuguProductions]

where is 89?

[PlimothJim]

This. Is. Awesome.

This is why I love the dead....never played the same song twice. Happy Birthday Jerry!

[shrams23]

Great retrospective, the pictures are not quite from the same years in some of them, but this is a cool idea.

[frog442]

Great vid. Thanks for posting. I like the flow of the '77 solo best.

[gary7999]

Really?Cmon,Possibley two of these selections had sound quality worth listening to.Fell free to write me back to tell me what a music snob I am.But you can olny use two fingers to type.Oops there I go again with the political inuendo.lol.

[nickd444]

74 piano and bouncy half-time feel.. win.

[aroxon]

@nickd444 right with you nick, mickey ruins the groove. just billy please!

[soyounoat]

@nickd444 : That '74 bounce is happening while Bill Kreutzman was alone at the drums. It always had a different feel when Mickey Hart was with him.

[artsmith1972]

As i was paying attention listening to the difference in how Jerry approached this tune over the years.... I was also struck by Phil's bass playing and more and more I appreciate what HE brought to the band---> always right there laying down the foundation that Jerry and the others built on...... I think that's the most amazing thing about the Dead.. is how all the band members music abilities meshed to fit so well together into a tapestry if you will...

[wilmeland]

Nice tribute. Only times I saw them was in 77, 81 and then finally spring of 95. Though Jerry was fantastic to the end, there was a certain magic about the early and mid 70's.

[grandbbq]

Jerry with an LP!!!!

[tripelb1]

Cal Expo 1990 ..check it out

[myhungryhippo]

there shouldve been a 88-90 and then a 91-92 before 95

[ActionPocket]

this is great, thanks!

[bbhsu2]

the 77 is from 1977.05.07, 33 years ago today. and one day before their most famous tape

[stuco]

Although not as refined as the later versions, that 71 version is smoking hot.

[myhungryhippo]

71-77 keeps getting more refined until 79 to 85 it slowly breaks down. only to be played the better (slightly) in 95 ... what a odd ending for bertha

[dmholmes1]

The white Guitar he used in 74, the wolf he used from the end of 76 to 78!

[aroxon]

@dmholmes1 Wolf '73,'74, Travis Bean (white) '76, '77,  Wolf '78, Tiger '79

[bbhsu2]

the 1971 is from 1971-02-18 the first bertha ever played

[dannyaingefan]

They are all great but I really like '71 and '81 a lot :-) In your face jamming!

[owenseightball]

77 and 79

[SativaBeliver]

yea bertha's got some soul tugging changes great stuff one my favorite dead songs for sure gets stuck in my head all the time

[needlenosened]

wow! '81

[womenrsmarter420]

grate pics....

[womenrsmarter420]

i agree 71 as well no games just straight up r&r,love em all though the gratest show ever.....

[moephishron1]

i am digging the 74 one very much

[joekoooL]

theyre all good

[29young]

I could almost taste the cocaine coming through the speakers during the '81 version.

[carterCO]

@29young totally

[MrGrevy]

@29young Yeah...seems like there was a lot goin on then...to say the least

[head909]

@29young

HAH!

[notmefuckingname]

@29young i love it

[rennyminou]

Very poignant collage-thank you!

[breeze418]

"BERTHA" the ultimate Dead song. My vote is 71, pure raw Jerry!!!!

[breeze418]

love 71 Jerry is The Man!!!!!!

[edwatson1964]

Oh, for sure it's the funky 74 version. Always been my fav.

[DeaheromwerdnA]

oh man 95 is painful rip jerry

[damnbigfish]

Nice post townshend 1969! That was fun. My favs were the 74 and the 79. 74 interplay with the funky drums was sweet. 81 sounded a bit rushed. But all were fun for a listen. Cheers!

[myhungryhippo]

id say 73-79 but the sound quality of 94 there's something about the sound from that year..... shows or even songs are  hit or miss from the yr.

[kalukskate12]

im not 100% sure but the 77 version sounds like the version they played at the Englishtown concert and although jerry sounds great during his solo throughout the song he forgets lyrics and guitar riffs so my votes goes to 74' but in the long run who really cares because everytime the dead played magic was made

[amerdan]

There are many really really good Berthas from 77, which happens to be my favorite year. My favorite Bertha was at the War Memorial in Buffalo, NY. Phil is classic in it. It gets my vote.

[rawkus1167]

@amerdan I love that one too. But do you like the one from Colgate U on 11/4/77? That one is my all-time favorite I've been raving about it forever.

[gratefulfloyd28]

I know it isn't a choice but 73' is by far my favorite year, 5-26 Kezar Stadium being my fav Bertha of the tour. Of the choices listed tho, 77'. In 77' they sounded so unified and with this Bertha, it really shows.

[deweypug]

Agreed, '74 was the sweetest, '77 a close second...

[phatstash247]

heeeeeey now.... townshend, yo townshend? yeah, ya still know what show this was from '74??

[birdleson]

Nice job.

[wussymon]

Thanx for putting this together, townshend- great stuff.

The '74 sounded the sweetest to me.

[rockyracoon667]

for sure

[TheLurchdaddy]

It does leave out some good ones. I've heard some really great Berthas from '78 that don't sound anything like the '77 or '79 you've got here.

Still frickin' awesome, though. Thanks!

[whabamp]

Yeah there's a 7-8-78 red rocks bertha that rips,

and it has the pushes like the later years.

78 was a fun sounding year.

The 71 rocks though.

TP

[1959seeburg222]

Right on whabamp! Red Rocks 7-8-78 is possibly my favorite recording of a show ever. All of the songs were very uniquely performed and Jerry was so incredibly "on" throughout the entire first set. The BERTHA is fantastic!!

[YouToobness]

Fookin' Jerome.

[lazylightning101]

this is good stuff.

[XDrums34]

No '89 Bertha? Thats my favorite year by far.

[bluesriot2]

If your first shows were 77' then you are allowed to recall them as your favorites, mine were earlier, and I will always think of the Skull n Roses Bertha as the best , the solo always makes me pause to listen with both ears

[mace5258]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to put this together. Really enjoyed it..Peace!!!!!!!!

[CptMystery]

1977 was the Chateaux of Dead music.

[ClueSign]

"the Chateaux" of Dead music? Say what?

[trip71]

we love you Jerry

[pmjohnson]

I remember seeing shows in 1977 and coming out with my friends and saying, "Man, they really sucked tonight." Now I hear them again and wonder what the heck we were complaining about.

The '77 Bertha, like so much from that year, is sublime.

[66root]

We love and miss you Jerry.R.I.P.

[phattskis]

I think they all compliment each individual time--ie, the instrument/gear/style. mood, etc. I loved the 74--such fun!

[gamoonbat]

After all that, you would think that she would have gotten the message not to come around anymore.

[nlandess]

well played, gamoonbat. well played, indeed.

[gamoonbat]

danke

[MrGrevy]

@gamoonbat He did make it quite clear.

[duckman531]

@gamoonbat Maybe he really wanted her to come 'round here!

[gamoonbat]

@duckman531 - You may be right! Jerry was a strange dude and very passive-aggressive, from what I understand.

[bigbuzman]

@gamoonbat just talking to a friend the other about astrology and passsive aggresive . LEOs are notoriously guilty of being passive aggressive . Really way more than any other sign as far as I can tell tho I am no expert . Jerry would usually if not always get someone to tell his woman that he was splitting with them . Don't know if that is Pass Agg but is finda fucked up . love him , saw him 25 years in a row incluidng my 1st show -closing of the fillmore

[gamoonbat]

@bigbuzman - I can see that. I am a LEO myself.

[MrGrevy]

@gamoonbat I know! They should have done a follow up song about the restraining order.

[MrRichardFader]

@gamoonbat You'd think we'd stop having her back.

[alligator69]

Notice how the '71 is so smokin' and energetic compared to the rest...

[Alfrunk]

Fast does not equal energetic. Graduate high school, get some life experience, then try again.

[alligator69]

@Alfrunk

I said "smokin' and energetic", not FAST. There are slower versions of many tunes that are better versions because the energy and creative groove are present. Right, tempo is not the factor for determining such preferences but I never mentioned that at all. You just assumed it was the reason for my obvious preference. Pay attention!

[colbruce]

Great use of YouTube. Would like to hear the same for some of Houser's leads on Chilly Water, 1986-2002.

[reallygonecat]

It was Phil who always wanted to slow everything down, almost to a complete stop.

[walknbluez]

Probably because when its slower, it seems to groove better and sounds tighter

[Alfrunk]

Phil was pretentious. Thought he knew everything about classical music. Sad.

[WEIR4EVER]

Idiot!

[mikejr41387]

whats the date for the 1981 show??

[ClueSign]

Give me the speedy version any day.

[gratefulpat6595]

i agree.brent was the man but the band as a whole didnt have that it factor in the 80s especially late 80s.... truckin up to buff is a great dvd with some great playin i will admit though.. i especially enjoy the ship of fools from that one

[gratefulpat6595]

i believe the 77 dates 5/5 i may be wrong its that or the 7th, either way best bertha of all time in my opinion the solo is just so well though out and phrased.. blows my mind

[joeyarkenstat02]

i love the version you are talking about........how amazing

however! I think brent added something to bertha that can't' be measured

listen to bertha on the opening track of "truckin' up to buffalo"

he just adds..........................­.....substance

RIP Jerry and Brent

[stashJ8]

The phrasing on that '85 version is outstanding!

[guinnessrulz]

Thanks I needed that!

[deadhead1130]

my favorite is on Live at the Cow Palace 1977

[1982Col]

awesome man, I always wanted to do something like this but was too damn lazy lol. should do some others as well!

[donveill]

cool..............nice idea

[SWAC424]

I think '74 was the grooviest.

[crustyundies123]

this awesome! such a 'feel good' song. nice little history lesson.

[mmrblond]

This is sooo cool, can you do one for Deal? btw, a good Bertha is 4/12/78 at Duke univ would have been a good addition!

[PaulBunyan56]

Hey this is so creatively awesome. If you have got any more compilations of other dead tunes you should post those. You the man

[wobrien007]

The 1977 solo is from Boston Music Hall (5-7-77). Great show and possibly my favorite version of the song.

[shaconage]

Interesting compilation.... Thanks for this.

[townshend1969]

Thanks !

[KeeleyElectronics]

Great compilation! Yeah, +1 on the 1981 solo, it is smokin' at the start, even when he miss-picks a note (or most of a solo!) it still kicks butt!