Jonesy - were you guys completely surprised? Or did you have an idea? What was the fan reaction? I assume Dickey made a stage announcement?

Jonesy - were you guys completely surprised? Or did you have an idea? What was the fan reaction? I assume Dickey made a stage announcement?

No not completely surprised--there were rumors at that time the band may be getting back together leading up to this show. However that era of communication was radically different than today, so we "heard" things but that was about it.

Wow, the fan reaction--one of the most amazing experiences I ever had watching a show. This venue for those not familiar was in Central Park in NYC. there was a closed off area where the ice skating rink was for concerts, but lot's of people would hang right outside the venue in the park to listen to the music. For this show, people were literally hanging from the trees around the venue, and I am sure there were as many people outside as inside. Remember---that era the ABB were the biggest band in the land.

Dickey and Great Southern did their set (by the way that incarnation of DB and GS was absolutely awesome) and after their set you could see a lot of activity on stage. If I recall correctly Dickey said something to the effect that "we're going to bring out some friends" and Gregg, Butch and Jaimoe shuffled out. Wow!! the cheering was deafening, like nothing I had ever experienced at a show. They blew right into One Way Out, everyone was standing their whole set.

To this day my friends and I still talk about the feeling in that venue

Very, very cool. I can only imagine.

Of the hundreds of shows I've seen since 1983, the two that had the absolute most electricity in the air was the first night Lynyrd Skynyrd played the Omni in 1987....this was 5 of them reuniting....and the crowd was deafening when they came out. 6 months before no one would have believed what we were witnessing. And they sounded great with Gary, Ed, Artimus, Leon and Billy up there. Johnny had a better voice back in those days, too. The crowd went nuts.

The other was the first night of Clapton playing the ABB at the Beacon in 2009. Clapton had been spotted going in the Beacon and word was out they had rehearsed. Even walking in the theatre, it was a feeling like none other I had experienced in a decade of going to the Beacon. The roar after the first song was just something I had never experienced and the love in the building throughout his 65 minutes up there was intense.

Great recap of the Central Park ABB reunion in 1978. Love to read any other recollections from others that were there!

I was there.What a day.

Wollman rink held about 6000 people.All seats were general admission.The bleachers in the back were 3 dollars,the floor seats were 5 bucks.Schaefer was no longer the sponsor.It was now Dr. PepperAs stated,a lot of people would hang out outside where you could hear and there were some rock formations and trees you could see from.Because it was general admission,my friends and I were on line about 10AM.When the gates opened we ran and got seats 4th row center.Because it was a high stage,if you were closer you couldn't see the whole stage.

The opening band was The Good Rats.They were a local band from Long Island who had released a couple of albums and had a minor hit single or two(probably only locally)They weren't a horrible band,but they were not the kind of band that should have been opening for that crowd.They were booed mercilessly from the start.They had a gimmick of throwing rubber rats to the fans as souvenirs during their last song.Because of the booing they decided to wrap things up quick.It was only their 3rd or 4th song and they were throwing the rats.Big mistake.The fans started throwing them back at the band.I can still see Peppi(the lead singer) trying to block them with a garbage can cover.Midway through the song they gave up and left the stage.

As far as I know,there had been no talk or hints of a reunion that night.DB & GS were on fire.Their setlist above looks right to me.After the 1st set,they said they were taking a short break.When they came back out,Dickey said something along the lines of This is a new one.It was a song we would come to know as Crazy Love.Just a few notes in,Dickey said something like We got someone to help us out Mr. Jai Johanny Johansen.The place went nuts,but I don't think anyone realized what the next few minutes would bring.Haflway through the song Dickey says Mr. Butch Trucks and Butch walks out and joins in.

After the song they almost immediately Jump into the beginning of One Way Out.A
few chords and there wasn't even an introduction.Gregg just walked out,sat down at the organ and started singing.It was absolute pandemonium.Almost 40 years,and God knows how many concerts later,I don't think I've ever seen a crowd reaction like that.People outside just started pouring in.Eventually the band was stopped after Blue Sky.By that point,too many people had jammed inside.Outside of my marriage and the birth of my daughter,one of the happiest moments of my life.

The only thing missing from the setlist above(besides Crazy Love) was an instrumental jam that I would recognize parts of the following year as parts of Pegasus

What an insanely wonderful night that was.If there was ever any show I wish I had a recording of,this was it.

Very cool recollections. Love reading all the details!