Grateful Dead Road Trips Vol. 2 No. 2—Carousel 2-14-68 (2CD)

Happy Valentine's Day...now would you like to have your mind blown? That's what happened to anyone who attended this 1968 concert at the Carousel Ballroom, which has long been considered to be one of the greatest early Dead shows (and is reputed to be one of Phil Lesh's favorite performances). Indeed, there's a reason why this show was the first one to be presented complete in the Road Trips series...substantial portions of it were lifted for the Anthem of the Sun album, and the second set--which was broadcast over local radio--became a must-have in any self-respecting Dead Head tape collection thanks to its astonishing "Born Cross-Eyed"/"Spanish Jam"/"Alligator" sequence. But this Trip offers much more; set one features two fine Pigpen showcases in "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "Turn On Your Love Light," and the addition of early '68 bonus material from the Dead's Pacific Northwest tour means that you get not one but two early excursions into "Dark Star." Not to mention that the show is mixed down and mastered from the original 8-track tapes by Jeffrey Norman and the packaging features Mouse's original poster art for the show along with liner notes by Blair Jackson. About as indispensable as it gets...and it never has been available at music retail before!