GRATEFUL DEAD Road Trips Vol.2 No.2 - Carousel 2-14-68 (2-CD)

(Real Gone Music) 18 tracks

Happy Valentine's Day! Would you like to be blown away now? That's what happened to everyone who attended this 1968 concert at the Carousel Ballroom, long considered one of the greatest early Dead shows (and reportedly one of Phil Lesh's favorite performances).

Indeed, there is a reason why this show was the first to be presented in its entirety in the Road Trips series. Substantial portions of it were used for the Anthem of the Sun album, and the second set, broadcast over local radio, became a must-have for any self-respecting Dead Head cassette collection thanks to the amazing 'Born Cross-Eyed'/'Spanish Jam'/'Alligator' sequence. But this trip offers much more; set one includes 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 you get not one, but two early outings in 'Dark Star'.

 Not to mention that the show was mixed and mastered from the original 8-track tapes by Jeffrey Norman, and the packaging includes Mouse's original poster for the show along with liner notes by Blair Jackson. Essential, and never before available in music stores!