Fifty Foot Hose, Cauldron (side A)

1967's Cauldron dates from the height of the Bay Area psychedelic movement, having been released between After Bathing at Baxter's and Anthem of the Sun.  While their work fits nicely alongside those famous records, because Fifty Foot Hose did not have a more commercially-viable career surrounding its release, they're seen as a bit more of an outsider band.  Cauldron includes short synth interludes and lots of long tape delay everywhere, especially on the vocals (an Echolette is on the instrument list).  The musicianship doesn't quite rival Airplane or the Dead, but the ideas translate through Fifty Foot Hose's technical limitations.  Longtime Grateful Dead affiliate Dan Healy appears in the credits, and the cover painting fits the era perfectly too.  Unfortunately, my 2010 reissue, which is pressed on nice thick vinyl, is mastered to sound bright and modern, far from the frequency balance of the original LP (and the EQs used to boost the highs distort a bit, too).