This is psyche- delic scholarship at its finest: a lavishly illustrated booklet and vinyl album devoted to these acid-rock pioneers. Born in Ohio, Mad River emigrated to San Francisco’s ballrooms in early 1967 and cut legendary wax, including the 1968 freakout Mad River. David Biasotti’s account of the band’s highs and trials (a disastrous mastering of that album, a crushing review in this magazine) is an enthralling lesson in busted hippie dreams, while the music here – the furious outtake “Jersey Sloo” and four ’67 demos, among them the group’s signature trip, “Windchimes” – proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mad River had nirvana in their grasp.

Key Tracks: “Jersey Sloo,” “Windchimes”