Quicksilver Messenger Service

Debut album, 1968. Kinda typifies the SF scene around this time but certain elements help distinguish it from the music of other like-minded contemporaries. There's some really cool guitar playing from John Cipollina and a good range of tunes that serve as a fitting representation of the psychedelic era. It's got the expectedly melodic folk-rock, some jazzy explorations and one seriously outer-spacey acid jam ("the fool"). I don't know if you can find it on CD, but the vinyl's not too hard to come by--check the bargain bins.