Easy Rider (Songs As Performed In The Motion Picture)

Easy Rider (Songs As Performed In The Motion Picture)

Released in 1969, the soundtrack to Easy Rider is one of the most influential film soundtracks ever assembled. Featuring an iconic collection of classic rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, blues, and counterculture anthems, the album perfectly captures the spirit of the groundbreaking road movie starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson.

Rather than relying on a traditional orchestral score, Easy Rider helped redefine cinema by incorporating contemporary rock music directly into the film's narrative. The soundtrack became an instant classic, introducing a wider audience to some of the defining artists of the late 1960s while perfectly reflecting the themes of freedom, rebellion, and the open road.

The album opens with Steppenwolf's unforgettable The Pusher, followed by the legendary biker anthem Born To Be Wild, one of the most recognisable songs in rock history. Smith's hit version of The Weight, The Byrds' uplifting Wasn't Born To Follow, and The Holy Modal Rounders' whimsical If You Want To Be A Bird complete a remarkable Side A.

Side B continues with the laid-back Don't Bogart Me by The Fraternity Of Man, before The Jimi Hendrix Experience delivers the psychedelic masterpiece If Six Was Nine. The Electric Prunes add a haunting atmosphere with Kyrie Eleison Mardi Gras, while Roger McGuinn closes the album with Bob Dylan's powerful It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) and the beautifully reflective Ballad Of Easy Rider, written especially for the film.

More than simply a soundtrack, Easy Rider became a defining musical statement of the late 1960s, celebrating the ideals of freedom, individuality, and the American counterculture. It remains an essential album for collectors of classic rock, film soundtracks, and music from one of cinema's most influential eras.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Steppenwolf – The Pusher
2. Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
3. Smith – The Weight
4. The Byrds – Wasn't Born To Follow
5. The Holy Modal Rounders – If You Want To Be A Bird

Side B

1. The Fraternity Of Man – Don't Bogart Me
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – If Six Was Nine
3. The Electric Prunes – Kyrie Eleison Mardi Gras
4. Roger McGuinn – It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
5. Roger McGuinn – Ballad Of Easy Rider