Easy Rider
‘Easy Rider’, OST, 1969. The film that rewrote Hollywood. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as drug dealers driving to Nawlins, with a soundtrack of contemporary music. Low budget, it made millions and Hollywood realised there was money in them thar longhaired weirdos. The film still holds up. The people making it were the same as the audience it was intended for. You know, freaks, man…
As a compilation reflecting the times it’s a great set of tunes. ‘Pusher Man’ by Steppenwolf opens the film, a big dirty guitar gem. ‘Born To Be Wild’ by same still rocks and, onscreen, is the perfect song for the visuals. ‘The Weight’ is sung by the Band in the film but, for contractual reasons, is sung by Smith(?) here. Great song. ‘Wasn’t Born to Follow’ is country tinged from The Byrds with phasing for du jour psychedelic sway. ‘If You Want to Be a Bird’ by the Holy Modal Rollers is silly folk psychedelia. They were a hip act back in the day. ‘Don’t Bogart that Joint’, by the Fraternity of Man is stoned singalong. ‘If Six Was Nine’ is Jimi Hendrix, although his Estate now tries to remove any link between Jimi and the drug counterculture. Hendrix anywhere is cool, but in a film in 1969 is magical. ‘Kyrie Eleison’ by the Electric Prunes is full on psych workout with choral voices, perfect for the scene it’s used in, (an acid trip in a graveyard in case you’re wondering, man). Roger McGuinn of the Byrds does Dylan’s ‘It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), guitar and lyric locked and loaded. McGuinn also plays ‘The Ballad of Easy Rider’, acoustic guitar and harmonica and weary vocal.
Watch the film if you get the chance. It’s good.
Easy Rider
‘Easy Rider’, OST, 1969. The film that rewrote Hollywood. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper as drug dealers driving to Nawlins, with a soundtrack of contemporary music. Low budget, it made millions and Hollywood realised there was money in them thar longhaired weirdos. The film still holds up. The people making it were the same as the audience it was intended for. You know, freaks, man…
As a compilation reflecting the times it’s a great set of tunes. ‘Pusher Man’ by Steppenwolf opens the film, a big dirty guitar gem. ‘Born To Be Wild’ by same still rocks and, onscreen, is the perfect song for the visuals. ‘The Weight’ is sung by the Band in the film but, for contractual reasons, is sung by Smith(?) here. Great song. ‘Wasn’t Born to Follow’ is country tinged from The Byrds with phasing for du jour psychedelic sway. ‘If You Want to Be a Bird’ by the Holy Modal Rollers is silly folk psychedelia. They were a hip act back in the day. ‘Don’t Bogart that Joint’, by the Fraternity of Man is stoned singalong. ‘If Six Was Nine’ is Jimi Hendrix, although his Estate now tries to remove any link between Jimi and the drug counterculture. Hendrix anywhere is cool, but in a film in 1969 is magical. ‘Kyrie Eleison’ by the Electric Prunes is full on psych workout with choral voices, perfect for the scene it’s used in, (an acid trip in a graveyard in case you’re wondering, man). Roger McGuinn of the Byrds does Dylan’s ‘It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), guitar and lyric locked and loaded. McGuinn also plays ‘The Ballad of Easy Rider’, acoustic guitar and harmonica and weary vocal.
Watch the film if you get the chance. It’s good.