Easy Rider - Deluxe Edition [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 1969
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Hip-O
• ASIN: B0001JXQD8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,404 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After 1968's political assassinations and street riots, the once vaunted idealism the 60's went south for good in 1969. The artistic metaphors for the unraveling of The Age of Aquarius encompassed variously Gimme Shelter, the documentary of The Stones' disastrous Altamont free concert, and Dennis Hopper's idealism-gone-sour road picture, Easy Rider. It's rock score was an instant counter-culture classic, a collection anchored by Steppenwolf's road anthem chestnut "Born to Be Wild" and its cautionary "The Pusher," a song that underscored the film's frank portrayal of drug use (one that's given a more lighthearted hearing on Fraternity of Man's "Don't Bogart Me"). Other standouts include the Holy Modal Rounders' loopy "If You Want To Be A Bird" and Byrds' leader Roger McGuinn's "Ballad of Easy Rider" and faithful cover of Dylan's "It's Alright , Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)." Licensing concerns kept the soundtrack from compact disc until 2000, but this deluxe, slip-cased double-disc set not only expands on that edition's shortcoming (returning The Band's version of "The Weight" to its rightful place), but adds an additional 18 emblematic tracks "inspired" by the film and its turbulent times. While some of these are either a bit too obvious (The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard") or themeatically inappropriate (The Who's "I Can See For Miles"), gems like Thunderclap Newman's haunting "Something In the Air" make it more inviting. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Quintessential Hippy Soundtrack Gets Full Justice, June 12, 2004

By 

Bruce Kendall "BEK" (Southern Pines, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Rider - Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

I stumbled across this CD on Rhapsody today and have to say, I'm just stunned. I haven't heard these tracks sound so fresh since sitting in a movie theater, circa 1969. Even then, I don't believe the quality matched the listening experience this CD provides. I don't normally address other reviewers, but I stongly disagree with a reviewer who said to stick with the earlier, single CD. This is worlds better audially. Every instrument, vocal nuance, backup singer, etc. is crisply, distortion-freely rendered.

It's as good a job of remastering as I've ever heard. Even Blue
Cheer's "Summertime Blues," which sounds notoriously muddy and indistinct on most compilations, sounds as if it was recorded using contemporary, state of the art sound boards. Other tracks fare even better.

The discs are rather pricey (in comparison with the single CD compilation), but well worth the money. This is definitive Golden Age of Rock history here. Steppenwolf, Hendrix, Procol Harem, The Seeds (one of the most overlooked bands of the era), Richie Havens (I had forgotten he even contributed to the soundtrack, but a musical, twelve string guitar genius, nonetheless!), The Moodies, and on and on. I'm putting my order in today, as Rhapsody doesn't include all the tracks for listening or downloading. Ring up another sale, Mr Bezos! I've gotta have this one!!

BEK

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where's The Electric Flag?, May 18, 2005

By 

riot67 (detroit) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Rider - Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

The Easy Rider soundtrack was tainted from the very beginning for two reasons:1)the exclusion of The Bands version of "The Weight" replaced with the far inferior version by Smith 2)The exclusion of The Electric Flags "Flash,Bam, Pow". Despite these shortcomings the Lp worked. Now 30 odd years later it would seem that when and "Expanded" version was released the kinks would have been worked out. This however is not the case. The Bands version of "The Weight" is included--on side two with a bunch of songs that have a lot to do with the 60's and nothing to do with the movie. Why wasn't Smith's version of "The Weight" dropped alltogether and the Bands inserted in proper sequence as it should have been all along. Additionally The Electric Flag is still missing. What gives? The first disc is the same as what was released 36 years ago and disc two is nothing more than a 60's compilation of songs that aren't even in line with the feel of the movie as the original Lp was--the reason the soundtrack worked is that it coincided so well with the film. Overall this is a highly disappointing release.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Late 60's, June 10, 2006

By 

B. K. McLean "McLean" (Western Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Rider - Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

When Easy Rider came out I was fresh out of high school and when we had nothing better to do we would hit the $1.00 early show, again and again. Played the heck out of the sound track on an 8 track until the 8 track finally ate the tape. As most of us do I continued growing up and maturing but still retained the songs and sounds of the music that played such an integral part of that era. I bought the deluxe edition just because and holy cow! Except for the Teeny Bopper song the second CD is outstanding. It is the best one CD compilation I have ever heard. Sky Saxon and the Seeds were one of my favorite groups back then and starting off with them set the proper tone and following that with the Electric Prunes and including the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Chambers Brothers and Thunderclap Newman cemented this as a true gem. This is a great selection of songs highlighting the eclectic best of the late 60s that deserves center stage on your play list. Highly recommended.