“Ballad Of Easy Rider” by The Byrds - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1969Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

Roger McGuinn had been commisioned to write the theme to the high profile 1969 film “Easy Rider” and it’s this track which serves as a terrific orchestral pop opener for the second Byrds album of 1969. With shades of Glen Campbell and Harry Nilsson shining through, it adds yet another new sound to The Byrds repertoire. Bassist John York contributes the “Mighty Quinn”-aping “Fido”, and the cover of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” is an easy home run which basks in previous glories. Elsewhere, Woody Guthrie’s anti-racist protest song “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)” is a mighty fine cover selection. The world needs more anti-racist country songs. All in all, this LP can be considered as a good bounce back against the disappointing “Dr. Byrds”, and stands as their best album since 1967’s “Younger Than Yesterday”.

The Jukebox Rebel
28–Feb–2008

Tracklist
A1 [02:00] 7.7.png The Byrds - Ballad Of Easy Rider (James Roger McGuinn) Songwriter
A2 [02:40] 8.1.png The Byrds - Fido (John York) Cerebral Pop
A3 [03:13] 5.8.png The Byrds - Oil In My Lamp (Traditional) Folk Rock / Americana
A4 [02:49] 4.7.png The Byrds - Tulsa County (Pamela Polland) Country
A5 [03:31] 6.1.png The Byrds - Jack Tarr The Sailor (Traditional) Folk
B1 [02:10] 5.1.png The Byrds - Jesus Is Just Alright (Arthur Reynolds) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2 [04:53] 8.9.png The Byrds - It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Robert Zimmerman) Folk Rock / Americana
B3 [02:39] 4.8.png The Byrds - There Must Be Someone (I Can Turn To) (Vern Gosdin, Cathy Gosdin, Rex Gosdin) Country
B4 [03:03] 5.9.png The Byrds - Gunga Din (Gene Parsons) Folk Rock / Americana
B5 [03:50] 7.0.png The Byrds - Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos) (Woody Guthrie, Martin Hoffman) Country
B6 [01:41] 4.9.png The Byrds - Armstrong, Aldrin And Collins (Zeke Manners, Scott Seely) Folk

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