If Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde found Roger McGuinn having to re-create the Byrds after massive personnel turnovers (and not having an easy time of it), Ballad of Easy Rider was the album where the new lineup really hit its stride. Gracefully moving back and forth between serene folk-rock (the title cut, still one of McGuinn's most beautiful melodies), sure-footed rock & roll ("Jesus Is Just All Right"), heartfelt country-rock ("Oil In My Lamp" and "Tulsa County"), and even a dash of R&B (the unexpectedly funky "Fido," which even features a percussion solo), Ballad of Easy Rider sounds confident and committed where Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde often seemed tentative…
This is the German edition of Easy Rider, this LP cover is the same that appeared in my country and I like because I grew up with it.
Wow, but, this is a great movie! With an excellent topic: Two young rebels and… traffickers, running on their motorcycles in the middle to "The Flowers Era." With good performances, great actors: Nicholson, Fonda, Hopper and… the music!
The Historical & Collector Value of these live recordings more than compensates for any limitations which originate from the analogue master. Every effort has been made, with the help of modern technology, to obtain the best possible results. Recorded live at Woodstock Festival, 1969.