Ballad of Easy Rider Songs Ranked

Ballad of Easy Rider is the eighth album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in November 1969 on Columbia Records. The album was named after the song “Ballad of Easy Rider”, which had been written by the Byrds’ guitarist and singer, Roger McGuinn (with help from Bob Dylan), as the theme song for the 1969 film, Easy Rider. The title was also chosen in an attempt to capitalize on the commercial success of the film, although the majority of the music on the album had no connection with it. Nonetheless, the association with Easy Rider heightened the Byrds’ public profile and resulted in Ballad of Easy Rider becoming the band’s highest-charting album for two years in the U.S. Here are all of the Ballad of Easy Rider songs ranked.

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11. Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins

“Originally ending with the brief,mostly acoustic “Armstrong,Aldrin and Collins” tribute to that summers moon landing-an appropriate and literal extension of “Mr.Space Man” which likely had a more implied impulse.”

10. Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)

“Deportee is a great song as well as the title track. If you’re tracking the Byrds, this is a must! Any hardcore Byrds fan will love it. “

9. Jack Tarr the Sailor

“It’s not the sort of record that reaches out and agitates, and it’s not insistently catchy. It is, however, rustic (one can practically hear the leaves falling and the dust being kicked up on lonely roads) and consistently engaging. “

See more: The Byrds Albums Ranked

8. Gunga Din

“Of the rest, “Gunga Din” is the obvious standout: it is melodic and feel-good material. Otherwise, Ballad of Easy Rider is slightly forgettable.”

7. Tulsa County

“Roger McGuinn is no Gram Parsons as far as country songwriting goes, but he can hang with the best of them, turning out the beautiful “Tulsa County.” 

6. There Must Be Someone (I Can Turn To)

“I kind of like this slow, sad song with Parsons singing lead. McGuinn was absent for the recording of this tune as well as for Gunga Din.”

5. Oil in My Lamp

“The other members would also author some songs. Parsons and White would pen “Oil In My Lamp” which would feature a rare and gritty White lead vocal. Ballad Of Easy Rider remains a smooth listen and there is beauty to be found in many of the songs. I”

See more: The Byrds Songs Ranked

4. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

“And of course there’s a nice Dylan cover (It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue) to round things off. Not a classic Byrds album, but definitely worth a listen if you are fond of their psych/country mashup era.”

3. Fido

“But there’s some smokey percussive rhythms keeping everything going. “Fido”,a deep grooving rocker has what I feel is this exciting percussion break at the bridge of the song that adds some spicy flavor to the rhythm section.”

2. Jesus Is Just Alright

“A catchy number suggested by Parsons. Listen to the Art Reynolds Singers’ original version on You Tube. “Jesus Is Just Alright” rocks but the Doobie Brothers would make it one of their signature songs three years later. The Byrds provide an interesting and haunting version of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” but again I prefer Dylan’s 1965 version.”

1. Ballad of Easy Rider

“The Ballad of Easy Rider” IS everyman’s America captured in music. Full of warm, harmonious vocals which rival (and surpass I’d say) the mellifluous sounds of CSN, simple themes, brilliant muscianship, and pure and genuine production thanks to Terry Melcher (a far cry from the orchestrated twang of “Byrdmaniax”), this album is the very best that the Byrds ever made.”