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
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