"Ballad Of An Easy Rider" - A Playlist For Dennis Hopper

I had the honor of meeting Dennis Hopper a few times in my life. The most thrilling was spending a long morning with Mr. Hopper at his home studio in Venice, California interviewing him for an ABC documentary about the life of Elvis Presley. As a young man, Dennis had given Elvis some early acting pointers and he told me about sharing some stories with the King about James Dean, with whom Elvis was long fascinated. Dennis then told me the single greatest Elvis story I ever heard. We don't have time for it all here. Suffice to say, the anecdote ended with a relatively innocent Dennis Hopper asking Presley, "Elvis, how do you have sex with all those women?" Elvis answered, rather gallantly, I thought, "It's easy Dennis, they're all different."

Dennis Hopper struck me as a remarkable and fascinating man to be around. He may never have been seen as a King like Elvis, but as an actor and an artist, he was a real prince, and an inspiring comeback story.

May Dennis Hopper long be remembered, and may he finally rest in peace.

BALLAD OF EASY RIDER - The Byrds
BORN TO BE WILD - Steppenwolf
SOMETHING IN THE AIR - Thunderclap Newman
BLUE VELVET - Bobby Vinton
LOVE & MARRIAGE - Frank Sinatra
PAINTER'S SONG - Norah Jones
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - Leonard Rosenman
JAMES DEAN - Eagles
THE WEIGHT - The Band
YOU CAN'T GO BACK TO KANSAS - John Stewart
RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH - Ike & Tina Turner
ME AND BOBBY MCGEE - Kris Kristofferson
WASN'T BORN TO FOLLOW - The Byrds
HUMAN HIGHWAY - Neil Young
THE END - The Doors

Please add your own songs for this American original.

 

 

 

Follow David Wild on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic

Comments

[RobinSeattle]

09:03 PM on 06/02/2010

"Ezy Rider" Jimi Hendrix
"Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" Dr. Hook
"Rock Hard, Ride Free" Judas Priest
"Ride to Live, Live to Ride" Twisted Sister
"Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live" Alcatrazz
"Low Rider" War
"Street Lethal" Racer X
"Last of the Independents" Rory Gallagher
"Shinkicker" Rory Gallagher
"Fair Exchange" Be-Bop Deluxe

[Joey C]

04:34 PM on 06/01/2010

Just remembered that Dennis Hopper was the host for an ABC concert special at the launch of the U2 popmart tour. I remember that he gave a heartfelt introduction to the song

Please----U2

[David Wild]

04:48 PM on 06/01/2010

Wow, excellent memory. And a good song.

Thanks

[PennyLane2]

10:07 PM on 06/01/2010

He picked a great song to introduce. You have an amazing memory.

[Chaling]

09:24 AM on 06/01/2010

Key to the Highway - Little Walter.

[David Wild]

08:08 PM on 06/01/2010

What a song

Thanks

[mtnman]

07:29 AM on 06/01/2010

Can't believe you missed these obvious two:

"Born to be Wild" - Steppenwolf
"Magic Carpet Ride" - Steppenwolf

I'd also add:

"Ramblin' Man" - Allman Brothers
"Midnight Rider" - Rolling Stones

"Easy Rider" was filmed largely in northern New Mexico and Dennis Hopper had homes in and around Taos for many years. His eclectic personality on and off the screen fit in well with the local populace, and his loss is taken personally here. (see http://www.taosnews.com/articles/2010/06/01/entertainment/doc4c01539febe13110835018.txt )
"Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" are songs that capture the ideals of the free spirited bikers that were the stars of Hopper's seminal work.

In many obituraries, no mention is made of Hopper's alternate career as an artist or his compelling role in Kevin Costner's underrated film "Waterworld". Like many, I was surprised by Dennis' support of George Bush for a few years during the past decade, but it was good to see him change a bit during the past few years. RIP Dennis Hopper, and may the road go on forever...

[mtnman]

07:36 AM on 06/01/2010

Oops! My bad - you did have "Born to be Wild" on your list. My eyes missed it in the early morning hours here in the southern Rockies... didn't have my coffee yet!

[David Wild]

12:50 PM on 06/01/2010

Hey, if I didn't have "Born To Be Wild" with my last name, I would have been mad at me too

Thanks

[Joey C]

10:42 PM on 05/31/2010

Colors by Ice-T , theme song to the Hopper directed film of the same name.

[David Wild]

12:26 AM on 06/01/2010

Of course, thanks

[Jude Nagurney Camwell]

09:19 PM on 05/31/2010

I love your list of songs, David. Here's a little playlist of more songs reminding me of the vibe Dennis put out to this world while he was with us - may he rest in peace. ~ Jude

Big Star - "Watch The Sunrise"
Momentary Prophets - "Point Your Lotus to The Sky"
Son Volt - "Windfall"
Status Quo - "Pictures of Matchstick Men"
Townes Van Zandt - "For The Sake of the Song"
Elvis Costello - "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?"
Steve Earle - "Pilgrim" (We'll meet again on some bright highway - songs to sing and tales to tell..)
Grass Roots - "Let's Live For Today"
John Fogerty - "Hey Tonight"
Jackson C. Frank - "Blues Run The Game"
Amboy Dukes - "Journey to the Center of the Mind"
Max Frost & The Troopers - "Shape of Things to Come"

[David Wild]

10:03 PM on 05/31/2010

You and I apparently have some favorites in common.

I love "Blues Run The Game" so much -- do you know Counting Crows' cover version.

And I confess to be a Grass Roots-head.

Thanks

[Jude Nagurney Camwell]

10:32 PM on 05/31/2010

Yes, David, I recall being there to hear Adam Duritz cover Blues Run the Game at one of those wonderful "secret shows" at the Bowery Ballroom in New York just after they'd released their Hard Candy CD. (Many moons ago ;) I saw Cracker cover "Pictures of Matchstick Men" at an earlier time at the same club. By the way, Eels are my favorite - hands down. Mark is amazing to me. I read that he played your wedding. You're blessed to have such a friend.Loved "Things the Grandchildren Should Know."

[Gasparilla]

04:04 PM on 05/31/2010

I won't pretend I've read every post. This one goes way back, to Sophie Tucker [last of the red hot mamas], and Mae West sang it in She Done Him Wrong. I saw Liza do it many years ago on a television special.

"I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone..." Supply your own prurient thoughts.....or not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wonder_Where_My_Easy_Rider's_Gone

[David Wild]

04:46 PM on 05/31/2010

Wow, color me impressed

Thanks

[Gasparilla]

07:11 PM on 05/31/2010

Thanks. For those younger folks [I'm late 50s] who may have heard of Mae West and W.C. Fields but don't really know them, there's a old movie called My Little Chickadee with both. You get a feel for what they were about. Fields has been forgotten for the most part, but he was truly funny.

[corneliaj]

03:16 PM on 05/31/2010

"Ramble On," Led Zeppelin
"Carefree Highway," Gordon Lightfoot
"The Gallery," Joni Mitchell

[David Wild]

03:26 PM on 05/31/2010

Two Canadians and some Brits

Love 'em all, but let's have some Americans too.

Thanks

[GretaR]

01:25 PM on 05/31/2010

I worked with Dennis for several months on a movie a few years back, and found him delightful. As an AD (assistant director), it was my job to get the actors through hair/makeup and wardrobe and then to set on time, when needed. I remember one day that he was in the makeup trailer with another actor, telling stories of "back in the days". The young actor (in his late 20s/early 30s ??) was wide eyed listening...especially about the beautiful women with whom Dennis had dilliances. When Marilyn Monroe's name came up, the young actor's look of envy was met with a response of 'look who you are dating!' regarding the forever beautiful A-list actress with whom the young actor was involved. I suppose that modern actress would be happy for Dennis' comparison of her to Marily Monroe. (Too bad that the young actor didn't appreciate his fortune.)

[David Wild]

02:19 PM on 05/31/2010

Thanks for sharing your memory here.

[john frodo]

11:29 AM on 05/31/2010

I can not imagine a movie ever approaching the influence of Easy Rider. The world is so much different now, the battles so far removed to the margins, the dilution of shared experience so extreme. Actors like Dennis Hopper are also long gone, and to repeat I would start with Forever Young - Bob Dylan

Taking Care of Business - BTO
One Whiskey, One Bourbon, One Beer - George Thorogood
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles
Been Caught Stealing - Janes Addiction
Don Quotie - Gordon Lightfoot
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Starman - David Bowie
Burning down the House - Talking Head
Hanging on a Star - Nick Drake
No Regrets - Edith Piaf
Danke Schon - engelbert humperdinck
Fox on the Run - Barenaked Ladies
Stand Tall - Burton Cummings
Loverboy - Supertramp
Stir it up/ Lively up yourself - Bob Marley
Carrickfergus - Van Morrison and the Chieftans
Truckin - Grateful Dead
Brass in Pocket - Pretenders
2000 Miles - Chrisse Hynde
Sex and Drugs and Rock N Roll - Ian Dury
Addicted to Love - Brian Ferry
I got a Name - Jim Croce
Funeral for a Friend - Elton John

[David Wild]

11:33 AM on 05/31/2010

He did stir it up

Thanks for a great list

[lacrabclaw]

10:31 AM on 05/31/2010

Call Me The Breeze- JJ Cale
TNT- AC/DC (Didn't Hopper nearly blow himself up in an ill concieved dynamite stunt?
Willin'-Little Feat
This Highway's Mine- Steve Earle
I'm a Ramblin' Man
Aw, HELL... ANY song by Steve Earle pretty much fits

[lacrabclaw]

10:42 AM on 05/31/2010

I'm a Ramblin' Man by Waylon Jennings is what I meant to write! The Steve Earle stuff is more ecletic and better fits a guy like Dennis Hopper with that "no walls"mentality, they say "lets see where the next thing takes us..."

[jhb90277]

02:56 AM on 05/31/2010

"Just what is it that you want to do?

We wanna be free
We wanna be free to do what we wanna do
And we wanna get loaded
And we wanna have a good time
That's what we're gonna do
Away baby let's go
We're gonna have a good time
We're gonna have a party"

Peter Fonda in The Wild Angel

as sampled in Primal Scream's "Loaded"
-------------------------

well.....away baby, let's go!

[David Wild]

03:07 AM on 05/31/2010

Wow, a nice multi-generational call there

Thanks

[CiscoPike]

09:26 AM on 05/31/2010

also sampled by Mudhoney, before Primal Scream sampled it...

[cpad]

11:15 PM on 05/30/2010

Long May You Run - Neil Young
Souveniers - John Prine
Those Were The Days - Limeliters (They were my favorite group when I was a little girl, so I used their version.)

And thank you, David, for another great blog.

[David Wild]

03:07 AM on 05/31/2010

Thank you

Great power trio of songs -- the first two are among my faves

[CPAwADD]

09:50 AM on 05/31/2010

Love the Limeliters. My Dad's still a big folk fan.

[Patrick Perion]

09:08 PM on 05/30/2010

Okay I loved Dennis Hopper's work. Lets start someone David may have heard of.

I am I said- Neil Diamond
I'll go Crazy if I don't go Crazy Tonight- U2
Blue Suede Shoes- Elvis Presley
The Beast and the Harlot- Avenged Sevenfold
Gypsy Biker- Bruce Springsteen
All these things that I have done- The Killers
Limelight- Rush
Street Fighting Man- The Rolling Stones
Sin with a Grin- Shinedown
Peaceful Easy Feeling- The Eagles.
So Long Farewell- The Von Trapp Family

[cybolt]

12:12 AM on 05/31/2010

What a coincidence that you would select "So Long, Farewell." I used it for the Lost finale blog a week or so ago. Except.....

I used a different version. Keeping in mind the image of the well-scrubbed, white-bread kids in the castle singing the song, play this version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNG5EeIOeg

I thnink you'll get a kick out of it.

[Patrick Perion]

08:37 AM on 05/31/2010

Wow, thanks Cybolt, great version.

[David Wild]

03:08 AM on 05/31/2010

"Gypsy Biker" -- I would have never come up with that one

Nicely done

[iamstymie]

06:49 PM on 05/30/2010

You left out Roy's "In Dreams." Rookie mistake.
Stymie

[David Wild]

07:56 PM on 05/30/2010

Sorry