1971 Bittersweet Classic With Soulful Soundtrack Ranked Among Greatest Rock Movies
Harold and Maude, Hal Ashby's 1971 film with an iconic and emotionally resonant soundtrack, took a beat to find its audience. But now that it has, the bittersweet cult classic - an unconventional romance and sublimely dark comedy - has just been named the greatest rock movie of 1971 by Ultimate Classic Rock.
Adapted from Colin Higgins' novel of the same name, Harold and Maude follows the unlikely bond between an 19-year-old obsessed with death and the free spirited 79-year-old woman who helps him rediscover a reason to live. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon star, bringing both emotional depth and offbeat charisma to Ashby's darkly funny meditation on love, mortality, freedom, and connection.
Perhaps the best thing about the film - and the reason it's achieved cult status - is its brilliant soul-stirring soundtrack, crafted by Yusuf/Cat Stevens. Defining the emotional tone, Stevens included tracks from his hit Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman albums, while also writing original material for the film. Two of the movie's best songs, "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" and "Don't Be Shy," serve as the film's "Greek chorus."
In a bit of fun Harold and Maudemovie trivia, Ashby actually didn't want to direct from the outset, because he didn't think the film could be humorous, telling producers, "I can make this movie as funny as the Vietnam War." Meanwhile, Stevens wasn't the first choice for the music. Elton John was. Ashby wanted John as his leading man, too, but John passed, suggesting pal Cat Stevens for the music gig.
When Harold and Maude hit theaters in December 1971, the film flopped due its unconventional nature - not to mention it was fighting cinematic giants like Dirty Harry and James Bond for ticket buyers. Over time, however, the odd couple found their audience, with a boost from Steven's timeless soundtrack, which was finally released in 2007 as a soundtrack LP on filmmaker and music aficionado Cameron Crowe's own Vinyl Films label.
These days, the soundtrack is available as a reissue limited edition, complete with alternate and instrumental track versions, film dialogue, and Gordon's vocal. You can get your hands on it here. Which we highly recommend, as reliving the timeless celebration of love between Harold, Maude, and Stevens is exactly what this crazy world needs right now.
Harold and Maude is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
Related: 1987 Tearjerker With a No. 1 Hit Soundtrack Ranked Among Best Rock Movies of All Time
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM.