 The film's opening song is "The Ballad of Thunder Road," sung by Randy Sparks, a different arrangement of which was recorded by Mitchum and released as a popular 45 RPM single, also on Capitol.Both songs were co-written by Mitchum.Bruce Springsteen said at a 1978 concert that the name of his song "Thunder Road" had been inspired by seeing a poster of the movie, though he didn't see the movie itself.