Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs was under-appreciated during his lifetime but, over 30 years since his death, he is still cited by many as being an influence on their music, their politics and their careers. A contemporary and friend of Bob Dylan, although Phil never achieved the commercial success he craved, he led a generation through probably the most politically turbulent decade the world has ever seen.

Ultimately, Phil's internal turbulence proved too much for him, but he left us with a legacy of songs which are as relevant today, as they were when they were first written, 45 years ago.

For more information about Phil, please read the biography.

Phil Ochs Inspires Us Still

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A Toast To Those Who Are Gone

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A Toast To Those Who Are Gone was a 1986 compilation of recordings that Phil Ochs made in the early-to-mid 1960s, mostly between his contracts with Elektra Records and A&M Records. In line with recordings made on the former, Ochs espouses his left-leaning views on civil rights on songs like "Ballad of Oxford", "Going Down To Mississippi" and "Colored Town", his views on worker's rights on "No Christmas in Kentucky", his attack on the American Medical Association on "A.M.A. Song", and the unwilling hero (perhaps Ochs himself) on the title track.

The CD carried an extra track, "The Trial", and the liner notes were by noted Ochs fan Sean Penn.

Track listing

All songs by Phil Ochs.

  1. "Do What I Have To Do" – 2:36
  2. "The Ballad of Billie Sol" – 2:24
  3. "Colored Town" – 3:00
  4. "A.M.A. Song" – 2:17
  5. "William Moore" – 3:07
  6. "Paul Crump" – 3:34
  7. "Going Down To Mississippi" – 3:04
  8. "I'll Be There" – 2:10
  9. "Ballad of Oxford (Jimmy Meredith)"  – 2:51
  10. "No Christmas in Kentucky" – 3:04
  11. "A Toast to Those Who Are Gone" – 3:31
  12. "I'm Tired" – 2:20
  13. "City Boy" – 1:58
  14. "Song of my Returning" – 5:17
  15. "The Trial" – 2:44 (Bonus track on CD only)

Participants

  • Phil Ochs – guitar, vocals
  • A. N. Other – bass, piano, guitar, mandolin