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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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Phil Ochs in Concert was Phil Ochs' third long player, released in 1966 on Elektra Records. Contrary to its title, it was not entirely live, as several tracks were actually recorded in the studio, owing to flaws in the live recordings made in Boston and New York City in late 1965 and early 1966, but it still retained the feel of a live album, including song patter and audience reactions. Featuring several of Ochs' most enduring songs, it was the culmination of Ochs' folk career, the last of his original albums to be all-acoustic.
"There But For Fortune", which originally opened side two of the LP set, is perhaps the best-known track. Already having been a minor hit for Joan Baez (whom Ochs jokingly credits with its authoring), the tale of fate encourages listeners to count themselves as fortunate should their lots in life be preferable to those of the character types mentioned in the track.
Perhaps the second most well known track, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal", is a sarcastic lament on the fairweather politics of mainstream U.S. liberals. It has been covered (almost always with updated lyrics) many times since its initial release.
The album featured one of Ochs' few love songs, "Changes", an ode pining for the life with his wife and daughter from which he had taken himself out of. "Bracero" was a scathing attack on the practice that let immigrants come from Mexico to work for a pittance. "Cannons of Christianity" attacked the somewhat hypocritical nature of churches and their leaders. "Cops of the World" painted a portrait of America as a nation builder that would do anything they pleased, expecting everybody else to comply. "Santo Domingo" depicts the 1965-66 U.S. occupation of the Dominican Republic as a ruthless imperialist adventure. "Ringing of Revolution" presents a utopic vision of proletarian conquest and was the inspiration for the song "Themselves" by San Pedro, California punk rock group the Minutemen. "I'm Gonna Say It Now", a tale told through the eyes of a young college student towards the adults running the college, was the humorous opener to the first side. The final song on the album, "When I'm Gone," is a first person affirmation (presumably that of Ochs himself) of the individual fighting for social justice.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Phil Ochs
The time listings for the original LP release of Phil Ochs in Concert were shorter than those shown on the CD reissue. In some instances, the CD includes additional patter between Ochs and the audience. The timings listed on the LP are wrong. Shown below are the actual times on the original release and the CD reissue.
- "I'm Going To Say It Now" (LP-3:10; CD-3:10)
- "Bracero" (LP-4:05; CD-4:07)
- "Ringing of Revolution" (LP-7:10; CD-7:19)
- "Is There Anybody Here" (LP-3:41; CD-3:27)
- "Cannons of Christianity" (LP-5:47; CD-6:02)
- "There But For Fortune" (LP-2:47; CD-2:52)
- "Cops of the World" (LP-4:48; CD-5:04)
- "(The Marines Have Landed on the Shores of) Santo Domingo" (LP-5:55; CD-5:58) (listed on LP as simply "Santo Domingo")
- "Changes" (LP-4:36; CD-4:45)
- "Love Me, I'm A Liberal" (LP-4:33; CD-4:37)
- "When I'm Gone" (LP-4:15; CD-4:19)
Participants
- Phil Ochs - guitar, vocals
- Jac Holzman and Mark Abramson - producers
- Arthur Gorson - concert producer