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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There But For Fortune

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There but for Fortune was a 1989 compilation that summed up the three albums that Phil Ochs recorded for Elektra Records between 1964 and 1966. The album drew heavily from the third, presenting ten of its eleven tracks, and presenting six and five respectively from the first and second.

The compact disc edition omits three tracks, two from the first album and one from the second. Both editions lop off a few introductions on the "In Concert" album.

A cover version of "There But For Fortune" by Joan Baez became a top-ten hit in the UK in 1965. Somewhat irritated by her greater success with the song, Ochs sometimes introduced it as "by Joan Baez" in his live performances.

Track listing

All songs by Phil Ochs unless otherwise noted.

  1. "What's That I Hear?"– 2:01
  2. "One More Parade" (P. Ochs, B. Gibson) – 3:18
  3. "Too Many Martyrs" – 2:48
  4. "The Bells" (Edgar Allan Poe with musical interpretation by P. Ochs) – 3:00 +
  5. "Bound for Glory" – 3:15 +
  6. "The Power and the Glory" – 2:16
  7. "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore" – 2:34
  8. "Draft Dodger Rag" – 2:10
  9. "In the Heat of the Summer" – 3:01 +
  10. "The Highwayman" (A. Noyes with musical interpretation by P. Ochs) – 5:39
  11. "Here's to the State of Mississippi"– 5:53
  12. "There But for Fortune" – 2:45
  13. "I'm Going to Say It Now" – 2:54
  14. "Is There Anybody Here" – 3:28
  15. "Cops of the World" – 5:04
  16. "Ringing of Revolution" – 7:13
  17. "Santo Domingo" – 5:59
  18. "Bracero" – 4:10
  19. "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" – 4:35
  20. "Changes" – 4:40
  21. "When I'm Gone" – 4:13

+=omitted from CD edition.

Participants

  • Phil Ochs - guitar, vocals
  • Danny Kalb - guitar (1-6 only)
  • Jac Holzman - producer
  • Paul A. Rothchild - recording supervisor (1-11 only)
  • Mark Abramson - producer (12-21 only)

Source listing