10 best phil ochs

Phil Ochs was an American folk singer-songwriter and political activist who rose to prominence during the 1960s. He is best known for his poignant and thought-provoking protest songs that addressed political and social issues of his time. Here's some information about Phil Ochs:

  1. Early Life and Career: Phil Ochs was born on December 19, 1940, in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in a musical family and began playing the guitar at an early age. Ochs attended Ohio State University but later transferred to the Staunton Military Academy.

  2. Musical Style: Ochs' music was deeply rooted in folk and protest traditions. His songs often featured acoustic guitar accompaniments and were characterized by powerful and socially conscious lyrics. He was considered one of the leading voices of the American protest song movement alongside artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

  3. Activism: Ochs was deeply committed to political activism and used his music as a platform to express his views on civil rights, the anti-war movement, and other social justice causes. Many of his songs, such as "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and "Draft Dodger Rag," were anthems of the anti-Vietnam War movement.

  4. Albums and Songs: Some of Ochs' notable albums include "Pleasures of the Harbor," "In Concert," and "Rehearsals for Retirement." His songs covered a wide range of topics, from civil rights ("Here's to the State of Mississippi") to labor struggles ("Links on the Chain") and war ("Cops of the World").

  5. Legacy: Phil Ochs' music and activism left a lasting impact on the folk music scene and the protest song tradition. He is remembered for his uncompromising stance on political issues and his willingness to use his art to advocate for social change.

  6. Personal Struggles: Despite his success as a songwriter and performer, Ochs faced personal and professional challenges. He struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism, which affected his career and personal life.

  7. Tragic End: Phil Ochs' life took a tragic turn when, in the mid-1970s, he experienced a severe physical assault in Africa, which resulted in vocal cord damage and affected his ability to sing. This incident, along with his ongoing personal struggles, led to a decline in his career and well-being.

  8. Death: Phil Ochs tragically died by suicide on April 9, 1976, in Far Rockaway, New York, at the age of 35.His passing marked the loss of a passionate and influential voice in the world of folk music and activism.

Phil Ochs' music and activism continue to resonate with those who appreciate the power of songwriting as a means of social and political commentary. He is remembered for his dedication to using music as a force for change during a tumultuous period in American history.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best phil ochs on the market
  

Best Of The Rest: Rare And Unreleased Recordings

Liberation Hall

Based on 59 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Phil Ochs is known primarily as a songwriter but his talents extend far beyond that - to short stories, poetry and satire. More than a torrent, less than a flood, the songs poured out of Phil so quickly that not all were able to find their place on his albums with some of those songs only emerging decades later.

The Warner/Chappell demos which make up the main portion of this represent a time period spanning Ochs' last two albums for Elektra when Phil was finding his full strength as a songwriter and moving to include the lyrical in his repertoire, alongside the topical and satirical.

Review

''Phil Ochs has one of those minds. He wrote with such clear thinking, his words lift boulders off hypocracy's hide, and his wit whittles the readers distractions into justice.''

Sean Penn

''Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan were the most important and influential musical voices of the Sixties protest movement that encompassed civil rights, anti-war, feminism, political reform, and a general questioning of blind faith in authority.''

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

''I grew up listening to Phil Ochs, and his music had as much to do with my political awakening as did reading Rachel Carson or Allen Ginsberg, listening to John Lennon or Joan Baez or being given a chance to laugh at all the madness via Hunter S. Thompson...''

Michael Moore

''Phil Ochs told the truth before it was ready to be accepted, before it was politically expedient. He was the kind of truth teller that made liberal allies nervous because his truth demanded an accountability to their own compromise...

Tim Robbins

''Phil Ochs was a tireless crusader for justice. He is one of the all-time great activist troubadours. With wit and fire, his songs skewered the evildoers of his day and remain perfect examples of how to fight the power with guitar in hand...''

Tom Morello

''Phil Ochs was a born writer. He played guitar because that was the language his generation was speaking. Today, his questioning voice chimes as clearly as it ever did.''

Billy Bragg

'' As much as has been written about the sixties, it's arguable that no one experienced that defining moment in American history more personally than Phil Ochs...'' --Steve Earle

I'm Gonna Say It Now: The Writings of Phil Ochs

Backbeat

Based on 34 reviews Check latest price

There But For Fortune

Elektra 0591

Based on 65 reviews Check latest price

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There But For Fortune by Phil Ochs

There But for Fortune: The Life of Phil Ochs

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Live Again

Rockbeat

Based on 48 reviews Check latest price

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Phil Ochs was a topical songwriter who was at the forefront of the folk music scene in the 1960'S-70'S. In the spring of 1973, he made a small U.S. tour that among other shows, included this stop at The Stables in East Lansing Michigan. This previously unreleased recording sparkles in performance and recording. It features a mix of tunes through the entirety of Phil's career in a generous program of eighteen songs. The disc also features Ballad of a Carpenter recorded in March of 1974 in Chicago. It is amazing that this gem of a recording has taken over forty years to be officially released!

20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Phil Ochs

A&M

Based on 38 reviews Check latest price

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20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Phil Ochs by Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune

Not Rated

Based on 76 reviews Check latest price

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As our country continues to embroil itself in foreign wars, Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune is a timely and relevant tribute to an unlikely American hero. Over the course of a meteoric music career that spanned two turbulent decades, Phil Ochs sought the bright lights of fame and social justice in equal measure - a contradiction that eventually tore him apart.

From youthful idealism to rage to pessimism, the arch of Ochs' life paralleled that of the times, and the anger, satire and righteous indignation that drove his music also drove him to dark despair. In this brilliantly constructed film, interview and performance footage of Ochs is illuminated by the ruminations of Joan Baez, Tom Hayden, Pete Seeger, Sean Penn, Peter Yarrow, Christopher Hitchens and others.

Review

Filled with passion, humor, idealism, intelligence and perfect songs. --L.A. Weekly



A terrific documentary. --The Hollywood Reporter



Essential.. A must-see! --Entertainment Weekly

The war is over: His songs and guitar arrangements, with interviews, photos, poetry, and comments

Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

All The News That's Fit To Sing

AUDIO CLARITY

Based on 41 reviews Check latest price

Death of a Rebel/a Biography of Phil Ochs

Based on 13 reviews Check latest price

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