Phil Ochs

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Amos
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 09:59 AM

No-one from that era passed untouched by his music; he was one of "the" voices of the period, and he wrote inspiring songs, and sang a lot better than Dylan.

Your son deserves congratulations!!

A

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 09:06 AM

I saw Phil Ochs several times in Greenwich Village in the early 60's. That was the starting point of their careers for Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Dave Van Ronk, Peter LaFarge, Noel Stookey, Lou Gossett, Fred Neil, Len Chandler, Richie Havens, and even Peter Tork(who became a Monkey.) They were playing in small coffee houses, and just starting to record. Of all those performers, Ochs was by far the least comfortable. I respected him for his songwriting and the intensity of his commitment to the anti-war movement, but I found him
almost impossible to sit and listen to for more than a couple of songs. Of the other performers listed above, they all seemed far more comfortable and accessible as people. It was a tragedy that Ochs didn't seem capable of relaxing or just enjoying the moment. Even Dylan, who was so nervous that it looked like he was hooked up to a low voltage wire seemed more relaxed and communicative than Phil. I probably would have enjoyed Och's music more if I had never seen him perform. I didn't see him after he achieved more fame, so I don't know how he was later in his time.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 09:04 AM

I've got a copy of "Tape From California" on a reel-to-reel tape, and, yes, I have a reel-to-reel tape recorder/player. Might have some of his lyrics and music in one of the anthologies. Somewhere I remember having an LP of "I ain't a-marchin' anymore" too, but all my LPs are in storage right now and I can't get to them.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: harvey andrews
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 07:22 AM

Meant to say good luck to your son. It sounds a fascinating project and I hope it succeeds in turning some young people to the work of one of the greats.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: harvey andrews
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 07:21 AM

Phil stayed with me on his first British tour. He was sane, very pleasant, and loved my mother's cooking. We sat up till late at night playing mostly Buddy Holly records. He did a great concert in Nottingham the night before. He signed my visitors book "Phil Ochs. Hanoi"
On stage I understand the above quote about him being uncomfortable. An audience member shouted out a couple of times for "The Thresher", Phil told him to stop being disrespectful! The temperature in the auditorium dropped a couple of points. However, as said, the songs were great and can only be judged in the context of the times.
I read about his suicide on a train and wrote "Song for Phil Ochs" which I recorded on my "Someday" album in the 70's.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 07:06 AM

There was a BBC [ I think ] film about Phil, which has some actual footage of Phil. It is a docu drama called The Chords of Fame. A
brilliant performance from Bill Burnett as Phil, interviews with Mike Porco, Dave Van Ronk, Pete Seeger and a host of others notably Jerry
Rubin who tried his best to help Phil. It also had interviews with Phils brother and his daughter Meegan who had a premonition of her fathers death. Luckily I taped it at the time of broadcast.
Find it if you can, it really is very good. What a tragedy for Phil to feel so bad that he had to end his life.
Blessings, Dave

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 06:57 AM

I saw Phil Ochs in February of 1968, at the Kresge Auditorium of MIT. He was not a very good performer, as I recall, visibly uncomfortable on stage, no connection or communication with the audience other than the music, which he more or less rushed through. He was not a particularly good guitarist or singer. He rocked woodenly back and forth, shifting his weight from leg to leg arhythmically, which distracted considerably from the attention one wanted to pay to the music. He either mumbled between songs, or said nothing and just proceeded into the next number.

There was no hint of another "presence" though, he just wasn't at home in front of the audience. None of which, of course, bears on the fact that his best writing ("Changes" is my favorite - "Crucifixion" is a wonderful poem, but probably shouldn't be a song) is unmatched, (and the rest of his stuff can approach abysmal and pretentious).

The next night, as luck would have it, I saw Tom Paxton, who was (and still is) a consummate performer, who was (or appeared to be) totally comfortable onstage, in full command of his music and the audience. Saw him a year ago, and it was like no time had passed, he'd just added more lovely fun & music.

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 05:40 AM

I never saw Phil Ochs, alas, but there's an excellent biography of him called "There But For Fortune: The Life Of Phil Ochs" by Michael Schumacher, publ. Hyperion, New York (though I don't know if it's still in print). The John B. Train section makes chilling reading.

Jazzy, your son's theatre project sounds fascinating and highly worthwhile. I hope he's able to get some good exposure for it. Does he plan to capture it on film or video? Keep us posted on what happens -

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 03:57 AM

In the sixties a choir of German origin visited Germany and my hometown; their friendly leader was a Mr. Ochs. I don't know whether he was the Phil in question, but I still remember the fine German and English songs and the funny accent of the leader when speaking German.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 03:06 AM

Have you seen the songbook, "The War is Over", published by Barricade Music in 1968? (The cover price on my copy is $3.95!) A couple of dozen songs (including the complete text of "Crucifixion"), photos, the Broadside interview from 1965, essays by and about Phil, and some other strange stuff. A treasure!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Phil Ochs
From: GUEST,the dafty
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:51 AM

no

Subject: Phil Ochs
From: Jazzyjack
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:20 AM

When my son Zach was 10, he had a book with the poem " The Highwayman " in it and he was fascinated by the picture of the highwayman racing along the road on his horse. I then told him that I had that poem put to music by a folksinger I had admired and seen twice in concert named Phil Ochs. He listened to it over and over.

Well now he is about to graduate with a theatre degree and for his final project, he has obtained the script for a one man show called " the Ballad of Phil Ochs ". As you may know, Phil Ochs was manic-depressive and actually developed a second persona, calling himself John Train who was a very negative and abusive character. On stage in the 70's, Ochs would slide back and forth between these characters and this is the basis for the play. We all now know that Ochs hung himself in 1976 leaving some of the greatest social commentary folk songs ever written.

Zach does a very admirable job imitating Phil Ochs. He tricked me on the phone as he played the intro lick to " I Ain't Marching Anymore " and started to sing it. I was certain it was Phil himself. Zach intends to take this show to Canadian fringe festivals eventually. He has obtained from eBay, rare film footage of Ochs on TV shows and in small concerts that have made me appreciate how talented Phil Ochs really was and why I was drawn to him as a young man. Of course what is really cool is seeing my own son find that same passion for his music. Zach and I do some open stages together and he always includes an Ochs' tune.

How many of you have seen Phil Ochs live or have some remebrance of his life or music ?