All the News That's Fit to Sing
Encyclopedia
All The News That's Fit to Sing was Phil Ochs
' first official album. Recorded in 1964 for Elektra Records
, it was full of many elements that would come back throughout his career. It was the album that defined his "singing journalist" phase, strewn with songs whose roots were allegedly pulled from Newsweek
magazine. It is one in a long line of folk
albums used to tell stories about everyday struggles and hardships.
Among these stories was that of William Worthy, an American journalist who traveled to Cuba in spite of an embargo on the country who was forbidden to return to the United States. Civil rights figures Medgar Evers
and Emmett Till
were lionized in "Too Many Martyrs" (alternatively known as "The Ballad of Medgar Evers".) Two "talking blues" using the melody to the old folk song "John Hardy" jabbed sarcastic at Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
, "The Bells", was set to music. "The Thresher" was an ode to the sinking of the nuclear-powered American submarine
, the USS Thresher
: "And she'll always run silent/And she'll always run deep." Also included was one of Ochs' widest known songs, "Power and the Glory".
The title references the motto of The New York Times
, "All the news that's fit to print." The Times was founded by Adolph Ochs (no relation to Phil), so this may be a joke or allusion
to the coincidence.
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
' first official album. Recorded in 1964 for Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, it was full of many elements that would come back throughout his career. It was the album that defined his "singing journalist" phase, strewn with songs whose roots were allegedly pulled from Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine. It is one in a long line of folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
albums used to tell stories about everyday struggles and hardships.
Among these stories was that of William Worthy, an American journalist who traveled to Cuba in spite of an embargo on the country who was forbidden to return to the United States. Civil rights figures Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers
Medgar Wiley Evers was an African American civil rights activist from Mississippi involved in efforts to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi...
and Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Emmett Louis "Bobo" Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married...
were lionized in "Too Many Martyrs" (alternatively known as "The Ballad of Medgar Evers".) Two "talking blues" using the melody to the old folk song "John Hardy" jabbed sarcastic at Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, "The Bells", was set to music. "The Thresher" was an ode to the sinking of the nuclear-powered American submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
, the USS Thresher
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
The second USS Thresher was the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarines in the United States Navy. Her loss at sea during deep-diving tests in 1963 is often considered a watershed event in the implementation of the rigorous submarine safety program SUBSAFE.The contract to build...
: "And she'll always run silent/And she'll always run deep." Also included was one of Ochs' widest known songs, "Power and the Glory".
The title references the motto of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, "All the news that's fit to print." The Times was founded by Adolph Ochs (no relation to Phil), so this may be a joke or allusion
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
to the coincidence.
Track listing
All songs by Phil Ochs unless otherwise noted.- "One More Parade" (P. Ochs, B. Gibson) – 3:00
- "The ThresherUSS Thresher (SSN-593)The second USS Thresher was the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarines in the United States Navy. Her loss at sea during deep-diving tests in 1963 is often considered a watershed event in the implementation of the rigorous submarine safety program SUBSAFE.The contract to build...
" – 2:50 - "Talkin' Vietnam" – 3:38
- "Lou Marsh" – 4:04
- "Power and the GloryPower and the GloryPower & the Glory is the fifth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1983 . This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Biff Byford - vocals*Graham Oliver - guitar...
" – 2:15 - "Celia"– 3:08)
- "The BellsThe Bells"The Bells" is a heavily onomatopoeic poem by Edgar Allan Poe which was not published until after his death in 1849. It is perhaps best known for the diacopic repetition of the word "bells." The poem has four parts to it; each part becomes darker and darker as the poem progresses from "the jingling...
" (E. A. Poe, with musical adaptation by P. Ochs) – 3:00 - "Automation Song" – 2:08
- "Ballad of William WorthyWilliam WorthyWilliam Worthy, Jr. is an African-American journalist, civil rights activist, and dissident who pressed his right to travel regardless of U.S. State Department regulations.-Education:...
" – 2:15 - "Knock on the Door" – 2:47
- "Talkin' Cuban CrisisCuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
" – 2:40 - "Bound for Glory" – 3:15
- "Too Many Martyrs" (Ochs, Gibson) – 2:46
- "What's That I Hear" – 2:00
- "Bullets of Mexico" – 2:34 - bonus track on CD
Participants
- Phil Ochs – first guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Danny KalbDanny KalbDanny Kalb is an American blues guitarist, and was one of the original members of the 1960s group, Blues Project.-Life and career:...
– second guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
– harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on "Bound For Glory" (uncredited) - Paul A. Rothchild – recording director
- Jac Holzman – production supervisor
External links
- Liner notes from CD reissue by Richie Unterberger