Phil Ochs in Concert
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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...
' third long player, released in 1966 on 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....
. 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
There but for Fortune (song)
"There but for Fortune" is a song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. singer-songwriter from the 1960s. Ochs wrote the song in 1963. He recorded it twice, for New Folks Volume 2 and Phil Ochs in Concert...
", which originally opened side two of the LP set, is perhaps the best-known track. Already having been a minor hit for Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
(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
Love Me, I'm a Liberal
"Love Me, I'm a Liberal" is a satirical song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer. Originally released on his 1966 live album, Phil Ochs in Concert, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" was soon one of Ochs's most popular concert staples...
", 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
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group the Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
. "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 OchsThe 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 GorsonArthur GorsonArthur Gorson, also known as Arthur H. Gorson is a film and record producer. He also has experience as a cinematographer, screenwriter, cameraman and composer. As a record producer, he produced over 20 albums for major labels with artists such as Golden Earring, Phil Ochs and Tom Rush. His...
- concert producer