- Phil Ochs (RIP 1976) -- vocals, guitar

- none known

Genre: folk

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  I Ain't Marching Any More

Company: Elektra

Catalog: EKL-287 (mono); EKS-7287

Year: 1965

Country/State: El Paso, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: 'RAVA' in black magic marker on the flip side; mono pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 

Price: $25.00

Normally I'm not a big fan of folks advocating a strident political or social agenda.  That said, 1965's "I Ain't Marching Anymore" is one of those rare exceptions.  Phil Ochs second release for Elektra, the album may sound somewhat dated, but stands as one of the better Dylan-influenced anti-war releases.  Like the debut, tracks like 'In the Heat of the Summer', ''That was the President and 'Here’s to the State of Mississippi' retained a clear activist streak, but Ochs showed marked creative growth and confidence throughout. While nothing here was likely to get you up on a dance floor, these acoustics numbers (normally just Ochs and guitar)  proved surprisingly melodic with 'Iron Lady' and '' generating considerable energy.  Ochs also differed from many of his contemporaries in that he wasn't above taking pot shots at his liberal contemporaries and it's institutions ('Links on the Chain').  'Draft Dodger Rag' was a searing commentary on America's privileged classes.  The ability to occasional display a sense of humor made a big difference ...  Elsewhere Elektra tapped 'I Ain’t Marching Anymore' b/w 'That was the President' (Elektra catalog number ???) as a single.  Though it never got within a mile of radio airplay, it was one of the first anti-war 45s to get widespread public exposure and a stream of criticism from conservatives.  The album wasn't perfect.  Ochs originals like 'The Highwayman' (okay it was an adaptation of an Alfred Noyes poem) were simply ponderous, while 'The Hills of West Virginia' and 'The Man Behind the Guns' were boring and self-righteous.     

In case anyone's curious, here's a link to a YouTube performance of 'I AIn't Marching Anymore':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pgrKSwFJE

"I'm Not Marching Any More" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I Ain’t Marching Anymore  (Phil Ochs) - 2:32

2.) In the Heat of the Summer  (Phil Ochs) - 3:01

3.) Draft Dodger Rag  (Phil Ochs) - 2:07

4.) That’s What I Want to Hear  (Phil Ochs) - 3:06

5.) That was the President  (Phil Ochs) - 3:20

6.) Iron Lady  (Phil Ochs) - 3:30

7.) The Highwayman  (Alfred Noyes - Phil Ochs) - 5:36

(side 2)

1.) Links on the Chain  (Phil Ochs) - 4:18

2.) The Hills of West Virginia  (Phil Ochs) - 3:21

3.) The Man Behind the Guns  (John Rooney - Phil Ochs) - 3:00

4.) Talking Birmingham Jam  (Phil Ochs) - 3:08

5.) The Ballad of the Carpenter   (Ewan MacColl) - 3:50

6.) Days of Decision  (Phil Ochs) - 3:12

7.) Here’s to the State of Mississippi  (Phil Ochs) - 5:52

Genre: folk

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Phil Ochs In Concert

Company: Elektra

Catalog: EKL-310

Year: 1966

Country/State: El Paso, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor staining on white parts of cover; small cut out hole top right corner; mono pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4398

Price: $10.00

Looking at the album title most of you have probably already figured out that this is a live set.  Co-produced by Mark Abramson and Jac Holzman, the cleverly titled "Phil Ochs In Concert" captured eleven previously unreleased tracks that were supposedly recorded during a series of 1965 - 1966 concerts in Boston and New York City.  I say supposedly because the set's been dogged by rumors that these were actually studio recordings that were subsequently overdubbed with audience applause.  I have no idea what the true story is, though the quality of Och's performances were so good you had to wonder if they were indeed live.  For a set that's just Ochs and his guitar, highly politicized material such as 'I'm Afraid To Say It Now', 'Is There Anyone Here? ' and 'Canons of Christianity' was surprisingly impressive.  Och's voice was in fine shape - and in spite of the political and social platitudes it's easy to forget what a sweet and commercial tenor he owned, though spread over two sides, the anti-US rhetoric started to get boring.  On the other hand, for a guy who billed himself as a leftist journalist (didn't Bob Dylan kick his ass once?), Ochs was surprisingly funny - check out his between songs stage patter ('Ringing of Revolution') to say nothing of having the balls to write and perform a song entitled 'Love Me, I'm a Liberal'.  As is so often the case, in the wake of Ochs passing, listening to the set is a weird experience; especially on a song as prophetic 'When I'm Gone'. 

"Phil Ochs In Concert" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I'm Afraid To Say It Now   (Phil Ochs)  - 2:46

2.) Bracero  (Phil Ochs) - 3:57

3.) Ringing of Revolution   (Phil Ochs)- 5:30

4.) Is There Anyone Here?   (Phil Ochs)- 3:17

5.) Canons of Christianity  (Phil Ochs) - 4:23

(side 2)

1.) There But for Fortune  (Phil Ochs) - 2:35

2.) Cops of the World  (Phil Ochs) - 4:45

3.) Santo Domingo  (Phil Ochs) - 3:48

4.) Changes  (Phil Ochs) - 4:30

5.) Love Me, I'm a Liberal  (Phil Ochs) - 3:46

6.) When I'm Gone  (Phil Ochs) - 3:51

Genre: folk-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Pleasures of the Harbor

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4133

Year: 1967

Country/State: El Paso, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5204

Price: $25.00

Cost: $66.00

Released by A&M Records, 1967's "Pleasures of the Harbor" found Phil Ochs ending his three year/three album relationship with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records.  The album also marked a major departure from Ochs earlier folkie catalog.  Produced by Larry Marks, tracks such as 'Flower Lady', the bizarre upbeat Kitty Genovese inspired 'Outside of a Small Circle of Friends' and the lounge act-ish 'The Party' underscored Ochs distinctive personal, social and political visions, but largely abandoned his earlier barebones acoustic settings in favor of heavily orchestrated arrangements.  Clearly inspired by Dylan's move to an electric sound and other fundamental changes in popular music, the results were at best mixed.  On tracks like 'Cross My Heart' and the title track Ian Freebairn-Smith's string and keyboard arrangements frequently threatened to drown out Ochs' fragile vocals.  With four of the eight tracks clocking in at over seven minutes Ochs also managed to cram a lot of verbiage into his songs - 'Flower Lady' sports at least seven versus.  Longwinded ('I've Head Her' seems never ending) and occasionally sophomoric some of the tracks simply haven't aged too well.  Still there was no doubt that the album served as Ochs most varied and impressive effort.  Standout tracks included his jarring electronic eulogy to John F. Kennedy ('The Crucifixion') and the surprisingly catchy Dixieland flavored 'Miranda'.   Elsewhere A&M tapped the album for two quickly forgotten singles:

- 1967's 'Flower Lady' b/w 'Cross My Heart' (A&M catalog number 881)

- 1967's 'Outside of a Small Circle of Friends' b/w 'Miranda' (A&M catalog number 891)

Sporting a lyric that included the phrase 'smoking marijuana is more fun than drinking beer' it shouldn't have come as a major surprise to A&M executives when the second 45 was banned by virtually every radio station in the country.

(Since he recorded the album in Los Angeles, I've always wondered about the winter gear cover photo ...) 

"Pleasures of the Harbor" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Cross My Heart   (Phil Ochs) - 3:23

2.) Flower Lady   (Phil Ochs) - 6:06

3.) Outside of a Small Circle of Friends   (Phil Ochs) - 3:37

4.) I've Had Her   (Phil Ochs) - 8:03

5.) Miranda   (Phil Ochs) - 5:17

(side 2)

1.) The Party   (Phil Ochs) - 7:57

2.) Pleasures of the Harbor   (Phil Ochs) - 8:05

3.) The Crucifixion   (Phil Ochs) - 8:45

Sadly Ochs was only 36 when he hung himself in April of 1976.