Phil Ochs
Play Radio
Listen to Phil Ochs Radio,
featuring artists like Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Cisco Houston, Dave Van Ronk and more…
-
Search on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
916,454 plays (83,984 listeners)
Philip David Ochs (pronounced /ˈoʊks/) (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and released eight albums in his lifetime.
Ochs performed at many political events, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a “left social democrat” who became an “early revolutionary” after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.
After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs’s mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including bipolar disorder and alcoholism, and took his own life in 1976.
Some of Ochs’s major influences were Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, John Wayne, and John F. Kennedy. His best-known songs include “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”, “Changes”, “Crucifixion”, “Draft Dodger Rag”, “Love Me I’m a Liberal”, “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”, “Power and the Glory”, “There but for Fortune”, and “The War Is Over”.
Ochs performed at many political events, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a “left social democrat” who became an “early revolutionary” after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.
After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs’s mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including bipolar disorder and alcoholism, and took his own life in 1976.
Some of Ochs’s major influences were Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, John Wayne, and John F. Kennedy. His best-known songs include “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”, “Changes”, “Crucifixion”, “Draft Dodger Rag”, “Love Me I’m a Liberal”, “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”, “Power and the Glory”, “There but for Fortune”, and “The War Is Over”.
Shouts:
133 shouts
Top Albums
-
I Ain't Marching Anymore
Phil Ochs
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $13.77
- eBay Search
-
There But For Fortune
Phil Ochs Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $10.49
- 7digital $11.99
- iTunes $10.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $204.38
- eBay Search
-
Pleasures Of The Harbor
Phil Ochs Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.92
- 7digital $7.99
- iTunes $7.92
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
All The News That's Fit To Sing
Phil Ochs Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $14.84
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
-
allisonmichele wrote:
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune has been playing on PBS American Masters, for those who want to look up the schedule and try to catch it. SO good, absolutely worth looking into!
-
exoapollo wrote:
So damned good
-
RGJandM wrote:
Just watched documentary on PBS. Was college age in the 60's/70's but don't remember Phil Ochs. Don't know how I missed him. I just couldn't help but tear up after the show. Such a loss of a young, important life.
-
allisonmichele wrote:
Happy birthday, Phil. <3
-
peeves111 wrote:
True...I do love both. I think Phil Ochs overall was more talented then Dylan. Dylan was just more mainstream and well known......for whatever reason.
-
idastik wrote:
just one word: great!
-
ShredsofFlesh wrote:
Let me re-phrase that . They are both great songwriters, but when it comes to actual singing talent, Ochs just blows Dylan out of the water .
-
ShredsofFlesh wrote:
So much better than Bob Dylan... he had an amazing voice, while Bob... well... he doesn't .
-
AsILayFleecing wrote:
Ochs was every bit as good of a songwriter as Dylan. To me they are equals. Both could grasp nearly every emotion you could ever feel and put it into something fantastic.
-
LLettiere wrote:
People that push music further is always called a sell out. Bob Dylan was not a sell out haha. Get your head checked. They are both excellent but I feel Dylan is just a much higher caliber.
-
podgethebastard wrote:
legend
-
Harliquensfly wrote:
Dylan was a sell out, Ochs is a god.
-
Rigel90 wrote:
Dylan? Dylan is good, right, but in comparison with Phil - Dylan is nobody. Phil was Dylan's buddy, but Dylan treated him like a dirt. Phil is not the best songwriter - he's one of the best american poets. Period!
-
tidawilson wrote:
the world would be a better place if more people listened to him [2]
-
peeves111 wrote:
I love you forever Phil
-
Dunegase wrote:
Please, vote up!
-
Bryanakd1994 wrote:
Un cantautor consciente y definitivamente más determinado que Dylan pero tristemente subestimado. A veces la vida no es justa....
-
Zvyer wrote:
I Ain't Marching Anymore
-
taintlesslord wrote:
hi ... free music an album being sold for bail money will be available soon 0.o
-
worst_astronaut wrote:
incredible
Videos
See more
Listening Now
Top Listeners
-
aymama2011
Top Listener
-
fourpointthree
Top Listener
-
angendil
Top Listener
-
DnnsFrdnnds
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
tarmour51, mcnuggetjesus, Pap12345 and 23 other people added Phil Ochs to their libraries. 7 hours ago
-
youngblunt updated the Chinese wiki page for Phil Ochs. (diff) last month
-
youngblunt created the Chinese wiki page for Phil Ochs. last month
-
mikepixton, orrelax, georgenenielsen and 17 other people added Phil Ochs to their libraries. last month
-
Bulldozhka579 tagged Phil Ochs with ‘60s’. last month
-
GlitzMachine, Rei_Mond, HorstKrannich and 7 other people added Phil Ochs to their libraries. last month
-
Alainn tagged Phil Ochs with ‘spotify’. last month
-
ronlevine, camdpolyphony, Wizenhymer and 2 other people added Phil Ochs to their libraries. last month
-
SadmanAlex tagged Phil Ochs with 60s, protest music and singer-songwriter. last month
-
floskii, bobhiggsisgreat, LauraleeSleep and 20 other people added Phil Ochs to their libraries. last month
Related Journals
-
things to check out
by kmullin |
26 Nov 2011
-
Playlist for Things that Are Square on KUCI 9/22/11
by Wormwood37 |
23 Sep 2011
-
Famous Dead Musicians/Artists and Causes of Death (Pt 1, Age 16-36)
by thomas10 |
23 Jul 2011
| 27 comments
Groups (54)
-
Phil Ochs Documentary
102 members
-
Phil Ochs
58 members
-
Extensive Musical Taste
33,458 members
-
Celtic and Folk stuff
2,252 members
-
Commies
1,127 members
More Information
- Links
- Labels
Email Newsletter
Get exclusive tour, release & promotion updates on Phil Ochs from Universal Music.
