20th Century Masters: Best Of Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B00005V8J3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
  • #15 in Music > Folk > Traditional Folk
  • #64 in Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Folk Noir before anyone called it that..., June 30, 2007

By 

John Grimlan "Grymlann" (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Best Of Phil Ochs (Audio CD)

This little compilation brings together on one CD some gems from the later years of one of America's finest folk singers, from a time near the end of his life where idealism had given way to disillusionment at the same time as his musical creativity was taking new and unexpected directions. This CD includes his apocalyptic folk masterpiece "The Crucifixion" in its original studio version from the "Pleasures Of The Harbor" LP, complete with dark, disturbing, and dissonant effects that anticipate similar stylistic element in contemporary dark folk artists like Darkwood and Current 93 by several decades. That track alone is worth the price of this CD.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music as relevant now as it was when it was written, August 27, 2011

By 

R. Banker (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Best Of Phil Ochs (Audio CD)

As one who was around in the 60's and still listens to Phil Ochs, I thought I'd set jblyn's record straight in showing that Phil's topical songs are more current than ever, so updateable with little effort- example, you'll find on youtube "Here's to the State of Sarah Palin" based on Phil's "Here's to the State of Mississippi" , that "White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land" only needs "Arab" substituting for "Yellow" to remain contemporary. The recent inner city riots in Britain makes "In the Heat of the Summer" both as politically and poetically insightful and relevant as ever. "Love me I'm a Liberal" 's payoff ending of "Sure once I was young and impulsive/ I wore every conceivable pin /Even went to the socialist meetings / Learned all the old union hymns / But I've grown older and wiser /And that's why I'm turning you in /So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal" is intensely relevant criticism of too many who sell their souls for material advantage. Yes, jblyn's review is mean minded and written under the influence of too many American cop shows and, no, the complete set of Phil's CDs is out there in the market place and the real problem is that Phil has been simply written out of history as does Martin Scorsese's otherwise excellent 'No Direction Home' Dylan biography does for Phil and all his folk contemoraries.

Back to business in reviewing this compilation, this largely covers Phil's later music and will invert the more usual listening progress of progressing from Phil's topical songs on which his reputation was founded (except I ain't Marching) but will reward the listener with an enquiring mind. "Flower Lady" is a sweetly musical lament to the lack of kindness in urban life, contrasting with the more upbeat "Cross My Heart" while 'Outside of A Small Circle of Friends" is a caustic political attack on apathy set to contrasting ragtime jazz background. "The War is Over" continues the antiwar theme of "I ain't Marching Anymore" (his signature tune and relevant then and now) .More disturbing but rewarding listening is "The Crucifixion" a timeless allegory of hero sacrifice set to a background of the London Symphony Orchestra on acid (The Beatles 'Day in the Life" was surely an influence) and Phil's chilling setting of urban desolation after the demonstation's finished in "William Butler Yeates" linking with 'Rehearsals for Retirement" marking the shattering of his hopes after the 1968 Chicago Convention riots. Most prescient for this age is the ironically rock and roll "Chords of Fame" singing about the destructive effects of celebrity (which Melanie's simple folk version outdoes). All in all, a good selection of songs which will amply repay further investigation.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of the 1960s and 70s, January 12, 2012

By 

SPF (Illinois) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: 20th Century Masters: Best Of Phil Ochs (Audio CD)

Phil Ochs is a lost treasure. IMO, far more talented than the much more famous Bob Dylan, his golden voice; beautiful, but often biting lyrics; and his guitar deserve much more attention than they have gotten. His songs of protest are as vital today as when he wrote them.