Customer Reviews

All the News That's Fit to Sing

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This is my favorite of Phil Ochs's early, folk albums. While some of the songs are dated (he was a protest singer, after all), many have stood the test of time and are just as beautiful and moving today as they were all those years ago. Here, Phil offers many of his signature songs, such as Power and the Glory, which some have said suggested should be the new National Anthem. The song Celia is one of Phil's most uplifting and moving songs. Bound for Glory is a great tribute to Woody Guthrie, and despite being a bit dated, the Ballad of William Worthy is really funny (the song is about a man who was arrested for travelling to Cuba, which is still illegal, but there's a line in there about the dictatorship in Spain. Spain was under the rule of Francisco Franco when Phil wrote the song. Spain is a vibrant democracy today.). The political song What's That I Hear is still vibrant and vital, and I love the adaptation of The Bells. Phil took the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem and put it to music (another example of this is Phil's masterful song The Highwayman, which is on Phil's 2nd album I Ain't Marching Anymore. It is a poem by Alfred Noyes that Phil set to music).

Sometimes political stuff can date, especially if its too explicit and topical. Some songs do that here (and on Phil's 2nd album), but there is enough great music here to make up for this minor trangression, and Phil isn't shrill and preachy like many political artists/entertainers. He eventually stopped writing political material, and his last 4 albums are much more ambiguous and mysterious than his early work. This is the best example of his protest phrase, even though that phrase simplifies this album, which is about much more than politics. I miss Phil. I feel that politics eventually destroyed him. While his later work wasn't political, he still was actively engaged as late as 1972. But he eventually gave up music, politics, and life, and the rest of his life was a complete mess. He eventually hung himself. It was a true tragedy, as he was a great artist.

Phil Ochs experienced a rather tumultuous career, and to the world at large, only after his death has his immense talent been recognized for its rich value. I was completely captivated the very first time I heard this album - all of less than two months ago. The voice wasn't a typically smooth, polished gloss of studio fabrication. There weren't huge orchestrations. But those ingenious words and infectious passion hurled notes from the speakers that insisted on holding my ears hostage.

From the biographies that I've read, Phil Ochs was an extremely ardent man, and these songs are the proof in the pudding. "The Power and Glory" should, if it isn't already, be a staple of American folk music. The beginning guitar riff is simply awesome, like little sparks of magic that cast a spell over the listener. The words that follow are extremely patriotic, which may surprise some since many of the songs are quite anti-government. But that's the message: we don't have to agree with the government to appreciate the power and glory of our land. From the song, "Her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom. Her glory shall rest on us all."

"Talking Vietnam" could be perceived as a folk rap song. Phil's wicked sense of humor and keen political opinions combine to produce a sharp commentary on our then involvement in Vietnam. Even if you don't agree with his politics, it's hard to argue that his words are not marvelously profound. An excerpt:

"Sailing over to Vietnam,
Southeast Asian Birmingham.
Well training is the word we use,
Nice word to have in case we lose.
Training a million Vietnamese
To fight for the wrong government and the American Way."

A few verses later, speaking about then President Diem of South Vietnam:

"He said: `meet my sister, Madam Nhu
The sweetheart of Dien Bien Phu'
He said: `Meet my brothers, meet my aunts
With the government that doesn't take a chance.
Families that slay together, stay together.'

Said: `If you want to stay you'll have to pay
Over a million dollars a day.
But it's worth it all, don't you see?
If you lose the country you'll still have me.
Me and Syngman Rhee, Chiang Kai-shek, Madam Nhu.
Like I said on _Meet the Press_
"I regret that I have but one country to give for my life." ' "

Phil scored music to one of Edgar Allan Poe's most hauntingly beautiful poems, "The Bells," from 1849. The song is a perfect answer to those who claim that Phil was nothing more than a singing journalist. Amazingly, he propels his guitar to mimic bells. No doubt exists that Phil definitely did justice to Poe's spectacular poem. Poe would be impressed.

From the moving tribute to the legendary Woody Guthrie in "Bound for Glory," to the working man's lament in "Automation Song," to the anti-war sentiment in "One More Parade," to the encomium to the US submarine "The Thresher (which tragically sank in 1963, taking the lives of all 129 lives onboard)," and eleven more songs that one biographer says comprise what Phil called a musical newspaper, this is, the first solo album that introduced Phil Ochs to the world outside of the intimate circle of Greenwich Village. It showcased a luminous talent who never received the recognition he deserved. Phil would later branch out as his musical talents grew, but if you're new to the world of Phil Ochs or simply hunger for a slice of nourishing Americana, this is a delicious treat.

Phil Ochs/ All the News That's Fit to Sing: The cuts on this album are the very definition of Protest Songs (with a couple of love songs thrown in). At a time when Bob Dylan was leaving the directness of "masters of war" to paint profound pictures with his lyrics, Phil Ochs sharpened his own words into direct and savage weapons against the wrongs he saw in the world. Far from apologizing for his directness, he would go on to make yet another Classic album ("I Ain't Marching Anymore") which would be even more direct than this one. "All the News That's Fit to Sing" is a Masterpiece and belongs in the collection of every music fan worthy of the title.

Ochs wit and sensitivity exceeds that of his contemporaries. This is an exceptional collection of songs that evoke the spirit and feel of the early 60s. It is a classic that I listen to nearly every week. You will love it.

Originally, I had hoped to get the CD of this album, even though I worried about a lower sound quality, because there was a bonus song on the CD. "Bullets Of Mexico" was originally mistakenly added to a few original pressings of the album, in place of the song "Knock On The Door." I am happy to report that it has been added as a bonus track to this vinyl album as well, so it's the best of both worlds: the superior sound of analog-recorded songs on vinyl, as well as the relatively rare bonus track.

I already had about 1/2 of the album, both on the compilation collection "There But For Fortune," as well as on the boxed-set "Farewells and Fantasies." However, whoever picks-out the songs for inclusion on collections don't necessarily pick-out the best songs. I've been singing three songs in particular to myself ever since I discovered them, due to their memorable melody: "Celia," "Knock On The Door" and "Lou Marsh." Therefore, if you already have some of the songs, you'll be doing yourself a great favor by adding the entire album to your collection.

Great care has been taken in reproducing this album, which was manufactured by the good folks at Rhino Records. I would have preferred it had it been in mono, but Electra didn't engage in the severe separation of instruments that harms other stereo folk recordings, such as on the posthumously-released Phil Ochs album "A Toast To Those Who Are Gone."

Any and every Phil Ochs fan should own this album.

a CLIFFORD HODGE review

Phil Ochs died much too young and underappreciated. A folk/protest singer of the first magnitude, the equal of any American folk artist with his made-for-folk voice, the audacity of his lyrics make others seem tame. But Phil Ochs was not interested in selling millions of records and making billions of dollars; and in a way that's too bad, because if he had been, maybe more people would be familiar with his work today. "All The News..." has some of his finest, including, "One More Parade", an ironic piece which is nonetheless quite sincere in honoring the soldiers of the Viet Nam era, for he was quite careful about separating the soldiers from the war they were fighting. "The Bells," is a peaceful, mesmerizing song that was inspired by the Poe poem. Ochs had a talent for melody nearly unmatched in American folk music of the 60's, and aside from Tim Buckley, in order to find comparisons for the sheer beauty of his songs you have to turn to the UK and people like Nick Drake or Roy Harper. This will appeal if you like Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, and a broader pop music genre. Imagine the smooth-throated vocals of Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole with a bit of an edge added for the protest style, and you have Phil Ochs. But ultimately the FM stations decided Phil Ochs' music was not among all the music that was fit to play, and he did not get exposure commensurate with the quality of his music. Phil's brother Michael is the same Michael Ochs you see cited for so many rock documentaries. Michael has what is conceded to be the largest record collection in the world. I heard 60,000 albums around 1984; I'd guess he's hit 6 figures by now. You better get busy working on that record and CD collection. After you buy this one, get "Chords of Fame" a compilation album. I rank it as one of my top 10 U.S. folk albums, with "All The News..." just outside the top 10.

I love Phil Ochs. I could listen to his beautiful voice and funny/meaningful verse. He was a great singer and I miss him.