Customer Reviews

Early Years

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This album is awsome. I got it the first day it was out and i was thrilled. this will please any Ochs fan unless you already own live at newport(it has all those songs plus 2 unreleased songs plus 2 or 3 others you've probobly never heard of)Sorry if you got newport instead you got jacked. Buy this album NOW P.S.all Phil Ochs cds are 5 stars

The non concert tracks sees Phil at his quietly persuasive in addressing the civil rights causes of the day, an early cut of 'There but for Fortune',Phil's equal exercise in universality to Dylan's 'Blowing in the wind' plus his totally hilarious standout studio cut 'Talking Airplane Disaster.'The 1963/1964 appearances at Newport show slightly different words to studio songs which flower in the rapturous applause building up by 'Links on the Chain.'With one exception, you see Phil in 1966 preview in acoustic form much more personal songs later cut in 'Pleasures from the Harbour'.They are valid alternatives in acoustic setting,and 'Cross my Heart' gains from this setting.

This recording is a pretty good compilation of Phil Ochs'early recordings. Although I was disappointed at the short, live version of "I Ain't Marching Anymore" this is a CD worth having for anyone who wants a sample of his early works and doesn't want to pay for a multiple-CD set.

I'll admit that I only starting listening to Ochs after 1966 and was somewhat unfamiliar with his earlier works. This CD gave me an appreciation for the breadth of his songs. Of course, it was good nostalgia, too.

This is classic Phil Ochs - polititcal songs, philosophical songs and humorous songs. I particularly enjoyed "Draft Dodger Rag" and the "Airplane" song. A number of songs here are included on other CD's but they are more acoustic versions. Although I thought I knew all of Phil's material, there were some songs that I had not heard before.

Amazing album. Phil Ochs is truly one of the most important musicians of all time- his talent for playing the guitar pailed in comparison to his talent for writing eloquent, meaningful, hard-hitting topical songs. Despite being effectively black-balled by the entertainment industry/socio-political powers that were, Ochs' songs, whether political, social, or personal, have deeply influenced all those who listen to his music and take his words to heart.

Phil Ochs eventually committed suicide, but he left us behind some masterful works of social commentary. Track 11 of these "Early Years" - "Power and Glory" is my favorite:
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Come on, and take a walk with me, through this green and growin' land
walk through the meadows and the mountains and the sand
walk through the valleys and the rivers and the plains
walk through the sun and walk through the rain [refrain]
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From Colorado, Kansas, and the Carolinas, too
Virginia and Alaska from the old and to the new
Texas and Ohio and the California shore
Tell me - who could ask for more? [refrain]
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Oh she's only as rich as the poorest of the poor
Only as free as a padlocked prison door
Only as strong as our love for this land
Only as tall as we stand. [refrain]
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{Repeat first verse]
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[Refrain]
Here is a land full of power and glory, beauty that words cannot recall
Oh her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom
Glory shall rest on us all - on us all.