Phil Ochs - Tumblr Posts

Sing Out! Poster from 1968, signed by various folk singers

he just loves phil ochs

Phil Ochs poses for a portrait in 1967 in New York City, New York.

Phil Ochs poses for a portrait session in 1966.

“This is one thing I feel is a driving force: that I get so repelled by certain things -- or they strike me as funny -- or weird or strange -- or ridiculous -- and my response comes out in the form of a song. And there is one thing that helps carry me through: this close identification with the problems of the world where things like Vietnam go on. And as I said before, it's not enough to know the world is absurd and restrict yourself merely to pointing out that fact. To me this was the essential flaw of the fifties, great perception leading to inaction. If there is to be any hope for the world this perception must lead to action. [...] I often laugh at myself and many times consider my role ridiculous, but still I am forced to go on. Because the ugly fact is ingrained in my mind that if I don't go on the world will be left to the hands of the Hitlers, the McCarthys and Johnsons. I like to bring in the great Greek writer Katzenakis to illustrate this point. He says it is wrong to expect a reward for your struggle. The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what you win. In other words, even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world you must make the attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's life.”

– Phil Ochs in an interview with Broadside Magazine (issue #63, Oct. 15, 1965)

phil ochs. the New york public library digital collection

Song of The Day

"The Crucifixion" Phil Ochs, 1967

"The Crucifixion" was first written by Phil Ochs in 1965, and was first recorded in 1966 by Jim and Jean and in 1967 by Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs described it as "The Greatest Song he'd ever written" and its meaning as an allegory for the assassination of JFK. This song really goes above and beyond. The Lyrics and the Composition are all groundbreakingly technical, haunting, and tragic. Listening to this song feels like glimpsing at this man's soul, there is just so much heart to it. And to think, he was worried about it not being received well.

Phil Ochs at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois | August 27, 1968

Source

Folk concert, 1964

The Boston Globe | Boston, Massachusetts | Sun, Mar 31, 1968

Closeups of the photos by Steve Hansen included in the article:

phil ochs on bleecker street, new york, 1967 (photo by alice ochs)

Phil Ochs performing at Newport Folk Festival in Freebody Park in Newport, Rhode Island. July 24, 1964.

Photographed by Donal F. Holway

phil ochs wearing bob dylan’s hat during his final public performance, documented in renaldo and clara (filmed in fall of 1975, released 1978) / album cover of bob dylan’s desire (released 1976)

Phil Ochs photographed by Tom Wilkes for his sixth album, Greatest Hits, c. late 1969.

I Ain't Marching Anymore - Phil Ochs

"Phil truly loved people. He sang of their concerns; he remained accessible to them [...] Phil relished contact with his fans. Anyone was welcome backstage, and when he met with people, Phil didn’t give them the impression that they were part of a privileged audience. He would ask about what was on their minds..."

phil ochs + descriptors from there but for fortune: the life of phil ochs by michael schumacher