Chords of Fame
Encyclopedia
Chords Of Fame was a 2-LP compilation of folksinger Phil Ochs
' career, compiled by his brother shortly after Ochs' death in 1976. Released on A&M Records
, it compiled tracks Ochs had recorded for both that label and Elektra Records
. The compilation included several rarities:
The three singles had not been available previously on any album.
As with many compilations, favoritism abounds on the album. Seven tracks from Ochs' third album
and four from his first
appear, while only one song each is included from his second
and fifth
albums. No tracks from Ochs' seventh album
are included, and his remaining albums are represented by two or three songs apiece. With the exception of the 1997 box set
, never again would Elektra material be released on A&M, or vice versa.
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
' career, compiled by his brother shortly after Ochs' death in 1976. Released on A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, it compiled tracks Ochs had recorded for both that label and Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. The compilation included several rarities:
- An electricFolk rockFolk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
version of "I Ain't Marching AnymoreI Ain't Marching Anymore (song)"I Ain't Marching Anymore" is an anti-war song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s known for being a harsh critic of the American military industrial complex...
", released as a singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1966 - Both sides of a 1974 single:
- "Power and the Glory", recorded with a fife and drum corpsAncient Fife and Drum CorpsAn Ancient Fife and Drum Corps is a traditional, typically American fife and drum corps that plays fifes and wooden rope tension snare and bass drums.-History:...
- "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon", a revision of "Here's to the State of Mississippi", taped live at Max's Kansas CityMax's Kansas CityMax's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
- "Power and the Glory", recorded with a fife and drum corps
- An acoustic version of "CrucifixionCrucifixion (song)"Crucifixion" is a 1966 song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. singer-songwriter. Ochs described the song as "the greatest song I've ever written".-The song:...
" recorded at Carnegie HallCarnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
on March 27, 1970, at the show that had produced Gunfight at Carnegie HallGunfight at Carnegie HallGunfight At Carnegie Hall was Phil Ochs' final album, comprising songs recorded at the infamous, gold-suited, bomb-threat shortened first set at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 27, 1970, though it contains less than half of the actual concert...
The three singles had not been available previously on any album.
As with many compilations, favoritism abounds on the album. Seven tracks from Ochs' third album
Phil Ochs in Concert
Phil Ochs in Concert was Phil Ochs' third long player, released in 1966 on Elektra Records. Contrary to its title, it was not entirely live, as several tracks were actually recorded in the studio, owing to flaws in the live recordings made in Boston and New York City in late 1965 and early 1966,...
and four from his first
All the News That's Fit to Sing
All The News That's Fit to Sing was Phil Ochs' first official album. Recorded in 1964 for Elektra Records, it was full of many elements that would come back throughout his career. It was the album that defined his "singing journalist" phase, strewn with songs whose roots were allegedly pulled from...
appear, while only one song each is included from his second
I Ain't Marching Anymore
I Ain't Marching Anymore was Phil Ochs' second LP, released on Elektra Records in 1965. Dispensing with second guitarist Danny Kalb, Ochs performs alone on twelve original songs, an interpretation of Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman" set to music and a cover of Ewan MacColl's "The Ballad of the...
and fifth
Tape from California
Tape From California is Phil Ochs' fifth album, released in mid-1968 on A&M Records. A step back from its predecessor Pleasures of the Harbor, a sort of cross between that album and 1966's Phil Ochs In Concert, it features folk with shades of rock, bluegrass and baroque music.The best-known track...
albums. No tracks from Ochs' seventh album
Rehearsals for Retirement
Rehearsals For Retirement was Phil Ochs' sixth album, released in 1969 on A&M Records. Recorded in the aftermath of Ochs' presence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago , it is the darkest of Ochs' albums, a fact exemplified by its cover, a tombstone...
are included, and his remaining albums are represented by two or three songs apiece. With the exception of the 1997 box set
Farewells & Fantasies
Farewells & Fantasies is the 1997 posthumous box set of the work of singer/songwriter Phil Ochs, chronicling his life and career in music from 1964 through 1970. With its non-chronological running order, it plays like three separate albums, each showcasing a different side of Ochs...
, never again would Elektra material be released on A&M, or vice versa.
Track listing
All songs by Phil Ochs unless otherwise noted.- "I Ain't Marching Anymore" – 2:47
- "One More Parade" (P. Ochs, B. Gibson) – 3:00
- "Draft Dodger RagDraft Dodger Rag"Draft Dodger Rag" is a satirical anti-war song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s known for being a harsh critic of the American military industrial complex...
" – 2:07 - "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon" – 2:19
- "The Bells" (E. A. PoeEdgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
with musical interpretation by P. Ochs) – 3:00 - "Bound for Glory" – 3:15
- "Too Many Martyrs" (Ochs, Gibson) – 2:46
- "There But For FortuneThere but for Fortune (song)"There but for Fortune" is a song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. singer-songwriter from the 1960s. Ochs wrote the song in 1963. He recorded it twice, for New Folks Volume 2 and Phil Ochs in Concert...
" – 2:35 - "I'm Gonna Say It Now" – 2:46
- "Santo Domingo" – 3:48
- "Changes" – 4:30
- "Is There Anybody Here" – 3:17
- "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" – 3:46
- "When I'm Gone" – 3:51
- "Outside of a Small Circle of FriendsOutside of a Small Circle of Friends"Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is a song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s. "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends", which was originally released on Ochs' 1967 album Pleasures of the Harbor, became one of Ochs' most popular songs....
" – 3:41 - "Pleasures of the Harbor" – 4:59
- "Tape from California" – 3:39
- "Chords of Fame" – 3:32
- "Crucifixion" – 7:40
- "The War Is OverThe War Is Over (song)"The War Is Over" is an anti-war song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s known for being a harsh critic of the American military-industrial establishment. The song, which was originally released on Tape from California , has been described as "one of the most potent antiwar songs of...
" – 4:25 - "Jim Dean of Indiana" – 5:02
- "Power and the GloryPower and the GloryPower & the Glory is the fifth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1983 . This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Biff Byford - vocals*Graham Oliver - guitar...
" – 2:21 - "Flower Lady" – 6:06
- "No More Songs" – 4:33
Source material
- Track 1 from the 1966 single.
- Tracks 2, 5, 6 and 7 from All the News That's Fit to SingAll the News That's Fit to SingAll The News That's Fit to Sing was Phil Ochs' first official album. Recorded in 1964 for Elektra Records, it was full of many elements that would come back throughout his career. It was the album that defined his "singing journalist" phase, strewn with songs whose roots were allegedly pulled from...
(1964). - Track 3 from I Ain't Marching AnymoreI Ain't Marching AnymoreI Ain't Marching Anymore was Phil Ochs' second LP, released on Elektra Records in 1965. Dispensing with second guitarist Danny Kalb, Ochs performs alone on twelve original songs, an interpretation of Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman" set to music and a cover of Ewan MacColl's "The Ballad of the...
(1965). - Tracks 4 and 22 from the 1974 single.
- Tracks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 from Phil Ochs in ConcertPhil Ochs in ConcertPhil Ochs in Concert was Phil Ochs' third long player, released in 1966 on Elektra Records. Contrary to its title, it was not entirely live, as several tracks were actually recorded in the studio, owing to flaws in the live recordings made in Boston and New York City in late 1965 and early 1966,...
(1966). - Tracks 15 and 23 from Pleasures of the HarborPleasures of the HarborPleasures of the Harbor was Phil Ochs' fourth full-length album and his first for A&M Records, released in 1967. It is one of Ochs's most somber albums...
(1967). - Tracks 16 and 17 from Gunfight at Carnegie HallGunfight at Carnegie HallGunfight At Carnegie Hall was Phil Ochs' final album, comprising songs recorded at the infamous, gold-suited, bomb-threat shortened first set at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 27, 1970, though it contains less than half of the actual concert...
(1975). - Tracks 18, 21 and 24 from Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Phil Ochs album)Greatest Hits was Phil Ochs' seventh LP and final studio album. Contrary to its title, it offered ten new tracks of material, mostly produced by Van Dyke Parks, and was released in 1970...
(1970). - Track 19 previously unreleased (recorded 1970).
- Track 20 from Tape from CaliforniaTape from CaliforniaTape From California is Phil Ochs' fifth album, released in mid-1968 on A&M Records. A step back from its predecessor Pleasures of the Harbor, a sort of cross between that album and 1966's Phil Ochs In Concert, it features folk with shades of rock, bluegrass and baroque music.The best-known track...
(1968).