
Phil Ochs on Track
Phil Ochs was the ‘The Prince of Protest’ in the sixties. The only real rival to Bob Dylan, he was the archetypal Greenwich Village topical songwriter. Whether protesting the Vietnam War or campaigning for civil rights, workers’ rights or social justice, he was the man to take up causes, play at rallies and even risk his life.
His clear voice and sense of melody, linked with his incisive lyrics, created songs of beauty and power. As his career progressed, with his lyrics and music becoming more highly poetic and sophisticated, he still never lost sight of his cause. Towards the end of the sixties he joined with the Yippies in protest against the Vietnam War. But idealism became Phil’s downfall as he could see no point in continuing if he was unable to make the world a better place.
Phil lost all hope and descended into depression, which, along with excessive alcohol consumption, led to his suicide in 1976. Shortly before he took his life, Phil asked his brother if he thought anyone would listen to his songs in the future. Sixty years later, here we are still listening. The songs of Phil Ochs are as relevant as they ever were.
The Author
Opher Goodwin is the author of many books on rock music and science fiction and taught the first 'History of Rock Music' classes in the UK. He was fortunate to spend the sixties in London, the epicentre for the underground explosion of rock music and culture, where he was able to see everyone from Pink Floyd, Hendrix and Cream to The Doors, Captain Beefheart and Roy Harper. He now lives happily in East Yorkshire, UK.
Number of Pages: 144
Number of colour pictures: 37
ISBN: 9781789523263
Ebook ISBN:
UK retail price: £16.99
US retail price: $22.95
Or from wherever you get your books worldwide