Phil Ochs

Philip David Ochs (/ˈoʊks/; December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American songwriter and protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer). Ochs was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, political activism, often alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and 1970s and released eight albums.
Ochs performed at many political events during the 1960s counterculture era, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City's Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a "left social democrat" who became an "early revolutionary" after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.
After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs's mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including bipolar disorder and alcoholism, and died by suicide in 1976.
(Read more at Wikipedia)
== Links to Peel ==
Peel seemed to admire Phil Ochs, even though by the late 1960s when the DJ was making his name, the kind of protest song for which Ochs was renowned had gone out of fashion. Phil Ochs was one of the Elektra label's major artists during the heyday of the US folk revival of the mid-1960s and Peel played a track from one of his LPs for the label on the Perfumed Garden of 18 July 1967. Later, when Ochs had moved to A&M Records, JP played tracks from his LPs on both Top Gear and Night Ride, and during a visit to Britain Ochs was interviewed as a studio guest on the latter show, on 18 June 1969.
After his death, Phil Ochs' records were seldom heard on Peel shows, but they were rediscovered in later decades and the singer's material attracted a new generation of admirers through cover versions by artists like Billy Bragg and Dick Gaughan who were sympathetic to Ochs's protest themes. Phil Ochs also became a firm favourite of Peel's colleague and friend Andy Kershaw. After Peel's death, six albums by Phil Ochs were found in the DJ's Record Collection. His Elektra album I Ain't Marching Anymore was among the items from Peel's collection chosen for the 2016-7 exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum, "You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-70".
==Festive Fifty Entries==
*None
==Sessions==
*None
==Other Shows Played==
*thumb|220x220px18 July 1967: Talking Birmingham Jam (album - I Ain't Marching Anymore) Elektra EKL-287 (JP: "Recorded two and a half years ago but just as true now as it was then")
*21 January 1968: Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends (LP - Pleasures Of The Harbor) A&M
*04 February 1968: Cross My Heart (LP – Pleasures Of The Harbor) A&M LP-133 
*28 May 1969: I Kill, Therefore I Am (LP - Rehearsals for Retirement) A&M AMLS 934
*18 June 1969: Pretty Smart On My Part (LP - Rehearsals For Retirement) A&M
*24 December 1992: 'No Christmas In Kentucky (CD-A Toast To Those Who Are Gone)' (Rhino)
*Rebel Yell: Talking Cuban Crisis
== See Also ==
*Record Collection: O
*Record Collection: V&A LPs
*International Times: Perfumed Garden Column
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Phil Ochs homepage
*Celebrating Phil Ochs
Category:Artists