The documentary, directed by Ken Bowser, opens January 5, 2011 at IFC Center in New York City. For more information, see First Run Features or the official film website.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Documentary Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune to be shown in NYC, January 2011
The documentary, directed by Ken Bowser, opens January 5, 2011 at IFC Center in New York City. For more information, see First Run Features or the official film website.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Dylan Pleases Audience
Backed-Up by Band
[Bob Dylan Live at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio, 8:30 p.m., November 19, 1965]
November 22, 1965
By CHARLES G. FENTON
Bob Dylan came to town Friday night with a cold that made his voice rasp more than usual. Nevertheless, he pleased the youthful audience packed into Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
There were grade school children with braces on their teeth. There were high schoolers in tight denims wearing "Dylan caps." There were college students ranging from the far-out crowd with long hair and peace buttons to cool types in herringbone suits and vests.
She Wore a Mink
There was even one middle-aged couple. She wore a mink. He had distinguished-looking grey hair.
They all had come to hear the foremost musical spokesman of the younger generation.
When Dylan sang the songs he composes himself they listened respectfully. The instant he finished a song the vast auditorium resounded with applause.
Dylan began his concert with "She's Got Everything She Needs." He accompanied himself with a steady, driving guitar beat and occasional breaks on a howling, wailing harmonica.
Dylan doesn't really sing, but he does more than just recite his songs. His voice has little range, but he conveys a variety of feelings from the melancholy of "Baby Blue" to the bitter social commentary of "Desolation Row."
In "Desolation Row" Dylan blasts Alfred [sic] Einstein, priests, insurance salesmen and middle-men of all descriptions.
Ignores Audience
Dylan is a very self-contained performer. He concentrates on what he is doing and all but ignores his audience.
After nearly every song in the first half of the program he paused to retune his guitar. "My electric guitar never goes out of tune," he told the audience.
In keeping with his new image as a rock singer Dylan was backed up by a five-man band for the last half of his concert.
A grand piano, drums, an electric organ and two electric guitars make a lot of music for one singer to shout down, but Dylan did it, cold and all.
The sound of all those instruments amplified many times over through the huge speakers at Vets was almost deafening, but the audience seemed to like it.
[Bob Dylan Live at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio, 8:30 p.m., November 19, 1965]
November 22, 1965
By CHARLES G. FENTON
Bob Dylan came to town Friday night with a cold that made his voice rasp more than usual. Nevertheless, he pleased the youthful audience packed into Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
There were grade school children with braces on their teeth. There were high schoolers in tight denims wearing "Dylan caps." There were college students ranging from the far-out crowd with long hair and peace buttons to cool types in herringbone suits and vests.
She Wore a Mink
There was even one middle-aged couple. She wore a mink. He had distinguished-looking grey hair.
They all had come to hear the foremost musical spokesman of the younger generation.
When Dylan sang the songs he composes himself they listened respectfully. The instant he finished a song the vast auditorium resounded with applause.
Dylan began his concert with "She's Got Everything She Needs." He accompanied himself with a steady, driving guitar beat and occasional breaks on a howling, wailing harmonica.
Dylan doesn't really sing, but he does more than just recite his songs. His voice has little range, but he conveys a variety of feelings from the melancholy of "Baby Blue" to the bitter social commentary of "Desolation Row."
In "Desolation Row" Dylan blasts Alfred [sic] Einstein, priests, insurance salesmen and middle-men of all descriptions.
Ignores Audience
Dylan is a very self-contained performer. He concentrates on what he is doing and all but ignores his audience.
After nearly every song in the first half of the program he paused to retune his guitar. "My electric guitar never goes out of tune," he told the audience.
In keeping with his new image as a rock singer Dylan was backed up by a five-man band for the last half of his concert.
A grand piano, drums, an electric organ and two electric guitars make a lot of music for one singer to shout down, but Dylan did it, cold and all.
The sound of all those instruments amplified many times over through the huge speakers at Vets was almost deafening, but the audience seemed to like it.
Thursday, 14 October 2010
No Rally . . . But Teach-in Still On
May 5, 1965
The Free Speech Front (FSF) rally scheduled for today has been postponed until Friday, when New York folk-singer Phil Ochs, a former Ohio State student, will appear.
Ochs left the University in 1962 and since has recorded two Elektra albums and sung at the Newport Folk Festival.
Speakers at the rally will include two faculty members, two graduate students and two members of the FSF co-ordinating committee.
Jeffrey Schwartz, the group's spokesman, says an important announcement about future FSF plans will be made. Arrangements are being made to reserve the Oval for 4 p.m.
Schwartz said last night that "As of now we plan to take no direct action on Corps Day (Thursday) and urge others only to attend the teach-in at University Hall."
Six professors from the Arts and Education colleges will conduct the teach-in in the "best interests of the University" beginning at 10 a.m.
Volunteers for the project are Drs. Gordon Grigsby, English; Marvin Fox, philosophy; Bernard Mehl, education; Clayton Roberts, history; David Spitz, political science; David Kettler, political science.
Each will deliver a 45-minute lecture in the U Hall auditorium and then go to a classroom to discuss his topic with anyone interested.
FSF is sponsoring the teach-in as a channel for constructive criticism, an expression of serious student interest and an opportunity for closer faculty-student contact.
The schedule follows:
10, Grigsby, "Introduction: The Problems of the University."
11, Fox, "Student Responsibility."
12, Mehl, "Student Involvement Outside the Classroom."
1, Roberts, "Research vs. Teaching in a University."
2, Spitz, "The Dark Side of University Teaching."
3, Kettler, "Power, Reason and Absurdity: So What?"
Other faculty members are expected to join the informal post-lecture discussions.
The Free Speech Front (FSF) rally scheduled for today has been postponed until Friday, when New York folk-singer Phil Ochs, a former Ohio State student, will appear.
Ochs left the University in 1962 and since has recorded two Elektra albums and sung at the Newport Folk Festival.
Speakers at the rally will include two faculty members, two graduate students and two members of the FSF co-ordinating committee.
Jeffrey Schwartz, the group's spokesman, says an important announcement about future FSF plans will be made. Arrangements are being made to reserve the Oval for 4 p.m.
Schwartz said last night that "As of now we plan to take no direct action on Corps Day (Thursday) and urge others only to attend the teach-in at University Hall."
Six professors from the Arts and Education colleges will conduct the teach-in in the "best interests of the University" beginning at 10 a.m.
Volunteers for the project are Drs. Gordon Grigsby, English; Marvin Fox, philosophy; Bernard Mehl, education; Clayton Roberts, history; David Spitz, political science; David Kettler, political science.
Each will deliver a 45-minute lecture in the U Hall auditorium and then go to a classroom to discuss his topic with anyone interested.
FSF is sponsoring the teach-in as a channel for constructive criticism, an expression of serious student interest and an opportunity for closer faculty-student contact.
The schedule follows:
10, Grigsby, "Introduction: The Problems of the University."
11, Fox, "Student Responsibility."
12, Mehl, "Student Involvement Outside the Classroom."
1, Roberts, "Research vs. Teaching in a University."
2, Spitz, "The Dark Side of University Teaching."
3, Kettler, "Power, Reason and Absurdity: So What?"
Other faculty members are expected to join the informal post-lecture discussions.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Dylan Is a Changin'
November 12, 1965By JAMES ANDERSON and CHARLES FENTON
"Come mothers and fathers throughout the land, And don't criticize what you can't understand. For your sons and your daughters are beyond your command - your old road is rapidly aging; Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand, For the times they are a changin'."
And so is Bob Dylan.
Dylan became popular at the crest of the folk music wave. His driving guitar, harmonica and Midwestern twang were reminiscent of Woody Guthrie.
He was adopted as a new prophet by the "hard core" folk music fans.
Today mention of his name draws varied reactions:
- Shock and dismay from parents.
- Cries of "fink" and "fraud" from former disciples because Dylan now plays electric guitar, piano and police siren in addition to his "pure" guitar and harmonica.
- Shouts of "hosanna" from a rebellious generation.
- Questioning stares of non-recognition from hermits who have heard no popular or topical singers for at least two years.
His songs are frequently performed by top rock groups such as The Beatles, the Byrds, Sonny and Cher and the Turtles.
Even Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Odetta have hit the Dylan trail. They occasionally devote large sections of an album to the poignant and bitter "art of Dylan" that has made him one of the most dynamic influences in contemporary music.
Bob Dylan will appear in concert at Veterans Memorial Auditorium Nov. 19 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Central Ticket Office, Sears Northland and Town and Country Shopping Center.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Phil Ochs / Dorweiler, Germany - Burg Waldeck Festival 1968
June 12-17, 1968CD 1
1. Cops of the World
2. Flower Lady
3. Outside of a Small Circle of Friends
4. Changes
5. The War Is Over
6. I Ain't Marching Anymore
7. Power and the Glory
8. Cross My Heart
9. Rhythms of Revolution
10. I Ain't Marching Anymore
11. Joe Hill
12. Draft Dodger Rag
13. White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land
14. I'm Going to Say It Now
15. Crucifixion
16. Floods of Florence
CD 2
1. There But for Fortune
2. Is There Anybody Here
3. The Highwayman
4. Cops of the World
5. Flower Lady
6. Outside of a Small Circle of Friends
7. Changes
8. The War Is Over
9. I Ain't Marching Anymore
10. Power and the Glory
Set details from fredatwork:
Most likely recorded on analogue reel-to-reel tape (details unknown) by Wilfried Zahn (sound engineer at "Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv" - German Radio Archives - in Frankfurt).
Most likely 1st generation copy of original master tapes (destroyed in a fire at Burg Waldeck in 1977 where they had been kept) onto 18-cm reel-to-reel (19 cm per second), transfer by Juergen Kahle (unknown date prior to 1977).
Transfer to DAT (unknown date) by Stephan Roegner, transfer to CD-R (unknown date) by Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv (German Radio Archives).
The 10-CD-compilation on Bear Family Records contains two Phil Ochs titles from the 1968 festival
- Cross My Heart
- Power and (the) Glory
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Phil Ochs in the News
- Sing Out! celebrates 60 years of sharing folk music (Lehighvalleylive.com)
Folk legends have shared their songs in the pages of Sing Out!, including Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs as well as more contemporary artists such as Nanci Griffith, Loudon Wainwright III and The Decemberists' Colin Meloy. Each issue since the beginning has included at least 15 songs, as well as music lessons. - Eric Andersen's Tales From The Road (Patch)
Never as wildly surreal as Bob, nor as blatantly journalistic as his friend Phil Ochs, Andersen's best songs betray a spare, wry sensibility, while offering up gorgeously simple images of the natural world, women and, yep, the road. Along the way, famous fans fell under his spell. - [WFF Review] Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune (The Film Stage)
Not unlike Alex Gibney’s Eliot Spitzer doc Client 9, Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune closely studies a public figure from rise to fall, the difference between the two works, of course, being the depth of each subject’s plunge. Spitzer resigned (and now has an adorable-looking anchor spot on CNN), Ochs committed suicide. - Festival vignettes, from Fright Night to Ochs (HudsonValley.com)
Ochs was once considered second to Bob Dylan in activist influence but some say has been relegated to a footnote because of his spiraling final days. Michael’s film rectifies that.
"You're all under arrest!"
On May 7, 1965, Phil Ochs returned to his alma mater, Ohio State University, for a free speech rally that happened to be filmed by ABC Scope.
Caption: Folksinger Phil Ochs entertains at a rally sponsored by the Free Speech Front on the Oval. Jeffrey Schwartz, leader of the organization, looks on.
This is the footage as it appears in the documentary People's Century. The intro to this clip, where Ochs proclaims, "You're all under arrest! I sold out this morning," can be seen in the documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune.
Photo by Anderson
Caption: Folksinger Phil Ochs entertains at a rally sponsored by the Free Speech Front on the Oval. Jeffrey Schwartz, leader of the organization, looks on.
This is the footage as it appears in the documentary People's Century. The intro to this clip, where Ochs proclaims, "You're all under arrest! I sold out this morning," can be seen in the documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune.
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