Search - Phil Ochs :: There & Now: Live in Vancouver 1968

His best album

Fran Wishnick | Western Maryland | 01/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is extremely frustrating to see poor reviews of this album. I believe this is by far Phil Ochs's best album. Phil was extremely affected by the events in Chicago, and this heartfelt album demonstrates the emotions that he was feeling. He put every ounce of energy into his songs, with every bit of anger or depressed feelings that could to win over the audience and get them to take an even stronger stand against injustices and lack of freedom. In other albums, in contrast, he sang songs with a mood of passive acceptance and hoped the audience would leave having learning something positive. While in this album he consistently said at the beginning of songs "I don't remember the words [or the lyrics] to this song," it takes a closed-minded critic to mock that instead of simply enjoying the messages that he had to offer."

A Great Performance!!!

K. A Scherer | Long Valley, NJ USA | 09/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just had to write this review to counter-act the bad review above. This concert was recorded at an important time in American history and Phil Ochs captures the feeling of the time so eloquently. Phil's performance of the Highwayman is stunning, as well as this versions of most of the songs from his Rehearsals LP. To quote his brother Phil "Phil has just returned from the Chicago Democratic convention, where he had witnessed the death of democracy as he had known it. He claims to be down throughout this performance, but I've seldom heard him more focused". If you are a folk music fan, you must own this record."

The real deal.

David Young | Jacksonville, Fl. United States | 04/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great acoustic versions of some of Phil's best songs. "The Scorpion Departs But Never Returns", Pleasures of the Harbor" and my favorite Phil Ochs song, "William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park and Escapes Unscathed". Sounding just great all stripped down with just Phil and his guitar. True, Ochs does forget some words here and there making him almost...human. I saw Dylan twice(so far) and he forgot the words to some things too. One thing I really like about Ochs is the amazing things he says between songs. Really great observations of life in America that ring just as true today. How'd he do that? The much underated guitar playing just shines here. This guy had talent. And don't ever forget the songs. I won't."