The Soulful Sound of Phil Ochs
Derek D | Edinburgh, UK | 07/28/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A Toast To Those Who Are Gone is a collection of demos recorded during 1963/4 and 1965/6. The songs are a wonderful reminder of the importance of Phil Ochs as a songwriter and performer in the 1960s. Many of the songs focus on themes of racial segregation and civil rights with Ochs passionately highlighting the brutality of American society on songs like William Moore, Colored Town, Ballad of Oxford and Going Down To Mississipi.
Phil's compassion, and wit are to the fore on the tale of the rise and fall of an entrepeneur, Billy Sol;in the beautiful song supporting the striking Hazard miners, No Christmas In Kentucky, and in the classic anti- death penalty song of Paul Crump.
Amidst songs of genuine social significance there are pop gems like the Song of My Returning and the Trial.The cd also contains arguably the saddest song in the world, I'm Tired.
Most of this cd is upbeat, at times full of a spirit of crusade. While many of his contemporaries wrote abstract songs relating to the sixties quest for personal enlightenment, Ochs mostly focussed on contemporary social issues and he remains arguably the most important political/social voice of his generation.
This cd also contains some of the most beautiful singing ever to be found in a 'folk/protest/pop'genre.
A Toast is a very fine introduction to the early period songs of the brilliant Phil Ochs."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1