All the News That's Fit to Sing

All the News That's Fit to Sing

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As one of the greatest protest folksingers of the 1960s, Phil Ochs sang with a strong sense of purpose and an even stronger sense for melody. His songs, which champion the rights of the downtrodden, promote world peace, and memorialize the lives of great men, are among the most memorable of the genre. This is his first album and while in many ways a young man's record--Ochs redefines the term "earnest"--it is also steeped in the folk tradition. Danny Kalb of the Blues Project accompanies Ochs on second guitar, adding quick bursts of color. "Talking Cuban Crisis" and "Talking Vietnam" are now dated, but "Bound for Glory" (his tribute to Woody Guthrie), "One More Parade," and "Too Many Martyrs" are human rights songs always in fashion. --Rob O'Connor

Tracks:

Adaptation Of An Edgar Allan Poe Poem (The Bells)
Tribute To Woody Guthrie (Bound For Glory)
One More Parade
The Thresher
Talking Vietnam
Lou Marsh
Power And The Glory
Celia
Automation Song
Ballad Of William Worthy
Knock On The Door
Talking Cuban Crisis
Too Many Martyrs
Whats That I Hear

Product Description

1. Adaptation Of An Edgar Allan Poe Poem (The Bells)
2. Tribute To Woody Guthrie (Bound For Glory)
3. One More Parade
4. The Thresher
5. Talking Vietnam
6. Lou Marsh
7. Power And The Glory
8. Celia
9. Automation Song
10. Ballad Of William Worthy
11. Knock On The Door
12. Talking Cuban Crisis
13. Too Many Martyrs
14. What’s That I Hear

Format: CD

All the News That's Fit to Sing/I Ain't Marching Anymore
Average customer rating:

The Great, Late Phil in his first fine albums of protest songs...

a man for all seasons

This is the version you want

Outstanding reissue of a great American artist's early work

"The Ballad Of Phil Ochs"

All the News That's Fit to Sing/I Ain't Marching Anymore
Phil Ochs
Manufacturer: Wea/Elektra
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Phil Ochs in Concert

Tape From California

There But for Fortune

Rehearsals for Retirement/Gunfight at Carnegie Hall

The Early Years

ASIN: B00005OKOS
Release Date: 2001-10-29

Tracks:

One More Parade
Thresher
Talking Vietnam
Lou Marsh
Power & The Glory
Celia
The Bells
Automation Song
Ballad Of William Worthy
Knock On The Door
Talking Cuban Crisis
Bound For Glory
Too Many Martyrs
What's That I Hear
Bullets Of Mexico
I Ain't Marching Anymore
In The Heat Of The Summer
Draft Dodger Rag
That's What I Want To Hear
That Was The President
Iron Lady
Highwayman
Links Onthe Chain
Hills Of West Virginia
Men Behind The Guns
Talking Birmingham Jam
Ballad Of The Carpenter
Days Of Decision
Here's To The State Of Mississippi
I Ain't Marching Anymore

Album Description

Import only two-on-one combines the political folk singer/songwriter's albums for Hannibal, 'All the News That's Fit to Sing' (1964) & 'I Ain't Marching Anymore' (1965), both of which are out-of-print domestically. Warner.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Coupling of Och's First Two Albums Recorded for Jac Holzman's Elektra Label in the Early 1960's. "All the News.." Revealed a Much More Focused and Polished Singer While "i Ain't Marching..." Has Ochs Blossoming as a Self Proclaimed "Singing Journalist" Whose Protest Songs were Contemporaries of Bob Dylan's but were Overshadowed Dylan's Meteoric Rise to Fame. Both Sets were Produced and Directed by Holzman and Paul Rothschild and for CD by Bill Inglot and Mastered by Dan Hersch. Sleeve Notes were Written by Peter Doggett. Each Album Includes a Bonus Track Not Available on the Original LP!

Customer Reviews:

The Great, Late Phil in his first fine albums of protest songs..........2006-10-29

"All the News" seems more dated and has fewer great songs that hold up these days, but the good ones on this LP, including Edgar Allen Poe's "The Bells" are worth owning if one is interested in Sixties' urban singer/writer/protester efforts. "I Ain't Marching Anymore" has much greater relevance in this time of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on generic "terror." Even "Draft Dodger Rag", almost 30 years after the USA abandoned the military draft, is catchy enough to stick in the mind for days after hearing it. Phil did not have the best voice among his peers, and his writing, as much journalism as poetry, has not been covered by other artists much in recent decades, but it was powerful. For good Phil songs done by singers whose vocalizing is wonderfully pleasant, look up "Jim and Jean" on Amazon or Google. There are other Ochs' compliations available on CD, many with the best of his later work, but these two old Elektra LP's have the charm of youthful innocence and arrogance. Phil became a tragic figure, and died young by his own hand, but on this disc he will always be the just-out-of-college smart-aleck and humanitarian who captivated me when I saw him in a New Jersey concert in 1965.

a man for all seasons.......2005-12-31

These two albums run back to back and embrace a diversity of styles and materials. As a social critic, by the second album, Phil hit his stride in the classic "I ain't a marching..." as opposed to the occasional discourses of his first album. Phil's capacity for humour shines through in his 'talking blues songs' which the more bitter driving songs(like Mississippi and Days of Decision) Real tenderness of feelings and expressive melodies feature in "In the Heat of the Summer","Celia" and "Lou Marsh." You will find his nod to other lyrical poets in "The Bells" ,"The Highwayman" , a style which he took up in his own "Hills of West Virginia."

This is the version you want.......2005-05-09

The sound quality of this recording is flawless. Since you got to this location, you are already interested in Phil Ochs and his music. Both "I Aint Marching" and "All the News" contain great examples of his work. However, *this* edition is clear and clean. No external sounds, no dropouts, no grunge. This set, as opposed to the Hannibal versions, is the one you want.

Outstanding reissue of a great American artist's early work.......2003-07-09

Whether the lyric lilt of his voice or the tremendous passion of his articulate poetry, Phils Ochs had a profound impact on listeners. He could be politically outlandish (sometimes even more outlandish that his own personal views) but more often incredibly insightful -- samples of that are on these two CDs.

His lyrics are some of the the most intelligient written by the modern day folks artists or songwriter of any ilk. And his later work, although not in the least classic folk style material, showed an artistic maturity that could be dazzling. The lyrics could be at once cinematic, portraying a physical scene, and at the same time evocative of intense emotions.

And he used his voice with a keen sense of timing and phrasing -- it's fun just to listen to how he wraps a line around the tempo.

During his short life he was known as much for his politcs as his artistry, and he probably wouldn't have had it any other way.

The material here is that of his first two solo issue albums. His poetic masterpieces came later on Tape From California and Rehearsal for Retirement.

10 stars is a fair rating for these two CDs, imo.

"The Ballad Of Phil Ochs".......2002-06-19

...Phil was a clinically depressed troubled man in which he took out his fustrations through his music. These recordings are priceless! 10 stars, 5 for each album. I think Phil was America's biggest patriotic musician period! My all-time favorite fighter! "Oh when will Celia come to me?" God Bless!

Average customer rating:

But Were They Fit To Play It?
Brilliant Beginning
A timeless look at a turbulent time in our history

All the News That's Fit to Sing
Phil Ochs
Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000064A
Release Date: 1994-06-06

Tracks:

One More Parade
The Thresher
Talking Vietnam
Lou Marsh
Power & The Glory
Celia
The Bells
Automation Song
Ballad Of William Worthy
Knocking On The Door
Talking Cuban Crisis
Bound For Glory
Too Many Martyrs
What's That I Hear
Bullets Of Mexico

Amazon.com

As one of the greatest protest folksingers of the 1960s, Phil Ochs sang with a strong sense of purpose and an even stronger sense for melody. His songs, which champion the rights of the downtrodden, promote world peace, and memorialize the lives of great men, are among the most memorable of the genre. This is his first album and while in many ways a young man's record--Ochs redefines the term "earnest"--it is also steeped in the folk tradition. Danny Kalb of the Blues Project accompanies Ochs on second guitar, adding quick bursts of color. "Talking Cuban Crisis" and "Talking Vietnam" are now dated, but "Bound for Glory" (his tribute to Woody Guthrie), "One More Parade," and "Too Many Martyrs" are human rights songs always in fashion. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

But Were They Fit To Play It?.......2004-04-22

a CLIFFORD HODGE review

Phil Ochs died much too young and underappreciated. A folk/protest singer of the first magnitude, the equal of any American folk artist with his made-for-folk voice, the audacity of his lyrics make others seem tame. But Phil Ochs was not interested in selling millions of records and making billions of dollars; and in a way that's too bad, because if he had been, maybe more people would be familiar with his work today. "All The News..." has some of his finest, including, "One More Parade", an ironic piece which is nonetheless quite sincere in honoring the soldiers of the Viet Nam era, for he was quite careful about separating the soldiers from the war they were fighting. "The Bells," is a peaceful, mesmerizing song that was inspired by the Poe poem. Ochs had a talent for melody nearly unmatched in American folk music of the 60's, and aside from Tim Buckley, in order to find comparisons for the sheer beauty of his songs you have to turn to the UK and people like Nick Drake or Roy Harper. This will appeal if you like Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, and a broader pop music genre. Imagine the smooth-throated vocals of Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole with a bit of an edge added for the protest style, and you have Phil Ochs. But ultimately the FM stations decided Phil Ochs' music was not among all the music that was fit to play, and he did not get exposure commensurate with the quality of his music. Phil's brother Michael is the same Michael Ochs you see cited for so many rock documentaries. Michael has what is conceded to be the largest record collection in the world. I heard 60,000 albums around 1984; I'd guess he's hit 6 figures by now. You better get busy working on that record and CD collection. After you buy this one, get "Chords of Fame" a compilation album. I rank it as one of my top 10 U.S. folk albums, with "All The News..." just outside the top 10.

Brilliant Beginning.......2004-03-29

Phil Ochs experienced a rather tumultuous career, and to the world at large, only after his death has his immense talent been recognized for its rich value. I was completely captivated the very first time I heard this album - all of less than two months ago. The voice wasn't a typically smooth, polished gloss of studio fabrication. There weren't huge orchestrations. But those ingenious words and infectious passion hurled notes from the speakers that insisted on holding my ears hostage.

From the biographies that I've read, Phil Ochs was an extremely ardent man, and these songs are the proof in the pudding. "The Power and Glory" should, if it isn't already, be a staple of American folk music. The beginning guitar riff is simply awesome, like little sparks of magic that cast a spell over the listener. The words that follow are extremely patriotic, which may surprise some since many of the songs are quite anti-government. But that's the message: we don't have to agree with the government to appreciate the power and glory of our land. From the song, "Her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom. Her glory shall rest on us all."

"Talking Vietnam" could be perceived as a folk rap song. Phil's wicked sense of humor and keen political opinions combine to produce a sharp commentary on our then involvement in Vietnam. Even if you don't agree with his politics, it's hard to argue that his words are not marvelously profound. An excerpt:

"Sailing over to Vietnam,
Southeast Asian Birmingham.
Well training is the word we use,
Nice word to have in case we lose.
Training a million Vietnamese
To fight for the wrong government and the American Way."

A few verses later, speaking about then President Diem of South Vietnam:

"He said: `meet my sister, Madam Nhu
The sweetheart of Dien Bien Phu'
He said: `Meet my brothers, meet my aunts
With the government that doesn't take a chance.
Families that slay together, stay together.'

Said: `If you want to stay you'll have to pay
Over a million dollars a day.
But it's worth it all, don't you see?
If you lose the country you'll still have me.
Me and Syngman Rhee, Chiang Kai-shek, Madam Nhu.
Like I said on _Meet the Press_
"I regret that I have but one country to give for my life." ' "

Phil scored music to one of Edgar Allan Poe's most hauntingly beautiful poems, "The Bells," from 1849. The song is a perfect answer to those who claim that Phil was nothing more than a singing journalist. Amazingly, he propels his guitar to mimic bells. No doubt exists that Phil definitely did justice to Poe's spectacular poem. Poe would be impressed.

From the moving tribute to the legendary Woody Guthrie in "Bound for Glory," to the working man's lament in "Automation Song," to the anti-war sentiment in "One More Parade," to the encomium to the US submarine "The Thresher (which tragically sank in 1963, taking the lives of all 129 lives onboard)," and eleven more songs that one biographer says comprise what Phil called a musical newspaper, this is, the first solo album that introduced Phil Ochs to the world outside of the intimate circle of Greenwich Village. It showcased a luminous talent who never received the recognition he deserved. Phil would later branch out as his musical talents grew, but if you're new to the world of Phil Ochs or simply hunger for a slice of nourishing Americana, this is a delicious treat.

A timeless look at a turbulent time in our history.......1998-06-12

Ochs wit and sensitivity exceeds that of his contemporaries. This is an exceptional collection of songs that evoke the spirit and feel of the early 60s. It is a classic that I listen to nearly every week. You will love it.