Called “one of the greatest poets that ever lived†by Neil Young, singer-songwriter Phil Ochs has been sitting in the footnotes of musical history for the past half century. So, why make a podcast about a musician buried in relative obscurity since his untimely death in 1976? Simple. His songs could have been written a week ago. From his days as a “singing journalist†in the early sixties, to the experimental baroque-pop of “Pleasures of the Harborâ€, to the seventies’ gold suit (a la Elvis Presley) rock & roll era, Phil bled into his music. Listen as we explore his music and its continued relevance, and ride the rollercoaster that is Phil’s life story, packed with drama, turmoil, and intrigue, about the troubadour who tried to be a star.
Legacy episodes focus on the enduring impact that Phil Ochs has had on those who knew him, on his fans, and on folk music as a whole. In this episode, I speak to Lee Houskeeper, a very close friend of Phil Ochs, who first met him on the night of his infamous gold suit concert at Carnegie Hall in 1970. Houskeeper is a dazzling storyteller who is sure to keep you invested in what he has to say.
Legacy episodes focus on the enduring impact that Phil Ochs has had on those who knew him, on his fans, and on folk music as a whole. In this episode, we sit down with SONiA, aka Sonia Rutstein of disappear fear, to talk about the impact Phil Ochs had on her life and her music. Learn even more about SONiA at her website: https://www.soniadisappearfear.com/ and be sure to check out her wonderful tribute album, "Get Your Phil"!
While God Help The Troubadour's regular episodes are on hiatus, we will periodically be releasing bonus content. We've decided to call these "Legacy" episodes, as they will focus on the enduring impact that Phil Ochs has had on those who knew him, on his fans, and on folk music as a whole. In this installment, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sonny Ochs, Phil's older sister. Topics include Phil's early life, his family, his later years, artists who carry on his musical spirit, and why his story still connects to young people today. Below is a list of the artists Sonny mentioned during the episode - we highly recommend you check them out. Martyn Joseph SONiA disappear fear Pat Wictor Kim & Reggie Harris Tony Rice John Flynn Greg Greenway Pat Humphreys Tom Prasada-Rao Ellis Paul Colleen Kattau Tom Paxton Holly Near Roy Zimmerman Joe Jencks
Part two defines the meaning of the term "hootenanny," reluctantly explores our hero's relationship with another little-known songwriter, and leads us into the release of Phil's second record. After the biography portion, listen to a small circle of friends discuss the album and its impact.
Part one begins with the birth of our hero, detailing his life all the way up to the recording of his first studio album. After the biography portion, listen to a small circle of friends discuss the album and its impact.
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