American Troubadour
Phil Ochs · 1997
141 min · 34 tracks · folk rock · baroque pop · protest song
A poignant blend of folk and baroque pop, weaving storytelling with social critique and emotional depth.
Why this album works
This album is significant for reviving interest in Phil Ochs' music, highlighting his contributions to the protest song movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The inclusion of live performances and lesser-known tracks garnered critical acclaim, positioning Ochs as a crucial voice in American folk music history. It has since influenced countless artists within the folk and protest genres.
- Best for
- poignant storytelling with depth dynamic journey with peaks reflective moments for quiet introspection
- Context
- Released in 1997, 'American Troubadour' marked Phil Ochs' return to music after a long hiatus following the tumultuous 1970s. This album showcases his enduring legacy as a protest singer and storyteller, featuring live recordings alongside previously unreleased tracks. It represents Ochs' commitment to social issues and the folk tradition that characterized his earlier work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kate Bush· Grup Yorum· Iwan Fals
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Cross My Heart 3:21
- 2 Flower Lady 6:03
- 3 Outside of a Small Circle of Friends 3:43
- 4 Pleasures of the Harbor (live) 5:07
- 5 The Crucifixion 8:44
- 6 Tape From California 6:49
- 7 White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land 3:33
- 8 Half a Century High 2:53
- 9 Joe Hill 7:22
- 10 The War Is Over Standout 4:21
- 11 William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park and Escapes Unscathed 2:58
- 12 Here’s to the State of Richard Nixon (live) 3:15
- 13 The Scorpion Departs but Never Returns 4:18
- 14 Doesn’t Lenny Live Here Anymore 6:13
- 15 Rehearsals for Retirement 4:13
Disc 2
- 1 I Kill Therefore I Am 2:57
- 2 The Bells 2:52
- 3 The Highwayman 6:57
- 4 Another Age (live) 4:54
- 5 There but for Fortune 2:44
- 6 One Way Ticket Home 2:39
- 7 Jim Dean of India 5:04
- 8 My Kingdom for a Car 2:51
- 9 Gas Station Woman 3:31
- 10 Chords of Fame 3:32
- 11 No More Songs 4:19
- 12 Mona Lisa (live) 3:45
- 13 I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore (live) 3:10
- 14 School Days (live) 2:41
- 15 Power and the Glory 3:19
- 16 Kansas City Bomber 2:29
- 17 Bwatue 2:48
- 18 Niko McHumba Ngobe 3:05
- 19 Changes 4:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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