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Phil Ochs
artist

Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs is a folk artist from United States. 40 releases are catalogued on Riffiter.

Folk · United States · Best folk albums

40
Releases
1964–2025
Active years

Discography

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On My Way (1963 Demo Session) cover

Most popular

On My Way (1963 Demo Session)

2010 · 25 tracks

Singles & EPs

5

Live & compilations

14

Collaborators

1

Community

More about Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs at a glance

Born in
El Paso
From
United States
Active since
1962
Instruments
guitar, clarinet, voice
Labels
A&M Records, Elektra
Educated at
Ohio State University, Staunton Military Academy

Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Children listed are those with their own public record, so the list may be incomplete.

About

Philip David Ochs (pronounced /ˈoʊks/) (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was an American protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice. He wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and released eight albums in his lifetime. Ochs performed at many political events, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a “left social democrat” who became an “early revolutionary” after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind. After years of prolific writing in the 1960s, Ochs’s mental stability declined in the 1970s. He eventually succumbed to a number of problems including alcoholism, and took his own life in 1976.

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Some of Ochs’s major influences were Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bob Gibson, Faron Young, Merle Haggard, John Wayne, and John F. Kennedy. His best-known songs include “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”, “Changes”, “Crucifixion”, “Draft Dodger Rag”, “Love Me I’m a Liberal”, “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”, “Power and the Glory”, “There but for Fortune”, and “The War Is Over”.

Phil Ochs in brief

How many Phil Ochs releases are on Riffiter?
40 releases are catalogued, spanning 1964 to 2025.
What genre is Phil Ochs?
Phil Ochs is catalogued under Folk, Singer-Songwriter.
What is the most recent Phil Ochs release on Riffiter?
Essential Classics, Vol. 743: Phil Ochs, released in 2025.