Phil Ochs-Gordon Lightfoot

[charlene]

http://www.njnnetwork.com/?p=29615

CHANGES - video - Lightfoot and Ochs

[formerlylavender]

Thanks for posting this, Char. I'll never forget Gord telling jbt and I that Phil taught him the chords to Changes on the back steps of a Toronto coffee house.

[patybear]

I just viewed the clip.I have to say,personally-I HATE it! Sounds to
me like the guy can't even sing!
patybear

[jj]

classic...always a treat to hear a songwriter doing his own tune

[Auburn Annie]

I've always preferred Gord's version, too, patybear, and I think it's the voice as wsell. Phil was a gifted songwriter but he didn't have Gord's vocal gifts as well.

[formerlylavender]

I agree overall, AA. Gord's rich voice is a draw for all of us, I'd say. Patybear, give Rehearsals for Retirement (P Ochs) a listen. Great song, and his voice fits it well.

[jj]

Originally Posted by patybear

I HATE it! Sounds to
me like the guy can't even sing!
patybear

oh my, for real? i'd like to be able to sing like that...maybe you didn't play the Amitchka live audio clip (the audio only one)

sounds like quite a beautiful and vulnerable bit of singing to me, anyhow...it's got that charming yet awkward Sexsmith-like flavour to it...then again, i remember poor Ron getting booed off the stage opening for Blue Rodeo in Hamilton years ago, lol...but guess he's got the last laugh now

i don't know why the headline bothers comparing the two


note: Gord omitted these 2 verses:
______________________________________
Scenes of my young years were warm in my mind,
Visions of shadows that shine.
Til one day I returned and found they were the
Victims of the vines of changes.
______________________________________
The world's spinning madly, it drifts in the dark
Swings through a hollow of haze,
A race around the stars, a journey through
The universe ablaze with changes.
______________________________________

Gord's performance of Changes in my top 3 all time list of GL recordings (not just covers), which should speak volumes

[charlene]

I enjoyed it..and I love Ron Sexsmith...,wish there were more videos of Phil..

[sdpate]

No slight to Gordon Lightfoot was intended. His performance of the song was letter perfect and I remember it from when the LP was first released.

I just thought Phil Ochs performance at Amchitka was better. It has a vulnerability that breathes emotion into the song.

The song itself is almost too wordy, with images that feel almost literary.

It's Ochs sensitivity in performance that gives it a new pov.

Cheers on your site. I love Lightfoot and will try to keep up with the good posts.

As I said in another story, my cousin Jim who had a 12 string and I spent many days and nights practicing Gordon Lightfoot songs back in the 1966-1969 period.

Through friends I got to meet Lightfoot briefly in Montreal once and kept in touch with others who were only one degree of separation from Lightfoot.

Six degrees of separation from Gordon Lightfoot

Merry Christmas from an old folkie - Stephen Pate

[jj]

Originally Posted by sdpate

I love Lightfoot and will try to keep up with the good posts

Happy holidays to you also and I think you will find that informative posts are plenty and not far between...check out the 'search engine' as there have been prior discussions of Red's passing, Ochs, etc, etc...there was a youtube vid posted showing Red's comedic nature as he performed a diddy

I ran across your 6 degrees tree a few weeks back and found some of the article comments interesting...not that I'm overly interested, but I never knew Rick was JH and that the band vibe was previously affected by any of it

it was interesting to read of all your aquaintances over the years...according to the diagram it seems you are separated from Gord as a "fan" and from Rick as "you've met him"...i never realized those links counted as degrees of separation but i like it i guess many here fall into that category (separated by a mere 2 degrees!)

i wasn't totally turned off by the 'better' headline but i think you said it best laster in the blog, it's "a matter of taste"

i find many artist's live performances are more vulnerable in feel than their studio vocal tracks...I suppose that all could only do an apples to apples compare after hearing Gord's live rendition

what I love most about many of Gord's studio tracks on Harmony, is the vulnerability present in the vocals which of course were only intended to be guide vocals...if he had the chance to record them as intended, a bit of that flavour might have been lost...we'll never know

lastly, as char said, if there is more Ochs out there, please share

[teherie]

Thanks for sharing these two contrasting clips to a great song. Both are brilliant in their own way.

Phil Ochs was a true folksinger and songwriter in the same caliber as Gordon Lightfoot, Woody Guthrie, Harry Chapin and Bob Dylan.

Check out these lines from Harry Chapin's tribute to Phil Ochs following Phil's death in the mid-70's: "The Parade's Still Passing By'"

I got the news today that you refused to play
because you never made number one,
Well it's not just the words, it's the deeds that are heard,
when all is said and done.
You know the kings take their crowns and melt em all down
trying to get the gold out
You went to hell and even when you weren't selling
you never ever sold out.

While there are several audio recordings posted to you tube, here's a song from Phil Ochs that catches the message of the 60's similar to Protocol or The Patriot's Dream.

YouTube- Phil Ochs - I aint marching anymore

[vlmagee]

For more about Phil Ochs, I suggest you visit his sister Sonny's web page about him at http://sonnyochs.com/philbio.html

Sonny has been involved with/promoting Phil Ochs Song Nights for more than 25 years, and brings his music and folk music in general to others through her radio show on WRPI (Troy, NY), her participation in folk festivals, and by promoting concerts locally (Middleburgh, NY area).