Phil Ochs • Interview (Folk Music/Activism) • 1971 [Reelin' In The Years Archive] 

Great to see such a long interview of Phil and get a real sense of who he was. Thanks so much for posting this.

This needs to be shared more Phil was done in by FBI and CIA abuse His song shall never die it must be remembered

Have to admit I had forgotten of him. Now 4/5 decades later, better now than never.

I got to know him about two years ago and i didn't check RU-vid videos of him for about half a year, now i randomly searched his name and boom! A new video that I've never seen before... Made me really happy, please upload other videos of him if there is any. Thank you ❤

For those who may not know, he didn't release any albums of new material after this interview. The rock and roll record he's talking about that wasn't released at the time, Gunfight at Carnegie Hall, was finally released three years later, in 1974, but only in Canada. He released a couple of 45s too, but they were only reworkings of songs he had written prior, Power and Glory and Here's to the State of Richard Nixon. At 10:15, when the interviewer Tim Powell says to Phil that he hopes everything goes well and he writes a flood of songs and Phil responds with "if not, I'm just gonna disappear and you'll never see me again," nothing could be more prophetic and heartbreaking to hear, considering what wound up happening on April 9th, 1976. Thanks for this amazing and insightful post.

I wish I had that Songbook.

Thanks for uploading this interview. I'm so glad that Phil is still remembered, he's a legend.

Short life with a sad ending.

This is from late January 1971, as confirmed by the two concerts he mentions that are coming up, the Winter Soldier one and the Ann Arbor one, both held in Michigan. This is an absolute gem of a post, can't thank you enough for it. Biographies tout how Phil never was able to be on TV except for David Frost and The Midnight Special, but posts like this one prove otherwise.

“ l think that my career might end “ man that’s sad to hear that he knew what was gonna come later in life

Phil Ochs 👍 rest in peace...

You can put the watermark in a corner. It does not have to be so bold as to turn off viewership.

There was a perception of him as terribly serious unleavened by any humor. But he was very funny and never took himself seriously at all. Passionate about his ideals and dedicating his time tirelessly to putting them into practice. But a great jokester too. "Gunfight at Carnegie Hall"! 😁

awesome David

Had he ever written any songs after this period? I don't think so. We can really use him these days.

Can you possibly lighten your logo across the middle of the screen. So intrusive. I know you need it there but does it have to be so bright.,

Check out the Merle Haggard Song Phil is Talking About here, ‘Okie from Muskogee’ Great Elvis Songs Also!.

Wow, Jim Morrison is interviewing Phil Ochs!

Can anyone find out for me what “book” he’s referring to in the beginning? I’d like that book

Sorry Phil.

too bad phil

get rid of the damn writing on the screen