Phil Ochs – Greatest Hits

I was instantly happy putting this album on. It's not a greatest hits album. It's Phil channeling Elvis and doing more rock oriented stuff. In fact, the first song is about Elvis and nostalgia. The songs on this album are not typical Phil political commentary in talking blues form. It's more - music but with Phil's wry sense of humor. It's a GREAT album. The 2nd song is a talking blues, but it's about James Dean. The next one, My Kingdom for a Car is a straight rocker. The other thing that made me happy is seeing my friend Earl Ball listed in the credits for this. I knew he had worked on this, but now I know exactly what songs he was involved with. His piano work on Gas Station Women is great. The song Chords of Fame is EXCELLENT! Phil really had a great voice for honky tonk. There is one political talking blues about Nixon, but the rest of the album is just lovely songs well done. Like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Me. This is a must album for any Phil Ochs fan.

As the notes say, "Not a Greatest Hits record at all." Not intended to be, just Phil satirizing the record industry.

My Pickwick copy of this album (SPC-3735) omits the track Ten Cents a Coup. Why did Pickwick leave this track off the album? They did a similar thing with their reissue of the Phil Ochs album 'Rehearsels for Retirement' - leaving off the track 'William Butler Yeats Visits Lincoln Park And Escapes Unscathed'.