The Last Days of Phil Ochs
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- Phil Ochs, the humanist troubadour who had a special incisiveness and edge to his creations, was a vital creative voice of the protest era and one of my artistic heroes. He fell into depression and ultimately suicide in the 1970s, in part from an inherited condition, mixed with alcoholism, a declining career and the pressure of reactionary forces in American society. During the Trump era I think often of how Phil was affected by how hard it is to be a concerned artist and feel despair by how ineffectual whatever our methods are for dealing with forces beyond our control.
As much as Phil is a hero, he's also a human being and I didn't want to ignore the lessons we could take from the tragedy of his legend.
I animated this with Adobe Character Animator, audio culled from numerous sources across RUclips.
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#characteranimator #philochs #shortfilm
Such a tragedy. The voice of a generation that will never be forgotten. Rest in power, Phil.
Phil doesn't sound enough like Phil .. it makes you not like him where as he was very likeable and so was his voice. Did Phil really stutter that much , he did but not like this farce. I could care less about his politics, his songs melodies and lyrics were brilliant. I mean to say I am the only moderate, realistic, rational mind in the world who likes him. l am for compromise because socialism has never worked and socialism-capitalism is best but not the current socialism-fascism of Biden or AOC and Squad. Yeah it takes a blunder of Afghanistan for the world to see Biden is a Kook and not up for the job and either is cackling Kamala. Look what Biden just did, my leftist fools (kidding) ! Phil would understand.
I love Phils songs more than anyone else on here and look past the politics . Hey is that ok? Though I agree with some of his lyrics and his heart and warmth behind him, I find his best are the ones that would stand alone and you don't need follow politics : Changes, Flower Lady, Tape from California, Cross My Heart, That was the President, Rehearsals for Retirement . Did anyone ever read the lyrics to Ringing of Revolution .. Phils wrote it in 15 minutes! Genius and beyond. Half a Century High is very creative and haunting. In the Heat of the Summer, When I'm Gone, and the TERRIFIC Celia ! I could name 25 more.
My least favorite but I still like them: Love Me I'm a Liver (Liberal) and Outside of a Small circle of Friends and Miranda. The guy was very humorous and smart and quick witted and a delight and too bad they didn't have the right meds for him and too bad about biology - look at ID twins separated at birth STUDIES.
HEY WHAT ABOUT GIVING ME A HEART shape too ? Conservatives and moderates do have some good ideas too. Libertarians are just insensitive and don't have an humane ideas - see John Stossel. I read up on all parties and have no strong straight-jacket political ideology of my own.
David Miller, I had to be honest. Your work here is admirable, I just want Phil to be likeable and for everyone to see what a great man he was, despite maybe being a little far Left though now he might not seem it. I dunno just seems like a bit of caricature in his voice (for me anyway, maybe that was not the intent). I just loved him regardless of his politics (which I understand but don't follow as his dreams just don't work well enough in reality)
OK I was wrong .. Phil actually had a bit of an annoying voice and more of a stutter than I thought. I only heard it when he was less nervous or talky. So your impression is right on !!
@@oppothumbs1 I read one of your many paragraphs and you're ducking crazy.
Not the voice of a generation. Ochs was ahead of his time. That's why my uncle idolizes that talentless moron Bob Dylan. We need Phil ochs music to move forward.
I think Changes is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.
no youre wrong you dont think its one of the best you knoe its one of the best
Not usually a big fan of this kind of approach, but this is creative and intelligent. Phil was a tragic genius and you really captured that here in his own words. His last realization that he was done.
I love that you included in your animation that time when Bob Dylan kicked Phil Ochs out of his limo (8:28) for criticizing him. So terrible.
WOW! I grew up in the shadow of Phil Ochs in the 60s. My mom ran a basket house on MacDougal Street and was close to Phil. It doesn't say it here, but his sister, Sonny Ochs, found him when he hung himself in her house. I worked with Sonny for many years in the Hudson River Sloop Singers. When I picked up the guitar for the first time I wanted to play Phil Ochs songs.
I found out him about him about 13 years ago in high school. Ironically in English class through the highwayman cover. Loved his voice so much I started looking into him. Woke me up to our political climate and how dangerous the environment my conservative parents raised me in. My heart goes to him, wherever he is. Truly a brilliant and amazing man.
I hope youbrealize now how dangerous & dystopian the American left has become as well, right?
This is dark and unsettling, not something I would make, but it's excellent.
An interesting fact: at 8:00, the background slide guitar is being played by none other than John Lennon. A sad foreshadowing of the fate he too would meet a few years later. Very touching film, poor Phil. He deserved so much better.
Phil played Berekley Community Theater after his last album, the one where he's dressed as Elvis in gold lame. Didn't buy the album (I had his others), & the only song I remember from it is Who Threw The Bottle In The Pool, or something like that.
We hadn't heard of the show beforehand, but a friend & I heard a KPFA announcer say that anyone who showed up at the show would get in free due to lack of ticket sales. We both liked his music + intents so we drove an hour to the show. Only the first 3 or 4 rows of tickets had sold, & the promoter's invite for others to walk in free was made to protect Phil's feelings was the impression we got from the DJ who delivered the on-air invite. Considering the satirical album title & its asterisk -- Phil Och's Greatest Hits* (*50 Phil Ochs fans can't be wrong); the low turnout at that Berkeley show might be regarded by some as ironically self-invited.
A lot of his comments here on the history of counter-culture politics rings true to me, having lived thru that era as a politically alert teen w/ being drafted to the fraud-filled Vietnam War staring me in the face all thru HS. Acid Dreams, a social history of LSD & the '60s counterculture (or something akin to the last part of that), is an excellent in-depth exploration of that subject of counter-culture evolution, that shares by implication what Phil says here re: the effects of drugs on political activism. OTOH, I thoroughly disagree w/ the more extreme assertion of that viewpoint that Dave McGowan (sic?) sells in his books, which taste to me like an example of what he accuses various counterculture music stars of being.
Phil's story of allegorically assassinating himself here is painful to hear.
I disagree with his negative remarks he.states here about the quality of his albums.
The Crucifixion is among the best lyric works of the '60s, as good as the best of Dylan's work, and his forays into orchestral backup suited the material well I felt.
For those just getting acquainted w/ his career, I recommend listening to his work in chronological order.
Forgot to add my appreciation to the person(s) who conceived & created this.
Well done on both tasks.
I "discovered Phil singing Small Circle of Friends in the '60's & am still a devoted fan(atic) now in 2021. This made me cry & feel the loss as if it were yesterday. At almost 70 years old, he can still rip my heart out
I found Phil only a year ago. At years old, I think about him a lot too. I hope you have a nice day
A painfully honest collage, his life had a tragic end. At least we are more aware and sensitive to mental illness and alcoholism. His music has gained only more power with time.
As a Phil Ochs fan for 30 years or more - what did I just watch? Insightful, tragic, sad but accurate from what I have read - this is great - all I can say is, Thank You!
Thanks for giving him a voice. He was wrong! he is gone and still singing somewhere! We will never forget this man who gave his life to his country in a different way...
Thank you! A very sensitive and insightful video. In our current political context, I often identify with Phil's despair, even though I'm not bi-polar, alcoholic, or even depressive. We need someone like him now.
omg there are soooo many now, thousands, people like Rod MacDonald and David Buskin and Tom Paxton and Tom Rush and Tom Chapin are still here, goodness, go see them while you can. Ask them what youngsters are hot now and they will know.
The folk music scene got recognized in the 41950's with the Weavers, Limelighters, Pete Seeger etc. Then the New York scene had Joan Baez, Bob Dylan doing more social protest songs. Folk music was the thing and a lot of people picked up guitars, learned a few chords and played in coffee houses and hole in the wall clubs. At one point the scene reached a peak and morphed with the Beats and acid into the "Alternate Culture." Dylan sang "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" Phil Ochs was considered "pure" because he never sold out in his songs or his life. I guess he had a pretty high standard or vision. Phil Ochs just didn't have that show biz personality, so his song "There But For Fortune" was made popular in those days by Joan Baez. It was a sad day when he passed away. Won't see another time or person like it or him and maybe it's for the best cuz the big wheel is always turning. Ran right over Phil.
very well-made video. phil ochs continues to be my favorite singer/songwriter i've ever listened to
Broken hearted wisdom. Hope this wonderful film inspires folks to seek out and find Phil Ochs.
I became a fan in my late teens back in the early eighties. Not too many people even knew who he was in those days. At least not in my world. This was a profound short film, thank you.
I have been thinking a lot about Phil recently. Found a couple of old albums on vinyl. Thank you for sharing this.
I still miss Phil Ochs.
Broke my heart. Beautiful and tragic, just like Ochs.
Beautiful. Thanks so much for giving us this piece. Gave me chills.
In 2024 it turns out that Phil was right! We are living in a hopeless situation!
Beautiful video. 10/10! Hard to understand how Phil Ochs isnt more known.. i just dont get it? He had the songs, the melody, the lyrics... And relevance! So how the hell didnt he "make it"?
I think back then if you wanted to make it big you would have to be on the radio sadly that wasn't the case from phil from what i've seen some day I hope people recognize him more so he can be on the radio some day that also felt like he wasn't going to make it big eihter before the his last days sadly too
The government blackballed him, and if radio stations play this music, the FCC would’ve taken their licenses
Unsettling when topical songs feel pertinent again. History rhymes.
4:52 "Today Vietnam Tomorrow Venezuela"
?
They were ahead of their time sadly.
Yes, I noticed that sign too. Young people rarely get the credit for their gift of instinctively creative--often to the point of prophetic--insight.
So poignantly portrayed...Such a talented and beautiful artist with a wounded heart; poor fellow, here only fleetingly but imparted his wisdom and his grace like a rare Butterfly. Well done, David Miller and a fine tribute to Phil Ochs. As an animator myself, I appreciate your work even more. Thank You ~
This is beautiful. It brings tears to my eyes
I discovered phil ochs after finding a record in my father's collection. i've listening to him ever since. I'm deeply moved by your work.
Can you possibly link the interview(s) you used in this? I’m making a podcast on Phil I’d love to listen to them in full.
Yes please
So poignant, and made even more so by telling it entirely through his words. Thank you.
This is beautiful. Thank you for making this.
Phil gave so much to this world. Everyone needs to experience Phil.
Little known fact: The suicide rate for people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder is 19% higher than for other mental health diagnoses. Alcohol and drugs are merely a way of self-medicating for these folks. There are so many creative geniuses that struggle with this. Rest in Peace, Phil, and know you are still influencing people.
This is great man! Awesome editing and animation!
As a diehard fan since the late 60’s, and someone who still thinks frequently about Phil, his unique and powerful musical legacy and the unbearable despair that overwhelmed him in the end, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the production of this piece. I will never stop listening to his music, appreciating what he bravely gave the world, or missing him.
Gonna have to return to this another time. At 1:21 I found his self-criticism unbearable. And I know all too well how such self criticism was a part of our generation’s mental health legacy from all that preceded us in the 20th century. And how all that leads directly to suicidality. Im lucky. I survived. If there’s a life after death I send hugs and kisses to Phil Ochs. I’m grateful for the powerful real gifts he gave and continues to.
Thank you so much for making this film. I have hardly any heroes, but Phil is sure one of them. He died not only of alcohol, bi-polar disorder and depression, but from our culture of capitalism-- which could be listed first. We love him at Veterans For Peace.
Question - Is that recording of Cross My Heart from December of 1975? His voice sounds almost fully recovered.
Yes, from Dave Peller's "Phil Ochs Last Recording" video
I thought the same thing. I was under the impression at least some of his depression was related to the loss of his sweet voice. But this is just a few months before he died and it sounds pretty good.
Very moving. Very helpful.
He wrote some good songs about not being able to write! No other folky seems to describe the pain and disappointment. He got strangled and lost his voice, so he sounds hoarse here because of that I guess? Poor guy, A great Memoir singer!
Absolutely and utterly heart wrenching
Amazing brilliant animations and tells Phil’s story in a unique manner keep it up
He claimed earlier than this that he was actually an army sergeant who had been picked to replace Phil Ochs because he could sing and play guitar.
Most bios of phil say this was one of his delusions.
While not knowing what our contemporary secret 3 letter agencies are capable of what were they capable of back then. i am always suspicious about our very prolific and committed political protest singers who seem to suddenly change and stop being creators of extremely strong protest songs then become artsy or electric stars. Here's to the state of mississippi is straight to the point. No having to search for the meaning of the song.
Antony Sutton's Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution offers some interesting food for thought re: your last paragraph here. You can read it on-line, w/ fair warning that the read it on-line of Sutton's next book, Wall Street and Hitler, differs from the book in at least one very important place that seems to be specifically intended misrepresentation,
Heard him in Boulder CO,weeks before his tradegy, he lived the pain,music still tears me up.
This is hauntingly beautiful. Thank you so much for creating this moment for all time.
More then a “Small Circle of Friends” appreciate the gift of Phil Ochs music and life.
What a wonderful thing you have created in memory of the late great Phil Ochs. I really love this a lot, it's very well done! Thank you!
I never saw Phil live, but I started playing his songs as a sophomore in HIgh School in 1967. Changes was the first song I learned to finger-pick. Draft Dodger Rag, I Ain't Marching Anymore. There But For Fortune. To this day i tear up when I hear When I'm Gone. Thank you for posting this.
To hear Phil in his greatest depth and beauty, listen to his "Pleasures of the Harbor" album.
Extremely well done. Thanks for doing this.
Wow, how have I not stumbled across this until now?
Wow this is amazing. I’ve heard his songs and read the bios and didn’t think there was more to say. I was wrong.
I never heard those last recordings. From everything I read, his voice had dropped and was shot. But he could still hit those high notes on those last recordings, so those reports were exaggerated.
Thanks for this, it has a lot of heart. Let’s all keep going, no matter how hard it is.
Excellent job my man.
Really? Phil was more likeable, didn't stutter that much, his voice was more pleasant. I don't get the love .. I mean it's sort of humorous and great to hear "Phil" but a better job would be to make his voice and singing a little better. Presentation matters.
@@oppothumbs1I’m pretty sure that is Phil Ochs speaking lol
It is entirely fitting and in the spirit of its subject that this masterpiece of a video remains unwatched and unloved apart from by a select handful of people.
11:03-11:05 Flawless "Lawrence of Arabia blows out the match" edit
I heard a live performance of Phil Ochs at Vancouver’s UBC campus in 1968.
Dylan skillfully navigated trends like folk and never got painted into a corner.
I am a big Phil Ochs fan, thank you for putting together footages and audio to animate and honour his legacy. From a filmmaking perspective too, your work is amazing!
Phil was the best. Sad story, but still inspiring. Great job.
Changes ..one of the best songs ever wrote..
I attempted to play the guitar in the early 70's and this was one of my favorites to sing and play
Great job on this video! I became an Ochs fan in '98 and this is a fitting project on the tragic end of his life. Thanks!
What is the song around 9:20 ?
No More Songs acoustic live version
"Sometimes I feel that the world isn't mine, it feeds on my hunger and tears on my time". Thank you, Phil Ochs, for being who you were. It helps, knowing we are not the only ones who feel like this, knowing that there are people out there who make videos like this.
This was great. Love Phil Ochs. RIP dear friend.
He should have not made the deal with the Old Morning Star
Incredible film. Incredible.
This is brilliant. Thanks.
thanks for doing this, it is very good aesthetically. . . . . . but candidly, and please forgive me for saying this, i am ambivalent about this particular kind of project. . . . . . . i am a huge, committed and life-long fan of phil ochs and i am not interested in sugarcoating or whitewashing the dark side of his life . . . . but i have mixed feelings on this kind of enterprise and adopting this approach. i appreciate all the love and goodwill and artistry seen here nonetheless. i apologize for expressing these reservations. i may even take this comment down or soften it somewhat at some point
Don't take it down. It's honest, raw and brave. Like Phil and his music.
Mental illness is a horrible thing! Why sugar coat it?
I understand exactly what you mean.
I hear what you’re saying too, but I can only speak from the first person, and I hope they don’t try to hide my warts when I’m gone. I am large, I contain multitudes.
i appreciate the friendly atmosphere of this discussion, because there is disagreement here. to me, an item like this is somewhat like taking a recording device into a therapy session. the material, to me, at its heart. seems private in nature. i am fine with exposing the warts of phil ochs and george washington and donald trump and bobby vee and etc etc etc, but there are ways to do it that to me dont seem appropriate.
Too much betrayal from so called friends...btw if anyone saw him in Vancouver in 7/1970 (not October 1970) let me know?
Beautiful film, thank you for sharing.
Excellent well thought out video David ..not the run off the mill..
I wept when he died, I weep now.
This is great for just these clips of Phil speaking alone, everything else is a bonus. RIP Phil, I love you man.
Thank you
Kinda glad Phil does not have to see the way it is now, but we could use his voice.
sad to say
but
I was thinking the same thing 5minutes ago
At the time it felt to me like the Greatest Hits album was him saying
he already didn't want to see any more
as if that album was his half-hearted effort to try not caring on for size, &
it didn't fit
Didn't see any comments regarding Phil getting tossed from the limousine.
Appeared that Bob Dylan was doing the tossing...
Very interesting. He talks about depression and being lost of course, but also likes his singing voice for the first time in Rehearsals for Retirement. And created his best work after Chicago....which gave him direction maybe unconsciously. The struggle over which way to turn is there but always with the overriding goal of avoiding defeat. It is in all the poetry also. Anything but defeat. He had been envisioning records as a work of fully developed work of art since Pleasures of the Harbor but to do a complete song cycle where every piece is organically related and designed to be performed in a sequence only really came out on this album.
Sad, definitely a good guy. Tragic.
Thank you. I just came across this. I miss Phil and we do as a nation
I was dubious at first but found it very poignant
So sad. The 60's and 70's in a nutshell.
Sad and beautiful... still miss this man.
A poem I wrote that mentions Phil:
A toast to evolution
Here’s to all the bad boys that turn you on
that appeal to the part of your brain that selected for strong men
and got selected by millions of years of evolution,
that feminism pretended to transcend.
Those John Waynes or Clint Eastwoods or Hitlers
(who lost his sex appeal only after he lost the war)
who killed animals, who killed enemies, the tribal others
who had skill with bow,knife, gun and gore
who could bring food to the the fair maid
who exuded confidence and amassed wealth
who pretended they were so tough so they could get laid
who got heart attacks and strokes from dissing their health
who beat their women in their drunken anguished hate
while the rest of us cried themselves to sleep alone
or hung themselves like Phil Ochs and nobody cared
because he was just a man, without a heart of stone
and men’s feelings are really a turnoff if bared
unless they are quiet or blissful, not scared
unless they are equanimous alpha gurus,
not humans who've got a life they can lose
whyd you liv me
This was excellent!!!
Thank's for writing a so beautiful song about the Civil War of my loved Spain.
Spain took a good turn: no communism, no fascism. Good to see.
such an activist- heart-wrenching to watch
Sensitively and beautifully done. Thank-you.
Was searching for the There But For Fortune documentary and stumbled upon your obvious labor-of-love mini-doc tribute. Having read the Death of a Rebel bio many years ago, Phil sort of haunts me, like the echo of the whole era, with I Ain't Marchin'' Anymore as the soundtrack, slowly and sadly fading.
C+
so beautiful, so sad
'CROSS MY HEART - AND HOPE TO LIVE". .THE LAST LINE OF HIS LAST SONG
Phil LEFT US, by his own hand - on April 9.1976
I became i fan of phil at 15 after hearing the billy bragg song i dreamed i saw phil cohs last night, me and my dad had been billy bragg fans since i was a small boy and i was suprised to hear him sing along with Phil ochs when i played it to him, he told me my grandad who died when he was 12 adored phil ochs and thats why i love phil ochs
The real Dylan..
He was cursed with his own immense talent. Phil, we hardly knew ye. Rest in Peace, Troubadour.😇
cannot believe this doesnt have more views
Wonderful video, thank you
Amazing. Love Phil. Thanx
Brilliant video for a brilliant man