In the West . . .
Tyson D. Rahmeier | 01/03/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For Phil Ochs fans, the long-awaited CD release of TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA is a real cause for celebration. It has been out of print for many years and it took a lot of effort on my part to get a copy on vinyl. Along with his album THE PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA documents what Phil perceived to be the cancerous immorality eating away at America's institutions and conscience. The title track, "White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land," "Half a Century High," "The War is Over," and especially "When in Rome" relentlessly pursue the theme of internal decay. "When in Rome," Phil's longest song ever, presents the history and future of the United States as those of a modern Roman Empire. Phil sees the American (Roman) Empire as corrupted force that has become the very evil it had intended to replace. The entire album (save one song) thematically leads up to this revelation; it's a unified whole as are all of Phil's later, introspective albums (PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA, REHEARSALS FOR RETIREMENT, GREATEST HITS). For those of you already familiar with Phil Ochs, this album will fill an important space in your collections. Those of you who are NOT familiar with Phil's work, listen to his topical albums first (ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO SING, I AIN'T MARCHING ANYMORE, PHIL OCHS IN CONCERT), so will be able to understand his transformation in context."
The later Phil Ochs at his best
sh | 09/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Phil Ochs lived in the shadow of his mentor Bob Dylan. I believe that as a folk-protest singer, he exceeded him, though never got the name recognition. While others spoke to the "movement" of the 60s and 70s from the edges, Phil spoke to its heart, and especially the political left, those who were not into drugs but into politics instead. He released 3 good folk albums, "All the News That's Fit To Sing", "I Ain't Marching Any More", and "Phil Ochs in Concert". This album, plus "Pleasures of the Harbor" and "Rehearsals for Retirement" represented Ochs in his foray into rock, following his mentor Bob Dylan. It is by far the best of the three, as Ochs remains true to his folk roots in this one, whereas in the others he tries unsuccessfully to be "artsy". (Releases after "Rehearsals for Retirement" are mostly old material). The best song on this album is "When In Rome" where he compares the US to the Roman Empire. I believe this comparison is still valid today, as the US is an overextended power. For those new to Phil Ochs I would recommend this CD plus "Phil Ochs in Concert" and the Cctober 2001 UK release of his first two albums ("All the News That's Fit To Sing / I Ain't Marching Any More") as a 2 CD set. Skip the others, they are a waste of your hard earned money."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1