Chords Of Fame was a 2-LP compilation of folksinger Phil Ochs' career, compiled by his brother shortly after Ochs' death in 1976. Released on A&M Records, it compiled tracks Ochs had recorded for both that label and Elektra Records. The compilation included rarities, these being an acoustic version of the song "Crucifixion" taped at the show that had produced Gunfight At Carnegie Hall, the electric single version of "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and the non-album B-side "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon", a re-write of the old chestnut "Here's to the State of Mississippi". Phil Ochs (1940-76) Photograph from the Michael Ochs Archives Philip David Ochs (December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976) was a protest singer (or, as he preferred, a topical singer) of the early 1960s, perhaps best known for his songs Power and Glory, There But for Fortune, Changes, When I... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... A&M Records is a record label formed in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. ... Elektra Records was a record label started in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickholt, who both invested $300. ... Gunfight At Carnegie Hall was Phil Ochs final album, presumably comprised of songs recorded at his infamous second show at Carnegie Hall on March 27, 1970, containing less than half of the actual concert. ...

As with many compilations, favortism abounds on the album. Seven tracks from the third album and five from the first appear, while only one each was offered from the second and fifth. The others are given between two and three apiece. Possibly because of this, the compilation was allowed to go out-of-print. With the exception of the 1997 box set, never again would Elektra material be released on A&M, or vice versa. Phil Ochs In Concert was Phil Ochs third long player, released in 1966 on Elektra Records. ... All The News Thats Fit To Sing was Phil Ochs first album. ... I Aint Marching Anymore was Phil Ochs second long player, released on Elektra Records in 1965. ... Tape From California was Phil Ochs fifth album, released in mid-1968 on A&M Records. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Farewells And Fantasies was the 1997 box set of singer/songwriter Phil Ochs, chronicling his career from 1964 through 1970. ...

Track Listing

1. I Ain't Marching Anymore (P. Ochs, 2:47)
2. One More Parade (P. Ochs and B. Gibson, 3:00)
3. Draft Dodger Rag (P. Ochs, 2:07)
4. Here's to the State of Richard Nixon (P. Ochs, 2:19)
5. The Bells (E. A. Poe with musical interpretation by P. Ochs, 3:00)
6. Bound For Glory (P. Ochs, 3:15)
7. Too Many Martyrs (P. Ochs, 2:46)
8. There But For Fortune (P. Ochs, 2:35)
9. I'm Gonna Say It Now (P. Ochs, 2:46)
10. Santo Domingo (P. Ochs, 3:48)
11. Changes (P. Ochs, 4:30)
12. Is There Anybody Here (P. Ochs, 3:17)
13. Love Me, I'm A Liberal (P. Ochs, 3:46)
14. When I'm Gone (P. Ochs, 3:51)
15. Outside of a Small Circle of Friends (P. Ochs, 3:41)
16. Pleasures of the Harbor (P. Ochs, 4:59)
17. Tape From California (P. Ochs, 3:39)
18. Chords of Fame (P. Ochs, 3:32)
19. Crucifixion (P. Ochs, 7:40)
20. The War is Over (P. Ochs, 4:25)
21. Jim Dean of Indiana (P. Ochs, 5:02)
22. The Power And The Glory (P. Ochs, 2:21)
23. Flower Lady (P. Ochs, 6:06)
24. No More Songs (P. Ochs, 4:33)

Source Material

• Track 1 from the 1966 British single.
• Tracks 2, 5, 6, 7 and 22 from All The News That's Fit To Sing (1964).
• Track 3 from I Ain't Marching Anymore (1965).
• Track 4 from the 1974 single.
• Tracks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 from Phil Ochs In Concert (1966).
• Tracks 15 and 23 from Pleasures Of The Harbor (1967).
• Tracks 16 and 17 from Gunfight At Carnegie Hall (1975).
• Tracks 18, 21 and 24 from Greatest Hits (1970).
• Track 19 previously unreleased (recorded 1970).
• Track 20 from Tape From California (1968).