PHIL OCHS: Rare GUNFIGHT AT CARNEGIE HALL Canadian LP

$

111

PHIL OCHS
"GUNFIGHT AT CARNEGIE HALL"

Very Rare Original Canadian 1974 LP on A&M Records, Catalog # SP-9010
This is the only official pressing of Phil Ochs' extremely hard to find final album.

The recording on the record is from a 1970 concert at Carnegie Hall.
Ochs' records were not selling well at the time and the future of his career was uncertain.
Thus, in 1971 A&M pressed a good quantity of acetate copies for distribution to radio in order to gauge public interest.
However, the experiment was not successful and despite Ochs' pleas, the plans for a domestic release were canceled.
When a foreign release was considered in 1974, A&M produced a small "Special Products" run available only in Canada.
When the this small pressing did not sell well, the album was shelved, never having gained a widespread release.

The two versions of the recording are somewhat different.
The 1971 radio copies were acetate in a generic sleeve. This edition is standard vinyl with full jacket.
The acetate radio copies released in the US contain one additional song, a cover of Chuck Berry's "School Days"
However, it is likely that the time needed to allow for this addition was aquired by removing the on stage dialogue,
as this would not have been particularly useful or in some cases safe to play on air.

Though we don't have a copy for comparison, the audio levels on the album itself seems to support the theory.
The volume of the songs is consistent and the audio is well mixed.
However, the dialogue occurs at a generally lower level, and those levels are somewhat inconsistent.
The dialogue itself is notable for Ochs' explanations of the material and the event,
complete with the booing, jeering and applause of the crowd and Phil's pointed political statements.

More Information About this Recording and Performance from Wikipedia:

The shows recorded that day served to surprise Ochs' fans, from his gold lamé Nudie Suit modeled after Elvis Presley's to his covers of Presley, Conway Twitty, Buddy Holly & Merle Haggard songs, to his own re-arranged songs. Some attendees at the first show were unhappy with the music he was playing, wanting only to hear "old" Ochs, but before he had a chance to convince them, the concert was cut short by a telephone bomb threat. Some angry fans - who had paid for a full concert - confronted Phil at a between-show dinner, and he took their names, promising to get them into the second show for free. But the box office was locked - Ochs smashed the glass, severely cutting his thumb. Breaking into the lockbox was the last straw. While they let Ochs perform the second show, he was immediately afterwards banned from performing at the venue permanently. He appeared onstage at the second show with a bandaged hand, telling the audience the story.

Before performing a medley of Buddy Holly songs, Ochs gave an introduction where he described Holly's influence on the songs he would become famous for, like "I Ain't Marching Anymore." Ochs said that these songs were "just as much Phil Ochs as anything else." When some of the audience shouted and booed after this set, Ochs admonished them to "not be like Spiro Agnew." He said that their prejudice against certain forms of music was bigotry, saying that "You can be a bigot from all sides. You can be a bigot against Blacks; you can be a bigot against music." Many in the audience cheered this sentiment, and wanted Ochs to perform however he chose. Eventually the cheers, and Ochs' persuasive powers, were victorious, and the show went on. This second show, starting at midnight, went on for over three hours - when Carnegie Hall cut the power to the mics while Ochs was performing a medley of Elvis songs, Ochs shouted out and the remaining audience started chanting "We want power!" until the mics were turned back on. Many loyal fans remained to the very end of the concert, cheering and dancing, enjoying this chance to share what was felt to be an historic moment with Ochs.

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Tracklisting:

Mona Lisa
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore
Oakie From Meskogee (Merle Haggard)
Chords of Fame
Buddy Holly Medley
Pleasures of the Harbour
Tape from California
Elvis Medley
- Power Cut -
Encore

Jacket is in good overall condition with light wear from storage.
Reverse of jacket has some light staining. Moderate dents in corners.
LP is glossy like new with virtually no wear and plays clean at volume.

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