Mus(ic)ings

[Amy in Vermont]

I have been playing guitar a little more recently. I have a lifetime collection of songbooks, many from the 60's and 70's.

I find myself, lately, gravitating to protest songs from the Vietnam War era. Songs by the writers of the day, like Phil Ochs, and traditional songs as well that became anthems of the movement. Many of them are very simple, timeless and timely.

So I got to thinking.. what about a Janis cover album of war protests songs? I think she could so a bang up job of it!

Universal Soldier
I Ain't Marching Any More
Where have all the Flowers Gone....

[hoops]

i'd buy em, and yes she would knock em out
peace
hoops

[Judy]

Amy, I guess this unforgivable war of Bush's has evoked lots of anger in those of us old enough to remember Vietnam. The other day I was rolling down the street, windows down with the BLARING the stereo with CCR's "Fortunate Son."
On a less aggressive note: are you familiar with Emmylou Harris' "Bang The Drum Slowly" from Red Dirt Girl? That's such a heartbreaker of an anti-war song.
Judy

[DaveM]

I'd love to hear some of Phil Ochs' music brought to a new audience. He wrote some of the smartest, most elegant lyrics I've ever heard. Not just his protest (or as he called them, "topical") songs, but in everything he saw fit to set to music. But does anyone under 40 even know who he was?

Would love to hear a Janis rendition of "Changes".

[Amy in Vermont]

Changes is one of my favorite Phil songs. Its easy to play well on the guitar, and I am sure Janis could make an amazing cover of it given that she plays considerably better than me.

Phil's work deserves to be resurrected..its a relevant now as it was then.

[DaveM]

I don't understand why Phil's music virtually disappeared as it has. As you say, it's the sort of material that is relevant in any time, yet I know of only a few covers of his songs and as I said before, plenty of under-40s don't even know who he was.

"Changes" was supposedly written during the intermission of a concert, after which he went out and played it. It's a fantastic lyric and, as there are only five or six chords involved, it's easy enough to play (strangely, I've never succeeded in memorizing the lyrics completely!). Since Phil Ochs was a rather clunky guitar player, it's much easier to play along with his records than with those of most others.

Mind, I can easily imagine Janis smoothing out the rough spots and turning the rather simple melody into something that would raise hairs on the back of the neck and bring tears to the eyes. And I think Phil would approve

[aabram]

Go for it, guys..... :D