Glad to see you took care of a post for Keith today. Happy Birthday to him! As I’ve done previous years, I’d also like to add a mention to Bobby Keys (1943-2014), long time saxophone player with the Stones, both on records and on tours. He was born on the same day as Keith Richards. So here’s to Keith’s birthday and to Bobby’s memory
Yeah, I can fully understand that. Problem for me is that I haven’t saved any. So the big question is whether I’ll die unhappy and poor or just die. Well, that’s life I guess
That being said, my job is decent enough, with good colleagues. Guess I can’t really complain that much
Ok, I see you’ve edited your post. Well, some videos are sometimes blocked in some countries due to some copyright issues. Glad you found it, it’s a good song. Perhaps I should edit my post.
Today I’d like to give a shout out to the American singer and songwriter Phil Ochs (1940-1976), who would have turned 85 today. Unfortunately his story is a tragic one. In the 1960’s he was a highly respected artist on the folk scene in the US. Then when we got into the 70’s, he struggled more and more with alcoholism and depression, before he eventually got diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Sadly in 1976 Phil Ochs chose to end his own life, only 35 years old. Today he is more or less forgotten. Which is a shame, he was a good songwriter. Well, at least now he gets a mention here, so he is not totally forgotten. To the memory of Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs - The Power and the Glory (live 1974, the song is from 1963)
Here is a land full of power and glory Beauty that words cannot recall Oh, her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom Glory shall rest on us all
Yet she’s only as rich as the poorest of the poor Only as free as a padlocked prison door Only as strong as our love for this land Only as tall as we stand
Yes, they were called protest singers back then. And this song may very well still be relevant today. One might wonder how some of these singers would have fared in the US of today
Phil Ochs’ songs have been covered by many artists through the years, by his contemporaries like Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Judy Collins, via Marianne Faithfull, Jefferson Starship and The Highwaymen to newer artists like Morrissey, Pearl Jam and Lady Gaga, just to name a few.
Then there’s Melanie, who in 1971 did a great version of one of Phil Ochs’ songs.
Melanie - Chords of Fame
So Melanie got a mention too. We lost her in 2024. What a singer she was!
Hey, I’ve actually been listening a bit to Joan Baez the past months. Yes, her voice is one of a kind. So I got reminded of her version of the Dire Straits song Brothers in Arms. It may lack Mark Knopfler’s distinct guitar, but is still great cover of this song.
Joan Baez - Brothers In Arms (1987)
I’d also like to dedicate this song to one of my best, closest and dearest mates, my brother in arms here in life, whom lost his short battle against cancer in May this year, Damn I miss him