Personnel includes: Phil Ochs (vocals); Ian Freebairn-Smith, Joseph Byrd (arranger); Lincoln Mayorga (piano). Recorded in August 1967. Originally released on A&M Records. Includes liner notes by Richie Unterberger. On his first album for a pop label, 1967's PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, Phil Ochs lets go of the voice-and-guitar format of his Elektra albums, recording with a bevy of Los Angeles studio musicians under the direction of producer Larry Marks and arranger Ian Freebairn-Smith to make an album with the same fractured middle-of-the-road sound as Love's FOREVER CHANGES or Judy Collins' WILDFLOWERS. Adorned with strings and horns alongside standard rock instrumentation, the songs are considerably more oblique than Ochs' previous broadside ballads. This is not to say that Ochs abandoned politics: inspired by the murder of Kitty Genovese, the sarcastic music-hall piano rag "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is a sneering criticism of apathy, and "The Crucifixion" appears to be a parable of the life of JFK. The meat of the album, however, lies in more personal songs like "Flower Lady" and the bitter, baroquely orchestrated "I've Had Her."

Perhaps Phil's greatest record, from 1967. Includes, 'CrossMy Heart', 'Flower Lady' & 'The Crucifixion'. Complete withoriginal artwork and new liner notes. First time on CD. Standard jewelcase. 2000 release.

Personnel includes: Phil Ochs (vocals); Ian Freebairn-Smith, Joseph Byrd (arranger); Lincoln Mayorga (piano). Recorded in August 1967. Originally released on A&M Records. Includes liner notes by Richie Unterberger. On his first album for a pop label, 1967's PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, Phil Ochs lets go of the voice-and-guitar format of his Elektra albums, recording with a bevy of Los Angeles studio musicians under the direction of producer Larry Marks and arranger Ian Freebairn-Smith to make an album with the same fractured middle-of-the-road sound as Love's FOREVER CHANGES or Judy Collins' WILDFLOWERS. Adorned with strings and horns alongside standard rock instrumentation, the songs are considerably more oblique than Ochs' previous broadside ballads. This is not to say that Ochs abandoned politics: inspired by the murder of Kitty Genovese, the sarcastic music-hall piano rag "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends" is a sneering criticism of apathy, and "The Crucifixion" appears to be a parable of the life of JFK. The meat of the album, however, lies in more personal songs like "Flower Lady" and the bitter, baroquely orchestrated "I've Had Her."