That Man in the Gold Lamé Suit: Phil Ochs's Search for Self

by Jim Bowers

Genres: Music

364 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Man in the Gold Lamé Suit by Jim Bowers delves into the complex life and career of Phil Ochs, exploring his steadfast dedication to music and his unwillingness to conform to popular trends. Bowers presents Ochs as a musician with a clear vision, unyielding in his artistic integrity. The book intertwines Ochs' musical journey with his political views, shedding light on his perspectives on notable figures such as Mao Zedong and John F. Kennedy. It also highlights his admiration for icons like Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.

The narrative begins with Ochs' early influences, chronicling his struggles with addiction, turbulent relationships, and the challenges he faced with his fan base. Bowers meticulously portrays Ochs' life, connecting his emotional experiences to his lyrics and providing readers with a deep understanding of the stories behind his songs. For instance, the song "First Snow" is illustrated to depict Ochs' acceptance of his role in a romantic breakup, adding depth to his musical expressions. Several features make this book particularly engaging and informative. Each chapter opens with a quote that sets the tone, and a comprehensive reference section at the end offers additional resources for further exploration. Bowers effectively weaves together opinions from various individuals, Ochs' own words, and insightful analyses, creating a rich tapestry of historical, political, and cultural contexts. Reading Bowers' detailed account of Ochs' life feels like a personal journey, fostering empathy for his struggles with depression and alcoholism. Despite these challenges, Ochs emerges as an admirable figure, passionate about his art and committed to authenticity. This book serves as a poignant tribute to Ochs' legacy, emphasizing the importance of artistic integrity and balance in life, free from the pressures of public approval.

That Man in the Gold Lamé Suit stands as a comprehensive, creative, and enduring homage to Phil Ochs, offering valuable lessons for musicians and artists worldwide. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the heart and soul of a true artist who remained unwavering in his commitment to his craft.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Ochs was a bit before my time. I knew next to nothing about him, but my interest in the social and political turmoil of the 60s piqued my interest. 'Gold Lame Suit' is very well done. Its strength comes in both the research behind the story and the ease in writing style employed by the author. The extensive research required to tell Och's story could have easily gotten lost in the weeds. It does not.

Ochs, a true protest singer, saw music as the means to social revolution. It required 100% dedication by the performer. It also required achieving a reputation and celebrity level that Ochs could not attain. He aspired to create a persona of half Elvis and half Che Guevara. For a time Dylan was the model of what could be. It was his opinion that Dylan came close, but ultimately sold out. (I agree!).

In the end, without any real commercial success or celebrity, Ochs deeply flawed by childhood abuse resulting lack of self-identity and esteem, he took to warring with himself and ended his life prematurely.

Bowers propels you through the days and times of Ochs. I'm glad I read it. I'm glad to have been introduced to the music and times of Phil Ochs.

[Steve Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I was looking at Apple Books on my iPad when I came upon this book. Aware that Phil Ochs died on April 9, 1976, it dawned on me that the 50th anniversary of his death approaching. So I guess I was looking up Ochs. That’s how I came upon this book by Jim Bowers. It was like 10 bucks on Apple Books, but I thought that since this man wrote a book about Ochs so recently and so long after his prime years, I would go ahead and buy an actual book thinking it would be more money for Bowers. Plus I prefer to read paper and I want book to continue being made while everything is going digital. So I got if from the presumably more indie Bookshop.org. And in a short time received a nicely made trade paperback.

 In the meantime I watched an hour long interview with Bowers on YouTube which was on Facebook live when the book came out a couple years ago. Through that I learned that Jim Bowers was late to Ochs, not a fan when Ochs was still around. I was, I guess I’m 10 or so years older than Bowers. I saw Phil Ochs perform at the end of his career and attended the Chile event at the Felt Forum after the 9/11/1973 coup. I have been an Ochs fan since 1969 when I first heard Pleasures of the Harbor when still in high school.

 That Man in the Gold Lamé Suit: Phil Ochs’s Search for Self is a sort of biography. It marks several of the events in the singer-songwriter-activist’s life but Mr. Bowers in the introduction informs that he is going to approach the object though something called Self-Psycholgy 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_ps...

 Now it’s fine that he chooses to look at Ochs though this psychology method but I felt that sometimes it got in the way of seeing Ochs as an important activist-entertainer during a troubling time in the USA. Sometimes while reading I got the impression that he felt the primary motivation for all of the work Ochs did was because of his inadequate parenting and consequently his self-psychology need to become a self object that was heroic, like the movies that he loved. That is all fine as far as it goes but diminishes the issues of the Vietnam war, the draft, the CIA’s assassination of John F, Kennedy, and the exasperating helplessness and depression that can develop in a person wanting a better USA, not under control of the military industrial complex, This is a global tragedy that is still going on. I don’t mean to say that he totally ignores how these things effected Ochs, but the primary focus on the self-psychology felt to me that it diminished the committed activist confronting a hopeless situation. (I write this two weeks after the very military industrial complex attached Iran and the nightmare of these people in charge continues.) 

 For instance I paused reading the book after he writes about Pretty Smart on My Part. Bowers analyzes the first two verses of this excellent satirical song as if Ochs is only talking about himself wanting to run over a future hitchhiker and beat a woman after a previous one upset him. I don’t mean to suggest that any of us cannot feel these nasty things lurking suppressed within ourselves but this is what a writer does, the function of the art of writing. But he doesn’t address that final verse that is clearly a commentary on the Kennedy assassination being done by an element within that wanted a advance the military agenda, nothing personal about Ochs there other than the activist protesting this political outrage. 

 I not saying that the book is all wrong and has no value, but remember that Phil Ochs was a great social realist artist and activist. 
I guess is could be said that to some degree I had poor parenting objects and don’t like my heroic self-object being criticized, but that would be simplifying the issue.

I talk about the book and play some of the Ochs songs here

https://youtu.be/2HyJoxighus?si=d4-sj...

[Chi-Chi Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

written as a clear labor of love and, living up to the title, is the greatest defense and celebration of phil's "greatest hits" era