The Early Years is a compilation of seven recordings Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs

Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...

 made for a Vanguard compilation in 1964 and twelve made at three Newport Folk Festival

Newport Folk Festival

The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...

s in 1963, 1964 and 1966, the latter tracks previously released on the 1996 compilation Live at Newport.

Of the seven studio tracks, only five had actually been released by Vanguard on the compilation The Original New Folks, Vol. 2, "How Long" and "Davey Moore" making their debut here. They are all in the vein of Ochs' first two albums, with their focus on human and civil rights stories seemingly pulled from Newsweek

Newsweek

Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...

. The seminal "There But For Fortune

There but for Fortune (song)

"There but for Fortune" is a song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. singer-songwriter from the 1960s. Ochs wrote the song in 1963. He recorded it twice, for New Folks Volume 2 and Phil Ochs in Concert...

" made its debut here.

Track listing

All songs by Phil Ochs.

1. "William Moore" – 3:08
2. "What Are You Fighting For?" – 2:47
3. "There But for Fortune"– 2:15
4. "Paul Crump" – 3:18
5. "Talking Airplane Disaster" – 3:47
6. "How Long" – 3:08
7. "Davey Moore" – 3:03
8. "Introduction by Peter Yarrow" – 0:56
9. "The Ballad of Medgar Evers" – 2:44
10. "Talking Birmingham Jam" – 3:22
11. "The Power and the Glory
    Power and the Glory
    Power & the Glory is the fifth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1983 . This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Biff Byford - vocals*Graham Oliver - guitar...
    
    " – 2:11
12. "Draft Dodger Rag
    Draft Dodger Rag
    "Draft Dodger Rag" is a satirical anti-war song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s known for being a harsh critic of the American military industrial complex...
    
    " – 2:21
13. "I Ain't Marching Anymore
    I Ain't Marching Anymore (song)
    "I Ain't Marching Anymore" is an anti-war song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer from the 1960s known for being a harsh critic of the American military industrial complex...
    
    " – 2:36
14. "Links on the Chain" – 5:05
15. "Talkin' Vietnam" – 3:42
16. "Cross My Heart" – 4:44
17. "Half a Century High" – 7:06
18. "Is There Anybody Here" – 3:11
19. "The Party" – 8:11
20. "Pleasures of the Harbor" – 6:25

Credits

• Phil Ochs – guitar, vocals
• Tom Vickers – reissue producer