Chords of Fame also includes performances of Ochs songs by folk musicians who knew him, such as Bob Gibson, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk, and Eric Andersen.

[1] The film concludes with footage of Ochs performing "I Ain't Marching Anymore" at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Reviewing the film in The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote that by re-enacting scenes from Ochs's life, Korolenko took "an exasperating approach" in making Chords of Fame.

"The singer's own voice is almost entirely absent from this biography," she wrote, "and this omission makes Chords of Fame seem, at the very best, incomplete.

"[1] Eleanor Mannikka, writing at Allmovie, agreed:"This biographical documentary would have benefitted [sic] from more of the singer's own performances, allowing viewers to better judge his talent.