1965 Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction (US:#1 UK:#3)
“Eve of Destruction” is a protest song written by P. F. Sloan in mid-1964. Several artists have recorded it, but the best-known recording was by Barry McGuire.
The song references social issues of its period, including the Vietnam War, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, the Civil Rights Movement, turmoil in the Middle East, and the American space program.
The American media helped popularize the song by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time. Due to its controversial lyrics, some American radio stations, “claiming it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam”, banned the song. The song was also criticized by conservatives. It was also banned by some British radio stations.
The song was offered to The Byrds as a Dylanesque potential single, but they rejected it. The Turtles, another L.A. group which often recorded The Byrds’ discarded or rejected material, recorded a version instead. Their version was issued as a track on their 1965 debut album It Ain’t Me Babe, shortly before McGuire’s version was cut; it was eventually released as a single and hit #100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.
Album
Eve of Destruction is the debut studio album released by American folk music singer-songwriter Barry McGuire, released in 1965. The album features McGuire’s signature song “Eve of Destruction”. It also features McGuire’s cover versions of songs by several artists, including Bob Dylan, Tom Jones, as well as Sylvia Fricker. Eve of Destruction peaked at No. […]
Musicians
| Bass | Larry Knechtel |
| Drums | Hal Blaine |
| Guitar | PF Sloan |
| Guitar | Tommy Tedesco |
| Percussion | Steve Barri |
| Vocals | Barry McGuire |
Produced By
Lou Adler
Songwriters
PF Sloan
Charts
US:#1
UK:#3