"Eve of Destruction"is aprotest songwritten byP. F. Sloanin mid-1965.[4]Several artists have recorded it, but the most popular recording was byBarry McGuire,on which Sloan played guitar.
| "Eve of Destruction" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 West German picture sleeve | ||||
| SinglebyBarry McGuire | ||||
| from the albumEve of Destruction | ||||
| B-side | "What Exactly's the Matter With Me" | |||
| Released | July 26, 1965[1] | |||
| Recorded | July 15, 1965 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | P. F. Sloan | |||
| Producer(s) | Lou Adler,P. F. Sloan,Steve Barri | |||
| Barry McGuiresingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song references social issues of its period, including theVietnam War,the draft,the threat ofnuclear war,theCivil Rights Movement,turmoil in theMiddle Eastand theAmerican space program.
The Americanmediahelped to make the song popular by using it as an example of everything that was wrong withthe youth culture of the time.[5]Its controversial lyrics caused it to be banned by some American radio stations, "claiming it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam".[6][7]
Background
editThe song was offered tothe Byrdsas a potential single in the style of theirBob Dylancovers, but they rejected it.The Turtles,another L.A. group, recorded a version instead. The Turtles' version appeared as a track on their October 1965 debut albumIt Ain't Me Babein July 1965, shortly after McGuire's version was released. The Turtles version was later released as a single in 1970 and hit #100 on theBillboardHot 100.
Lyrical references
edit- "You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'"refers to the United States law requiring registration for the draft at age 18. The minimum voting age in most states was 21 until the ratification of theTwenty-sixth Amendmentin 1971.
- "And even theJordan Riverhas bodies floatin'"refers to theWar over Water.
- "If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away." refers tomutual assured destruction.
- The song's mention ofSelma, Alabama,refers to theSelma to Montgomery marchesin March 1965. TheJan & Deanversion substitutes "Watts, California"in the lyrics, in apparent reference to theWatts riotsthat occurred in Los Angeles later in 1965.
- "You may leave here for four days in space, but when you return it's the same old place" refers to the June 1965 mission ofGemini 4,which lasted just over four days.
- "The pounding of the drums, the pride and disgrace" refers to theassassination of John F. Kennedyand the marching band that played as his casket was carried toArlington National Cemetery.
- "Hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace" refers to simple hypocrisy, according to Sloan.
Barry McGuire version
editMcGuire's recording was made between July 12-15 1965 and released byDunhill Records.The accompanying musicians were P. F. Sloan onacoustic guitarand "Wrecking Crew"session musiciansHal BlaineondrumsandLarry Knechtelonbass guitar.McGuire's vocal track was not intended to be the final version, but a copy of the rough mix "leaked" out to adisc jockey,who began playing it.[8]The song was an instant hit, and as a result the more polished vocal track was never recorded.
McGuire recalled in later years that "Eve of Destruction" had been recorded in one take on a Tuesday morning, with him reading lyrics scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper. He said the following Monday morning he received a phone call from the record company at 7am telling him to turn on the radio, his song was playing.[9]McGuire's single hit #1 on the USBillboardHot 100and #3 on theUK Singles Chartin September 1965.
P.F.Sloan version
editSloan recalled: "Barry McGuire was the lead singer for a popular folk group at the time called the New Christy Minstrels. [He had written and sung] his own Number 1 hit," Green,Green ". He had just left the group and was on his own and looking for material to record. He wound up at my publishing company and was told there was a quirky songwriter he might want to listen to. Barry didn't like the song" Eve of Destruction "that much. He liked a few other songs of mine better. When he was ready to record he picked four songs, and" Eve "was the fourth to be recorded if there was time. If you listen to the recording, he's rushing because of the time constraints and he was reading it for the first time off a piece of paper." When the record was released "Eve of Destruction" was the B-side. [5]
Reception
editIn the first week of its release the single was at No. 103 on theBillboardcharts. In August 12 Dunhill released the LP,Eve of Destruction.It reached its peak of #37 on theBillboardalbum chart during the week ending September 25. That same day the single went to #1 on the chart, and repeated the feat on theCashboxchart, where it had debuted at No. 30.[10]McGuire would never again break into the top 40 of theBillboardHot 100.It went to #1 inNorwayfor two weeks.[11]
Chart history
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Controversy, parodies, and response songs
editIn addition to its being banned in some parts of the U.S., the song was also banned byRadio Scotland.[25][7]It was placed on a "restricted list" by theBBC,and could not be played on "general entertainment programmes".[26]It was however featured onTop of the Popson television one week while in the Top 10.
Researcher Justin Brummer, founding editor of theVietnam War Song Project.has identified 25answer recordsreferring to "Eve of Destruction".[27][deprecated source]A group calledThe Spokesmenreleased "The Dawn of Correction" which became a Top 40 hit. Singer Tony Mammarella released a positive answer song titled "Eve of Tomorrow".[28]Johnny Sea's 1966spoken wordrecording, "Day For Decision", was also a response to the song, and was a Top 40 hit. The British musicianAlan Kleinincluded a parody of the song attacking protest singers, entitled "Age of Corruption", on his albumWell at Least It's British.[29]
In popular culture
editThe Temptations' 1970 song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"mentions the song title.
The song is prominently featured in the second season episode ofThe Greatest American Hero,entitled "Operation Spoilsport". The song is played during the fourth-season finale ofThe A-Team,"The Sound of Thunder".
The song, like many other popular songs of the day, gave its name to agun truckused byUnited States Army Transportation Corpsforces during theVietnam War.The truck is on display at theU.S. Army Transportation Museumand is believed to be the only surviving example of a Vietnam-era gun truck.[30]
The song is featured in the soundtrack ofMafia III.[31]
The song is played in its entirety in the Italian filmRose Islandfrom 2020.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Billboard magazine, August 14, 1965, page 1
- ^MacDonald, Ian(2007).Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties(Third ed.). Chicago:Chicago Review Press.p. 154.ISBN978-1-55652-733-3.
- ^Breihan, Tom (August 14, 2018)."The Number Ones: Barry McGuire's" Eve Of Destruction "".Stereogum.RetrievedJune 12,2023.
As a pop song, it's raw and snarly, but it never takes flight the way the best pop music of the era did.
- ^P.F. Sloan."P.F. Sloan: In His Own Words — The Stories Behind the Songs".RetrievedNovember 18,2015.
- ^abP. F. Sloan (February 19, 1999)."P. F. Sloan - Stories Behind The Songs".The P. F. Sloan Website.RetrievedApril 26,2008.
- ^Gilliland, John(1969)."Show 33 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: American musicians respond to the British invaders. [Part 1]"(audio).Pop Chronicles.University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^abBlecha, Peter;Taboo Tunes/A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs;Backbeat Books, 2004.ISBN0-87930-792-7
- ^McGuire, Barry (October 9, 2005)."Eve of Destruction".Barry McGuire.Archived fromthe originalon June 24, 2006.
- ^McGuire stated this onSpicks and Specks,Australian ABC TV shown on March 12, 2008.
- ^Barry McGuire."Eve of Destruction".BarryMcGuire.RetrievedSeptember 5,2010.
- ^ab"Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction".norwegiancharts.RetrievedSeptember 5,2010.
- ^"Cash Box - International Best Sellers"(PDF).Cashbox.1981-01-01.Retrieved23 February2024.
- ^Kent, David (2005).Australian Chart Book (1940–1969).Australian Chart Book.ISBN0-646-44439-5.
- ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.17 July 2013.RetrievedJanuary 4,2018.
- ^"SINGLET JOULUKUU 1965 DECEMBER".Suomen virallinen lista.Retrieved2024-02-23.
- ^"InfoDisc: Accès direct à ces Artistes > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste"(PHP)(in French). infodisc.fr.Retrieved23 February2024.
- ^"irishcharts.ie search results".Retrieved2024-02-23.
- ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Barry Mc Guire – Eve of Destruction "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved 23 February 2024. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Barry Mc Guire"
- ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Eve of Destruction ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- ^Hallberg, Eric (1993).Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975 - November 1965.Drift Musik. p. 130.ISBN9163021404.
- ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990-ISBN0-89820-089-X
- ^"Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 25, 1965".Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
- ^Musicoutfitters
- ^"Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1965".Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
- ^Chapman, Robert;Selling the Sixties: The Pirates and Pop Music Radio;Routledge, 1992.ISBN0-415-07970-5
- ^Unfit for Auntie's airwaves: The artists censored by the BBC.The Independent.
- ^Brummer, Justin."Barry McGuire's" Eve of Destruction "& Answer Songs".RYM.Retrieved1 August2024.
- ^Record World, September 4, 1965, page 22
- ^Erlewine, Stephen."Alan Klein - Well at Least It's British".Allmusic.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
- ^"Gun Truck page".U. S. Army Transportation Museum site.Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2008.RetrievedMarch 5,2008.
- ^"Mafia 3's Excellent Soundtrack Revealed, Contains These 100-Plus Songs".GameSpot.RetrievedFebruary 18,2020.