Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 07/23/2025 8:10:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The song delivered a jolt of reality to pop music listeners all around the world.
It was 1965: A year in which Malcolm X was assassinated, American combat troops were sent to Vietnam, anti-war protests erupted, and civil rights demonstrators were attacked by Alabama State Troopers. A collective sense of uncertainty and doom hung in the air. But that July, as “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers and “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful were rising in the charts, “Eve of Destruction,” a missive written by P.F. Sloan and recorded by Barry McGuire, delivered a jolt of reality to pop music listeners all around the world.
P.F. Sloan was a session musician and producer at Dunhill Records who had become enamored with folk music. One evening, he wrote five songs in a burst of inspiration. Among them was a grim analysis of the consequences of war and hatred called “Eve of Destruction,” culled from the headlines and rooted in his intensive study of Jewish mysticism. “The song was a divine gift,” he said in 2009. “I was given information about the history of the world through that song – not that that’s unusual in mystical Judaism. It was quite a wonderful gift at age 19 to be given that. I knew it was special and knew it would change things.”
Barry McGuire happened upon folk music while he was working in construction in the early 1960s. By chance, he’d attended a hootenanny, picked up someone’s guitar, and sang a song one evening. Within months, he was performing in folk clubs. He was asked to join the New Christy Minstrels, a folk music ensemble signed to Columbia Records, beginning his career as a recording and touring artist. But, by 1965, McGuire desired more. As he explained to the New Musical Express, “I left to be myself. I felt there were better things to be said. The Christies have a definite image. I have no image.”
McGuire signed with Dunhill Records as a solo artist. Intended to be the b-side of his first single, “Eve” was recorded during his first session for the label in June and debuted on Los Angeles’ KFWB the next day. It quickly became a hit. But the song was also controversial. Billboard complained that the “controversial message lyric…leaves a lot to be desired.” The single was banned by the BBC as well as radio stations in Chicago, Washington, Baltimore, and Memphis who deemed it “leftist propaganda.” Aided by the controversy, the song climbed its way to the #1 spot on the Hot 100 in September. Beyond the charts, a key lyric – “you’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’” – was employed by activists who succeeded in getting the voting age in the United States lowered from 21 to 18.
The song’s success, however, proved to be complicated. McGuire recalled in 1974, “It was kind of funny after I released that song. [It was] strictly from the headlines. There was not an original lyric in the song and all of a sudden I’m a subversive and the FBI is checking me out.” He continued recording and in 1968 starred in the original Broadway cast of the groundbreaking rock musical Hair, but by 1970, was having an existential crisis.
He converted to Christianity during the Jesus Movement and by 1971, was at the vanguard of the first generation of contemporary Christian music. He performed “Eve of Destruction” at Explo ‘72, remembered as the Christian Woodstock, and earned a Grammy nomination for his 1978 release Cosmic Cowboy. Almost two decades later, he returned to folk and continued to tour internationally until he retired at eighty-five. He said in 2015, “[Eve of Destruction]” is more real now than it was then. There’s more social unrest, there’s more racial tension, there’s more political mistrust. It’s grinding down rather than building up.”
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Glad you mention the latter song. Not well known.
He was 30 years old in 1965.
P.F. Sloan, who wrote the song was only 19.
Here is what I consider a patriotic song by Sonny Bono in 1967, Sonny was 32 in 1967.
https://youtu.be/uF41guClOaY?feature=shared
Very interesting. It’s a great song! Also love “Ball of Confusion” by The Temptations. And “what’s goin on” by Marvin Gaye. These songs were real art, reflecting how many felt at that time and still may feel to this day.
Hair is great too! Great songs! Never saw it on stage or movie, but have listened to the album many times.
Born in 1945, P.F. Sloan would turn 20 the year the song came out.
I remember it from that time.
I didn’t much care for the song back then, and I didn’t believe that it was an accurate analysis of reality.
Now, I occasionally find myself singing the song after spending an hour or two of reading FR.
I didn’t believe it back then, because even our deadly enemies in the 1960s were much more sane than even many of ‘our friends’ are now.
I’m taking a daily vitamin so that I can eventually learn how accurate the song “In the Year 2525” is.
https://youtu.be/O4U78n4WmVo?feature=shared
I remember when that song came out. In 1965 I was 15. That was 60 years ago, and I had a record album of ragtime piano music from circa 1905, music from 60 years earlier. Boggles my mind to think of it now,
The one line about not passing legislation was silly. Leads to bloated government.
Song was written by a 19 year old. Wouldn’t expect metaphysical certitude while trying to create rhyme and rhythm from a 19 year old.....but a very good effort...and was a huge change from the music of the late 50’s and early 60’s...
Always thought it was interesting how he had the word “coagulatin’ “ in the lyrics
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.