THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

527-Barry McGuire-Eve of Destruction.

1965-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.34. Unfortunately the songs lyrics will probably ring as true tomorrow, as they do today, and did yesterday.

‘Eve of Destruction’ was written in 1964 by the 19 year old singer/ songwriter P.F.Sloan, who also co-produced the song along with Lou Adler, and Sloan’s long time writing, and producing partner Steve Barri. The song became one of the biggest protest songs of the 1960’s, referencing many of the social problems of that period, including the Vietnam War, the threat of Nuclear war,the Civil Rights Movement, the draft, the problems in the Middle East, and the American Space Programme. Due to the songs ‘controversial’ lyrics, many American radio stations refused to play the song, claiming it was ‘An aid to the enemy in Vietnam,’ which of course only helped to bring the song even more to the attention of the general public, and helping it reach Number 1 on Billboard.

Barry McGuire was born on October 15th, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He started his career as a Folk/Rock singer, before turning to Christian Music, when becoming a born again Christian in 1971, McGuire recorded ‘Eve of Destruction’ in one take late at night, his voice was raspy, and he was tired, and the take was only meant as a guide, but on hearing it the producer Jay Lasker (1924-1989) liked it so much, he took the ‘demo’ to the Los Angeles radio station ‘KFWB’ the very next morning, where it was played for the first time. McGuire has stated that he sang the lyrics while reading them off a crumpled up piece of paper, and at one point in the song you can hear him go ‘ahhh,’ when he couldn’t read the words properly.McGuire hadn’t been the first choice to record the song, with it being initially offered to ‘The Byrds’ as a ‘Dylanesque’ potential single, but they turned it down.

P.F.Sloan was born Philip Gary Schlein on September 18th, 1945, in New York City, New York, United States, he died on November 15th, 2015 from pancreatic cancer. The ‘F’ in his stage name stands for ‘Flip,’ which was his nickname.The ‘Eve of Destruction’ remains his best known song, but he wrote many songs for other artists, as well as releasing eight solo studio Albums between 1965-2014.

‘The Eastern world, it is explodin,’ violence flarin,’ bullets loadin.’ You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin.’ You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin.’