Among today’s birthdays is singer-songwriter Barry McGuire. From Wikipedia – Barry McGuire
…..an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song “Eve of Destruction”, and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian music. In 1963, McGuire along with Randy Sparks (the founder of The New Christy Minstrels) co-wrote, and sang lead vocal on, the Christys’ first and biggest hit single: “Green, Green.” He left the Christys in January 1965, after recording the album,Cowboys and Indians; however, on the 1965 album Chim Chim Cher-ee, he sang only on the title cut….. As a folk rock solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits “Eve of Destruction” and “Sins of the Family”, both written by P.F. Sloan. His other chart successes were “Child of Our Times” and “Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)” (penned by Travis Edmonson of the 1960s folk-duo, Bud & Travis). “Eve of Destruction” sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] McGuire’s LP, The Eve of Destruction, reached its peak of number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart during the week ending 25 September 1965. That same day the single of that name went to number one on both charts. McGuire was never again to break into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. According to McGuire, “Eve of Destruction” was recorded in one take on a Thursday morning (from words scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper) and then he got a call from the record company at 7:00 the next Monday morning, telling him to turn on the radio—his song was playing. The recording includes an “ahhh” where McGuire could not read the words.[2] The Temptationsreferenced McGuire’s song “Eve of Destruction” in their song “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”. For other references and covers of “Eve of Destruction” see the article: “Eve of Destruction”.
Listening to the song again for the first time in a gazillion years, I wonder are we still on the “Eve of Destruction” Certainly, the world was a scarier place back in 1965. The Cold War was still raging, we were only three years removed from The Cuban Missile Crisis, our President had been assassinated, and the War in Vietnam was ramping up, so yes it did seem like we were on the eve of destruction!! But we made it through and now we’re on the eve with the Middle East still a powder keg, the North Koreans waving their missiles at us, and a Congress that still won’t pass legislation and appears to be quicken our pace towards that destruction!! So Barry – Happy Birthday and thanks for reminding us what a scary place the world was and still is!!!
