Billboard #1 Hits: #144: “Eve Of Destruction”- Barry McGuire- September 25, 1965. #1 for 1 week.
- Single: “Eve Of Destruction”- Barry McGuire
- Record Company- Dunhill
- Genre: Folk Rock
- Written by P.F. Sloan
- Time: 3:35
- B-side: “What’s Exactly The Matter With Me”
- Album- Eve Of Destruction
- Grade: B-
- Peaked at #1 for 1 week on the Billboard Hot 100. #3 on UK Singles Chart- #1 in Canada.
“Eve Of Destruction” was a protest song written by folk singer P.F. Sloan in late 1964- this was around the time President Johnson was labeling his opponent in the 1964 Presidential Election Barry Goldwater- a madman who would destroy the world- remember the little girl and the daisy commercial? The song was presented to the Byrds but they rejected it- The Turtles recorded it and it came out as a single around the same time as McGuire’s version and only went to #100. McGuire did have the best of musicians playing on his song- The Wrecking Crew- which included drummer Hal Blaine. It seems like he played on half the #1 hits of 1965. Barry McGuire would be a one hit wonder-this was his only Top 40 hit. He would later be a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is still living-at 84.
slicethelife 
I’ve talked to people who have trashed this song…it was over the top but i’ve always liked it…
Yes I’d put it in the like- not love category but you are right a lot of folks trash it- it’s not that bad.
Yea and something to relate to a little now.
Just a little trivia regarding Barry McGuire: He also co-wrote and sang lead on the popular song, “Green, Green” (1963) for the New Christy Minstrels. Future Byrd, Gene Clark, was a member of the NCM when “Green, Green” was recorded.
Thanks for the additional info!