Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)

Annotation — McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs

Famous Detroit, Michigan soul group, The Temptations, formed in 1961, and had a string of hits with Motown Records. With a somewhat revolving line-up throughout its history, with its classic line-up featuring David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams. Their March 1970 album "Psychedelic Shack" featured the first version of the protest song "War", written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, made famous by Edwin Starr a few months later, reaching #1 in the Billboard charts. Again, written by Whitefield and Strong, the song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (Gordy Records # G 7099) was a successful protest song, reaching #3 in the Billboard charts on 4 July 1970: "people all over the world are shoutin' end the war". (1) It noted various issues of the day, including Civil Rights: "people movin'... because of the color of their skin... vote for me, and I'll set you free, segregation". It also referenced ecology (pollution), hippies, taxes, unemployment, gun control, drugs, as well as "eve of destruction" - a reference to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction".The Undisputed Truth – Ball of Confusion (1971 / Gordy # G 7112F)…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American Motown vocal group formed 1960 in Detroit, Michigan ('Ball of Confusion'). [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Anti-War · Civil Rights · Answer to Eve of Destruction · Drugs · Demonstration · Space Race

In collections

McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs · Civil Rights Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs