Eve Of Destruction

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

The song "Eve of Destruction" (Dunhill Records # 45-D-4009), written by P.F. Sloan is a very topical, early protest song, looking at both the Civil Rights movement and war. It was one of the most commercially successful Vietnam songs, reaching #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 on 25 September 1965 after six weeks in the charts.1. The song was covered by many other artists, and is often referenced in articles and books discussing Vietnam & Cold War cultural song history. On 14 August 1965, Billboard ran the headline "Record of Absurd Gets Serious Airplay", which commented that "a record depicting the frenetic plight of society today, written with biting incisiveness by a 19-year-old renegade from surfing music, is gaining acceptance over top 40 stations despite its 'controversial' lyrics... what is so remarkable about the single is its acceptance... During the past two year, three other singles of a controversial or sociological nature were refused play by U.S. stations". The main reference to Vietnam reflected that while teenagers were drafted to war (minimum age 18), they may not have the opportunity to vote (21 in all states but 4): "old enough to kill, but not for votin'". It also branched out into the wider Cold War conflict, reflected fears of atomic war, with just the push of a button. Moreover, it referenced the Civil Rights issue, calling for not just demonstrations, but a change in attitude, and perhaps legislation: "marches alone can't bring integration, when human respect is disintegratin'". The Spokesmen in the single "The Dawn of Correction" directly replied to this in their answer record, discussed below: "you tell me that marches won't bring integration, but look what it's done for the voter registration". The Spokesmen – Dawn of Correction (1965 / Decca # 31844) The Jayhawkers – Dawn of Instruction (1965 / Deltron # 21) The Patriots – The Prophet (1965 / Mainstream # 631) The Centurys – So the Prophets Say (1965 / Renco # R-115) Tony Mammarella – Eve of Tomorrow (1965 / Swan # S-4226) Billy Carr – What's Come Over This World (1965 / Colpix # CP-791) Chico Holiday – Show Us the Way (1965 / Karate # 45-518) Bobby Bare – Talk Me Some Sense (1965 / RCA Victor # 47-8699) Richard Gillis – Yesterday's Gone (1965 / Kerwood # 713) Johnny Sea – Day for Decision (1966 / Warner # 5820) Buddy Starcher – Day of Decision (1966 / Decca # 31975) Jerry Barnes – Day for Decision (1966 / Americana # 101) Noel Ball – Day for Decision (KAAY) Phil Terry – Day Is Done (1966 / 20th Century # 640) Lloyd Green – Day for Decision) (1966 / Little Darlin' # LD 4002) David Winters – Anti-Protest Protest Song (1966 / Mercury # 72537) Don Hinson – The Protest Singer (1966 / Treva # 222) The Spokesmen – Better Days Are Yet to Come (1966 / Decca Records [USA] # 31895) Happy Fats – The Day of Indecision (1967 / Reb Rebel # 507) The Temptations – Ball of Confusion (1970 / Gordy # G 7099) The Undisputed Truth – Ball of Confusion (1971 / Gordy # G 7112F) Edwin Starr - Ball of Confusion (1972) / Soul # S 35096F) The American Spirit – The American Spirit (1974 / Mums # ZS7 6028)Sources1Billboard, 25 September 1965↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

The song "Eve of Destruction" (Dunhill Records # 45-D-4009), written by P.F. Sloan is a very topical, early protest song, looking at both the Civil Rights movement and war. It was one of the most commercially successful Vietnam songs, reaching #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 on 25 September 1965 after six weeks in the charts.1. The song was covered by many other artists, and is often referenced in articles and books discussing Vietnam & Cold War cultural song history. On 14 August 1965, Billboard ran the headline "Record of Absurd Gets Serious Airplay", which commented that "a record depicting the frenetic plight of society today, written with biting incisiveness by a 19-year-old renegade from surfing music, is gaining acceptance over top 40 stations despite its 'controversial' lyrics... what is so remarkable about the single is its acceptance... During the past two year, three other singles of a controversial or sociological nature were refused play by U.S. stations". The main reference to Vietnam reflected that while teenagers were drafted to war (minimum age 18), they may not have the opportunity to vote (21 in all states but 4): "old enough to kill, but not for votin'". It also branched out into the wider Cold War conflict, reflected fears of atomic war, with just the push of a button. Moreover, it referenced the Civil Rights issue, calling for not just demonstrations, but a change in attitude, and perhaps legislation: "marches alone can't bring integration, when human respect is disintegratin'". The Spokesmen in the single "The Dawn of Correction" directly replied to this in their answer record, discussed below: "you tell me that marches won't bring integration, but look what it's done for the voter registration". Sources1Billboard, 25 September 1965↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: The eastern world, it is exploding, violence flarin', bullets loadin' / You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'... / If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin' away / There'll be no one to save, with the world in a grave... / Think of all the hate there is in Red China... / And marches alone can't bring integration / When human respect is disintegratin' / This whole crazy world is just too frustratin' / You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Notes

UK pressing RCA Victor RCA 1469 (matrix 70800), "New Orthophonic" High Fidelity, ℗ 1965, "USA No.: D-4009", Dick James M. Ltd., N.C.B., "Produced by Dunhill U.S.A.", made in England by The Decca Record Co. Ltd., writer printed as "P. F. Sloane", in an RCA Victor company sleeve. German pressing RCA Victor 45-9646 (45-00 802), GEMA, time 3'28, "Prod. by Lou Adler with Sloan & Barri", "Produced by Dunhill Records U.S.A.", Teldec licensee, in a picture sleeve with a portrait of McGuire. Japanese pressing Victor SS-1629 (AMP-45-00802), Side 1, Japanese title 明日なき世界, b/w "What Exactly's the Matter With Me" (何のために, P. F. Sloan, 2:25); the sleeve front carries the slogans "ダンヒル・ヒット・シリーズ!!" and "全米ヒット・パレード第1位!!" (Dunhill Hit Series; No. 1 on the US hit parade), and the back gives the price ¥370 and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. The inside sleeve notes by 福田一郎, dated October 1965, say the song…

About the artist

Born 15 October 1935, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Currently Fresno, California, USA.

Themes

Anti-War · Draft · Atomic · Cold War · Answer to Eve of Destruction

In collections

McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs · Civil Rights Songs · Draft Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]