Think It Over
1965 · Kerwood 713 · USA
- Artist
- Richard Gillis
- Title
- Think It Over
- Release
- Think It Over / Yesterday's Gone
- Year
- 1965
- Label
- Kerwood # 713
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Genre
- Garage Rock · Folk Rock · Garage Rock
- Primary theme
- US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs
Annotation — McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs
Double-sided single by obscure artist Richard Gillis - unknown location - although label may have been Los Angeles, California-based - with both songs containing responses to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction", taking an anti-protest and patriotic perspective on the war and protest movement of the 1960s. The song "Think It Over" (Kerwood Records # 713) criticised McGuire: "on the eves of the so-called destruction and correction, dump off with it all and get some direction". He attacked other well-known protest artist, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan: "Joan Boaz... playing her guitar and blocking the stairs, messing with the government that let's her sit there", and "Bob Dylan, he sings... bout axes and winds that's blowin' our way... saying defense don't pay", which, according to the artist, could lead toward another Pearl Harbor bombing. He also attacked the Berkley free speech movement: "you free speechers in Berkely... are you up there to learn or to swear?". Moreover, the lyrics denounced hippie culture, often presented in song as a youth movement, related to psychedelic music, drugs use (e.g. LSD and marijuana), long hair (both men & women), jeans, flairs, pop art, free love (sex…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Presumed to be Richard Gillis, American singer, songwriter and composer, born 15 December 1938 in Hollywood, California, died 31 July 2019 in Thousand Oaks, California; discovered by director Sam Peckinpah while performing at Jason's Steakhouse in Toluca Lake, he wrote and sang songs for 'The Ballad of Cable Hogue' (1970, incl. 'Butterfly Mornings') and contributed music to films including 'A Boy and His Dog' and 'Convoy', following U.S. Army service and behind-the-scenes film work. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter obituary / Rotten Tomatoes bio / Discogs]
Themes
Patriotic · Anti-Protest · Joan Baez · Bob Dylan · Demonstration · Anti-Hippie · Atomic · Answer to Eve of Destruction
In collections
McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs