SEPTEMBER 26, 1965
50 years ago today, the protest song Eve Of Destruction by folk-rock singer Barry McGuire topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It had replaced The Beatles‘ million-seller Help, ending their 3-week run at #1.
Recorded on July 12th-15th, it was released in August of 1965 by Dunhill Records, a label owned by music producer Lou Adler.
Several other artists have recorded versions of the song, co-written by a 19-year staff writer at Dunhill named P.F. (Phil) Sloan and fellow label staffer Steve Barri.
But McGuire’s hit is the best-known.
MORE: P. F. SLOAN: ‘Eve Of Destruction’ Co-Writer Passes Away + 8 More of His Songs by Others
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The studio musicians used on the record were top-tier L.A. session players: Sloan on guitar, Larry Knechtel on bass and Hal Blaine on drums – the latter two from Phil Spector‘s elite studio ensemble known as The Wrecking Crew. EOD was co-produced by Adler, Sloan and Steve Barri.
McGuire’s vocal track was part of a rough audio mix not meant to be the finished version. But a copy of the incompleted recording was “leaked” to Los Angeles Top 40 radio station KRLA – who began playing it. The song was an instant hit, so an intended, more polished vocal track was never recorded.
Here it is in HD Stereo – accompanied by a GREAT video!
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
Barry McGuire
(Video)
[1965]
Because of the anti-government lyrics contained in ‘Eve Of Destruction’, many U.S. radio stations refused to play the record. Partly due to that, it ended up as a non-million-selling single, enjoying just one week at the top of Billboard before being replaced the following week by The McCoys with Hang On Sloopy. It also was Barry McGuire’s only Top 40 hit.
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DEEP(er) TRAX!
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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As mentioned, other artists have recorded the song – and in fact, McGuire wasn’t the first. That category belongs to the L.A. folk-rock/pop group The Turtles for their 1965 debut album It Ain’t Me Babe. Only released as a single in June of 1970, it was the last Turtles record to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (2 weeks at #100).
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
The Turtles
(Original Version)
[1965]
[REPLAY]
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As for Barry McGuire, ‘Eve Of Destruction’ wasn’t his first musical success. He was a member of the folk group The New Christy Minstrels from 1962-1965.
- Barry McGuire (top, middle) when The Minstrels won a Grammy for their 1963 album, Green, Green
The title track from the Green, Green LP was written by McGuire and Minstrels founder Randy Sparks (above, middle) – and it features Barry’s lead solo vocals. Released as a single, it peaked at #3 on the Adult Contemporary charts in ’63. McGuire was also the vocalist on another well-known Minstrels’ tune called Saturday Night.
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GREEN, GREEN
The New Christy Minstrels
[1963]
[REPLAY]
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[Note] Other NCM members who went on to notable music success have included Kim Carnes (Bette Davis Eyes), Gene Clark (The Byrds), Kenny Rogers (The First Edition, solo), Mike Settle (The First Edition) and Jerry Yester (The Association, The Lovin’ Spoonful).
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In 1965, McGuire met musician-songwriter John Phillips on the club circuit in L.A., after which he (Phillips) had McGuire listen to a demo recording of a song he’d written called California Dreamin’.
Along with Phillips, McGuire approached Lou Adler at Dunhill with the demo of the song, where it was decided to have Barry record it.
‘Papa’ John Phillips and the three other members of the group he’d founded – The Mama’s And The Papa’s (consisting of then-wife ‘Mama’ Michelle Phillips, ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot and ‘Papa’ Denny Doherty) – were asked to sing the backing vocals, not only on California Dreamin’, but on McGuire’s forthcoming album This Precious Time.
[Note] This recording is from a vinyl copy of ‘This Precious Time’, so the quality is not that to which you’re accustomed from me – especially during the 7-second opening i.e. “clicks” and “pops.”
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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
Barry McGuire
(Original Version)
[1965]
[REPLAY]
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Adler, impressed by the backing work by The Mama’s And The Papa’s on the McGuire recording of ‘California Dreamin”, had them record their own version for Dunhill. Using the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks, new lead vocals were added, and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank replaced McGuire’s harmonica in the instrumental bridge. And, as with the original, Phil Sloan plays the guitar intro.
[Note] If you turn up the volume (or isolate the left stereo channel at the beginning of the record) the opening few words of Barry McGuire’s original vocal – “All the leaves are” – are briefly heard. They hadn’t been completely erased from the original tape on which The Mama’s And The Papa’s new vocals were being recorded.
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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
The Mama’s And The Papa’s
(Cover Version)
[1965]
‘California Dreamin’, featuring great lead vocals by Canada’s Denny Doherty, is a track from their first album called If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears, and was released as their debut single on December 8th, 1965. It was the quartet’s first of two million-sellers; its followup, the wistful Monday, Monday, was the other.
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
