Customer Reviews

Eve of Destruction

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first experience of the voice of Barry McGuire came when I heard The New Christy Minstrel's "Green Green" on a small transistor radio and that gravel voice just exuded a "pentecostal joy"! I became an avid follower of The new Christy Minstrels from that day on.

The the inevitable happened as the talents contained within that "mini-minstrel chorus" began to expand beyond the limitations of that folk genre. Barry McGuire was one of the major talents to erupt out from that group with his solo album and conscience shaking hit single, "Eve Of Destruction".

Barry's exuberance remained but bubbled up with current social commentary and the awakening "self-awarness" of the new generation's new way of thinking and approaching the world.

Protest? . . . probably more a flagrant affirmation album! P.F. Sloane and Bob Dylan penned songs appear with the Mcguire delivery.

One track does mark this album as being very special however. Barry recorded one of the most moving and sensitive renderings of the song, "Try To Remember" ( from The Fantastiks). This cd is worth owning for that one track alone! No one has ever recorded this song any better or with more feeling for the poetic nostalgic longing lyric. And all of these years later, as Barry and the rest of us have all added on the years, this one Mcguire delivery holds even more respect and appreciation.

Thanks to Barry Mcguire for "all" of the music he has brought to us through every phase of his career and every incarnation . . . and for this "classic" album which STILL speaks to our world today: "Eve Of Destruction".

In 1965, Barry McGuire rocked the world with the profoundly topical "Eve of Destruction." The cutting edge lyrics and strong melody left indelible impressions on all who heard it.

In February of 2000, I saw Barry McGuire along with Roger McGuinn in concert and loved every minute of it. At the time of this review, the lyric "the eastern world, it is exploding...violence flaring, bullets loading" is eerily a propos. In listening to the history "you're old enough to kill, but not for voting," the difference in today's world is that since 1971 when the voting age was lowered to 18, one can think, "you're old enough to kill as well as voting" would "update" the song without compromising its powerful message.

A solid collection including a very nice cover of "The Sloop John B." I highly recommend this along with the Byrds, Turtles and Peter, Paul & Mary.

The star of this album Barry McGuire features his biggest hit
"The Eve of Destruction" on this CD.This album features other
songs but the mainstay of McGuire's singing fame was the "Eve of
Destruction".I was watching the local PBS station Channel 8 out
of Houston that had a special show about the hits of the 60's. I
was able to watch Barry McGuire perform "The Eve of Destruction"
on this show. You could not turn on your your radio during the
1960's without hearing this song.You had basically AM radio during this time.You could pick up KTSA from San Antonio or KLVI
from Beaumont. You always heard the song "The Eve of Destruction"
on these stations.I certainly enjoyed seeing Barry McGuire on the
PBS show.If you were raised on this song like I was buy this album or CD.

This is a classic period piece album which captures the energy of the civil protest times. The title piece "Eve of Destruction" is worth it by itself and is certainly a timeless song which certainly speaks to multiple generations. McGuire's raspy voice makes this a unique set of songs. He sings Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" in a way that makes the song believable (emotionally). And the standard "Try to Remember" is hauntingly performed.

Barry McGuire/ Eve of Destruction: The highlight of this album is the title track. The rest of the album is filled with more P.F. Sloan songs, a few Dylan covers, a hippy anthem written by Barry ("Why not stop and dig while you can") and a few others. Apart from "Eve...", Barry does some nice work in interpreting these songs, and it is certainly an album of its time, but it is not a strong album. That is not to say it's not worth having, it is, for no other reason than to have "Eve of Destruction" and "try to remember". Barry's greatest solo efforts would not come until much later when he released the "Lighten Up" and "To The Bride" albums as a part of the Jesus Movement in the 1970's.

I am Very happy with this cd. First one I have purchased by this artist. Love his music; the cd was high quality; recommend

MY PURCHASE ARRIVED WITHIN 3 WEEKS. WONDERFUL CD - I AM DEAD CHUFFED. I HAVE HUNTED FOR THIS CD IN ALL THE SHOP - A FRIEND TOLD ME TO TRY AMAZON. VIOLA I NOW HAVE MY CD. REMINDS ME OF MY YOUTH!!!! WHAT AN AMAZING ARTIST.

MANY THANKS
LESLEY WATLING

I gave the product four (4) stars, not because of Berry's voice (rather raspy at that) or the overall content of the cd. The four (4) stars are for the memories. Eve of Destruction was one of those songs that spoke of the times. For sometime I have been putting together a digital library of the songs/albums that had such an impact on me.