Barry McGuire version
McGuire's recording was made between July 12 and 15, 1965, and released by Dunhill Records. The accompanying musicians were P. F. Sloan on acoustic guitar and "Wrecking Crew" session musicians Hal Blaine on drums and Larry Knechtel on bass guitar. McGuire's vocal track was not intended to be the final version, but a copy of the rough mix "leaked" out to a disc jockey, who began playing it. The song was an instant hit, and as a result, the more polished vocal track was never recorded.

McGuire recalled in later years that "Eve of Destruction" had been recorded in one take on a Tuesday morning, with him reading lyrics scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper. He said the following Monday morning he received a phone call from the record company at 7 am telling him to turn on the radio, his song was playing. McGuire's single hit #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1965.

Thank you for listening. I remember when this song was released. It perfectly told of the conditions of the world in those days. And now, well ... more applicable to today's situation. Here is my cover of it.