IN THE GROOVE: I’M WITH THE BANNED (November 21, 2023)

Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including “provocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associations”.

The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isn’t it?

Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.

Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire

“Eve of Destruction” is a protest song written in 1965 by P.F. Sloan.  Several artists have recorded it, but the most popular recording was by Barry McGuire. Here’s an interesting segue and a perfect example of 6º of separation: McGuire recorded “California Dreamin‘” for one of his albums on which the Mamas & the Papas sang backup. McGuire is mentioned several times along with John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds in the Mamas & the Papas hit song “Creeque Alley“, my favorite song by the M&P. I left the link in case you want to check it out. It’s a very cool song with lots of interesting lyrics that chronicle the events leading up to the 1965 creation of the Mamas and the Papas.

“Eve of Destruction” references social issues of its period, including the Vietnam War, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, the civil rights movement, the American space program and turmoil in the Middle East. 

The American media helped popularize “Eve of Destruction” by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time.  Due to its controversial lyrics, some American radio stations claimed it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam and banned the song. It was also banned by some British radio stations.

As we’ve seen since I started this segment, banning did not have a grossly negative impact on the popularity of these controversial songs. In the first week of its release, the single of “Eve of Destruction” was at No. 103 on the Billboard charts. It reached its peak of #37 on the Billboard album chart during the week ending September 25. That same day the single went to #1 on the chart, and repeated the feat on the Cashbox chart, where it had debuted at No. 30. McGuire would never again break into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Let’s listen to that very popular and controversial song from 1965. This is Barry McGuire and “Eve of Destruction”:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qfZVu0alU0I%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Here’s an interesting and quirky interview which asks the burning question: “Whatever happened to Barry McGuire?”

https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Salient36101973-t1-body-d17.html

 Did you read all the social issues mentioned in the second paragraph of this post? My goodness …. most of those topics are still in the news today! The more things change, the more they stay the same. With a new year just around the corner, let’s hope and pray that we will see safer, happier, healthier and kinder times for our world.

🙈 🙉 🙊

Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

CSN&Y’s song “Ohio” is about the events of May 4, 1970, when the US National Guard shot and killed four unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio, leaving 9 other students injured. The shootings occurred after several days of confrontations between authorities and protestors against the Vietnam War. Protestors were especially upset that President Richard Nixon, who had called them ”bums”, had announced the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.

The shootings were the cover story of the May 15 Issue of Life magazine; when Neil Young read the story and saw the photos, he was compelled to write a song about the events.

Bandmate David Crosby recalled: “He was silent for a long time, then picked up his guitar and 20 minutes later had this song”. All the band members got together to record the song in Los Angeles on May 21. “Ohio” was released on June 4, exactly one month after the shootings.

“Ohio” became a protest anthem as Americans got fed up with the war in Vietnam. What you hear at the end of the song is David Crosby’s impassioned vocals yelling “why?” and “how many more?” His emotion was genuine. “Ohio” was a high point for the band. They were reacting to the reality and dealing with it on the highest level they could by being relevant and immediate. The song named names and pointed a finger. In the song, Neil Young likens the National Guard troops to ‘tin soldiers‘ controlled by President Nixon.

The CSN&Y album “Déjà Vu” had been out for just three months when “Ohio” was released as a single. In 1971, it was included on their live album “4 Way Street” which went to #1 in the US and sold over 4 million copies. ”Teach Your Children Well” was climbing the charts when the band sacrificed it by releasing the far more urgent “Ohio”.

On August 4, 1974 when Richard Nixon announced he would be resigning as President, CSN&Y were on tour in New Jersey; they announced the new from the stage before playing “Ohio”.

“Ohio” was banned by some AM radio stations, including many in the state of Ohio for challenging the Nixon Administration. The song received a great deal of airplay, however, on underground FM stations in bigger cities and in college towns. I remember hearing the song all the time so, once again, so much for banning music. Today the song is played often on classic rock stations. In 2009 “Ohio” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Let’s listen now to CSN&Y performing “Ohio”.

To all my friends who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I wish you a beautiful day with your loved ones. Be well, my friends. Be safe and keep your families close.

Next Tuesday will be our final edition of I’m With The Banned; in December we will say good bye to all this sturm und drang and welcome in a month of glorious holiday music!

Be well and take care, my friends.

See you on the flip side.

I’m The Sicilian Storyteller

NAR © 2023