And Evil Lord, ifAtom plays with evil, Jack, he won’t be the first! This gospel song worries about the potential misuse (So true!) of atomic power by an undefined ‘Evil.’While The Golden Gate Quartet was no doubt referring to a I’mtalkin’ ‘bout Atom, and Evil global, metaphoric ‘Evil,’one without geographic Atom and Evil borders, the U.S. government was busily Ifyou don’t break up that romance soon We’llall fall down go boom, boom, (boom), anticipating the inevitable goal of the nation it and believed to be the true evil, the USSR. And on that boom! day when the Russians tested their first bomb (August 29, 1949), ‘evil’would be defined for us by Now Atom is a youngster and pretty hard to handle politicians.., repeatedly. But we better step in and stop that scandal Because ifAtom and Evilshould ever be wed Lord, all goin’ The Golden Gate Quartet was formed in 1934 in then darn near of us are to be dead! Norfolk,Virginia and is best remembered for (So True) popularizing the ‘jubilee’style of black gospel. The original line-up for The Gates, as they came to be I’mtalkin’ ‘bout Atom, and Evil known, was William Langford (first tenor), Henry Atom and Evil Owens (second tenor), WillieJohnson (baritone) Ifyou don’t break up that romance soon and Orlandus Wilson (bass). The Gates first found We’llall fall down and go boom, boom, (boom), success on the radio, especially on WBT in boom! Charlotte, North Carolina. Their first recording Evil session for the Bluebird label in 1937 produced Atom and such songs as Jonah and Bedside Of A Neighbor. Atom and Evil Ifyou don’t up In 1939 the group appeared at in break that romance soon John Hammond’s ‘ To Swing’ concert We’llall fall down and go boom, boom, (boom), which led to their broadcasting several times a week boom! sitting of (doom) (doom) on the CBS radio network in New York. In 1940 the We’re on the edge doom group teamed with Leadbelly for a session, and, in (doom) doom! 1941, the group signed with Columbia. In the ‘40s The Gates appeared in a number of films including Atom Bomb Baby ‘Star Spangled Rhythm,’ ‘HitParade Of 1943,’ ‘HollywoodCanteen,’ ‘BringOn The Girls’and ‘A A pop country, accordion-driven number (not to be Song Is Born.’ In 1948 the group left Columbia and confused with The Five Stars’ song of the same signed with Mercury. In 1955 they toured name) that serves as another hummable guilty and in 1959 the group moved permanently to pleasure. This tune likens the destructive energy of France, where despite various changes in an atomic bomb to that of a temperamental, composition, they are still active to this day. conniving (and redheaded!) woman.

Atom And Evil Dude Martin was born on his father’s cattle ranch Now brothers and sisters, near Plainsburg, California in 1915. As a child he I’mtroubled to say learned how to play his father’s banjo and by the Brother Atom is gone astray age of 15 playing that instrument and competing in Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen rodeos were Martin’s favorite pursuits. Itwas in high school that he started a band, The Nevada This is the story of Atom and Evil Nightherders, in order to take part in a school show. Their courtship is causin’ a great upheaval The band continued to play as an act after the Now Atom was a sweet young innocent thing school show and before they knew it, they were Untilthe night that Miss Eviltook him under her offered a slot on KLXin Oakland. By 1939 the band wing had increased to ten members and was known as ‘Dude Martin’s Roundup Gang.’ At this point they Now Atom was an honest, hard workin’ man moved over to KYAin San Francisco where they He wanted to help out the human clan performed for approximately ten years. In 1949 But Evilgot him drunk on prejudice and hate Martin decided to make the transition to television And she taught him how to gamble with Humanity’s and for two years starred on KGO’s ‘The Dude fate Martin Show.’ In the early ‘50s he moved to Los (So true!) Angeles and re-started his TV show on KTTV (where he would also become station Program I’mtalkin’‘bout Atom, and Evil Director for a period). After he recorded for RCA Atom and Evil Victor, Martin cut sides for Mercury including Pistol

Ifyou don’t break up that romance soon Boogie, Tennessee Wedding, IWas Sorta We’llall fall down and go boom, boom, boom! Wonderin’, Mosey On, Strange LittleGirl and I’ve Turned A Gadabout. In addition to recording and Now if Evilgets Atom, ‘twillbe such a shame performing, Martin was a talent scout and manager. Because a-plenty of big shots are playin’ that dame He helped guide the early careers of singers Guy Now his sleep willbe troubled, and his lifewillbe Mitchell, Rusty Draper and Sue Thompson. cursed

ATOMIC PLATTERS 1

/ But the atom’s international, in spite of hysteria The name was changed to The Silvertone Singers Flourishes in Utah, also Siberia in 1942 to avoid confusion with another group called And whether you’re white, black, red or brown The Kings Of Harmony. The word ‘Swan’was added The is this, when you boil it down to the name by the ‘Swan Bakery Company,’ the To be or not to be sponsor of a radio show that the group performed That is the question on that was broadcast on WBIR in Knoxville, Atoms to atoms, and to dust Tennessee. Ifthe world makes A-bombs, something’s bound to bust The original line-up of the group was comprised of four coalminers led by Claude Jeter (who Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Alamogordo, Bikini possessed a powerful falsetto singing voice), Eddie Boroughas, John Myles and Leroy Watkins. In 1946 No, the answer to it all isn’t military datum The Swan Silvertone Singers signed with the King Like “Who gets there fustest with the mostest label where they recorded a ‘jubilee’style of gospel atoms” until 1951. The group’s most popular record during

But the people of the world must decide their fate this period was their debut, I Cried Holy/Go Ahead. We got to stick together or disintegrate Between 1951 and 1953 the group recorded four World peace and the atomic golden age or a push singles with Specialty before being dropped. Itwas button war toward the end of their Specialty tenure that new Mass cooperation or mass annihilation member, Paul Owens, who joined in 1952, Civilian international control of the atom --one world modernized the group’s sound. After a stretch in the or none wilderness of touring and appearing on the radio, Ifyou’re gonna split atoms, well, you can’t split the group signed with VeeJay in 1956 where they ranks found a home for the next nine years. Their biggest hit during this era was 1958’s Oh Mary Don’tYou Hiroshima, Nagasaki... Weep which contained Jeter’s improvised lyric“I’ll be a bridge over deep water ifyou trust my name” It’sup to the people, cause the atom don’t care which reportedly inspired ’s Bridge Over You can’t fence him in, he’s just like air Troubled Water. The Swans experienced much He doesn’t give a darn about politics turnover during their long career, but in 1963 Claude Or who got who into whatever fix -- Jeter retired from the group to become a minister; Allhe wants to do is sit around and have his his departure forever changed the Silvertone sound. nucleus bombarded In 1978 the only remaining original member John by neutrons Myles left the group.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki... Jesus Is God’s Atomic Bomb Have you heard about the blast in Japan So ifyou’re scared of the A-bomb, I’lltell you what How it killed so many people and scorched the land to do Oh, yes You got to get with all the people in the world with Oh, it can killyour natural body you But the Lord can killyour soul

You got to get together and let out a yell That’s why I know Jesus Or the first thing you know we’llblow this world to Oh, Jesus is God’s--I declare--atomic bomb Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Moscow, too Oh, yes New York, London, Timbuktu Shanghai, , up the flue Jesus is God’s atomic bomb Hiroshima, Nagasaki Proudest papa that ever was We must choose between Jesus is God’s, His atomic bomb The brotherhood of man or smithereens Shook the grave, causing death to rise The people of the world must pick out a thesis Yes, God shook the grave, child “Peace in the world, or the world in pieces!” Put old death on a rock Through trials and tribulation Jesus Is God’s Atomic Bomb Lord when it was done That’s why I know Jesus Purcel Perkins, the otherwise unknown composer of Yes, is my God, His atomic bomb Jesus Is God’s Atomic Bomb, takes the atomic divinitymetaphor that is prevalent in some other Atomic Baby Bomb songs to the next level (or one might even say, the highest level) and in so doing provides this A re-worked, jazzy take on the song previously box set with one of its most memorable titles. For a recorded, but unreleased, by R&Bartist Amos person of faith, and clearly this song was originally Milburn. In this version Linda Hayes is “the atomic intended for a gospel audience, the metaphor is baby that’s raising all the sass” which only serves to certainly an apt one. increase the sexual dimension of the track. The song is sung with a delicious taunting quality that The seemingly eternal Swan’s Silvertone Singers makes it a worthy companion piece to Milburn’s was a gospel group originally formed as The Four record. Harmony Kings in Coalwood, West Virginia in 1938.

ATOMIC PLATTERS 3 Harlingen, Texas in 1981. back-up to the Fujiyama Mama’s unpredictability, sexual voraciousness and potential for violence. Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)

Last night Iwas dreamin’ Ironically,the song was a major hit in Japan and Dreamed about the H-Bomb Jackson was treated like a dignitary when she

Well the bomb-a went off and Iwas caught toured there briefly in 1959.

Iwas the only man on the ground Female rockabilly pioneer was born There was-a 13 women and only one man in town to Tom and Nellie Jackson in Maud, Oklahoma in Thirteen women and only one man in town 1937. Tom Jackson had been a fiddle player with And as funny as it may be local bands in his youth and taught his daughter a The one and only man in town was me few chords on the guitar he bought for her in 1943. With 13 women and me the only man around With family encouragement Wanda also learned how to play piano at an early age.

I had 2 gals every morning

Seem’ that Iwas well fed In high school in Oklahoma City, Jackson entered a And believ-a you me, one sweetened my tea talent contest at radio station KLPR and she proved While another one buttered my bread to be so popular, management gave the young performer her own show. Country artist Hank Two gals gave me my money Thompson heard Jackson and in 1954 helped get Two gals made me my clothes her a deal at Decca. During this early period And another sweet thing bought me a diamond ring Jackson recorded seven singles including a duet

About forty carats I suppose with a Thompson band member, BillyGray, entitled You Can’t Have My Love. Well, 13 women and only one man in town There was-a 13 women and only one man in town A&Rman Ken Nelson signed Jackson to her

Itwas something I cant forget second label, Capitol, in 1956 and it was around this Because Ithink of those 13 women yet time that Jackson decided, with the encouragement Well-a 13 women and only one man around of , to embrace rock ‘n’rolland rockabilly. In between long stretches of touring

I had 3 gals dancin’ the Mambo Jackson recorded her classic LP ‘Let’sHave A Three gals ballin’the jack Party’ featuring support from a mixed race rock ‘n’ And-a all-a the rest really did their best roll band, The Poe-Kats. Jackson spent much of Boy they sure were a lively pack 1959 at home pondering her next career steps.

Ithought Iwas in Heaven In 1960 as a result of popular local reaction to a Des And all of these angels were mine Moines, Iowa DJ playing the title track off Jackson’s

But Iwoke up and I ended the dream ‘Party’ LP, Capitol released the song as a single and

‘Cause I had to get to work on time it went to number 38 on the charts. Jackson seized the momentum of this success and recorded a Well-a 13 women and only one man in town follow-up album entitled ‘There’s A Party Goin’ On’ There was-a 13 women and only one man in town featuring a new band with guitarist Roy Clark. Later

No I can’t tell where I’vebeen in the year Jackson was playing dates in Las Vegas

‘Cause I kinda think that someday I’llgo back again where she would frequently return over the rest of To those 13 women and me the only man around her career. In 1961 Jackson scored two top 30 country hits with Right Or Wrong and In The Middle Well-a 13 women and me the only man around Of A Heartache both of which she wrote. Well-a 13 women and me the only man around Jackson married in 1961 and eventually had two Fujiyama Mama children. She remained a fixture in the world of country music for the remainder of the 1960s and This blistering, take-no-prisoners rockabilly tune is into the 1970s releasing a number of LPs including one of Wanda Jackson’s best loved recordings and ‘Reckless Love Affair’(1967) and ‘Please Help Me a song that hits the unprepared listener like a I’mFaIling’(1968). In the 1970s Jackson became concussive device. Jackson told country music sober and a born again Christian and began expert Rich Kienzle that she first became aware of focusing on gospel recording with such LPs as the incendiary tune when she heard R&Bartist ‘Praise The Lord’and ‘We’llSing In The Sunshine’ Annisteen Allen’s 1954 version playing on a juke (both 1972). Jackson, however, did not turn her box when she was still in school in 1955. Jackson back on country or rockabilly and still performs and recalled for Kienzle that she “just flipped over it.” records in all her guises for a devoted legion of fans.

Earl Burrows’ lyrics demonstrate that the bombings Fujiyama Mama in Japan a decade earlier were still viewed as being I’vebeen to Nagasaki, Hiroshima too! an impressive display of American might without The things I did to them baby, I can do to you! any consideration given to the moral implications of the wholesale destruction unleashed on the enemy. Refrain: ‘Cause I’ma Fujiyama Mama The atomic bombings serve here as metaphoric And I’mjust about to blow my top! Fujiyama-yama, Fujiyama! ATOMIC PLAHERS 5