Soundtrack

Tracklist:

SIDE ONE:
1. ATOM AND EVIL by the Golden Gate Quartet
2. Audio Clip: Maj. Thomas Ferebee, "Enola Gay" bombardier, 08/15/45
3. WHEN THE ATOMB FELL by Karl and Harty
4. Audio Clips: President Harry S Truman, 08/09/45; Capt. Kermit Beehan, "Great Artiste" bombardier, 08/15/45
5. WIN THE WAR BLUES by Sonny Boy Williamson
6. Audio Clip: David E. Lilienthal, the first Chairman of the A.E.C.
7. ATOMIC POWER by the Buchanan Brothers
8. Audio Clip: Winston Churchill, 03/31/49
9. JESUS HITS LIKE AN ATOM BOMB by Lowell Blanchard and the Valley Trio
10. Audio Clip: Rep. James E. Van Zandt (Republican), Penn., 05/08/53
11. WHEN THEY DROP THE ATOMIC BOMB by Jackie Doll and His Pickled Peppers
12. ATOMIC SERMON by Billy Hughes and his Rhythm Buckeroos
13. OLD MAN ATOM by Sons of Pioneers

SIDE TWO:
1. URANIUM by The Commodores
2. 50 MEGATONS by Sonny Russell
3. ATOM BOMB BABY by The Five Stars
4. SATELLITE BABY by Skip Stanley
5. SPUTNIKS AND MUTNIKS by Ray Anderson and the Homefolks
6. ATOMIC COCKTAIL by Slim Gaillard Quartette
7. ATOMIC LOVE by Little Caesar with the Red Callendar Sextette
8. ATOMIC TELEPHONE by Spirits of Memphis Quartet
9. RED'S DREAM by Louisiana Red

Album Liner Notes [Excerpt]:
"Bomb songs expressed people’s political hopes and fears, their religion, and even their sexual fantasies. People boogied with the Bomb, and they prayed with the Bomb. Here is a cross-section of the best of that music, interspersed with short documentary news clips from the time. It is a reflection of an earlier, more innocent America trying to come to grips with the new atomic era. Just as important, it is a collection of seldom-heard vintage music which remains exciting and dynamic today."

- Charles Wolfe

*(The above picture, tracklist and album liner notes were taken from the Conelrad website at http://www.conelrad.com/atomic_cafe.html)

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My own notes:

It's amazing how the producers of the film managed to sieve up so many songs that contained the word "atomic" in them. Or maybe it does say something about the nuclear fad at that time - it was everywhere! I thought the excerpt above by Charles Wolfe couldn't have said it better. There is great irony in the fact that America at that time was both the fearsome (for having used the bomb on Japan) and the fearing (possible attack by Russia); and that explains why it was possible for them to handle the topic of the bomb in a serious way; yet sometimes light-heartedly. On the contrary, a country like Japan couldn't have made a joke out of the nuclear bomb or even inject it into pop culture. Needless to say, the conservativeness of a culture plays a big part in this, but another reason would be because of Japan's role (as a pure victim) in the history of nuclear warfare, that makes it hard for them to turn such a serious topic into song and dance.

But, of course, it doesn't mean that all the American songs about the bomb advocate its use. So why not take a listen to some of the tunes and try to find out the underlying message in them? The playlist is on the right side bar so press play, kick back and enjoy the tunes...