- Single Warhead Edition -
Back in 2005 Bear Family Records dropped a six disc multimedia musical payload on the
market titled ‘Atomic Platters: Cold War Music from the Golden Age of Homeland Security.’ The
weighty box set featured over one hundred radioactive rockabilly, country, blues and novelty songs.
It also included atom age public service announcements, spoken word LPs, civil defense films
and an illustrated coffee table book of liner notes. In the vernacular of the arms race the release
was
overkill
on a grand scale. And while this anthology quickly became one of the prestigious
label’s biggest critical hits, the retail cost of the product left many atomic music fans out in the cold.
This ‘single warhead’ version is for the masses that may not have had the money (or the shelf
space) for the full set. Think of it as the Manhattan Project on a budget. And like the payload from
a tactical nuke, this incarnation of ‘Atomic Platters’ still packs quite a wallop. Indeed, the disc
collects some of the best atomic and red scare songs from the original issue and adds five fantastic
bonus tracks. And, of course, all of the songs and artists are carefully examined in the notes that
follow. With over an hour of Cold War music from a variety of genres, this collection guarantees
Mutually Assured Delight. So push the button, let the countdown begin, and be sure to take shelter
with your Hi-Fi set in your Bomb bungalow!
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