The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76830   Message #4108683
Posted By: GerryM
03-Jun-21 - 10:58 PM
Thread Name: Greatest war protest songs
Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
At the Sam Hinton website, the page about Old Man Atom, it says,

Sam recorded Old Man Atom in 1950 for ABC Eagle, a small independent label.
Influential New York disc jockey Martin Block played the record on his show 'Make Believe Ballroom.' Overwhelming listener response prompted Columbia Records to acquire the rights for national distribution.
From all indications, it promised to be one of the year's biggest novelty records. RCA Victor rush-released a cover version by the Sons of the Pioneers.
Bing Crosby was reportedly ready to record Old Man Atom for Decca when right-wing organizations began attacking Columbia and RCA Victor for releasing a song that reflected a Communist ideology.
Buckling under pressure, both Columbia and RCA Victor withdrew Old Man Atom from distribution.
Old Man Atom is still in print as track #3 on Washington Square Memoirs: The Great Urban Folk Boom.