"Atomic" by Blondie

Song#:  0179
Date:  05/17/1980
Debut:  71
Peak:  39
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  Blondie's biggest hit, "Call Me" from the "American Gigolo" soundtrack, was still at #1 when this third single was released from their album "Eat to the Beat." That album was having just minor success here in the US, so getting one of the biggest songs of the year with "Call Me" was welcome and kept them going. The momentum of that song probably pushed this single up the chart further than it might have done without it, but it was still not a major hit for them. However, in the UK the song did reach #1.

ReduxReview:  This is kind of like "Heart of Glass" meets Ennio Morricone - spaghetti new wave. It works just fine but it pales in comparison to "Call Me" and may not have been the best follow-up single. Especially when there are more instrumental passages than vocal. I think the song was appreciated more in later days, but at the time it was released as a single, US folks just didn't really get it.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  "Atomic" was also the third single released from the album in the UK, but unlike the US, all three songs were released before "Call Me" came out with "Atomic" hitting #1. Because of the success of these three singles, plans were made to release a fourth single in the UK. "Slow Motion" was set to be release and a special mix was even created, but due to the huge success of "Call Me," the single was scrapped and this specific singles mix still remains unreleased.

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