Atom and Evil

[1946]
Songwriters: Hy Zaret and Lou Singer



This gospel song worries about the potential misuse of atomic power by an undefined 'Evil.' While The Golden Gate Quartet was no doubt referring to a global, metaphoric 'Evil,' one without geographic borders, the U.S. government was busily anticipating the inevitable goal of the nation it believed to be the true evil, the USSR. And on that day when the Russians tested their first bomb (August 29, 1949), 'evil' would be defined for us by politicians…repeatedly.

The Golden Gate Quartet was formed in 1934 in Norfolk, Virginia and is best remembered for popularizing the 'jubilee' style of black gospel. The original line-up for The Gates, as they came to be known, was William Langford (first tenor), Henry Owens (second tenor), Willie Johnson (baritone) and Orlandus Wilson (bass). The Gates first found success on the radio, especially on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their first recording session for the Bluebird label in 1937 produced such songs as Jonah and Bedside Of A Neighbor. In 1939 the group appeared at Carnegie Hall in John Hammond's 'Spirituals To Swing' concert which led to their broadcasting several times a week on the CBS radio network in New York. In 1940 the group teamed with Leadbelly for a session, and, in 1941, the group signed with Columbia. In the '40s The Gates appeared in a number of films including 'Star Spangled Rhythm,' 'Hit Parade Of 1943,' 'Hollywood Canteen,' 'Bring On The Girls' and 'A Song Is Born.' In 1948 the group left Columbia and signed with Mercury. In 1955 they toured Europe and in 1959 the group moved permanently to France, where despite various changes in composition, they are still active to this day.