Blondie “Atomic” 1980, 12″ single. Today, July 1st, is Debbie Harry’s 75th birthday (b. Angela Trimble, 1945). From Blondie’s 4th studio LP Eat to the Beat (1979), “Atomic” was the 3rd single (released April 1980). The new wavey/disco track went to #1 in the UK (the 12″ single from the UK) and to #39 in the US. The 12″ b-side has the laid-back reggae-ish beat “Die Young Stay Pretty” and a super-sultry live version of David Bowie’s “Heroes” from Blondie’s performance at the Hammersmith Odeon in January 1980 (prominently featuring Robert Fripp on guitar). “Atomic” will always remind me of the old WMSE radio station (Milwaukee) sponsor placement pieces from the now long-closed Atomic Records. I saw Debbie Harry perform on her 45th birthday at Summerfest in 1990 (along with the Ramones and Tom Tom Club, maybe another band, I cannot remember – that was 30 years ago). She was fabulous. Summerfest, like literally every single other concert/show, has been cancelled this year so spinning “Atomic” on 12″ vinyl will have to suffice.