Atomic Age Cocktail Party

Atomic Age Cocktail Party

Friday nights at 8 And Saturday nights at 10 & 11 (bonus episode) on Illinois Classical, FM 90.9.

The show, simply put, is a celebration of the golden age of the hi-fi and beyond! It's American popular music from the 1950s and 1960s with a few modern numbers thrown in for good measure.

Ladies of Lounge (1010)

This week on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, we feature some of our favorite female singers of the lounge era. We include the big names as well as some hidden gems.

Atomic Age logo with an illustration of a woman singing next to a microphone. Text reads Episode 1010 Ladies of Lounge
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Stereophonic Action (1009)

On The Atomic Age Cocktail Party this week, we're giving your hi-fi...and your ears...a workout with all sort of stereophonic action! Music from RCA’s Stereo Action series, Command Records, and a spotlight on Esquivel!

Atomic Age logo with a illustration sound waves with a record in the center. Text reads Episode 1009 Stereophonic Action
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Mambo Mania (1008)

This time on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, it's Mambo Mania! We look at the mambo craze of the 1950s. We start with the mambo kings of the era and then work our way to some of the stranger mambo records that came out.

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L-O-V-E (1007)

In honor of Valentine’s day, this edition of The Atomic Age Cocktail Party featured songs with the word "love" or some version of that in their titles.

Atomic Age logo with a cartoon illustration of a woman and a man sitting on a bench together. There are hearts around them. Text reads Episode 1007 L O V E
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Spy Time (1006)

On The Atomic Age Cocktail Party this time, all the great spy music of the 1960s. There will be tons of James Bond music as well as other fun secret agent music from then and now!

Atomic Age logo with a illustration of a man sitting at a desk with another man standing in front of it. Text reads Episode 1006 Spy Time.
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Johnny Mercer (1004)

This time on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, we explore all the great lyrics of Johnny Mercer. His words are part of so many great songs of the hi-fi era.

Atomic Age logo with a line drawing caricature of Johnny Mercer's head. Text reads Episode 1004 Johnny Mercer.
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Bongo Madness (1003)

On The Atomic Age Cocktail Party this week, those big big bongo beats! A celebration of all our favorite bongo records and bongo players.

Atomic Age logo with an illustration of a set of bongo drums
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Atomic Age Cocktail Party host, Jason Croft, holds a martini in one hand and a record under the other arm, while wearing a fez and a smoking jacket in this retro-style illustration.

Jason Croft has been collecting, enjoying, and programming lounge, easy-listening, and other music of the Atomic Age for over two decades. Now he is sharing this genre with you every Saturday and Sunday night with the Atomic Age Cocktail Party on WILL-FM. When he’s not knee-deep in his record collection, he’s the Technical Director for The 21st, local host for Here and Now, and one of the voices of AM580 on the weekends.

An illustrated poster in the mid-century style, congratulating AACP on its two 2025 Communicator awards.