"The Wartime Songs of Betty Blanchard"

Betty Blanchard (Elizabeth Blanchard Salisbury) was a “real housewife” of suburban Maplewood, New Jersey during World War II. After dabbling in poetry for several years, she moved on to songwriting, inspired by the events surrounding the end of that all-engulfing war. Working with Radio City Music Academy, Musicbox Melodies and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), she completed three timely songs in 1945-1946, and Jimmy Rogers composed the melodies for all of them. All were in various stages of being (not quite) published at that time, but only now, some 60-plus years later, have they been brought to life beyond the limits of the printed sheet music page.

The three songs on this mini-album tell a progressive story. It was the A-Bomb (“You’re My Atomic Bomb”) that brought an end to the war. And with the war over, millions of soldiers began returning home and transitioning back to civilian life (“That’s My G.I.”), sporting a lapel pin (fondly called the “ruptured duck”) that celebrated their status as veterans. As those millions of returning G.I.’s rejoined their families or started new ones after marrying the girl-they-left-behind, it quickly gave rise to a major nationwide housing shortage (“We Haven’t Got a Home to Our Name”).

The vocals on these three songs reflect the true sounds of the 40’s, as do the caberet style instrumental tracks. Alan Salisbury, Betty’s son, served as executive producer to make it all happen. We hope you enjoy the results of this labor of love.

TRACKS
1. You’re My Atomic Bomb Blanchard & Rogers
2. That’s My G.I. Blanchard & Rogers
3. We Haven’t Got a Home to Our Name Blanchard & Rogers

Copyright 2010 Alan B. Salisbury All rights reserved