13 Women & Only One Man In Town

 ~     

On Monday, April 12, 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded the song, Rock Around the Clock at the Pythian Temple in New York City. It was released in May of that year and became the biggest hit of the group's career.          

 

Actually, Rock Around the Clock was originally on the "B" side of the single; Thirteen Women & Only One Man In Town was the "A" side. I fell in love with the "B" side, of course, and it's been my favorite song by the Comets! 

 

Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town) was written by Dickie Thompson and published in 1954, with sheet music released by Cinephonic Music Co. of London and Darby Music Co. of New York. The song is a down-tempo swing number, not a typical rock and roll track, featuring Haley’s laid-back vocals. Its lyrics humorously depict a post-apocalyptic scenario in which a nuclear explosion leaves one man and thirteen women alive, reflecting anxieties following the first hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in March 1954.                    

Castle Bravo thermonuclear test, Bikini Atoll, 1954

In 1966 The Renegades of Birmingham, United Kingdom, did a cover of Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town); they became popular in Finland in the 1960s and in Italy from 1966 until their breakup in 1971. In 1986, Ron Thompson with The Resistors did a cover, in 1987 The Fuzztones did one, then in 1993 Danny Gatton followed up with his.           

Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)
Song by
Bill Haley and His Comets

Last night I was dreamin'
Dreamed about the H-Bomb
Well the bomb-a went off and I was caught
I was the only man on the ground

There was-a 13 women and only one man in town
Thirteen women and only one man in town
And as funny as it may be
The one and only man in town was me
With 13 women and me the only man around

I had 2 gals every morning
Seein' that I was well fed
And believ-a you me, one sweetened my tea
While another one buttered my bread

Two gals gave me my money
Two gals made me my clothes
And another sweet thing bought me a diamond ring
About forty carats I suppose

Well, 13 women and only one man in town
There was-a 13 women and only one man in town
It was something I can't forget
Because I think of those 13 women yet
Well-a 13 women and only one man around

I had 3 gals dancin' the Mambo
Three gals ballin' the jack
And-a all-a the rest really did their best
Boy they sure were a lively pack

I thought I was in Heaven
And all of these angels were mine
But I woke up and I ended the dream
'Cause I had to get to work on time

Well-a 13 women and only one man in town
There was-a 13 women and only one man in town
No I can't tell where I've been
'Cause I kinda think that someday I'll go back again
To those 13 women and me the only man around
Well-a 13 women and me the only man around
Well-a 13 women and me the only man around

Songwriters: Arrett Rusty Keefer, Dikie Thompson. 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Haley ~ 13 Women 

 45 RPM record  

 

 

 

 

  Bill Haley ~ Rock Around the Clock 

 45 RPM record 

 

           

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town), written by Dickie Thompson - 2:50

Side 2:

B - (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock, written by Jimmy De Knight, Max C. Freedman-2:08

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Decca Records, Inc.
    Pressed By – Decca Records Pressing Plant, Gloversville

 Credits:

 

      Vocals [Vocal Chorus] – Bill Haley

 

Notes:

Label variation, artist font size differs from similar Gloversville pressings Bill Haley And His Comets - Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town) / (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
and Bill Haley And His Comets - Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town) / (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
and Bill Haley And His Comets - Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town) / (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock

Black labels / silver print. Star displayed under the word "Decca" indicating this is a later pressing.

Runouts are stamped.

Barcode and Other Identifiers        

 

    Pressing Plant ID (Printed on label): ✤
    Matrix / Runout (A side label): (86164)
    Matrix / Runout (B side label): (86163)✤
    Matrix / Runout (A side runout, variant 1): 45 86164 5
    Matrix / Runout (B side runout, variant 1): 45 86163 5
    Matrix / Runout (A side runout, variant 2): 45 86164 5
    Matrix / Runout (B side runout, variant 2): 45 86163 6
    Matrix / Runout (A side runout, variant 3): 45 86164 13
    Matrix / Runout (B side runout, variant 3): 45 86163 35 

         

Bill Haley And His Comets – Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town) / (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
Label: Decca – 9-29124
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Gloversville Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1955
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll

      
     
      

     

     

     

Viewfinder links:       

        

Bill Haley        

The Renegades        

Ron Thompson        

      
Net links:       

        

Cinephonic Music Co.                  

     

YouTube links:       

         

The Fuzztones ~ 13 Women          

Danny Gatton ~ 13 Women               

Bill Haley & His Comets ~ 13 Women & Only One Man In Town  

Chance Halladay ~13 Women & Only One Man In Town               

Ron Thompson & The Resistors ~ 13 Women        

Dickie Thomson ~ 13 Women & Only One Man In Town         

        

        

        

        
        

        

        

        

        

        

        
                 
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, April 12, 2026         
        

~ 
Music Notes

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles

~