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Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party

Hosted by Alan Freed who coined the term "Rock n roll", this radio program helped popularize rock on the airwaves.

Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party

24 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 11 hours, 1847 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
12 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from March 31, 1956:

"March 31, 1956 Broadcast"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

In 1956, Alan Freed was pretty much on top of the world. The so-called "father of rock'n'roll" was living in New York City, broadcasting primarily from WINS (1010 AM), and enjoying the fame (or notoriety) he had gained by organizing the "Moondog Coronation Ball" a few years earlier in Cleveland. He would also appear in two films that year, Rock Around the Clock and Rock, Rock, Rock, which would help to popularize the music that was making Freed so famous.

Alan Freed Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party1952's Coronation Ball is widely remembered as "the first Rock and Roll concert", and it was also the event which helped to establish Freed's reputation as a trouble maker. Freed was credited with coining the term "rock and roll" for the new type of music while broadcasting his "Moondog House" DJ show on WJW. Although Rock and Roll musicians were relatively clean cut by today's standards, a riot nearly broke out at the sold-out event because more tickets were printed than there were seats in the Cleveland Arena.

One of Freed's few low points during 1956 was a suit brought against him by New York street musician, Lois T. Hardin over the name Moondog. Hardin, who was blinded in a farming accident in the early 1930's at the age of 16, was a composer, musician, and beat poet. He had adopted the pen name Moondog in 1947 and composed an instrumental recording called "The Moondog Symphony" which Freed took as inspiration when naming his show. The New York Supreme Court found in favor of Hardin who had been using the name longer, and Freed had to pay damages.

However, he could afford to pay because he had been tapped to host The Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party over WCBS. The music may be hard to recognize as rock and roll by modern youth, but there is no denying its appeal. The featured band for many of the broadcasts is the Count Basie Orchestra. Although Basie is usually associated with Big Band and Jazz music, he helps to underscore the fusion of elements that went into the early rock and roll sound.

These recordings have been available to OTR collectors for some time as AFRTS rebroadcasts with the commercials removed. This collection prominently features Freed reminding us of the smooth pleasure of smoking great tasting Camel Cigarettes. Although we do not condone smoking and remind our listeners of the well-known health dangers of cigarettes, we do appreciate the significant contribution that tobacco company sponsorship had on commercial radio.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    9
    8     1


    COMMENTS

    Excellent collection of every show,sound quality is fantastic! I highly recommend this set to everyone that loves 50s rock & roll, AM radio, and Alan Freed, you can't go wrong adding this to your collection!

    Donald Verified Purchase

    He didn't take much more than $500 and it literally destroyed his career. Very interesting. Ugly unnecessary 'situation'. Publicity Hunt' His radio shows fun,pounding phone, making noise.Dedications funny.Great Great Eye for Talent. Him and Destroyed for What Huh?

    Rusty Verified Purchase

    wonderful programs, I listen to them instead of the TV, I especially like the old news broadcasts.

    Jeff Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 1847 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 11 hours, 1847 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows – total playtime 11 hours, 30 minutes
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560331.mp3
    3. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560407.mp3
    4. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560414.mp3
    5. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560421.mp3
    6. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560428.mp3
    7. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560505.mp3
    8. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560512.mp3
    9. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560519.mp3
    10. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560526.mp3
    11. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560602.mp3
    12. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560609.mp3
    13. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560616.mp3
    14. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560623.mp3
    15. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560630.mp3
    16. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560710.mp3
    17. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560717.mp3
    18. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560724.mp3
    19. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560731.mp3
    20. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560807.mp3
    21. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560814.mp3
    22. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560828.mp3
    23. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560904.mp3
    24. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560911.mp3
    25. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party Rehearsal.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 1847 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    316 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 30 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows – 316 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 30 minutes
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560331.mp3
    3. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560407.mp3
    4. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560414.mp3
    5. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560421.mp3
    6. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560428.mp3
    7. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560505.mp3
    8. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560512.mp3
    9. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560519.mp3
    10. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560526.mp3
    11. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560602.mp3
    12. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560609.mp3
    13. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560616.mp3
    14. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560623.mp3
    15. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560630.mp3
    16. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560710.mp3
    17. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560717.mp3
    18. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560724.mp3
    19. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560731.mp3
    20. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560807.mp3
    21. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560814.mp3
    22. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560828.mp3
    23. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560904.mp3
    24. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560911.mp3
    25. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party Rehearsal.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs. Total playtime 11 hours, 30 min
    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs
    total playtime 11 hours, 30 min

    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A001

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party Rehearsal
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560331

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A002

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560407
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560414

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A003

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560421
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560428

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A004

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560505
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560512

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A005

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560519
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560526

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A006

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560602
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560609

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A007

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560616
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560623

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A008

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560630
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560710

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A009

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560717
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560724

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A010

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560731
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560807

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A011

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560814
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560828

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party Disc A012

    1. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560904
    2. Camel Rock Roll Dance Party 560911

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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