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The Story Behind the Song

Created in 1930 by Transco, this old time radio series dramatizes the origin stories of popular music. Update: additional 24 broadcasts

35 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 8 hours, 26 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
9 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from June 01, 1930:

"Battle Cry of Freedom by George Root"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2019 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Crosley, 1930s

The Story Behind the Song,
Syndicated by the Transcription Company of America (Transco), 1930

In the early days of the last century, music had to be played or sang to be enjoyed. Radio allowed there to be a much larger audience than ever before, but most of the broadcasts in the early days were live, so again dependant on the performer in order to be enjoyed.

And the performer needed songs. Many songs became favorites and even "Old Stand Bys" that the audience would be sure to enjoy. A syndicated newspaper weekly feature was The Story Behind the Song, presented by M. Whitmark and Sons, a prolific publisher of sheet music. The newspaper feature told the story of the composition of popular music pieces in a highly entertaining manner along with an illustration of the story.

In 1930, Transco took 39 of the popular stories and reformed them for the radio. The story would be illustrated in a dramatic fashion, and were well acted. The end of the program featured a choral presentation of the song. Songs featured in the series included "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight", "The Star Spangled Banner", "The Girl I Left Behind Me", "La Marseillaise", "Rock of Ages" and many others.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2019 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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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.



    35 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 8 hours, 26 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart
    Print

    Click here to see disc contents


      35 shows - total playtime 8 hours 26 minutes
      1. Story Behind Song 310514 01 Star Spangled Banner.mp3
      2. Story Behind Song 310521 02 Blest Be Tie That Binds.mp3
      3. Story Behind Song 310528 03 La Marseillaise.mp3
      4. Story Behind Song 310604 04 My Old Kentucky Home.mp3
      5. Story Behind Song 310611 05 There's No Place Like Home.mp3
      6. Story Behind Song 310618 06 Maryland My Maryland.mp3
      7. Story Behind Song 310625 07 Sound Of A Great Amen.mp3
      8. Story Behind Song 310702 08 Annie Laurie.mp3
      9. Story Behind Song 310709 09 And I Shall See Him Face To Face.mp3
      10. Story Behind Song 310716 10 Missouri Waltz.mp3
      11. Story Behind Song 310723 11 Serenady.mp3
      12. Story Behind Song 310730 12 Hold Fort For I Am Coming.mp3
      13. Story Behind Song 310807 13 Confusion.mp3
      14. Story Behind Song 310814 14 Sweet Adeline.mp3
      15. Story Behind Song 310821 15 124th Psalm.mp3
      16. Story Behind Song 310828 16 Old Black Joe.mp3
      17. Story Behind Song 310904 17 By James Lawson.mp3
      18. Story Behind Song 310911 18 Robin O'Dare.mp3
      19. Story Behind Song 310918 19 God Preserve Emperor.mp3
      20. Story Behind Song 310925 20 Old Folks At Home.mp3
      21. Story Behind Song 311002 21 Britannia.mp3
      22. Story Behind Song 311009 22 Battle Hymn of the Republic .mp3
      23. Story Behind Song 311016 23 Rock Of Ages.mp3
      24. Story Behind Song 311023 24 After Ball.mp3
      25. Story Behind Song 311030 25 Gentle Annie-Stephen Foster.mp3
      26. Story Behind Song 311106 26 Hail Columbia-Joseph Hopkinson.mp3
      27. Story Behind Song 311113 27 Vacant Chair-George Root.mp3
      28. Story Behind Song 311120 28 Scots Wha Hae Wi'-Robert Burns.mp3
      29. Story Behind Song 311127 29 St Louis Blues-W C Handy.mp3
      30. Story Behind Song 311204 30 Battle Cry Of Freedom.mp3
      31. Story Behind Song 311211 31 My Grandfather Clock-Henry Work.mp3
      32. Story Behind Song 311218 32 Girl I Left Behind Unknown Irish.mp3
      33. Story Behind Song 311225 33 Come Love Dreaming-S Foster.mp3
      34. Story Behind Song 320101 34 Hot Time in Old Town Tonight.mp3
      35. Story Behind Song 320108 35 Kathleen Mavourneen-Frdrk Crouch.mp3

  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    35 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 8 hours, 26 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart
    Print

    Click here to see disc contents


      35 shows - total playtime 8 hours 26 minutes
      1. Story Behind Song 310514 01 Star Spangled Banner.mp3
      2. Story Behind Song 310521 02 Blest Be Tie That Binds.mp3
      3. Story Behind Song 310528 03 La Marseillaise.mp3
      4. Story Behind Song 310604 04 My Old Kentucky Home.mp3
      5. Story Behind Song 310611 05 There's No Place Like Home.mp3
      6. Story Behind Song 310618 06 Maryland My Maryland.mp3
      7. Story Behind Song 310625 07 Sound Of A Great Amen.mp3
      8. Story Behind Song 310702 08 Annie Laurie.mp3
      9. Story Behind Song 310709 09 And I Shall See Him Face To Face.mp3
      10. Story Behind Song 310716 10 Missouri Waltz.mp3
      11. Story Behind Song 310723 11 Serenady.mp3
      12. Story Behind Song 310730 12 Hold Fort For I Am Coming.mp3
      13. Story Behind Song 310807 13 Confusion.mp3
      14. Story Behind Song 310814 14 Sweet Adeline.mp3
      15. Story Behind Song 310821 15 124th Psalm.mp3
      16. Story Behind Song 310828 16 Old Black Joe.mp3
      17. Story Behind Song 310904 17 By James Lawson.mp3
      18. Story Behind Song 310911 18 Robin O'Dare.mp3
      19. Story Behind Song 310918 19 God Preserve Emperor.mp3
      20. Story Behind Song 310925 20 Old Folks At Home.mp3
      21. Story Behind Song 311002 21 Britannia.mp3
      22. Story Behind Song 311009 22 Battle Hymn of the Republic .mp3
      23. Story Behind Song 311016 23 Rock Of Ages.mp3
      24. Story Behind Song 311023 24 After Ball.mp3
      25. Story Behind Song 311030 25 Gentle Annie-Stephen Foster.mp3
      26. Story Behind Song 311106 26 Hail Columbia-Joseph Hopkinson.mp3
      27. Story Behind Song 311113 27 Vacant Chair-George Root.mp3
      28. Story Behind Song 311120 28 Scots Wha Hae Wi'-Robert Burns.mp3
      29. Story Behind Song 311127 29 St Louis Blues-W C Handy.mp3
      30. Story Behind Song 311204 30 Battle Cry Of Freedom.mp3
      31. Story Behind Song 311211 31 My Grandfather Clock-Henry Work.mp3
      32. Story Behind Song 311218 32 Girl I Left Behind Unknown Irish.mp3
      33. Story Behind Song 311225 33 Come Love Dreaming-S Foster.mp3
      34. Story Behind Song 320101 34 Hot Time in Old Town Tonight.mp3
      35. Story Behind Song 320108 35 Kathleen Mavourneen-Frdrk Crouch.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



    35 recordings on 9 Audio CDs
    total playtime 8 hours, 26 min
    Add Collection on Audio CD to Cart
    35 recordings on 9 Audio CDs
    $45.00

    Or buy individual audio CDs below:

    Story Behind the Song Disc A001

    1. Story Behind Song 310514 01 Star Spangled Banner
    2. Story Behind Song 310521 02 Blest Be Tie That Binds
    3. Story Behind Song 310528 03 La Marseillaise
    4. Story Behind Song 310604 04 My Old Kentucky Home
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A002

    1. Story Behind Song 310611 05 There's No Place Like Home
    2. Story Behind Song 310618 06 Maryland My Maryland
    3. Story Behind Song 310625 07 Sound Of A Great Amen
    4. Story Behind Song 310702 08 Annie Laurie
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A003

    1. Story Behind Song 310709 09 And I Shall See Him Face To Face
    2. Story Behind Song 310716 10 Missouri Waltz
    3. Story Behind Song 310723 11 Serenady
    4. Story Behind Song 310730 12 Hold Fort For I Am Coming
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A004

    1. Story Behind Song 310807 13 Confusion
    2. Story Behind Song 310814 14 Sweet Adeline
    3. Story Behind Song 310821 15 124th Psalm
    4. Story Behind Song 310828 16 Old Black Joe
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A005

    1. Story Behind Song 310904 17 By James Lawson
    2. Story Behind Song 310911 18 Robin O'Dare
    3. Story Behind Song 310918 19 God Preserve Emperor
    4. Story Behind Song 310925 20 Old Folks At Home
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A006

    1. Story Behind Song 311002 21 Britannia
    2. Story Behind Song 311009 22 Battle Hymn of the Republic
    3. Story Behind Song 311016 23 Rock Of Ages
    4. Story Behind Song 311023 24 After Ball
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A007

    1. Story Behind Song 311030 25 Gentle Annie-Stephen Foster
    2. Story Behind Song 311106 26 Hail Columbia-Joseph Hopkinson
    3. Story Behind Song 311113 27 Vacant Chair-George Root
    4. Story Behind Song 311120 28 Scots Wha Hae Wi'-Robert Burns
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A008

    1. Story Behind Song 311127 29 St Louis Blues-W C Handy
    2. Story Behind Song 311204 30 Battle Cry Of Freedom
    3. Story Behind Song 311211 31 My Grandfather Clock-Henry Work
    4. Story Behind Song 311218 32 Girl I Left Behind Unknown Irish
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Story Behind the Song Disc A009

    1. Story Behind Song 311225 33 Come Love Dreaming-S Foster
    2. Story Behind Song 320101 34 Hot Time in Old Town Tonight
    3. Story Behind Song 320108 35 Kathleen Mavourneen-Frdrk Crouch
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
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