Camp Records
Encyclopedia
Camp Records was a record label
based out of California
in the 1960s that specialized in producing anonymous gay
-themed novelty records and singles, mostly sold out of the backs of beefcake magazines
.
Camp Records' releases typically consisted of parodies
of existing songs or musical styles, primarily revised folk
melodies with the lyrics rewritten to reflect a camp
sensibility. The arrangements were usually simple, consisting of spare instrumentation and multiple-voice harmonies
, but ranged in style from cocktail piano bar
to Latin
exotica
.
The songs themselves comically portrayed the world of the American homosexual subculture
, often relying on broad stereotypes, gay slang
, and saucy double entendre
s for their comic effect. As an example, their single "Li'l Liza Mike" rewrote the lyrics to the popular musical standard "Li'l Liza Jane
" to tell of a man's befuddlement at the behavior of his butch
lesbian
girlfriend. The song was credited to "Byrd E. Bath & the Gay Blades."
Another release, "I'd Rather Fight Than Swish," was written in the rollicking style of early rock and roll
, and featured a swaggering, Elvis Presley
-style lead singer. The song's lyrics told of a macho
outlaw biker's desires to physically assault effeminate gay men, but as the song progresses it makes clear that the biker himself is a closeted
homosexual. However, it could be argued that his closeting was because gay culture excluded working class, masculine men at the time. The song's title is a play on the Tareyton
cigarette ad slogan Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!
, introduced in 1963; the record was available in 1964.
Their single "Stanley the Manly Transvestite" was credited to a singer named "Rodney Dangerfield", but it is unlikely that the song was performed by the popular comic, Rodney Dangerfield
, and was instead simply a coincidental choice of a stage name
.
Camp Records released two full-length LP
s: The first, "The Queen Is in the Closet" consisted of ten songs in the style of the above mentioned singles. The second was called "Mad About the Boy." This was an unusual experiment, consisting of a number of mainstream popular jazz
torch song
s in which women sing of their romantic feelings toward men. The Camp Records release simply rerecorded these songs with male vocalists without changing the song's use of gender
, resulting in love songs sung by men to men.
As Camp Records' releases all date back to the early 60s, and none were released with a copyright notice, all the recordings have now passed into the public domain
.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based out of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the 1960s that specialized in producing anonymous gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
-themed novelty records and singles, mostly sold out of the backs of beefcake magazines
Beefcake magazines
Beefcake magazines were magazines published in North America in the 1930s to 1960s that featured photographs of attractive, muscular young men in athletic poses...
.
Camp Records' releases typically consisted of parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of existing songs or musical styles, primarily revised folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
melodies with the lyrics rewritten to reflect a camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
sensibility. The arrangements were usually simple, consisting of spare instrumentation and multiple-voice harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, but ranged in style from cocktail piano bar
Piano bar
A piano bar consists of a piano or electronic keyboard played by a professional musician, located in a cocktail lounge, bar, hotel lobby, office building lobby, restaurant, or on a cruise ship. Usually the pianist receives a small salary plus tips in a jar or basket on or near the piano,...
to Latin
Latin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
exotica
Exotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same title, popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s, typically with the suburban set who came of age during World War II. The musical colloquialism, exotica, means tropical ersatz: the non-native, pseudo experience of Oceania...
.
The songs themselves comically portrayed the world of the American homosexual subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
, often relying on broad stereotypes, gay slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
, and saucy double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s for their comic effect. As an example, their single "Li'l Liza Mike" rewrote the lyrics to the popular musical standard "Li'l Liza Jane
Li'l Liza Jane
Li'l Liza Jane, also known as Little Liza Jane and Liza Jane, is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and bluegrass, and versions have repeatedly appeared in other genres including rock and...
" to tell of a man's befuddlement at the behavior of his butch
Butch and femme
Butch and femme are LGBT terms describing respectively, masculine and feminine traits, behavior, style, expression, self-perception and so on. They are often used in the lesbian, bisexual and gay subcultures...
lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
girlfriend. The song was credited to "Byrd E. Bath & the Gay Blades."
Another release, "I'd Rather Fight Than Swish," was written in the rollicking style of early rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, and featured a swaggering, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
-style lead singer. The song's lyrics told of a macho
Machismo
Machismo, or machoism, is a word of Spanish and Portuguese origin that describes prominently exhibited or excessive masculinity. As an attitude, machismo ranges from a personal sense of virility to a more extreme male chauvinism...
outlaw biker's desires to physically assault effeminate gay men, but as the song progresses it makes clear that the biker himself is a closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
homosexual. However, it could be argued that his closeting was because gay culture excluded working class, masculine men at the time. The song's title is a play on the Tareyton
Tareyton
Tareyton is a brand of cigarettes originally manufactured by the American Tobacco Company. It began as a variation of Herbert Tareyton cork-tipped non-filter cigarettes . As filters gained in popularity in the late 1950s, Tareyton was created in 1954 as the filtered version of Herbert Tareyton,...
cigarette ad slogan Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!
Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!
"Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!" is an enduring slogan which appeared in magazine, newspaper, and television advertisements for Tareyton cigarettes from 1963 until 1981. It was the American Tobacco Company's most visible ad campaign in the 1960s and 1970s.-Beginnings:The slogan...
, introduced in 1963; the record was available in 1964.
Their single "Stanley the Manly Transvestite" was credited to a singer named "Rodney Dangerfield", but it is unlikely that the song was performed by the popular comic, Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
, and was instead simply a coincidental choice of a stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
.
Camp Records released two full-length LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s: The first, "The Queen Is in the Closet" consisted of ten songs in the style of the above mentioned singles. The second was called "Mad About the Boy." This was an unusual experiment, consisting of a number of mainstream popular jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
torch song
Torch song
A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affected the relationship...
s in which women sing of their romantic feelings toward men. The Camp Records release simply rerecorded these songs with male vocalists without changing the song's use of gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, resulting in love songs sung by men to men.
As Camp Records' releases all date back to the early 60s, and none were released with a copyright notice, all the recordings have now passed into the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.
External links
- Queer Music Heritage has posted the complete recordings of Camp Records available as MP3s, as well as the company's cover art.