Almost nothing is known about the mysterious 60’s record label Camp Records. They released an album and 10 45 rpm records of gay parody songs, most done with effeminate voices. I believe they were issued in the early 60’s, as they all appeared in an ad in the gay magazine Vagabond, dated 1965. The address on the album record jacket was PO Box 3213, Hollywood, California, and it credited all selections to “Different Music Co, Hollywood.”
The artists singing most of the songs were uncredited, or with names obviously made up, like Byrd E. Bath and B. Bubba, but one name stands out, Rodney Dangerfield. That name credited on one of the songs, and possibly another. This would have been very early in Dangerfield’s career, as his website bio says he decided to devote his career to comedy at age 40, which would have been in 1961. But I don’t think it was the comedian we know; just a prop name used for the release. Dangerfield disclaims any knowledge of it…see article below.
A second album released on the label was called “Mad About the Boy.” It was filled with mostly well-known Broadway and cabaret songs that were originally sung by women. This album kept the pronouns intact, making them very gay. They were done in lounge style, without a campy approach…in other words, done “straight.” The liner notes state: “The primary reason for doing this album was to prove that good songs could and should be sung by everyone. Gender should not be the determining factor as to who should sing what.” The notes later say that the male soloist and other artists on the album are well-known “Hollywood, TV, and screen personalities” but “we are not at liberty to reveal true names.” I have no idea if all this is true, or simply hype. The album probably came out in 1964 or 1965, as it pictures on the back all the previous releases of the label. And it is also advertised in the 1965 issue of Vagabond (see more, below), so I believe it was the last record they released.
An amusing characteristic of the records they issued was the “label numbers” they gave them. Almost all of them are tongue-in-cheek gay references, if the letters and numbers are read individually. For example, ICUR1-2 becomes “I see you are one, too” or variations of that, along with 2B8 I believe being “to be ate.” “45CC” for the single “Spanish Bar Fly” is likely referring to “45, Si, Si,” and “OUR 2-2” could be “our tutu.” And the “Mad About the Boy” album’s numbering was “RU-1,” which of course is “are you one?” meaning “are you gay?”
I’ve tried to give as complete a history as possible of this label, as it’s truly unique to our culture. I show scans of all the records in my collection, and you can hear them as well. I don’t think anyone as ever tried to do justice to this subject, but there are still many unknowns. If anyone reading this has additional information, please, please contact me. So, enjoy the photos and music…they are indeed very rare and give a unique look at gay humor of that time.
