While reading about the glory days of FM rock radio (late 60’s/early 70’s) I wondered where I could find actual broadcasts from that era. Obviously they must include the musical selections and be legally obtainable. I’d prefer CD but would settle for internet files. Does anything like this exist?
Amen. I’m looking for an NPR show of the Charles Mingus Changes band from the 1970s, that would be sweet if it were available somehow. I looked on npr’s website but didn’t find anything.
Usenet (sorry… illegally)
I have almost completed over three decades worth of Dr. Demento shows and Radio Mystery Theatre with E.G. Marshall. I have picked up a few “Light’s Out” shows and other assorted shows along the way.
Usenet folk do it for the history and all. I have no qualms about the legality when it comes to treasured memories and/or huge interest.
If it’s recordable and old, check archive.org. 
http://www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio
Not tons, but some.
Not that practical, but somewhere near Arcturus.
Why use archive.org?
It sounds like you’re looking for “underground” broadcasts as opposed to the serials from the 30s and 40s. If that’s the case, try this: http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Age-Underground-Radio/dp/customer-reviews/B000000198
This DJ out of San Francisco was evidently ‘da shit’ in his 'hood.
Dah! :smack: I was decoyed away on that one.
There’s also a Volume 2. I hope they’re going to do collections for all the major radio shows of that era! We used to get a really great station in Chicago out of Littlerock (if the night was clear and it was summer).
You could also look into satelite radio, XM or Sirius. Both systems have Radio Classics (radio serials) as well as stations dedicated to music from those eras (music stations are commercial free). XM rebroadcasts American Top 40 from the '60s to the the '90s weekly.
Having the subscription with the external receiver hardware also gives you access to listen online. Some hardware allows you to record the programs.
Because archive.org uses mp3 files (good) while Old Time Radio uses Real Audio (bad)
That was KAAY in Little Rock, the late night program was called Bleeker Street.
KAAY is now a Christian radio station, that evidently doesn’t pay its bills. http://www.ontheradio.net/radiostations/kaayam.aspx
I was at the Museum of TV & Radio in Los Angeles [actually Beverly Hills] a couple years ago. IIRC they had some tapes of San Francisco underground/ early FM radio broadcasts from the late 60s. LA Dopers may be aware of this.
If you’re really serious about finding them, it seems that recordings are scattered around quite a few archives around the country. For example, in the “Guide to the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. Selected radio broadcasts, 1935-1950.” at Cornell. Although on preview, I wonder if you’re more interested in underground broadcasts. Those could still be in an archive somewhere… I’ll look around.
The Official Repository of Top 40 Radio Airchecks
Not exactly underground, but rather cool nonetheless.
You beat me to it!
I was going to say that you can find the “actual broadcasts” expanding in a shell from the Earth at the speed of light (like in the beginning of Contact).
I’m pretty sure they are legally obtainable, too. You just need a receiver in the right location. Arcturus would work splendidly, being just about the correct distance. Signal strength may be an issue, though.
Odeo.com has a varied selection, including some of the old-time Superman radio show episodes.