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Early Rock and Roll With a Message.

Rock historian Ed Ward takes on the notion that old-time rock and roll had no message or meaning, that it was simply fun. This is the message that the purveyors of collections of 50s and 60s hits are conveying in ads that recall the "fun" of the era without also evoking the harsher realities.

06:54

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Other segments from the episode on April 27, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 12, 1988: Interview with Simon Rattle; Commentary on early rock and roll music; Interview with Dorothy Sarnoff; Review of Nan Robertson's book "Getting Better:…

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