APRIL 22, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1936 - Glen Campbell, guitarist, singer, motion picture actor, television variety show host, a Capitol Records session artist and solo artist, is born in Delight, Arkansas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - During two sessions held this day in Berlin, Germany for Telefunken Records, Hans von Benda conducts The Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Respighi's "Italiana", "Siciliana", "Aria Di Corte, Part 1", "Aria Di Corte, Part 2", and "Passacaglia" at the first session and Corelli's ""Giga And Badinerie" at the second session. After Capitol Records licenses Telefunken's catalog for release in the United States, it will issue all of the titles on the album "RESPIGHI - Dances And Airs In Olden Style/CORELLI - Giga and Badinerie" (ECL-8056 on 10" shellac and KCM-8056 on 7" vinyl).
1947 - Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Romance" with vocals by Lois Butler and, with vocalist Lee Sweetland", "The Desert Song" and "The Riff Song" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles Lois Butler and Lee Sweetland's album "Songs Of Sigmund Romberg" (CD-61),
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The King Cole Trio close at the Orpheum theater in Omaha, Nebraska
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased from Van-Es Recording Co. of Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage's titles "I'll Have Somebody Else" and "Lay Your Little Head On My Shoulder" and will issue "I'll Have Somebody Else (As Soon As Your Gone)" as a single (Capitol 15163) with "Sometime" (recorded July 5, 1948) on the flipside and "Lay Your Little Head On My Shoulder" as a single (Capitol 15221) with "Just A Little Lovin'" (recorded August 4, 1948) on the flipside.

1949 - The Miles Davis Nonet (with Davis on trumpet, Kenny Clarke on drums, J.J. Johnson on trombone, Lee Konitz on alto saxophone, John Lewis on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Bill Barber on tuba, Nelson Boyd on double bass, and Sandy Siegelstein on french horn) records the titles "Venus De Milo" (arranged by Gerry Mulligan), "Boplicity" (arranged by Gil Evans), "Israel" (arranged by Johnny Carisi), and "Rouge" (arranged by John Lewis). The session, set up by Capitol A&R man Walter Rivers (a cousin of Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer, who also signed Yma Sumac to the label) and produced by Pete Rugolo, was held at radio station WMGM's studios at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York. Capitol Records eventually released all the titles Davis' album "Birth Of The Cool".

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nat "King" Cole and Billy May open at The Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium & Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalists Jerry Lewis and Patti Lewis, with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), recorded the titles "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day", "Gimme A Little Kiss", and "If You Loved Me Truly" then, with just Jerry on vocals, the title "Y-y-y-yup" using an arrangement by Nelson Riddle. Capitol Records will issue "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day" and "If You Loved Me Truly" together as a single (Capitol 2481) and "Gimme A Little Kiss" and "Y-y-y-yup" together as a single (Capitol 2576).

1957 - Capitol Records files the masters it purchased for Les Paul and Mary Ford's titles "Tuxedos And Flowers" and "Hummin' and Waltzin'", both with vocals by Mary Ford, and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol F3725).

1957 - Trumpet player Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (Art De Pew, Jack Laubach, and Jack Holman also on trumpet, Ken Trimble, Lew McCreary, and Jimmy Priddy on trombone, Med Flory and Gene Merlino on alto saxophone, Bob Enevoldsen and Jeff Massingill on tenor saxophone, Leo Anthony on baritone saxophone, Geoff Clarkson on piano, Al Viola on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, and Bill Richmond on drums), using arrangements by Don Simpson, record the titles "Young Ideas", "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "Lonely Night In Paris", and, with the addition of four cellos and a vocal chorus (lineups unlisted), "Cello-phane" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first three titles on Anthony's album "Young Ideas" (T/ST 866) and "Cello-phane" as a single (Capitol F3739) with "The Lonely Trumpet" (recorded May 15, 1957) on the flipside.
1957 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Jack Marshall and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Every Night", "Uninvited Dream", and "Baby, Baby Wait For Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Baby, Baby Wait For Me" as a single (Capitol F3722) with "Ev'ry Night" (recorded April 13, 1957) on the flipside, the version recorded at this date (another take was recorded on August 30, 1957) of "Uninvited Dream" on the CD "Peggy Lee - The Singles Collection" (5-39756-2), and have yet to the take of "Every Night" recorded on this date
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Ethel Ennis, with Sid Feller conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "It Was So Beautiful", "The Things I Love", Harry Warren's "Serenade In Blue", and "How About Me" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ennis' album "Have You Forgotten?" (T 1078). For more on Ethel Ennis go to this New York Times article.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - The Jonas Jones Quartet (Jonah Jones on trumpet and vocals, Hank Jones on piano, John Brown on bass, and Harold Austin on drums) record the titles "Dance Only With Me" and "That's A Plenty" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the quintet's album "Jumpin' With Jonah" (EAP-1/2-1039 on 7" EP and T/ST 1039 on 12" LP).
1961 - Capitol Records artist Faron Young is one of the headliners (along with Webb Pierce, Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline and Earl Scruggs) at the first annual Country Music Festival held in the United States at the 13,000-seater Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Gene Vincent's recording contract with Capitol Records expires. His last recording for the label is a remake of "Be-Bop-A-Lula"
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for vocalist Joe South's titles "How Can I Unlove You" and "She's Almost You" in Los Angeles, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2169).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Mad River (David Robinson and Rick Bockner on guitars, Lawrence Hammond on bass, keyboards, and vocals, Greg Dewey on drums, harmonica and vocals, and Tom Manning on vocals) records the title "Merciful Monks (Of Mount Tamalpais)" in Los Angeles, California with producer Nick Venet. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's self-titled album "Mad River" (ST 2985).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Lou Levy conducting His Orchestra (Victor Paz, Al De Risi, Tony Robilotte, and Lew Soloff on trumpets and flugelhorns, Ray De Sio, Mort Trautman, and Bill Watrous on trombones, Alan Robinson on French horn, Hubert Laws on saxophone and flute, Jean "Toots" Thielemans on harmonica, Mundell Lowe on guitar, Ben Tucker on bass, Grady Tate on drums, and Francisco Aguabella on percussion) performs the titles "Do I Hear A Waltz?", "Don't Speak", "Paradise", "Reason To Believe", "I Didn't Want To Do It", and "Come Back To Me" during a live performance at the Copacabana Club in New York City, New York that was recorded. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Don't Speak" and "Paradise" which have yet to be issued, on Lee's self-titled album "Peggy Lee" (ST-105).

1969 - John Lennon legally changes his middle name from Winston to Ono in a ceremony on the rooftop of The Beatles' Apple Building and later requires that all of his Gold Record awards bear the correct legal name, John Ono Lennon
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Ronnie Laws, with unlisted others, records the title "In The Groove" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5241) with "Summer Fool" (recorded April 9, 1981 for Liberty Records) on the flipside and on Laws' album "Mr. Nice Guy" (ST-12261).
1970 - Variety magazine runs an article entitled "Split Of Beatles Clips Capitol Industries Stocks"
1987 - Irving C. Ashby, guitarist in the Capitol Record group The King Cole Trio, dies in Perris, California at age 66
1991 - Vocalist Joe Cocker, with Girls Talk (lineup unlisted) on backing vocals, T.M. Stevens on bass, Steve Holley on drums, Phil Grande on guitar, Chris Stainton, Greg Philinganes, and Rory Kaplin on keyboards, and Alex Acuna on percussion, records the titles "A Little Bit Of Love" and "I Can Hear The River" at A&M Studios at 1416 North La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, California with producer David Tickle. After additional overdubs are laid down at Metropolis Recording Studios at 70 Chiswick High Road, in London, England, Capitol Records will release the title on Cocker's CD "Night Calls" (7-97801-2).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Guitarist Wes Montgomery, with Buddy Montgomery on vibraphone, Richie Crabtree on piano, Monk Montgomery on electric bass, and Benny Barth on drums, performs the titles "Stranger In Paradise" and "Baubles, Bangles And Beads" at a live show held at the Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California which was recorded. Blue Note Records will issue both titles on Montgomery's album "Beginnings" (BN-LA531-H2).
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artist's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" with "11:59" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' American catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group.
1990 - Sinead O' Connor's Chrysalis Records album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Chrysalis' American catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group.

APRIL 21, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ira Louvin, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 2001 Country Music Hall Of Fame inductee, a part of the Capitol Records duo The Louvin Brothers with his brother Charlie and a solo Capitol Records artist, is born Ira Lonnie Loudermilk in Rainsville, near Section, Alabama. Ira was inducted with his brother into the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1991 with a Lifework Award for Performing Achievement. They have a great biography of the brothers on their website.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Michael Franti, poet, songwriter, musician, singer, member of the Island Records group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and the Capitol Records group Spearhead, is born in Oakland, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with guitarist Dave Barbour and His Orchestra and a male chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Ain'tcha Ever Comin' Back" and "Chi-Baba-Chi Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 419).
1949 - Mel Blanc starts recording tracks for the Capitol Record Reader "Bugs Bunny In Storyland" and will finish the next day. The sessions are produced by Alan Livingston, with music by Billy May. The story is by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster with illustrations for the attached booklet by Robert McKimson and Richard Thomas. Also on the record, but uncredited, were Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd) and June Foray. Jack Tatay maintains a great site about all the Capitol children's records with Warner Brothers cartoon characters, with lots of images and sound clips.
1951 - Capitol Records releases Les Paul and Mary Ford's single "Mockin' Bird Hill", with Les Paul's "Chicken Reel" on the flipside.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalist Mel Blanc, with Lou Busch and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Somebody Stole My Gal" and "I Love Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2470 on shellac and F2740 on 7" vinyl).

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - During two sessions held this day at The Riverside Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York, Joseph Levin conducts The Ballet Theatre Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record William Schuman's "Undertow, Part 1" at the first session and "Undertow, Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue both parts on the orchestra's album "William SCHUMAN - Undertow/COPLAND - Billy The Kid" (P-8238).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #17 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" with "I Started Loving You Again" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country Singles Chart
1975 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Always Wanting You", with "I've Got A Yearning" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - The Motels (featuring Martha Davis on vocals with unlisted others) record the title "Where Do We Go From Here" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Little Robbers" (ST-12288 on 12" vinyl and 7-46020-2 on CD).
2000 - Neal Matthews, singer with the Capitol Records group The Jordanaires, dies in Nashville, Tennessee at age 70

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
110 Years Ago Today In 1908 - Alfred Lion, record producer and founder of Blue Note Records, is born in Berlin, Germany. Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Music Group and its catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music Group
1931 - The Gramophone Company Ltd and The Columbia Gramophone Company Ltd merge and register a holding company - "Electric and Musical Industries Ltd". Alfred Clark (The Gramophone Company) becomes Chairman, and Louis Sterling (The Columbia Company) becomes Managing Director. In 1955 E.M.I., under the helm of then managing director Joseph Lockwood (later chairman Sir Joseph Lockwood), bought controlling interest in Capitol Records for $3 million dollars, and Glenn Wallichs joined the board of E.M.I.. Lockwood was criticized for paying so much but, within 4 years, Capitol would be worth an estimated $85 million. The E.M.I. Archive Trust's website has a good history section.
1955 - Capitol Records artist Bob Hope's NBC radio program airs its last segment
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Future Capitol Records artists The Beatles and future Virgin Records artists The Rolling Stones meet for the first time at a Rolling Stones performance at The Crawdaddy Club, in Richmond, England
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - EMI America registers Kate Bush's title "James And The Cold Gun", which was recorded live in England sometime in 1980, and will issue the title on Bush's self-titled mini-LP "Kate Bush" (MLP-19004).
25 Years Ago today In 1993 - The Junko Onishio Trio (Junko Onishi on piano, Rodney Whitaker on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums), records the titles "Eulogia", "The Shepard", "Summertime", "Congeniality", "Melancholia" without Higgins on drums, "Caravan", "Roz", "Switchin' In", and "Blue Seven" at  the Power Station Studio in New York City, New York at an extended session that will go into April 22, 1993. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on the trio's album "Crusin'" (9-28447-2 on CD).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1985 - Irving Mills, music publisher, dies in Palm Springs, California at age 91

APRIL 20, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
110 Years Ago Today In 1908 - Lionel Hampton, a drummer, bandleader, vibraphone player, percussionist, solo artist and with Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, is born in Louisville, Kentucky
1922 - Frank "Hylo" Brown, Jr., vocalist for Capitol Records artist Bradley Kincaid, leader of his own bluegrass band The Timberliners, and a Capitol Records solo artist (1954-1960), is born in River, Johnson County, Kentucky. He would get his nickname "Hylo" from his wide vocal range. Brown would go to be the lead singer for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and be inducted into the Grand Ol' Opry, the Kentucky Hall of Fame and become the 52nd member of the SPBGMA's Preservation Hall of Greats.
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Craig Frost, the keyboardist for the Capitol Records group Grand Funk Railroad, is born in Flint, Michigan. If anyone knows his middle name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - During two sessions held this day in Berlin, Germany for Telefunken Records, baritone vocalist Karl Schmitt-Walter, with Ferdinand Leitner on piano, records from Hugo Wolf's "German Lieder" "Das Doc Gemalt All' Deine Reize Waren", "Auf Einer Wanderung", and "Benedeit, Die Selge Mutter" at the first session and Johannes Brahms' "Standohen" and "Minnelied" at the second session. After Capitol Records licenses Telefunken's catalog for release in the United States, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "SCHUBERT - German Lieder (Songs From 'Die Winterreise')/BRAHMS-German Lieder/ HUGO WOLF - German Lieder" (P-8123).
1944 - Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "I Love You", with "Long Ago And Far Away" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1948 - Capitol Records releases the children's record "Sparky's Magic Piano".
1952 - Pee Wee Hunt's Capitol Records single "Oh!", with "San" on the flipside, becomes a million seller
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - During two sessions held this day at The Riverside Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York, Joseph Levine conducts The Ballet Theatre Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Copland's "Billy The Kid, Part 1" at the first session and "Billy The Kid, Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the complete piece on the orchestra's album "William SCHUMAN - Undertow/COPLAND - Billy The Kid" (P-8238).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - According to his artist file, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jimmy Work, with (listed as possibly) Al Myers on lead guitar and bass and Jerry Byrd on steel guitar, records the titles "Crazy Moon", "Little Popcorn Man", "How Can I Love You (When You're Not Around)", and "Out Of My Mind" in Cincinnati, Ohio. Capitol Records will issue "Crazy Moon" and "Out Of My Mind" together as a single (Capitol 2565) and "How Can I Love You (When You're Not Around)" as a single (Capitol 2682) with "I'm Lonesome For Someone" (recorded October 16, 1952) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles on Work's compilation album "Crazy Moon" (BFX 15267 on 12" vinyl) and on Work's self-titled two-disc compilation CD "Jimmy Work" (BCD 15651).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hand)", with "Handed Down" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, after becoming the third single to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. on March 14, 1958
1956 - Vocalist and trumpet player Louis Prima and vocalist Keely Smith, with tenor saxophonist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Little Red" Blount Jr. on trombone, William "Willie" McCumber on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Amado Rodrigues on bass, and Robert "Bobby" Morris on drums), record the instrumental title "Night Train" and "The Lip" with Prima and Smith on vocals at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Prima's album "the WILDEST!" (T 755). Here's a live video of "Night Train".
1960 - The Kingston Trio record the track "Bad Man's Blunder" for Capitol Records, which is the last single to feature the line up of Dave Guard, Nick Reynold, and Bob Shane. This was also the first time Dave Guard recorded playing the first 12 string guitar made by Gibson Guitars, which was custom built for him.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black", with "One More Round" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Dear Lonely Hearts" is #60 and his album "Ramblin' Rose" is #76 on Billboard magazine's Top LPs - 150 Best Sellers - Monaural chart. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #44 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single is nominated for the Grammy for Record Of The Year and his album with The George Shearing Quintet, "Nat 'King' Cole Sings, George Shearing Plays" is nominated for the Best Jazz Performance - Soloist Or Small Group (Instrumental)

1969 - The last original episode of The Beatles' King Features Syndicate cartoon show aired on ABC. Paul Frees voiced John and George and Lance Percival did Ringo and Paul.

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - The Trend (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Places" and "Papa Was A Music Man" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Places" as a single (Capitol 3725) with "Castaways" (recorded April 23, 1973) on the flipside and "Papa Was A Music Man" as a single (Capitol 3659) with "Home Cookin'" (April 19, 1973) on the flipside.

1974 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney & Wing's Apple Records single "Band On The Run", with Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" on the flipside, in the United States
1974 - Savannah Churchill, a singer, singer for Capitol Records artist Benny Carter and His Orchestra, and a Capitol Records solo artist (1943-1945 with tracks that included "Hurry, Hurry" written by Carter for her and "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight"), dies in Brooklyn, New York at age 54
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-Motion", with "Destitute & Losin’" on the flipside, enters the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1976 - The Sylvers' Capitol Records single "Boogie Fever", with "Free Style" on the flipside, is certified Gold
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "Be Mine" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).
1985 - Katrina and The Waves' Capitol Records single "Walking On Sunshine", with "Going Down To Liverpool" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever (You And Me)", with "I'd Fall In Love Tonight" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - 65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The Miles Davis All Stars (Miles Davis on trumpet, J. J. Johnson on trombone, Jimmy Heath on tenor saxophone, Gil Coggins on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Art Blakey on drums) record two takes of "Kelo", two takes of "Enigma", two takes of "Ray's Idea", two takes of "Tempus Fugit", and two takes of "C.T.A." at radio station WOR's studios in New York City, New York. The session was produced by Alfred Lion and Doug Hawkins was the recording engineer. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles and takes on the CD release of Davis' album "Volume 2" (7-81502-2).. Blue Note Records is a division of Capitol Music Group and its catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, Universal Music Group.
1960 - Tommy Guard, son of Capitol Records artist Dave Guard (part of The Kingston Trio), is born
1960 - Pianist Horace Parlan, along with George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums, records seven tracks, including the title song for his "Us Three" Blue Note Records album, at Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio. Blue Note Records is a division of Capitol Music Group and its catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, Universal Music Group.
1980 - Dottie West's United Artists Records single "A Lesson In Leavin'", with "Love Is Easy" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Drummer Ralph Peterson, with Geri Allen on piano, and Phil Bowler on bass, records the title "Just You, Just Me" at A & R Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the title on Peterson's album "Triangular" (B1-92750 on 12" vinyl and 7-92750-2 on CD).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1935 - The first episode of "Your Hit Parade", starring Kay Thompson, Charles Carlyle, Gogo DeLys and Johnny Hanser, is broadcast on NBC Radio. The show will air for the next 24 years and future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra will later be a featured vocalist on the program.

APRIL 19, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1927 - Don Barbour, singer in the Capitol Records group The Four Freshmen, is born in Greencastle, Indiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Jan Garber and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech/Fight Alabama", "Maryland, My Maryland/Hark The Sound Of Tal Heel Voices", "Washington And Lee Swing/Glory To Old Georgia", and "Maine Stein Song/Hail To Old O.S.C." at the first session and "Yale's Boola Song/The Princeton Canon Song", "The Fordham Ram/Hail To Pitt", "On, Brave Old Army Team/Anchors Aweigh", and "Lights Out (University Of California)/Strike Up The Band (UCLA)" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Garber's album "College Medleys" (CD-95 on 10" shellac album, EBF-154 on 7" EP set, and H-154 on 10" LP).
1951 - General Douglas MacArthur delivers a farewell address before a joint meeting of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Capitol Records will issue two highlights of the speech on the 78 RPM version (DAS-274) and six excerpts on the 10 inch 33 1/3 RPM version (H-274) of the album "General MacArthur Farewell Address".
Here's the entire speech: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four of the entire speech.
1954 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra (Harry Edison on trumpet, Tommy Pederson and Ray Sims on trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most and Skeets Herfurt on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller and Babe Russin on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Joe Koch on baritone saxophone, Frank Flynn on vibraphone, Bill Miller on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), records the titles "All Of Me", "Jeepers Creepers", "Get Happy", and "Taking A Chance On Love" for his Capitol Records album "Swing Easy" at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Sinatra's album "Swing Easy" (H-528)
1955 - It's a Tuesday, and Capitol Records album department head, Francis Scott, leaves on the first leg of a trip to London to confer with executives of Electric & Musical Industries, Ltd. on a mutual exchange of masters between the companies.
1956 - Actress Grace Kelly, actress and Capitol Records artist (on the motion picture soundtrack to "High Society", and whose duet with Bing Crosby on the single "True Love" earned a Gold record [the last in Crosby's career]), marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco
1956 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California vocalist and trumpet player Louis Prima, with Keely Smith on background vocals and tenor saxophonist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Little Red" Blount Jr. on trombone, William "Willie" McCumber on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Amado Rodrigues on bass, and Robert "Bobby" Morris on drums) records the titles "Medley: Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)", the instrumental "Body And Soul", "Oh Marie", and "Buona Sera" at the first session between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM and "Jump. Jive An' Wail", "(Nothin's Too Good) For My Baby", "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You", and "Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South" at the second session between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM on April 20, 1951. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Prima's album "the Wildest!" (T 755).
1956 - Pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Spaghetti Rag", "12th Street Rag", and "The Old Piano Roll Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Carr's album "Mister Ragtime" (T 760).
1956 - Vocalist Sonny James, with Bill Simmons on piano, Paul Buskirk on electric mandolin, and possibly Paul Brawley on bass, and William Pecchi on drums, records the titles "Twenty Feet Of Muddy Water" and "All Mixed Up" at the Jim Beck Studio in Dallas, Texas. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3441).
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #6 on The Billboard magazine's R&B Best Sellers In Stores and Most Played R&B By Jockeys charts, #28 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and The Billboard magazine's Top 100 Sides chart, and #29 on The Billboard magazine's Honor Roll Of Hits chart.

1962 - The Beach Boys (David Marks on guitar, Carl Wilson on guitar and vocals, Brian Wilson on bass guitar and vocals, Mike Love on vocals, and Dennis Wilson on drums and vocals) record the tracks "Surfin' Safari", "409", "Lonely Sea", and "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" at Western Recorders in Los Angeles, California with Brian Wilson producing the session. Capitol Records will issue "Surfin' Safari" and "409" as the band's first single for the label (Capitol 4777).

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Where Did Everyone Go" is #3 on KTKT 990 AM's Album Chart in Tucson, Arizona.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, and Jim Amlotte on trombones, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker on percussion) and a vocal choir (Evangeline Carmichael, Betty Jane Baker, Loulie Jean Norman, Gloria Wood, Sue Allen, Peggy Clark, Jackie Allen, Sally Sweetland, Jimmy Joyce, Bill Lee, Jay Meyer, Thomas Kenny, Allan Davies, Ian Smith, Charles Schrouder, Bill Stafford, William Cole, and Bernie Parke) and Pete Rugolo conducting his own arrangements, record the titles "Daydreams In The Night (Machito)", "Those Wonderful Things (Lush Waltz)", "Intermission Riff", and "Eager Beaver" at an extended session held in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM with composer Milt Rasking supervising the session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Kenton's album "Artistry In Voices And Brass" (T/ST 2132).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "John Henry", "Who Can I Count On?", and "Ole 99" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1964 - The Beatles pre-record the tracks "Can't Buy Me Love"; "I Wanna Be Your Man"; "Long Tall Sally"; a medley that used "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; "Roll Over Beethoven"; "Shout"; and "Twist and Shout" for an Associated Rediffusion UK TV special "Around The Beatles" that will air on May 9, 1964

1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Ticket To Ride" with "Yes It Is" on the flipside.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Sidewalk Skipper Band (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Jeannie At The Circus", "(Would You Believe) It's Raining Flowers In My House", and "Seventeenth Summer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Jeannie At The Circus" and will issue the other two titles together as a single (Capitol 2205).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Overdubs recordings are started in Los Angeles, California for The Band's titles "I'm Ready (Bring It On Home)", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", and "Ill Wind". After more overdubs are recorded through April 27, 1973, and May 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "I'm Ready (Bring It On Home" on the group's album "Moondog Matinee" (SW-11214) and has yet to issue either of the other titles.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - The Trend (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Home Cookin'" and "Revival" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Home Cookin'" as a single (Capitol 3659) with "Papa Was A Music Man" (recorded April 20, 1973) on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for "Revival".
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Sir Robert Charles Griggs, with unlisted others, records the titles "Uncle Ned", "Country Soul", "Cling Texas", and "In L.A." in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Griggs' album "The Legend Of Sir Robert Charles Griggs" (ST-11234).
1975 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "Bad Time", with "Good And Evil" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "You're So Minor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5368) with "Would You Miss Me?" (recorded December 13, 1983) on the flipside.
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters for Peter Bardens' titles "Westward Ho", "Black Elk", "Gold", "This Could Be Paradise", "Afterthought", "Speed Of Light", "Whisper In The Wind", "Heartland", "Columbine", and "Gold (Reprise)" and will issue all the titles on Bardens' album "Speed Of Light" (C1-48967 on 12" vinyl and 7-48967-2 on CD).
1990 - Dave Dexter, author, Kansas City reporter for Down Beat magazine (his reviews for Count Basie and His Orchestra got the band noticed), Capitol Records publicity and A&R man (got Peggy Lee to come out of retirement, signed Nellie Lutcher and Julia Lee) and record producer (The History Of Jazz series, New American Jazz all star album, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others), VP of A&R for Capitol Records' International division (created over 500 albums for "The Capitol Of The World" series of world music), remixed the early albums by The Beatles (until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) for U.S. release, editor and writer for Billboard Magazine, dies in Sherman Oaks, California at age 74. His papers have been donated to the University of Missouri Kansas City and they have a great biography of Dave as part of their Club Kaycee website.
2001 - Billy Idol and his band travel to New York City to tape his edition of "VH1 Storytellers". Ten months after the taping, on February 26, 2002, Capitol Records will release "Billy Idol's VH1 Storytellers" featuring 14 songs from the session including three tracks from his days fronting the band Generation X ("Dancing With Myself," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Ready Steady Go") to his 1983 solo hit, "White Wedding" and Idol's covers of Tommy James & The Shondell's "Mony, Mony" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman".
2011 - Roy Edward "Eddie" Burris, a drummer for Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard's band The Strangers who co-wrote the 1969 song "Okie From Muskogee" with Haggard, dies at age 79 of heart-related problems at a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital.
2011 - Vanguard/Capitol Records releases Kimberly Caldwell's debut album "Without Regret"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Pianist Andrew Hill, with Woody Shaw on trumpet, Frank Mitchell on tenor saxophone, Jimmy Ponder on guitar, Reggie Workman on bass, and Idris Muhammad (aka Leo Morris) on drums, records the titles "Bayou Red", "Venture Inward" without Ponder on guitar, "Soul Special", "MC", and "Love Nocture" also without Ponder on guitar in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on the CD release of Hill's album "Grass Roots" (5-22672-2) and "Soul Special" in the two-LP multi-artist compilation album "Blue Note Rare Grooves" (B1-35636).
1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train (Nine to Five)", with "Calm Before The Storm" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Michael Murphey recorded the title "Disenchantment" in an unlisted studio for Liberty Records. EMI America will reissue the title on Murphey's compilation album "Best Of Michael Martin Murphey" (ST-17143 on 12" vinyl and 7-46556-2 on CD).
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - The Ralph Peterson Quintet (Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Steve Wilson on alto saxohone, (ss-1,as) Geri Allen on piano, Phil Bowler on bass, and Ralph Peterson on drums) record the titles "Enemy Within", "Monief" with Wilson on soprano saxophone, "The Short End Of The Stick", "Soweto 6", "Viola's Dance" again with Wilson on soprano saxophone, and "Bebopskerony" at A & R Studios in New York City, New York, in a session that ended early the next day on April 20, 1988, for Somethin' Else Records. Blue Note will issue all the titles on the quintet's album "V" (B1-91730 on 12" vinyl and 7-91730-2 on CD).
25 Years Ago Today In 1993 - At sessions that start today and go until April 23, 1993 at Sound On Sound studio in New York City, New York, guitarist Kevin Eubanks, with Dave Holland on bass and Mark Mondesir on drums, records the titles "Landing" and "Contact" with the addition of Robin Eubanks on trombone and Kent Jordan on alto flute, "Union" with Robin Jordan on trombone, and "Spirit Talk" with Kent Jordan on alto flute at the first session, the titles "Earth Party", ""Going Outside with Kent Jordan on alto flute, and "Living" with Robin Eubanks on trombone and Kent Jordan on alto flute at the second session, and the titles "Inside" with Robin Eubanks on trombone and "Journey" at the third session. Blue Note Records will lease all the masters from Kevin Eubanks and will issue all the titles on Eubank's CD "Spirit Talk" (7-89286-2).
25 Years Ago Today In 1993 - Bob Belden and Tim Hagans, with unlisted others, record the title "Venus De Milo" at an unlisted studio. Blue Note Records will issue the title on the CD "Blue Note Plays Prince" (8-6382602).
1995 - The Georgia legislature declares April 19, 1995 to be Johnny Mercer Day in the state for Mercer's "outstanding contributions to the field of music". Johnny Mercer is a co-founder of Capitol Records.

APRIL 18, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1882 - Leopold Stokowski, a conductor, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist as part of Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra, is born in London, England
1952 - Jim Scholten, singer and bass player for the Liberty Records, Capitol Records Nashville, and Curb Records group Sawyer Brown, is born in Midland, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Capitol Records Recording Department is established with Bill Miller (not to be confused with Frank Sinatra's accompanist, Bill Miller) as boss. Miller would, 21 years later in 1966, "prepare for release" The Beatles "Yesterday ...And Today" and "Revolver" albums. He was also an A&R man and producer. He was responsible for signing and producing Jackie Davis and producing sessions for June Christy, Benny Goodman, The Four Freshmen, Sebastian Temple, Warren Durrett and even co-produced Ted Cassidy's novelty record "The Lurch". The current manager is Paula Salvatore, who has guided the always busy Capitol Studios since 2001. Check out Capitol Studios' website for more information. There's also a great article about the Capitol Studios on the studio expresso website.
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" on the flipside, is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played by Disc Jockeys and Best Selling Pop Singles charts and #6 on the magazine's Most Played Juke Box Records chart.
1951 - Yma Sumac's Capitol Records album "Voice Of The Xtabay" hits #1 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop Albums chart in both the album's 33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM formats.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles and Most Played By Jockeys charts and #4 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart and Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's Capitol Records single "Can't I?" is #18 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and #19 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and its flipside "Blue Gardenia" is #31 on also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #8 on WMCA's Wax To Watch chart in New York City, New York.

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Harry Geller conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Adeste Fideles", "Sleep My Little Lord Jesus", and "O Harken Ye" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ford's album "Tennessee Ernie Ford Sings His Christmas Favorites - The Star Carol" (T/ST 1071).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Long Before I Knew You", "Satin Doll", "You Oughta Be In Pictures", "All The Things You Are", "My Sin", and new takes of the titles "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", "Nevertheless", "I'm Making Believe", and "Ain't Misbehavin'" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "My Sin" which remains unissued, on Gleason's album "Jackie Gleason Presents - Rebound" (W/SW 1075).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, organist Jackie Davis, with Eddie Costa on vibraphone, Kenny Burrell and Mundell Lowe on guitar, and Burtell Knox on drums, records the titles "Surprise", "Just My Luck", and "I Feel Pretty" at the first session and the titles "Jubilation T. Cornpone", a new take of "Say Darling", and the titles "Standing On The Corner" and "Till There Was You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Davis' album "Most Happy Hammond" (T/ST 1046).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the titles "Let's Do It", "In The Still Of The Night", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", "Just One Of Those Things", "Round Table Walk", and "Lucky Me" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Let's Do It", "In The Still Of The Night", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and "Just One Of Those Things" on Bushkin's album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter" (T/ST 1030), "Round Table Walk" as a single (F4027) with "Trudie" (recorded June 26, 1958) on the flipside, and has yet to issue "Lucky Me".

1962 - Buck Owens records "Save The Last Dance For Me" which will be released by Capitol Records on a single with "King Of Fools" on the flipside and enter the Country single charts on May 24, 1962
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist June Christy, with Al Viola on guitar and Don Bagley on bass, records the titles "Fly Me To The Moon", "Spring Is Here", "The More I See You", and "You're Nearer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Spring Is Here" on Christy's album "The Intimate Miss Christy" (T/ST 1953). The new takes of the other three titles will be recorded on May 23, 1963, and those takes will also be issued on the album "The Intimate Miss Christy".

1966 - Wanda Jackson records the track "I Talk A Pretty Story" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Ken Nelson which will be released as a single by Capitol Records as the flipside of "Little Soldier Boy" in July 1968.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "He Is Born, The Holy Child", "The Friendly Beasts", and "The Wassail Song" at the first session and the titles "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and "White Christmas" at the second session. After overdubs are recorded on May 21, 1968 for "He Is Born, The Holy Child", "The Wassail Song", and "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and on May 22, 1968, for the titles "The Friendly Beasts" and "White Christmas", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist Kay Adams, with the Cliffie Stone Group (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ain't It Funny (How The Heart Rules The Mind)", "Reason To Feel", "I Can, I Can", and "Hearts Of Stone" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on April 26, 1973, Capitol Records will issue "Ain't It Funny (How The Heart Rules The Mind)" and "Reason To Feel" as a single (Capitol 3692) and "I Can, I Can" and "Hearts Of Stone" together as a single (Capitol 3624).

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Denny Saeger, with unlisted others, records the title "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 3618) with "The Finer Things In Life" (recorded November 3, 1972) on the flipside.

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records will register the masters for Freddie Hart and The Heartbeats' titles "Trip To Heaven" and "Look-A-Here" in Los Angeles, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3612) and on Hart's album "Trip To Heaven" (ST-11197).

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist and guitarist Freddie King, with either Reverend Patrick Henderson or Leon Russell on piano, Don Preston also on guitar, Carl Radle on electric bass, and Chuck Blackwell and Jim Keltner on drums, records the titles "Woman Across The River" with unlisted female background singers, "Hootchie Cootchie Man" with The O'Neil Twins (lineup unlisted) and other female background singers, "Danger Zone" with The O'Neil Twins on background vocals and a string section (lineup unlisted), "Boogie Man", "Leave My Woman Alone" with The O'Neil Twins and other female background singers, "Just A Little Bit", "Yonder Wall", "Help Me Through The Day" with a string section, "I'm Ready", "Trouble In Mind" with The O'Neil Twins on background vocals and a string section, and "You Don't Have to Go" with The O'Neil Twins and other female background singers in Tia Juana, Oklahoma. Shelter Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on King's self-titled album "Freddie King" (SW-8919) and "Woman Across The River" and "Help Me Through The Day" together as a single (Shelter 7333).

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Leon Russell, with unlisted others, records the title "Mighty Quinn Medley: I'll Take You There/Idol With The Golden Head/I Serve A Living Savior/The Mighty Quinn", "Dixie Lullaby", "Queen Of The Roller Derby", "Roll Away The Stone", "It's Been A Long Time Baby", "Great Day", "Alcatraz", "Crystal Closet Queen", "Prince Of Peace", "Sweet Emily", and "Stranger In A Strange Land" in an unlisted studio. Shelter Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on Russell's self-titled three-LP set "Leon Russell" (STCO-8917).

1977 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records album "Fly Like An Eagle" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - The Honeys (vocalists Diane Rovell, Marilyn Rovell, and Ginger Blake), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Elmo Peeler, records the title "Sweet Sunday Kinda Love" in United/Western Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's compilation CD "Capitol Collectors Series - The Honeys" (7-93193-2).

35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "I Want You Back" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5320) with "Sever The Ties" (recorded April 13, 1983) on the flipside and an edited version of the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).

1989 - Judge Robert Takasugi bars Curb Records from releasing Donny Osmond's album and single "Soldier Of Love" in the United States. Owner Mike Curb (who had signed The Osmonds to M-G-M Records in 1970) had argued that he had a verbal agreement with Osmond to release the album previously released by Virgin Records in the UK which Osmond denied. Capitol Records will release the album in the United States on April 25, 1989

1996 - Bernard Edwards, record producer with partner Nile Rodgers for Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Norma Jean Wright, and Sister Sledge; solo producer for Rod Stewart, Nona Hendryx, ABC, Starpoint, and Missing Persons; songwriter, bass player, and producer for the group Chic and the Capitol Records band Power Station, dies of pneumonia in his hotel room in Tokyo, Japan at age 43 after performing with a reformed Chic as well as with guests Simon Le Bon, Slash, Steve Winwood and Sister Sledge, at The SuperProducers tribute show for Niles Rodgers, who had been named JT SuperProducer of the Year in Japan, at the Budokan Arena

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1929 - Future Capitol Records artist Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (which includes at the time Gene Krupa and future Capitol Records artists Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden) record Glenn Miller's arrangement of "Indiana" for Brunswick Records in New York City, New York.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Guitarist Wes Montgomery, with Harold Land on tenor saxophone, Buddy Montgomery on piano, Monk Montgomery on electric bass, and Tony Bazley on drums, records the titles "Far Wes", "Leila", "Wes' Tune", "Hymn For Carol", "Montgomeryland Funk" and "Stompin' At The Savoy" in Los Angeles, California for United Artists Records. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Montgomery's two-disc compilation album "Beginnings" (BN-LA531-H2).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Electric alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, with electric pianist Horace Ott conducting his own arrangements to Thad Jones on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Seldon Powell on flute and tenor saxophone, Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Paul Griffin also on electric piano as well as piano and organ, David Spinozza, John Tropea, and Hugh McCracken on electric guitars, Wilbur Bascomb on electric bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Omar Clay and Jack Jennings on percussion, records the titles "Pillow Talk", "Sassy Soul Strut", "Good Morning Heartache" with Donaldson on alto saxophone, and "City, Country, City" at Generation Sound Studio in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Donaldson's album "Sassy Soul Strut" (BN-LA109-F).
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Pianist and synthesizer player Renee Rosnes, with Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone, records the title "Diana" at the Montmartre Club in Copenhagen, Denmark for the Somethin' Else Records. Blue Note Records will issue the title on Rosnes' 1990 self-titled album "Renee Rosnes" (B1-93561 on 12" Vinyl and 7-93561-2 on CD).

APRIL 17, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
85 Years Ago Today In 1933 - David Axelrod, composer, arranger, record producer, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Los Angeles, California
1967 - Liz Phair, musician, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist is born in New Haven, Connecticut

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) record two takes of the title "Could 'Ja", two takes of the title "Baby, Baby All The Time", and the titles "Oh, But I Do" with a vocal ensemble (possibly just Cole, Moore, and Miller) and the instrumental "Rex Rumba" (aka "Rumba A La King") at Radio Recorders' studios on Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the second take of "Could 'Ja" on the compilation album "Campus Capers" (BD-58), the second take of "Baby, Baby All The Time" as a single (Capitol 15165) with "Money Is Honey" (recorded November 3, 1947) on the flipside, "Oh, But I Do" as a single (Capitol 274) with "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" (recorded May 1, 1946) on the flipside, and "Rex Rhumba" as a single (Capitol 15240) with "Kee-mo Ky-mo (The Magic Song)" (recorded September 26, 1948) on the flipside. Mosaic Records will issue all the titles and takes in the box set "The Complete King Cole Trio Sessions" (MR27-138 on vinyl and MD18-138 on CD).
1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1947 - Benny Goodman (on clarinet), with Jimmy Rowles on piano, Harry Babasin on bass, and Tommy Romersa on drums, records the titles "The Bannister Slide" (with Ernie Felice on accordion and Al Hendrickson on guitar), "Benny's Boogie", and "How High The Moon" (with Ernie Felice on accordion and Ray Sims on trombone) in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Goodman's album "Benny Goodman Rides Again" (BD-57).
1952 - Cliffie Stone and His Square Dance Band (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Virginia Reel", "American Patrol", "Shot Gun Boogie", and "Moonwinks" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Virginia Reel" and "American Patrol" together as a single (CAS-4025), "Shot Gun Boogie" as a single (CAS-4026) with "Washington And Lee Swing" (recorded on October 10, 1946) on the flipside, and "Moonwinks" as a single (Capitol CAS-4034) with "Stepping Stone Schottische" (recorded on January 9, 1952) on the flipside.
1952 - The Four Knights (Gene Alford - 1st tenor vocals, John Wallace - 2nd tenor vocals and guitar, Clarence Dixon - baritone vocals, and Oscar Broadway - bass vocals), with an unlisted orchestra, record a new take of the title "Easy Street" and the titles "I'm The World's Biggest Fool", "If I Had My Way", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", "Doo Wacka Doo", and "Oh Miss Hannah" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Easy Street" and "Oh Miss Hannah" on the group's album "Spotlight Songs" (T 346), "I'm The World's Biggest Fool" and "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" together as a single (Capitol 2087) and "Doo Wacka Doo" as a single (Capitol 2127) with "Win Or Lose" (recorded May 13, 1952) on the flipside. Capitol Records will sell the master to "If I Had My Way" to Coral Records which will issue it on the group's self-titled album "The Four Knights" (CRL-57221).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Bandleader and pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr (aka Lou Busch) and His Ragtime Band (Mannie Klein on trumpet, Tommy Pederson on trombone, Skeets Herfurt on clarinet and alto saxophone, Phil Stephens on bass, and Nick Fatool and John Cyr on drums) record the titles "Down Home Rag", "Canadian Capers", "Sweet Georgia Brown", and "San Antonio Rose" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Joe 'Fingers' Carr And His Ragtime Band" (EAP-1/2-443 on 7" EPs, EBF-443 on 7" EP set, H-443 on 10" LP, and T 433 on 12" LP).
1957 - Violinist Nathan Milstein, with William Steinberg conducting The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, records Dvorak's "Concerto In A Minor, Opus 53 For Violins And Orchestra" and Glazounov's "Concerto In A Minor, Opus 82 For Violin And Orchestra" at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Milstein's album "DVORAK - Concerto In A Minor, Opus 53 For Violin And Orchestra/GLAZOUNOV - Concerto In A Minor, Opus 82 For Violin And Orchestra" (P-8382).
1957 - At two sessions held at Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Sonny James (on vocals and guitar), with Chet Atkins on guitar, Floyd T. "Lightnin'" Chance on bass, Murrey M. "Buddy" Harman Jr. on drums, and The Jordanaires (lineup unlisted) as a vocal chorus, records the titles "A Fool Such As I", "Near You", and "Ages And Ages Ago" at the first session and the titles "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)", "I'll Never Get Over You", "I Forgot More Than You'll Never Know" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on James' album "Sonny" (T 867).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson, with The Brazos Valley Boys (Tommy Camfield and Robert "Bob" White on fiddle, Vic Davis on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis also on guitars, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and John Sterling "Butch" White on drums), records the titles "Squaws Along The Yukon", "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues", and the instrumental title "Gathering Flowers" featuring Merle Travis on guitar in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California at an extended session between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM. After vocal overdubs are recorded for "Squaws Along The Yukon" and "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues" on May 6, 1958, Capitol Recorsd will issue the final mix of "Squaws Along The Yukon" and "Gathering Flowers" together as a single (Capitol F4017) and the final mix of "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues" as a single (Capitol F4502) with "Just One Step Away" (recorded December 18, 1958) on the flipside.

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Close Your Eyes", "All This And Heaven Too", "Without Love", "More Than You Know", and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which rejects all the takes recorded at this session and will record new takes on April 29, 1958.

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, organist Jackie Davis, with Eddie Costa on vibraphone, Kenny Burrell and Mundell Lowe on guitars, and Burtell Knox on drums, records the titles "All Of You", "Say Darling", and "It's The Second Time You Meet That Matters" at the first session and the titles "Wish", "Push De Button", and "Long Before I Knew You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all of the titles, except the take of "Say Darling" recorded at this session which was rejected and recorded again on April 18, 1958, on Davis' album "Most Happy Hammond" (T/ST 1046).

1960 - Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent is seriously injured after the taxicab hired after a gig in Bristol, England, blows a tire while rounding a curve on the way back to London, England and crashes into a cement post at 70 mph on the A4 at Chippenham, Wilshire. Vincent survives with a badly injured leg that will give him a limp for the rest of his life, but Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran, who was touring with Vincent and shared the cab, is killed at age 21 and Cochran's girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, is seriously injured. Cochran is later interred in the Forest Lawn Cypress cemetery in Cypress, California.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #8 on KVCV 600 AM's "Top Pop 40" survey in Redding, California.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Conte Candoli, Bob Behrendt, and Bob Rolfe on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Gilbert Falco, and Jim Amlotte on trombone, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone and tuba, Dwight Carver, Tony Scodwell, Joe Burnett, and Bob Grull on mellophones, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Steve Marcus and Ray Florian on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Joel Kaye baritone and bass saxophones, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker and Frank Guerrero on percussion), record the titles "Kentonova", "Painted Rhythm", "Artistry In Bossa Nova", and "Opus In Chartreuse" between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM and the titles "Artistry In Rhythm", "Jump For Joe", "Loca-Nova", "Eager Beaver", and "Opus In Pastels" at the second session between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Kenton and his orchestra's album "Artistry In Bossa Nova" (T/ST 1931).

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Tenor saxophonist King Curtis with unlisted vibraphone, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and strings players, records the titles "Sukiyaki" and "Summer Dream" in (listed as possibly) Capitol Records' studios in New York City, New York. Bear Family Records will issue both titles in Germany in the three-CD set "King Curtis - Blow Man Blow (The Capitol Years 1962-1965)" (BCD 15670).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella", "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks", and "The Little Boy King" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "While Shepards Watched Their Flocks" and "The Little Boy King" on May 21, 1968 and for "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" on May 22, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Sugar Shoppe (Peter Mann on vocal and guitar, Laurie Hood on vocals, Victor Garber on vocals and guitar, and Lee Harris on vocals), with The Clique (Al Casey, Al Viola, Howard Robert, Louis Morrell, and Mike Deasy on guitars, Bill Plummer on sitar, Lewis Carroll on trumpet, Lew McCreary and Louis Blackburn on trombones, Abe Most, Jim Horn, and Plas Johnson on saxophones, Al De Lory, Larry Knechtel, and Michael Rubini on pianos and keyboards, Gary Coleman on vibraphone, and percussion, Carol Kaye and Don Bagley on basses, Earl Palmer and Stan Levey on drums, Hal Blaine on drums, vibraphone, and percussion, Stella Castellucci on harp) and a string section (Alfred Lastgarten, Arnold Belnick, Harry Hyams, Henry Roth, Israel Baker, James Getzoff, Marshall Sasson, Nathan Ross, Sam Boghossian, and William Hymanson on violins and violas, and Anne Goodman, Armand Kaproff, Frederick Seykora, and Nathan Gershman on cellos) using vocal arrangments by Peter Mann and instrumental arrangements by Mort Garson, record the titles "Thank You Love", "You're A Big Boy Now", and "Don't You Ever Give Up On Me" in Los Angeles, California with producer Al De Lory for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "Crazy Arms", "'68 Rock Island Line", "I Fall To Pieces", and "Clinging To A Hope" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Crazy Arms" on James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937), after overdubs are recorded for "I Fall To Pieces" on April 23, 1968, the final mixes of the rest of the titles on James' album "Born To Be With You" (ST-111), and "Clinging To Hope" also as a single (Capitol 2595) with "Since I Met You Baby" (recorded January 17, 1969) on the flipside.

1969 - Capitol Records group The Band make their solo stage debut at the Winterland in San Francisco, California
1970 - Apple Records releases Paul McCartney's first solo album, "McCartney", which is distributed by Capitol Records in the United States. McCartney plays all the instruments heard on the album.
1970 - The Beatles officially disband
1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side Of The Moon" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 – Tavares signs a contract with Capitol Records

1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Capitol Records single "Silly Love Songs", with "Cook Of The House" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - During two sessions held this day in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California, Caldera (lineup unlisted) records the title "Shanti" at the first session and "Passages" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Time And Chance" (SW-11810).
1987 - Crowded House's Capitol Records single "Don’t Dream It’s Over", with "That's What I Call Love" on the flipside, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
20 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Linda McCartney (born Linda Eastman), photographer, activist, creator and owner of a vegetarian frozen meal company, keyboard player, singer, wife of Capitol Records artist Paul McCartney, member of the Capitol Records band Wings, and, posthumously, a Capitol Records solo artist, dies of breast cancer at age 56.
2000 - Godhead signs with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Imperial Records releases Fats Domino's single "Ain't That a Shame", with "Goin' Home" on the flipside. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
1957 - Composer, arranger and conductor Johnny Richards (with Al Stewart, Charlie Shavers, Burt Collins, and Ray Copeland on trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl, and Frank Rehak on trombones; Julius Watkins on french horn; Jay McAllister on tuba; Gene Quill on alto saxophone; Seldon Powell and Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone; Billy Slapin on baritone saxophone and piccolo; Shelly Gold on bass saxophone; Hank Jones on piano; Chet Amsterdam on bass; Jimmy Campbell on drums; Joe Venuto on tympani; Sol Gubin on maracas; Pete Terrace on bongos; Umbaldo Nieto on timbales; Carlos Valdes on congas; Raymond Rodriguez on tambauri; and Al Epstein on percussion) records the self-penned tracks "La Pecadora" and "Ofo" for his Roulette Records album "The Rites Of Diablo" at Webster Hall in New York City, New York. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, with Joe Zawinul on piano, Grant Green on guitar, Sam Jones on bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums, records the titles "Clo-E", "Little Sherri", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for Blue Note Records which rejected all the takes of all the titles.
1965 - Liberty Records releases Gary Lewis and The Playboys' single "Count Me In" with "Little Miss Go-Go" on the flipside. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Electric alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, with electric pianist Horace Ott conducting his own arrangements to Thad Jones on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Seldon Powell on flute and tenor saxophone, Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Paul Griffin also on electric piano as well as piano and organ, David Spinozza, John Tropea, and Hugh McCracken on electric guitars, Wilbur Bascomb on electric bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Omar Clay and Jack Jennings on percussion, records the titles "Sanford And Son Theme", "This Is Happiness", and "Inner Space" at Generation Sound Studio in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Donaldson's album "Sassy Soul Strut" (BN-LA109-F).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1924 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios is formed after a merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and The Louis B. Mayer Company.
1937 - Daffy Duck debuts in the Warner Bros.' cartoon "Porky's Duck Hunt"

APRIL 16, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1971 - Selena, singer, actress and EMI Latin Records (a division of Capitol Records) artist, is born Selena Quintanilla Perez in Lake Jackson, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The San Francisco branch of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation opens for business under the direction of Paul Featherstone with salesmen Voyle Gilmore, Ed Nielsen, and Bob Martin.
1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "A Square In The Social Circle" on the flipside enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #5 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart and its flipside, "Lost April", is #6 on the magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockeys Pick chart.
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The Pied Pipers (vocalists June Hutton, Chuck Lowry, Hal Hooper, and Clark Yocum), with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the title "My Happiness" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 15094) with "Highway To Love" (recorded December 5, 1947) on the flipside.

70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (lineup unlisted), with an uncredited orchestra, record the titles "Tea Leaves" and "Highways Are Happy Ways" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15102).

1949 - Capitol Records artist Tex Ritter is a judge at the final day of a two-day music contest for country musicians sponsored by radio station WESC in Greenville, South Carolina with a $1,500 top prize. A one hour portion of the finals is aired at 11PM (CST) on the Mutual network.
1950 - Victor Blanchard becomes a vice-president of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation.

1951 - Capitol Custom Division is started. This division of Capitol handled creating, producing, and distributing special promo records for outside companies and charities like Scripto, Uniroyal, Bacardi, 7-Up, Firestone, A&W Root Beer, Chevrolet, Dextol, March of Dimes, Renuzit, Salada Tea using tracks from Capitol's catalog as well as specially created material by Capitol artists.
Capitol Custom also produced demos and commercial records for independent artists like Cracker Jills, Help, Gert Benhana, Rafael Mendez, Harry Fields, The Legends, V. Attl, etc. as well as for church choirs and school bands.
Capitol Custom also handled creating promotional records for events like the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and even a single for John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign featuring Frank Sinatra singing a reworded version of his hit "High Hopes".
Probably the most desired record created by Capitol Custom is the 7" single created as a limited pressing, released on June 5, 1964, to promote the Beatles for Hollywood radio station KFWB and Wallichs' Music City that had an interview on side 1 and "You Can't Do That" on the flipside. Copies of this disc have been valued for as much as $2250 with the original mailer.
Most of the physical production was done out of the Capitol pressing plant in Scranton, PA.
There were branches of Capitol Custom in Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

Capitol Custom eventually became EMI-Capitol Special Markets and Capitol and its associated label's catalog are now marketed this way as part of Universal Music Enterprises' Universal Music Special Markets division. 

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Mel Blanc, using a script written by Ted Pierce and Warren Foster, records vocal overdubs in Los Angeles, California on to orchestral tracks recorded by Van Alexander and His Orchestra for the titles "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning: Part 1" and "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning: Part 2". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both parts in the children's album "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning" (CAS-3168 on 12" shellac and CASF-3168 on 7" vinyl).

1956 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Harry Gellar conducting the orchestra and chorus (lineup unlisted), records the titles "The Searchers" and "The Wayward Wind" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3430).

1956 - Vocalist Dick Haymes,  with Ian Bernard and his orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Then I'll Be Tired Of You", "Skylark", and "You Don't Know What Love Is" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Haymes' album "Moondreams" (T 787).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Capitol Records releases Dean Martin's promotional recording "It's 1200 Miles From Palm Springs To Texas" (HB-2160) for Texas Desert Week held in Palm Springs, California.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Jacke Gleason conducts His Orchestra (featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", "I Must Have That Man", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Nevertheless", "I'm Making Believe", and "I Just Can't Take It" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records. All the takes of all the titles were rejected.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist Hank Jones, with unlisted others, had a recording session for Capitol Records in New York City, New York for which no details are listed.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland on tenor vocals, Marvin Inabnett on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals), with Lincoln Mayorga conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Charmaine" and "Demons And Witches" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Charmaine" as a single (Capitol 4974) with "Hi Ho Anybody Home?" (recorded April 15, 1963) on the flipside and "Demons And Witches" as a single (Capitol 5028) with "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" (also recorded April 15, 1963) on the flipside.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Conte Candoli, Bob Behrendt, and Bob Rolfe on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Gilbert Falco, and Jim Amlotte on trombone, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone and tuba, Dwight Carver, Tony Scodwell, Joe Burnett, and Bob Grull on mellophones, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Steve Marcus and Ray Florian on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Joel Kaye baritone and bass saxophones, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker and Frank Guerrero on percussion), record the titles "Interlude", "Concerto To End All Concertos", "Brasilia", and "Kentonova" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The take of "Kentonova" recorded at this session is rejected and Capitol Records will issue "Interlude", "Concerto To End All Concertos", and "Brasilia" on Kenton's album "Artistry In Bossa Nova" (T/ST 1931).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "O Come All Ye Faithful", "As Lately We Watched", and "Slumber Song Of The Infant Jesus" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Slumber Song Of The Infant Jesus" on May 21, 1968 and for "As Lately We Watched" on May 22, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes for all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalists Tony Sandler and Ralph Young, with unlisted others, record the titles "Jingle Bells", "Susa Ninna", "Adeste Fidelis", and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Adeste Fidelis" as part of its Leisure Series on the multi-artist compilation album "Joys Of Christmas" (SL-6610) and has yet to issue any of the other titles.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Eddie Heywood, with unlisted others, records the titles "Give My Regards To Broadway" and "Ramona" in New York City, New York. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on May 23, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on Heywood's album "The Piano Artistry Of Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze" (ST-163)

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "She Still Thinks I Care", "Don't Be Angry", and "It's Over" in Nashville, Tennessee. After overdubs are recorded for "She Still Thinks I Care" on April 23, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937).

1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Paul McCartney stars in his first solo TV special, "James Paul McCartney", which features his new band, Wings
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist Stoney Edwards, with unlisted others, records the titles "I Spent A Week There Last Night", "I'm Just Tired Of Hurting You", "You're A Family Man", "It's Rainin' On My Sunny Day", and "Seems Like Only Yesterday". After overdubs are recorded for "You're A Family Man" and "Seems Like Only Yesterday" on June 18, 1974, Capitol Records will issue "It's Rainin' On My Sunny Day" as a single (Capitol 3766) with "Daddy Bluegrass" (recorded August 29, 1973) on the flipside and has yet to issue any off the other titles.
1994 - Bonnie Raitt's Capitol Records album "Longing In Their Hearts" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1996 - Capitol Records releases Richard Thompson's double CD album "You? Me? Us?" (CDP 7243 8 33704 2 9) in the United States with one disc of acoustic material being dubbed "Nude" and the other disc of electric material titled "Voltage Enhanced". Capitol also releases The Jesus Lizard's label debut "Shot" after recording six albums for Touch And Go and a live album for Collision Arts.
5 Years Ago Today In 2013 - Capitol Records releases Sky Ferreira's single "Everything Is Embarrassing" from her second EP "Ghost" in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1889 - Charlie Chaplin, actor, writer, motion picture actor, director and producer, and co-founder of United Artists Pictures, is born Charles Spencer Chaplin in Walworth, London, England. United Artists would later create United Artists Records whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group
100 Years Ago Today In 1918 - Spike Milligan, comedian, musician, radio (most notably on BBC Radio's "The Goon Show"), television, and motion picture writer and actor, Parlophone Records recording artist as part of "The Goon Show" cast with producer George Martin, is born Terence Alan Milligan in Ahmed Nagar or Ahmadnagar, India
1929 - Edie Adams, singer, Broadway (originated the role of Daisy Mae in the Johnny Mercer musical "Li'l Abner" and won the 1956 Tony award for her performance), motion picture and television actress, one time wife of comedian, motion picture and television actor Ernie Kovacs, one time wife of trumpet player and Capitol Records artist Pete Candoli, is born Elizabeth Edith Enke in Kingston, Pennsylvania
1935 - "Fibber McGee and Molly" debuts on NBC Radio. Future Capitol Records music director Paul Weston will begin doing arrangements for the show in 1940 and future Capitol Records artist Martha Tilton will be on the show for about a year starting in 1941. One of Capitol Records' first album releases will be "On The Night Before Christmas" which features the cast of the show (Jim and Marion Jordan) as well as the vocal group The King's Men, with the orchestra conducted by Billy Mills and music and vocal arrangements by Ken Darby.
1947 - Gerry Rafferty, singer, guitarist, member of the groups The Humblebums and Stealers Wheel, and United Artists Records solo artist, is born in Paisley, Scotland
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The Kenny Drew Trio (Kenny Drew on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Art Blakey on drums) record the titles "Lover Come Back To Me", two takes of "Yesterdays", "Everything Happens To Me", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Be My Love", "Drew's Blues", "Gloria", "Stella By Starlight" and another take of "Everything Happens To Me" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "Lover Come Back To Me", the second take of "Yesterdays", the first take of "Everything Happens To Me", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Be My Love", "Drew's Blues", "Gloria", and "Stella By Starlight" on the trio's album "New Faces – New Sounds, Introducing The Kenny Drew Trio" (BLP5023) and all the titles and takes on the double album CD by Howard McGhee and The Kenny Drew Trio "Howard McGhee - Introducing The Kenny Drew Trio" (4-95747-2).
1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

APRIL 15, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

120 Years Ago Today In 1898 - Marian Jordan, a radio and motion picture actress (best known as Molly McGee on the series "Fibber McGee and Molly") and a Capitol Records artist (on the 78 rpm album "On The Night Before Christmas"), is born Marian Driscoll in Peoria, Illinois.
110 Years Ago Today In 1908 - eden ahbez, songwriter (best known for Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records track "Nature Boy"), is born Alexander Aberle in Brooklyn, New York
1909 - Vern Yocum, a clarinetist, alto and baritone saxophone player, vocalist, copyist, orchestrator, whose company maintained the arrangement libraries for Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Nelson Riddle, Roy Clark, and Nancy Wilson as well as for Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Lane, Trini Lopez, and Julie Andrews, and brother of Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers singer Clark Yocum, is born George Vernon Yocum in Sunbury, Pennsylvania
85 Years Ago Today In 1933- Roy Clark, a singer, guitarist, banjo player, motion picture actor, television variety show host, and Capitol Records artist, is born Roy Linwood Clark in Meherrin, Virginia
50 Years Ago Today In 1968- Ed O'Brien, guitarist and vocalist with the Capitol Records group Radiohead, is born Edward John O'Brien in Oxford, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", with "I'm Gonna See My Baby" on the flipside, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1946 - Guitarist Alvino Rey and his orchestra (Chuck Peterson, Jake Gerheim, Russ Granger, and Frank Nelson on trumpets, Sam Levine, Bob McReynolds, and Bob Swift on trombones, Bob Walsh and Hal McKusick on alto saxophones, Herbie Steward on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Rocky Coluccio on piano and vocals, Jim Bates on bass, and Ben Weber on drums) record the titles "Bumble Boogie" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 262) with "Sepulveda" (recorded February 26, 1946) on the flipside.
1946 - Tenor saxophonist Sam Donahue and his orchestra (Mitch Paul, Bill Marshall, Frank Beach, and Earl Collier on trumpets, Dick Le Fave, Tak Takvorian, Kenny Miesel, and Sid Brantley on trombones, Harry Peterson, Bill Nichol, and Paul Petrillo on alto saxophones, Max Kriseman also on tenor saxophone, George Perry on baritone saxophone, Bob Durant on piano, Louis Pop on bass, and Harold Hahn on drums) record the titles "Take Five" with vocals by Mynell Allen and the instrumental "Convoy" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Take Five" as a single (Capitol 260) with "Dinah" (recorded April 3, 1946) on the flipside and "Convoy" in the compilation album "Classics In Jazz - Sam Donahue" (T 626).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalist Kay Starr, with Harold Mooney and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the title "Allez-Vous-En (Go Away)" and a new take of the title "Half A Photograph" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2464).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, with unlisted trumpet, baritone saxophone, piano, bass, and drums players, records the titles "Dinah" with The Corairs (unlisted vocalists), "Everyone Knows", "Blow Your Blues Away" with The Evelyn Freeman Voices (lineup unlisted), and "Little Rockin' Deacon" also with The Corairs on vocals in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Dinah" and "Little Rockin' Deacon" together as a single (Capitol F3977) and "Everyone Knows" and "Blow Your Blues Away" together as a single (Capitol F4029).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson, with The Brazos Valley Boys (Dubert Ray Dobson on trumpet, Tommy Camfield, Harold Glenn Hensley, and Robert "Bob" White on fiddles, Vic Davis on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis also on guitars, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and John Sterling "Butch" White on drums), records the titles "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "What Will I Do On Monday", "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again", and "I've Run Out Of Tomorrows" at the first session between 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM and the titles "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" at the second session (time of session unlisted). After vocal overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles on May 2, 1958 for "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" and on May 6, 1958 for "What Will I Do ON Monday" and "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of "Let Me Call You Sweet Heart", "What Will I Do On Monday", "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" on the album "Favorite Waltzes By Hank Thompson With The Brazos Valley Boys" (T 1111), "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again" and "I've Run Out Of Tomorrows" together as a single (Capitol F4085),

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden, with Doc Oakley on trumpet, Jerry Fuller on clarinet, Don Ewell on piano, Stan Puls on bass, and Ronnie Greb on drums, records the titles "Walleritis", "Doc Jazz", and "China Boy" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Teagarden's album "Big T's Dixieland Band" (T 1095).

1961 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Quincy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Bob Fowler, Conrad Gozzo, Al Porcino, and Jack Sheldon on trumpets, Vernon Friley, Lewis McCreary, and Frank Rosolino on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Benny Carter and Bill Green on alto saxophones, Plas Johnson and Bill Perkins on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Dennis Budimir and Howard Roberts on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Stan Levey on drums, and Chino Pozo on congas and percussion), records a new take of the title "Goin' To Chicago Blues" and the titles "Boston Beans", "The Grain Belt Blues" (aka "Orange Blues"), and "Basin Street Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "Blues Cross Country" (T 1671).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #29 on WEEZ 1550's Nifty Fifty chart in Chester, Pennsylvania.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Trombonist Bob Flanigan and guitarist John Gray, with Al Viola also on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, and Bob Neal on drums, record the titles"Coral Reef", "Putt-It (How's Your Bird)", and "A Lot Of Livin' To Do" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Flanigan and Gray's album "Togetherness" (T/ST 1957).

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland on tenor vocals, Marvin Inabnett on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals) with Lincoln Mayorga directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Hi Ho Anybody Home?" and "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Hi Ho Anyone Home?" as a single (Capitol 4974) with "Charmaine" (recorded April 16, 1963) on the flipside and "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" as a single (Capitol 5020) with "Demons And Witches" (also recorded April 16, 1963) on the flipside.

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Lettermen (vocalists Jim Pike, Tony Butala, and Bob Engemann on vocals), with unlisted others, record the titles "Allentown Jail" and "Two Brothers" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4976).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "That's Not Home", "Christmas Is For Children", and "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "Christmas Is For Children" on April 27, 1968, for "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" on May 10, 1968, and for "That's Not Our Home" on September 28, 1968, Capitol Records will issue "That's Not Home" and "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" on Campbell's album "Wichita Lineman" (ST-103), "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" also as a single (Capitol 2224) with the instrumental "Kelly Hoedown" (recorded April 19, 1967) on the flipside, and "Christmas Is For Children" as a single (Capitol 2336) with "There's No Place Like Home" (recorded July 24, 1968) on the flipside and also on the album "That Christmas Feeling" (ST 2978).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Human Beinz (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Two Of A Kind" and "April 15th" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Evolutions" (ST 2926).

1972 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single, "Back Off Boogaloo", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States with "Blindman" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Sweet's Capitol Records single "Love Is Like Oxygen", with "Cover Girl" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "Stop This Sorrow" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).
1989 - Donny Osmond's Capitol Records single "Soldier Of Love", with "My Secret Touch" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I met Donny in 1988 at the listening party for Ziggy Marley and The Melody Maker's first Virgin Records album "Conscious Party", which was held at Virgin's first office in Beverly Hills, California
1990 - Dan Seals' Capitol Records single "Love On Arrival", with "Those" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1991 - MC Hammer's Capitol Records album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" is certified Diamond (10 million units sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
20 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Rose Maddox, singer, with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose, and a Capitol Records solo artist, dies in Ashland, Oregon at age 72

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago today In 1968 - Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, with Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham on flugelhorns, Jim Buffington on French horn, Benny Powellon bass trombone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Grady Tate on drums, records the titles "Blues For Stan" and "Stan" both arranged by Thad Jones and with Hank Jones on piano and "The Look Of Love" arranged by Duke Pearson who is also on piano at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. After an uncredited fourteen piece string section records overdubs for all the titles on May 27, 1968, Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Turrentine's album "The Look Of Love" (BST84286).
1977 - Kenny Rogers United Artists Records single "Lucille" (aka Country Music's "National Anthem"), with "Till I Get It Right" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "All I Ever Need Is You", with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.
1990 - Sinead O'Connor's Chrysalis Records single "Nothing Compares 2 U", with "Jump In The River" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' U.S. catalog was merged with Capitol Records catalog by Universal Music Group in 2013 and Capitol currently distributes Chrysalis' U.S. catalog.
20 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Green Hill Records releases the CD compilation "The Nat 'King' Cole Collection".