APRIL 23, 2014

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Mel Blanc has his first Capitol children's records session where he'll record "Bugs Bunny Meets Elmer Fudd" and "Daffy Duck Flies South" for the children's album "Bugs Bunny's Stories for Children" which was produced by Alan Livingston with stories by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster, music by Billy May and with Arthur Q. Bryan supplying additional vocals.
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable", the flipside of "I Need You", debuts at #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart where it will peak the next week at #3
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Mel Tormé has three Capitol Records singles in the top 20 of Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart: "Careless Hands" (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke), with "She's A Home Girl" on the flipside, is at #9, "Again" (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo) debuts at #18, and it's flipside, "Blue Moon", debuts at #20 (in a tie with Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks' single "Blue Skirt Waltz").
1961 - Judy Garland's Sunday night concert at Carnegie Hall is recorded live by Capitol Records and rush released as a double album which will go on to win 5 Grammys and be the #1 album for 13 weeks. It will be remastered and re-released in 2001 for its 40th anniversary under the supervision of then VP of Catalog A&R Paul Atkinson
1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Need You", with "On And On" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - The Beach Boys finish recording the track "Break Away", written by Murray Wilson and produced by Brian Wilson with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. The track will be released as a single, with "Celebrate The News" on the flip side, by Capitol Records on June 23, 1969 and peak at #63 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.
1986 - Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck in Buffalo, New York), bandleader, pianist, Broadway actor, singer, composer ("Stormy Weather", "Over The Rainbow" and many others and worked with "Yip" Harburg, Capitol Records' co-founder Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler, and others) and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 81 in New York City, New York and is later interred next to his wife, Anya Taranda, in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York
1988 - Iron Maiden's Capitol Records album "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
2011 - Tom King, a guitarist and founding member of the Capitol Records band The Outsiders who co-wrote the band's biggest hit, "Time Won't Let Me," died at age 68 at a nursing home in Wickliffe, Ohio, after a period of declining health.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
90 Years Ago Today In 1924 - The Gramophone Company (later to become EMI, Capitol Music Group's parent company) records His Majesty King George V's speech at the opening of the Wembley Exhibition. The recording was made by a semi-electrical process with the wireless loudspeaker connected by a short tube to the recording box.
1936 - Roy Orbison, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Virgin Records America recording artist, is born Roy Kelton Orbison in Vernon, Texas
1942 - Sandra Dee, motion picture actress and future wife of Capitol Records artist Bobby Darin, is born Alexandra Zuck
1962 - Decca Records releases Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers (aka The Beatles with Pete Best on drums) single "My Bonnie", with "The Saints" (aka "When the Saints Go Marching In") on the flip side, in the United States
20 Years Ago Today In 1994 - Pink Floyd's Columbia Records album "The Division Bell" debuts at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart where it will stay for 4 weeks. spending 4 weeks as the top album in the country. The album will be certified Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum in the US in June of 1994 and Triple Platinum in January of 1999. Pink Flyod's catalog is now distributed by Capitol Records.

APRIL 22, 2014

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
65 Years Ago Today In 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) record the tracks "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 Capitol Records' studio in New York City, New York. Eventually all the tracks were released by Capitol Records on the album "Birth Of The Cool".
1958 - Ethel Ennis records Harry Warren's "Serenade in Blue" for her Capitol album "Have You Forgotten" (Capitol T1078) with the orchestra conducted by Sid Feller. For more on Ethel Ennis go to this New York Times article.
1961 - Capitol Records artist Faron Young is one of the headliners (which also include Webb Pierce, Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline and Earl Scruggs) at the first annual Country Music Festival held in United States at the 13,000-seater Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida
1963 - Gene Vincent's recording contract with Capitol Records expires. His last recording for the label is a remake of "Be-Bop-A-Lula"
45 Years Ago Today in 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
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

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor", with "Don't Whistle At My Baby" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop Singles charts. Seville (aka Ross Bagdasarian) would use the techniques from this single to create the sound of The Chimpmunks.
1978 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artist's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" with "11:59" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
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' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

APRIL 21, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ira Louvin, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 2001 Country Music Hall Of Fame inductee, 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 Performaning Achievement. They have a great biography of the brothers on their website.
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
65 Years Ago Today In 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 childrens records with Warner Brothers cartoon characters, with lots of images and sound clips.
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles chart and Capitol Records releases their single "Mockingbird Hill", with Les Paul's "Chicken Reel" on the flip side
1953 - The Ballet Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Levine, records the track "Undertow" written by William Schuman in New York City which Capitol Records will later release on album P-8238 with a recording of "Billy The Kid" (Ballet Suite) by Aaron Copland on the flip side
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
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
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. E.M.I. Music's website has a good history section.
1955 - Capitol Records artist Bob Hope's NBC radio program airs its last segment
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

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

APRIL 20, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1908 - Lionel Hampton, drummer, band leader, 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, with his own bluegrass band The Timberliners, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born in River, Johnson County, Kentucky. He would get his nickname "Hylo" from his wide vocal range. Brown would go to be 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.
1948 - Craig Frost, 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
70 Years Ago Today In 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
1952 - Pee Wee Hunt's Capitol Records single "Oh!", with "San" on the flipside, becomes a million seller
1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hands)", 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
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.
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
45 Years Ago Today In 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.
40 Years Ago Today In 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
40 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Savannah Churchill, 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
40 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, is certified Gold
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flip side, is certified Gold
1985 - Katrina and The Waves' Capitol Records single "Walking On Sunshine", with "Going Down To Liverpool" on the flip side, 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 flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1953 - Miles Davis records an alternate take of "Enigma" for Blue Note Records at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. Besides Miles on trumpet, also at the session were Art Blakey (Drums), Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone), J.J. Johnson (trombone), Percy Heath (double bass), Gil Coggins (piano). The session was produced by Alfred Lion and Doug Hawkins was the recording engineer. Blue Note Records is a division of Capitol Music Group and it's catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI 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 it's catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1980 - Dottie West's United Artists Records single "A Lesson In Leavin'", with "Love Is Easy" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

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 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, 2014

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
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 tracks on Garber's album "College Medleys" (H-154).
60 Years Ago Today In 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 KHJ's studios in Hollywood, California.
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 - Louis Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera and The Witnesses record their live performance at the lounge of The Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Capitol Records issues the recording on the group's album "The Wildest".
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles 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).
50 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side
1975 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "Bad Time", with "Good And Evil" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
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
1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train (Nine to Five)", with "Calm Before The Storm" on the flip side, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
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, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1882 - Leopold Stokowski, conductor, band leader 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 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 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.
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 flip side and enter the Country single charts on May 24, 1962
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 flip side of "Little Soldier Boy" in July 1968
1977 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records album "Fly Like An Eagle" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
25 Years Ago Today In 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
85 Years Ago Today In 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

APRIL 17, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1936 - 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
1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
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.
45 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1973 – Tavares signs with Capitol Records
1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Capitol Records single "Silly Love Songs", with "Oh Woman Oh Why" on the flip side, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1987 - Crowded House's Capitol Records single "Don’t Dream It’s Over", with "That's What I Call Love" on the flip side, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
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 flip side. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by EMI 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 EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
1965 - Liberty Records releases Gary Lewis and The Playboys' single "Count Me In" with "Little Miss Go-Go" on the flip side. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
90 Years Ago Today In 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, 2014

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
1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "A Square In The Social Circle" on the flip side enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy", the flipside of "Lost April", enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1951 - Capitol Custom Division is started
1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1973 - Paul McCartney stars in his first solo TV special, "James Paul McCartney", which features his new band, Wings
20 Years Ago Today In 1994 - Bonnie Raitt's Capitol Records album "Longing In Their Hearts" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
125 Years Ago Today In 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
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
85 Years Ago Today In 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 perfomance), 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
35 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

APRIL 15, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1898 - Marian Jordan, radio and motion picture actress (best known as Molly McGee in the series "Fibber McGee and Molly") and Capitol Records artist (on the 78 rpm album "On The Night Before Christmas", is born Marian Driscoll in Peoria, Illinois
1908 - eden ahbez, songwriter (best known for Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records track "Nature Boy"), is born Alexander Aberle in Brooklyn, New York
105 Years Ago Today In 1909 - Vern Yocum, 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, brother of Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers singer Clark Yocum, is born George Vernon Yocum in Sunbury, Pennsylvania
1933- Roy Clark, singer, guitarist, banjo player, motion picture actor, television variety show host, and Capitol Records artist, is born Roy Linwood Clark in Meherrin, Virginia
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 flip side, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1971 - Buck Owens records the track "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" which will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "Corn Liquor" on the flip side
1972 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single, "Back Off Boogaloo", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States with "Blindman" on the flip side, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1978 - Sweet's Capitol Records single "Love Is Like Oxygen", with "Cover Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Donny Osmond's Capitol Records single "Soldier Of Love", with "My Secret Touch" on the flip side, 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 "Consious 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
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
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.
35 Years Ago Today In 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, EMI Music Group.
1990 - Sinead O'Connor's Chrysalis Records single "Nothing Compares 2 U", with "Jump In The River" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.

APRIL 14, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
90 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Shorty Rogers, trumpet player, band leader, composer, arranger, member of Capitol Records band Stan Kenton and His Orchestra and Blue Note Records artist, is born Milton M. Rajonsky in Great Barrington, Massachusettes
1925 - Rod Steiger, Broadway and motion picture actor and singer, and Capitol Records artist (1955 on the "Oklahoma!" motion picture soundtrack), is born Rodney Stephen Steiger in Westhampton, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", with "The Man Upstairs" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back", with "Do I Like It" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon finish recording the track "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. The first track released as a single by The Beatles not to feature George Harrison and Ringo Starr
1975 - Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel), motion picture actor and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the album "Hark The Years"), dies at age 77 in Los Angeles, California from cancer.
1980 - The Knack's Capitol Records album "…But The Little Girl's Understand" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1983 - Tina Turner signs with Capitol Records
1990 - Heart's Capitol Records single "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You", with "Call Of The Wild" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1991 - Wilson Phillip's SBK Records (a division of Capitol Records) single "You're In Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1959 - The Fleetwood's Liberty Records single "Come Softly To Me", with "I Care So Much" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1990 - Thurston Harris, singer (best know for the track "Little Bitty Pretty One") and Aladdin Records artist,  dies of a heart attack in Pomona, California at age 58. I designed the album cover, with art director Henry Marquez, for EMI America's release of Harris' "Greatest Hits" album in 1986.

MAY 13, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1953 - Tom Cochrane, lead singer of the Canadian band Red Rider and solo artist on Capitol Records and EMI Records, is born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away) is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dearie" is #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday Morning) is #20
60 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "It Worries Me" and "Half As Lovely (Twice As Nice)" (which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records), as well as "The Gal That Got Away" (which will be released by Capitol with "When I Stop Loving You" on the flipside which will be recorded on August 23, 1954), with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra (Mahlon Clark, Chuck Gentry, Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, Arthur Kafton, Theodore Nash, and Warren Webb on reeds; Conrad Gozzo and Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpet; Dick Noel and Tommy Pederson on trombone;, George Roberts on bass trombone; Bobby Gibbons on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; Bill Miller on piano; Kathryn Julye on harp; Alvin Stoller on drums; Victor Bay, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, George Kast, Nick Pisani, Mischa Russell, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, and Felix Slatkin on violn; Maxine Johnson and Paul Robyn on viola; and Cy Bernard and Eleanor Slatkin on cello) at Capitol Records' Melrose Studios in Hollywood, California
1966 - Time Magazine runs an article about Capitol Records artist Mrs. Elva Miller and her upcoming appearance on the Ed Sullivan show (May 14, 1966)
1967 - Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard debuts on the Grand Ole Opry
1970 - The Beatles' film "Let It Be" is released
1975 - Bob Willis (born ames Robert Wills), fiddle and mandolin player, songwriter, bandleader (Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys), motion picture actor, 1968 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, 1970 Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee, 2000 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and Capitol Records artist, dies of pneumonia at age 70 in his Fort Worth, Texas home
1988 - Chet Baker (born Chesney Henry Baker Jr.), singer, trumpet player, Capitol Records, Pacific Jazz and Blue Note Records artist, and whose face is part of the mural on the side of The Capitol Tower, dies at age 59 after falling (or being pushed) from his second story hotel window in Amsterdam, Holland. His body is later brought home for internment in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
25 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Donny Osmond scores his first US Top 5 hit since 1972 when his Capitol Records single "Soldier of Love" moves to #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
1996 - Liz Phair shoots a video for her Capitol Records single "Rocket Boy" on a soundstage in Hollywood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Madame (later Dame) Nellie Melba lays the foundation stone for the Power House at the Hayes factory site of The Gramaphone and Typewriter Ltd., a company that would later become EMI
1913 - Pianist, arranger and composer Gil Evans, is born Ian Ernest Gilmore Green (or Gilmore Ian Rodrigo Green) in Toronto, Canada. He would later take his stepfather's last name. Along with his own recordings and arranging for other bands (including Capitol and Pacific Jazz Records artists Billy Butterfield, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Gerry Mulligan and others), Evans would provide the arrangements to the Miles Davis Nonet for the tracks "Moondreams" and "Boplicity" that were part of the "Birth Of The Cool" sessions for Capitol Records.
90 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Future Capitol Records Marlene Dietrich marries Rudolf Sieber, and they will remain married for over 50 years
1945 - Magic Dick, musician with the EMI America Records group The J. Geils Band is born Dick Salwitz in New London, Connecticut
1946 - Danny Klein, bassist with the EMI America Records group The J. Geils Band, is born in New York City, New York
1947 - Liza Luise Rey, harpist, songwriter, and daughter of Capitol Records artist Alvino Rey and future Capitol Records artist Luise King (of The King Sisters), is born in Burbank, California, would later marry geologist Ned Butler, and now lives in South Harbor, Maine
60 Years Ago Today In 1954 - "The Pajama Game" makes its debut on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City, New York. It is producer Harold Prince's first Broadway endeavor. Capitol Records artist John Raitt and Janis Paige star in the leading roles. The show will run for 1,063 performances. Raitt will also star in the movie version along with Doris Day.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - Ritchie Valens, singer, songwriter, and guitarist and motion picture performer, is born Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, California
1943 - Motown singer Mary Wells is born Mary Esther Wells in Detroit, Michigan

APRIL 12, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1908, 1913 or 100 Years Ago Today In 1914 - Some sources give this as the birthdate of Lionel Hampton, drummer, band leader, vibraphone player, percussionist, solo artist and with Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, but the majority say that Lionel Leo Hampton was born April 20, 1908 in Louisville, Kentucky. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment.
1918 - Helen Forrest, singer with the bands of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, and a Capitol Records solo artist (1955, with the album "Voice Of The Name Bands"), is born Helen Fogel in Atlantic City, New Jersey
1967 - Mellow Man Ace, rapper, songwriter, brother of Sen Dog of the group Cypress Hill, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Ulpiano Sergio Reyes in Pinar del Rio, Cuba

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1963 - Dick Dale signs with Capitol Records
1971 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens single "Ruby (Are You Mad)", which will peak at #3 on December 4, 1971, with "Heartbreak Mountain" on the flip side
25 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Garth Brooks' album "Garth Brooks"
1998 - James B. Conkling, one time VP at Capitol Records, who went on to be president of Columbia Records, co-founder of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, helped launch and was first president of Warner Bros. Records, married Donna King (member of the Capitol Records group The King Sisters), father of actress Xandra Conkling (aka Donna Alexandra Conkling) and actor and screenwriter Chris Conkling, dies at Sutter Oaks Alzheimer's Hospital in Sacramento, California at age 83

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1966 - Jan Berry, songwriter, record producer, singer and Liberty Records artist as part of the duo Jan And Dean, crashes his white Corvette in Los Angeles, California suffering severe physical and mental injuries from which he will never fully recover but will be able to perform again

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Bill Haley And His Comets' have their first session for Decca Records at the Pythian Temple in New York City, New York, where they record the track "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock"

APRIL 11, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1921 - Dorothy Shay (aka "The Park Avenue Hillbilly"), singer, comedian, actress, and Capitol Records artist, is born Dorothy Nell Sims in Jacksonville, Florida
1932 - Joel Grey, singer, dancer, Broadway, motion picture, and television performer, son of comedian and Capitol Records artist Mickey Katz, father of motion picture and television actress Jennifer Grey and chef James Grey, and Capitol Records artist, is born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, Ohio
1970 - Dylan Keefe, bass player and background vocalist in the the Capitol Records group Marcy Playground is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Jean Shepard records the tracks "Satisfied Mind", which Capitol Records will release as a single with "Take Possession" on the flip side in May 1955, and "Beautiful Lies", which Capitol will release with "I Thought Of You" on the flip side in September 1955, at Capitol Records' Melrose studios in Hollywood, California with producer Ken Nelson
1956 - Keely Smith and Louis Prima sign with Capitol Records. Check out the April 11, 2006 listing in the archives for more details.
50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles occupy a record-breaking fourteen positions on US Hot 100 chart - "Can't Buy Me Love" (1), "Twist and Shout" (2), "She Loves You" (4), "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (7), "Please Please Me" (9), "Do You Want To Know A Secret" (14), "I Saw Her Standing There" (38), "You Can't Do That" (48), "All My Loving" (50), "From Me To You" (52), "Thank You Girl (61), "There's A Place" (74), "Roll Over Beethoven" (78), and "Love Me Do" (81)
1967 - Capitol Records artist Judy Garland divorces husband Mark Herron
45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Apple Records, with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States, releases The Beatles single "Get Back", with "Don't Let Me Down" on the flip side
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Let it Be", with "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1981 - A Taste Of Honey's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki", with "Don't You Lead Me On" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1987 - Poison's Capitol Records single "Talk Dirty To Me", with "Look What The Cat Dragged In" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1998 - Capitol Records artist Merle Travis is named a charter inductee in the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame
2006 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' compilation box set "The Beatles: The Capitol Albums Vol. 2"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Future Capitol Records artist Dean Martin and his wife Elizabeth welcome their second daughter, Barbara Gail Martin, into the world
2001 - Sir Harry Secombe (born Harry Donald Secombe), singer, comedian, motion picture ("Down Among The Z-Men", "Oliver!"), television and radio performer (most notably as Neddy Seagoon on "The Goon Show") and Parlophone Records artist (whose "Goon Show" recordings were produced by George Martin), dies from prostate cancer at his home in Shamley Green, Guildford, Surrey, England at age 79

APRIL 10, 2014

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel of Fortune", with "Angry" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Pop singles charts
1956 - Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole is badly beaten up on stage by a white supremacist group, in front of a white audience, in Birmingham, Alabama
1958 - Wanda Jackson records the tracks "(Every Time They Play) Our Song", which will be released by Capitol Records as the flip side of "Mean Mean Man", and "A Date With Jerry", which will be released as a single by Capitol with "You're The One For Me" on the flip side
1961 - Capitol Records releases Rose Maddox and Buck Owens' single "Mental Cruelty" with "Loose Talk" on the flip side
1965 - Freddie and The Dreamers' Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) single "I'm Telling You Now", with "What Have I Done To You?" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Merle Haggard records the track "Branded Man" which will be the title track for his 1967 Capitol Records album and released by Capitol as a single with "You Don't Have Very Far To Go (1967 version)" on the flip side
1967 - Paul McCartney visits a Beach Boys' recording session, producing the track "Vegetables"
1970 - Paul McCartney announces that The Beatles have broken up
1972 - Freddie Hart's Capitol Records single "My Hang-Up Is You", with "Big Bad Wolf" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1998 - CEMA (the then catlog division of Capitol Records and EMI) releases Freddie Hart's compilation album "Best of Freddie Hart"
2007 - Dakota Staton (aka Aliyah Rabia), singer, dancer, sister of saxophonist Fred Staton, and a Capitol Records and United Artists Records artist, dies in Manhattan, New York at age 74 after a few years of declining health.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1911 - Martin Denny, bandleader, composer, pianist, and Liberty Records artist, is born in New York City, New York. Some listings have him being born on April 5, 1911. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment.
1957 - Future Imperial and Capitol Records artist Ricky Nelson starts his singing career on his parents' network television show "Ozzie and Harriet" when he sings the track "I'm Walkin'"
1962 - Stuart Sutcliffe, artist and original bass player for The Beatles, who had quit the band to return to art school and stay with his girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr, dies from a brain hemorrhage following a series of violent headaches in Hamburg, West Germany at age 21, the day before The Beatles were to return to Hamburg from Liverpool to start their third tour in the city.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Leo Fender is granted the patent for The Stratocaster guitar

APRIL 9, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1920 - Art Van Damme, accordianist, bandleader (Art Van Damme Quintet), Capitol Records artist (the Quintet accompanied The Dinning Sisters on their Capitol Records single "Buttons And Bows"), is born in Norway, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Papers signed on March 27, 1942 by George G. DeSylva, John Mercer, and Glenn E. Wallichs, before Los Angeles county and California state Notary Public Leta Niccum to acknowledge that they have executed articles of incorporation for Liberty Records, Inc., are stamped "FILED" with the state of California. The three will apply for a Certificate of Amendment on May 27, 1942, again before Ms. Niccum, to change the name of the corporation to Capitol Records, Inc. Those papers will be stamped "FILED" with the state of California on June 1, 1942.
1955 - Les Baxter's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody", with "Medic" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1956 - Local Disc Jockey Sherrif Tex Davis takes Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps to record the demo of "Be-Bop-A-Lula" at radio station WCMS' studios in Nashville, Tennessee as well as demos for "Race With The Devil" and "I Sure Miss You". Davis sends the demos to Capitol's A&R man and producer Ken Nelson who will set up a recording session at Owen Bradley's Nashville studio on May 4th, 1956 which will produce the released single version of "Be-Bop-A-Lula".
50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Capitol Records is granted an injunction restraining Vee Jay Records from further manufacturing, distributing or advertising recordings by The Beatles
1973 - Apple Records, with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States, releases Paul McCartney And Wings' single "My Love" from their album "Red Rose Speedway" with "The Mess" on the flipside
1983 - The Tubes' Capitol Records single "She's A Beauty", with "When You're Ready To Come" on the flipside, enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1990 - Capitol Records releases Lacy J. Dalton's album "Lacy J."

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1951 - Future Capitol Records artist Judy Garland begins a 4 week appearance at The London Palladium in London, England
10 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Nick and Mary Yankovic, the parents of former Capitol Records artist "Weird Al" Yankovic, die of carbon monoxide poisoning in their Fallbrook, California home. Their accidental deaths are caused by a fire burning without an open flue.

APRIL 8, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1907 - Wesley Prince, bass player with The King Cole Trio, is born in Pasadena, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Mel Torme's Capitol Records single "Again", with "Blue Moon" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1967 - Wanda Jackson records the track "I'd Like To Help You Get Out" for her Capitol Records album "You'll Always Have My Heart" that will be released in Septemer 1967
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Lady Madonna", with "The Inner Light" on the flipside and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1978 - Wing's Capitol Records single "With A Little Luck", with "Backwards Traveller/Cuff Link (Medley)" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2003 - Capitol Records releases Lisa Marie Presley's album "To Whom It May Concern"
2003 - Chris Cagle's second Capitol Records album, "Chris Cagle," debuts at #1 on the Billboard's Top Country Albums chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1892 - Mary Pickford, actress and co-founder of United Artists Pictures, is born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. United Artists Pictues would release The Beatles' movies "A Hard Day's Night", "Help!", and "The Yellow Submarine". The catalog for United Artists Records, a subsidiary which will also release the soundtrack to "A Hard Day's Night", is now owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1920 - Carmen McRae, singer and Blue Note Records artist is born in Harlem, New York City, New York
1963 - Julian Lennon, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and son of John and Cynthia Powell, is born John Charles Julian Lennon in Liverpool, England. Julian was the inspiration for the songs "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Good Night", and "Hey Jude"
1967 - The Spencer Davis Group's single "I'm A Man", with "Can't Get Enough" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2001 - Janet Jackson's Virgin Records America single "All For You", with "Someone To Call My Lover" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

APRIL 7, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1915 - Billie Holiday, singer and Capitol Records artist (the track "Trav'lin' Light", with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, using the name Lady Day), is born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1920 - Ravi Shankar, composer, sitar player, Capitol ("Concert For Bangladesh") and Angel Records artist, and father of Angel Records artist Anoushka Shankar and Blue Note Records artist Nora Jones, is born Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
1951 - Janis Ian, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist is born Janis Eddy Fink in New York City, New York
1952 - Bruce Gary, percussionist and drummer with the Capitol Records group The Knack, is born in Burbank, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs", with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra and "If You Love Me" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1958 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Sweet Thing" with "I Only Know That I Love You" on the flipside
1958 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Return To Me", with "Forgetting You" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1991 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks wins American Country Music awards for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (for "No Fences,") Single "Friends in Low Places," Song, and Video of the Year "The Dance"
2002 - Chris Cagle's Capitol Records Nashville single "I Breathe In I Breathe Out", with "Country By The Grace of God" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1938 - Freddie Hubbard, trumpet player, sideman, bandleader, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Frederick Dewayne Hubbard in Indianapolis, Indiana. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group
1943 - Mick Abrahams, guitarist, founder of the Chrysalis Records group Jethro Tull, and a solo artist, is born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - The Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein musical "South Pacific" opens at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. Capitol Records will later release an album of cover versions of the hit songs from the musical featuring Gordon MacRae and Jo Stafford
1958 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say", with "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group
55 Years Ago Today In 1959 - The Fleetwoods' Dolphin Records (later renamed Dolton Records) single "Come Softly To Me", with "I Care So Much" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles chart. Dolton Records was distributed and later bought by Liberty Records. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1968 - Bobby Goldsboro's United Artists Records single "Honey", with "Danny" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1975 - Victoria Adams (aka Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice), with the Virgin Records group Spice Girls, wife of European football player David Beckham, is born Victoria Caroline Adams in Hetfordshire, England
1990 - "Hold On", Wilson Phillips' SBK single "Hold On", distributed by Capitol Records with "Over And Over" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Single chart

APRIL 6, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
90 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Dorothy Donegan, pianist, leader of The Dorothy Donegan Trio, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Chicago, Illinois
1927 - Gerry Mulligan, arranger, songwriter, pianist, clarinet and baritone saxophone player, bandleader, Capitol (solo and as part of Miles Davis' "Birth Of The Cool" band), Pacific Jazz, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Gerald Joseph Mulligan in New York City, New York
1937 - Merle Haggard, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 1977 inductee into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, 1994 inductee into the The Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Kern General Hospital, in Bakersfield, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - The first session for Liberty Records (soon to be renamed Capitol Records) is held as a split session in Los Angeles, California. First Martha Tilton and The Mellowaires (on vocals), with Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra, records "Moondreams" (co-written by Johnny Mercer and J. C. "Chummy"  MacGregor) and "The Angels Cried" (written by Mercer alone, featuring a solo by Hubert "Bumps" Myers on tenor saxophone) then Johnny Mercer, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra including Jimmy Van Heusen on piano, records "Strip Polka" (words and music by Mercer, arranged by Paul Weston, with additional narration vocals by Phil Silvers and harmony vocals by The Mellowaires) and "They Didn't Believe  Me" (music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Herbert Reynolds). Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 138) with "Comin' Thru The Rye" on the flipside, the second track as a single (Capitol 105) with "I'll Remember April" on the flipside, the third track as a single (Capitol 103) with "The Air-Minded Executive" on the flipside, and the last track as a single (Capitol 129) with "Riffette" on the flipside. Some listings give the location of the session as C.W. MacGregor's studios in Los Angeles. If anyone knows for sure where these tracks were recorded, please leave a reply.
1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young", with "That's My Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1956 - The grand opening of The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street, Hollywood, California takes place. Check out the April 6, 2006 posting in the April archives to find all the information and photos that I posted for the 50th anniversary of The Tower's opening.
1966 - Buck Owens records the track "Open Up Your Heart" which will be released by Capitol Records
1968 - Syd Barrett officially leaves Tower Records' (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) band Pink Floyd
1968 - After nearly four months of remodeling, The Beatles open their Apple Corporation office on the fourth floor of  95 Wigmore Street, London, England. The office workers find out that they can't play records during office hours so as not to disturb other tenants in the building. About three months later, the company will move to 3 Savile Road on July 15, 1968 after The Beatles buy the entire building.
15 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Red Norvo, xylophonist, bandleader, Capitol Records session player and artist, dies at the age of 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Bob Marley, singer, songwriter, guitarist, husband of Rita Marley (member of member of I3), and literaly the father of EMI America and Virgin Records group Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, is born Robert Nesta Marley in Rhoden Hall, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
1971 - Donavan Freberg, photographer and son of Capitol Records artist Stan Freberg, is born.
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Future Capitol Records band Queen sign their first recording contract
1981 - Bob Hite (aka "The Bear"), guitarist, harmonica player, and founding member of the Liberty Records group Canned Heat, dies of a heart attack brought on by a combination of drug use and extreme weight at age 38. The attack happened in a van that was taking him home from a gig at The Palimino. Though his bandmates tried to revive him, they had to call paramedics when they got to Hite's home in Mar Vista, California, where he was later pronounced dead. If anyone knows for sure where Bob is buried, please leave a comment.

APRIL 5, 2015

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Stuff Like That There" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1962 - Wesley "Speedy" West (on steel guitar), with Billy Liebert on piano, Roy Lanham and Billy Strange on guitar, Lawrence "Red" Wooten on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums, records the tracks "Speedy's Special", "Sunset At Waikiki", "Tulsa Twist" and "Slow And Easy" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on West's album "The Incredible Steel Guitar Of Speedy West - Guitar Spectacular" (T 1835).
1962 - The Pre Meds (lineup unlisted) record the as yet unissued tracks "Feel Good" and "Feel Better" for Capitol Records in Los Angeles, California.
1962 - Eddie Beal records the tracks "So Love Me For All We Know", the as yet unissued track "When I Fall In Love", "April Showers", and the as yet unissued track "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" in Los Angeles, California.
50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - General Douglas MacArthur, General of the US Army in the Pacific, whose farewell speeches were released by Capitol Records, dies at age 84
1967 - Dale Evans (on vocals with unlisted musicians) records the medleys "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel/Walk In Jerusalem", "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen/Steal Away", and "One More River To Cross/Gonna Lay Down My Heavy Load", the track "Old Time Religian", the medley "Standin' In The Need of Prayer/Do Lord", and the track "It's Real" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Evans' album "It's Real" (T 2772).
1967 - The Stone Poneys (Kenny Edwards on lead guitar ond vocals, Bob Kimmel on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Linda Ronstadt on vocals) record the tracks "Toys Of Time", "Evergreen, Part 1" and the instrumental "Evergreen Part 2" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the band's album "Evergreen, Volume 2" (T 2763) and the last two tracks together as a single  (Capitol 5910).
1967 - Al Martino (on vocals), with Peter DeAngeles conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "A Woman In Love", "Mary In The Morning", "Once Upon A Time", the as yet unissued take of the track "I'll Return To You", and "I Love You And You Love Me" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks except "I'll Return To You" on Martino's album "Daddy's Little Girl" (T 2733).
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Let It Be", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Dave Edmunds signs with Capitol Records
2001 - OTEP has a party at the Viper Room after signing with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS
1911 - Martin Denny, composer, arranger, pianist, and Liberty Records artist is born in New York City, New York. Some listings have him being born on April 10, 1911. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment.
80 Years Ago Today In 1934 - Stan Turrentine, tenor saxophonist and Blue Note Records artist is born Stanley William Turrentine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

APRIL 4, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1885 - Arthur Murray, dancer, dance instructor, businessman and founder of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios franchise, television dance show host with his wife Kathryn Murray, inspiration for the song "Arthur Murray Taught Me To Dance In A Hurry" written by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger and introduced by Capitol Records artist in the Paramount movie "The Fleet's In", for whom the "Arthur Murray" series of dance albums were created by Capitol Records, is born Moses Teichman in New York, New York
100 Years Ago Today In 1914 - Frances Langford, singer, radio performer, motion picture actress, part of Bob Hope's U.S.O. touring company, and Capitol Records artist (album "Sings Old Songs For Old Friends") is born Frances Newbern in Lakeland, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Pinto Colvig, Billy Bletcher, and Sara Berner (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to his orchestra (Emanuel "Mannie" Klein, Uan Rasey, and Leonard Mach on trumpet, Elmer Smithers and James Skiles on trombone, J. A. Krechter, Harry Schuchman, Victor Garber, and Vincent Spolidoro on saxophones, Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, John Cyr on drums and a string section with Mischa Russell, Harry Bluestone, and Samuel Freed on violin, Paul Robyn on viola, and Cy Bernard on cello), using a script by session producer Alan Livingston record the tracks "Bozo At The Circus, Part 1" and "Bozo At The Circus, Part 2" at Radio Recorders' original studios at 932 N. Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California (which is now either the parking lot of the Taco Bell or the Thai Angel restaurant). After the last two parts of the album are recorded at the same location on April 12, 1956, Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Bozo's debut children's album "Bozo At The Circus" (BBX-34).

1955 - Capitol Records releases Faron Young' single "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" with "Forgive Me Dear" on the flip side
50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles' have 12 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart with tracks at #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 44, 49, 69, 79, 84 and 88. The band also becomes the only act to date in Billboard history to have three consecutive # 1 songs ("Can't Buy Me Love" takes over the # 1 spot from "She Loves You", which succeeded "I Want to Hold Your Hand"). The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Meet The Beatles" is also #1 on Billboard's album chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Together Again", the flip side of "My Heart Skips A Beat", is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1965 - Freddie and The Dreamers' Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) single "I'm Telling You Now", with "What Have I Done To You" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - The Geezinslaw Brothers (vocalists Sam Allred and Raymond Dewayne Smith, with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "Change Of Wife", "If They Could See The Self Come Out Of Me", "I Wouldn't Do It", and "I'm A People" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the first, secand and last track on the duo's album "My Dirty Lowdown, Rotten, Cotton Pickin' Little Darlin'" (ST 2771) and the third track their album "Chubby" (Capitol ST 2885).
1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Gary Moore, guitarist, singer, founding member of Thin Lizzy and a 10 Records and Virgin Records America solo artist, is born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1988 - After a break from recording of seven years, Buck Owens duets with Dwight Yoakam to record the track "Streets Of Bakersfield" which will be released by Reprise Records as a single with Yoakum's "One More Name" on the flip side. Buck Owens will then begin recording again for Capitol Records later the same year.

APRIL 3, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1936 - Jimmy McGriff, organist and Sue, Veep, Solid State, Blue Note and Capitol Records artist, is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1942- Wayne Newton, singer, television and motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist, is born Carson Wayne Newton in Roanoke, Virginia
1945 - Richard Manuel, singer, composer, keyboard player for the band The Hawks and the Capitol Records group The Band, is born in Stratford, Ontario
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Richard Thompson, singer, songwriter, guitarist, founding member of the group Fairport Convention, part of a duo with then wife Linda Thompson, and Capitol Records solo artist, is born in London, England
1951 - Mel Schacher, bassist with the Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad, is born in Owosso, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Capitol Records team Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debut their NBC Radio program. Their first guest is Lucille Ball. The show will run until 1952. Numerous references to Capitol Records appear on the show and one episode has them taking Burl Ives into Capitol Records' studios for a recording session.
45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Billy Preston signs with Apple Records and his tracks will be released by Capitol Records in the United States
1972 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens and The Buckaroos' single "Made  In Japan", with "Black Texas Dirt" on the flip side, which will eventually peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - Jan Berry, singer, songwriter, and member of the Liberty Records duo Jan and Dean, is born William Jan Berry in Los Angeles, California
1946 - Dee Murray, bass player for the United Artists Records band The Spencer Davis Group is born in Gillingham, Kent, England
1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law", with "Wanted, $10,000 Reward" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts. Some copies of the single have the A side mastered at 33rpm by mistake. Minit's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group.
1976 - United Artists Records releases Crystal Gayle's single "I'll Get Over You", with "High Time" on the flip side, which will eventually peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1983 - Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton's Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "We've Got Tonight", with Rogers' "You Are So Beautiful" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1990 - Sarah Vaughn, singer and Roulette Records artist, dies of lung cancer in California a week after her 66th birthday

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1985 - The famed Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood on Vine Street closed on this day, after 57 years. Many early Capitol Records celebrations and business meetings happened in its booths. Also it was the site of the founding of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. All of the furnishings were kept, including famous Booth #5 where Clark Gable proposed to Carole Lombard, until the building was condemned and torn down after the January 1994 Northridge, California earthquake.

APRIL 2, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1921 - Boomie Richman, tenor saxophone and flute player, and member of Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman's orchestra (1953-1954), is born Abraham Samuel Richman in Brockton, Massachusetts
1942 - Leon Russell, pianist, singer, songwriter, Capitol Records session musician and solo artist is born Claude Russell Bridges in Lawton, Oklahoma,

1948 - Kerry Minnear, keyboard (piano, Hammond organ, mellotron, mini-MOOG, the Regal) player, lead and backing vocalist, cello player, and member of the Capitol Records group Gentle Giant, is born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. There are also references to him being born on January 2, 1948. If anyone knows for sure which date is correct, please leave a comment.

1962 - Billy Dean, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and EMI America and Capitol Records Nashville artist is born William Harold Dean, Jr. in Quincy, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Billy May (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra (Tony Facciuto, Conrad Gozzo, Bob McKenzie, and Stu Williamson on trumpet, Karl De Karske, Charles Etter, Bob Raesinger, and Bob Robinson on trombone, Willie Smith and Eddie Freeman on alto saxophone, Charlie Deremoe and Joe Spang on tenor saxophone, Bob Dawes on baritone saxophone, Cliff Fishbach on piano, Ray Pohlman on guitar, Ted Hammond on bass, and Remo Belli on drums), with the vocal group The Maytimers (Willie Smith, Charles Etter, Bob McKenzie, and Ray Pohlman), record the tracks "Honest And Truly", "Gin And Tonic", "Love Is Just Around The Corner", "Easy Street" and "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 2054), the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 2157), and the fourth track as a single (Capitol 2113) with "Mayhem" (recorded on February 8, 1952) on the flipside.

1953 - Frank Sinatra has his first recording session for Capitol Records at the label's studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM, although Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant is sure that Frank Sr. kept recording at Columbia's studios on Sunset Blvd. opposite what is now the Spaghetti Factory. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment. Sinatra was joined by Axel Stordahl who arranged the tracks with Heine Bear and also conducted the studio orchestra (Heine Beau, Leonard Hartman, Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, and Theodore Nash on reeds; Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpet; Vincent De Rosa on french horn; George Van Eps on guitar; Philip Stephens on bass; Bill Miller on piano; Ann Stockton on harp; Ray Hagan on drums; Harry Bluestone, Murray Kellner, Alex Murray, Paul Nero, Irving Prager, and Mischa Russell on violn; Paul Robyn and Dave Sterkin on viola; and Cy Bernard on cello) to record the tracks "Lean Baby", "I'm Walking Behind You", "Day In - Day Out " and "Don't Make A Beggar Of Me". Capitol Records will release the first two songs together as a single (Capitol 2450) and all the tracks on the remastered 1999 CD release of Sinatra's album "Point Of No Return" (7-48334-2).
1953 - Capitol Records artist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bob Burgess, Conte Candoli, Buddy Childers, Vinnie Dean, Don Dennis, Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Lee Konitz, Hank Levey, Stan Levey, Keith Moon, George Roberts, Glen Roberts, Frank Rosolino, Ernie Royal, Sal Salvador, Tom Shepard, Don Smith) perform live at Birdland where the track "Swinghouse" is recorded and later released on the album "23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West".

1957 - Peggy Lee, with Frank Sinatra producing and conducting the orchestra (Buddy Collette and Harry Klee on alto saxophone; Stanley "Champ" Webb and James Williamson on tenor saxophone; Tommy Pederson on trombone; James Decker and Sinclair Lott on french horn; Juan Tizol on valve trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; Nick Bonney on guitar; Max Bennett on stand up bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stella Castellucci on harp; Lou Singer on drums; Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, David Frisina, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Eudice Shapiro, and Marshall Sosson on violin; Alvin Dinkin, Maxine Johnson, and Barbara Simons on viola; and Ennio Bologinni, Victor Gottlieb, Edgar Lustgarten, and Kurt Reher on cello), records the tracks "He's My Guy", "Something Wonderful", "Please Be Kind", and "The Man I Love" for her Capitol Records album "The Man I Love" using arrangements by Nelson Riddle at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California

1958 - The motion picture "The Young Lions", starring Capitol Records artist Dean Martin, as well as Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, opens and makes Martin a dramatic movie star on his own right without Jerry Lewis

1963 - "Best Foot Forward", an off Broadway show starring Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, opens. Her mother, Judy Garland, will attend the show the next night so as not to draw attention away from Liza on opening night.

1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Sloop John B", with "You're So Good To Me" enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will stay for 11 weeks and peak at #3 on May 7, 1966

1967 - The Beatles finish recording tracks at EMI's Abbey Road Studios for their Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

1973 - Apple Records releases The Beatles compilation albums "The Beatles '62-66" (aka The Red Album) and "The Beatles '67-70" (aka The Blue Album) which will be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States

1996 - Capitol Records releases Rosanne Cash's album "10 Song Demo"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1872 - Samuel Morse, inventor of Morse code and grandfather of Leila Morse (who first lit the beacon that spells out "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" on the top of The Capitol Tower), dies at age age 80 at his home at 5 West 22nd Street, New York, New York and is later buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York

1920 - Jack Webb, radio, motion picture (Capitol released the soundtrack to his movie "Pete Kelly's Blues") and television actor, director, producer, singer, and one-time husband of Liberty Records artist Julie London, is born John Randolph Webb in Los Angeles, California

1941 - Dr. Demento, radio disk jockey, syndicated radio show host, pop/novelty tune music historian, who gave Capitol Records artist Weird Al Yankovic his first on air appearance, is born Barret Eugene Hansen in Minneapolis, Minnesota

1988 - Johnny Hates Jazz's Virgin Records America single "Shattered Dreams", with "My Secret Garden" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I did the final design production on the U.S. packaging for the single, it's promotional material, and trade advertising.

25 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Roxette's EMI America single "The Look", with "Silver Blue" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1902 - The Electric Theatre, the first movie theater in Los Angeles, opens and charges a dime to see an hour’s worth of movies, including the films "The Capture Of The Biddle Brothers" and "New York In A Blizzard".

1992 - Milton Rackmil, co-founder of Decca Records, dies in Manhattan, New York at age 86

APRIL 1, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1910 - Harry Carney, pianist, clarinet, alto and baritone saxophone player and member of Capitol Records artist Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, is born in Boston, Massachusetts

1928 - Jane Powell, singer, motion picture actress (including "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" with lyrics by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer), and Capitol Records artist (soundtrack to the motion picture "3 Sailors And A Girl"), is born Suzanne Lorraine Burce in Portland, Oregon

1951 - Henry Gross, singer, songwriter, founding member of Sha Na Na, solo Capitol Records artist, is born in Brooklyn, New York

1972 - Allen and Albert Hughes, music video directors, filmmakers, and founders of Underworld Records (distributed by Capitol Records in 1993), are born in Detroit, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1947 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra have their last session for the Capitol Records Transcription Service

1953 - Capitol Records acquires Cetra-Soria's 1947-1953 library of complete Opera recordings from the label's founder, Dario Sorta, who had licensed the recording in the U.S. from Italian label Cetra. Sorta and his wife, Dorle Jarmel Soria, will then become co-founders and co-managing directors of Angel Records in the United States, distributing classical recordings from Capitol Records' future parent company, EMI. In 1958, after EMI bought Capitol Records, the Soria's will sell Angel Records to Capitol.

1953 - Frank Sinatra is signed to Capitol Records by Alan Livingston with a 1 year contract with no advance and has to cover his own recording costs. Sinatra angrily turns down initial offering of A&R management by Dave Dexter, Jr., who had years earlier written some bad reviews of Sinatra for Down Beat Magazine, and instead is assigned to Voyle Gilmore who will eventually make Nelson Riddle Sinatra’s new arranger, ousting long-time Sinatra arranger Axel Stordahl.

45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - The Beach Boys sue Capitol Records for $2,041,446.64 in royalties and producer's fees for Brian Wilson. The band also announces it's starting its own label, Brothers Records.

1973 - Freddie Hart's Capitol Records single "Super Kind Of Woman", with "Mother Nature Made A Believer Out Of Me" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

1973 - John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr announce that they have split with manager Al Klein, whose contract with them and Apple Records had ended the day before, March 31, 1973

1998 - Capitol Records gets many calls after an April Fool's prank takes place on L.A. station KROQ-FM's "Kevin & Bean" morning show. What seemed like a fistfight takes place between the hosts and Radiohead's Thom Yorke after jibes about Yorke's lazy eye. In fact, Yorke is not even in the Los Angeles studio. He was played by "'Kevin And Bean"'s voice guy Ralph Garman, along with edits from a couple of acoustic numbers Radiohead had recorded in the KROQ studio on a previous visit. Many thanks to Bean for the accurate information about this prank.

10 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Paul Atkinson, veteran record executive, VP of A&R Catalog at Capitol Records, and guitarist for The Zombies, dies in his sleep after a long battle with cancer and kidney disease at age 58.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1961 - Guitarist Grant Green, with Ben Tucker on bass and Dave Bailey on drums, records the tracks "No. 1 Green Street", "'Round About Midnight", "Grant's Dimensions", "Green With Envy", and "Alone Together" for his second Blue Note Records album "Green Street"

2006 - I started this blog. Eight years of fun and learning. Can you believe it? :)

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1883 - Lon Chaney, Sr., motion picture actor who would regularly give rides to extras waiting at the corner of Hollywood and Vine (with a few reports of it happening even after his death), is born Leonidas Frank Chaney in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

MARCH 31, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1908 - "Red" Norvo, bandleader, xylophone and vibraphone player, session player and Capitol Records artist, is born Kenneth Norville in Beardstown, Illinois

80 Years Ago Today In 1934 - Shirley Jones, singer, motion picture and television actress and Capitol Records artist (soundtracks to the motion pictures "Oklahoma!", "Carousel", and "The Music Man") is born Shirley Mae Jones in Charleroi, Pennsylvania

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", the flipside of Mercer's "I'm Gonna See My Baby", is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts

1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

50 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beatles become the first musical act to hold the top 5 positions ("Can't Buy Me Love" at #1, "Twist and Shout" at #2, "She Loves You" at #3, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" at #4, and "Please Please Me" at #5) on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1968 - Skeets McDonald (born Enos William McDonald), singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, dies in California at age 52 after suffering a massive heart attack

1968 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone", with "Everybody Needs Somebody" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

40 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Blue Swede's Capitol Records single "Hooked On A Feeling", with "Gotta Have Your Love" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1991 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Two Of A Kind Workin' On A Full House", with "Unanswered Prayers" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1943 - "Oklahoma!" (originally titled "Away We Go") opens on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City, New York with stars Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts, Celeste Holm, and Howard DeSilva. Later made into a motion picture, Capitol Records will release it's soundtrack which will become the first album to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1962 - EMI withdraws all 78 rpm records in their catalogue

1980 - EMI Records, Capitol Records parent company, reports a twelve months trading loss of £2,800,000

1995 - Selena (born Selena Quintanilla Perez), singer and EMI Latin artist, is shot by the president of her fan club and dies at age 24.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

65 Years Ago Today In 1949 - To compete with Columbia's new 33 rpm LP, RCA Victor debuts it 45 rpm (78-33=45) system when it releases 76 albums (3 or 4 discs in a boxed set) and 104 singles on 7-inch large-hole 45-rpm records. The first 45 rpm disc,"Texarkana Baby" by Eddy Arnold, was issued by RCA in the US on March 31, 1949. It was made of green vinyl, as part of an early attempt to color-code singles according to the genre of music they featured. Others included red for classical music and yellow for children's songs. Capitol Records will be the first label to release its product in all three formats.

MARCH 30, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1913 - Frankie Laine, singer, songwriter, actor, Capitol and Tower Records (along with many other labels) artist, is born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio in Chicago, Illinois

1945 - Eric Clapton CBE, (aka Slowhand, aka God), guitarist, singer, songwriter, motion picture actor, and member of the Apple Records group Plastic Ono Band, is born Eric Patrick Clapp in The Green, Ripley, Surrey, England

1963 - M.C. Hammer (aka Hammer), singer, songwriter, motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist, is born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

70 Years Ago Today In 1944 - The Pied Piper's Capitol Records single "Mairzy Doats", with "A Journey To A Star" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1952 - During three sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, the original Broadway cast of "Three Wishes For Jamie" (Anne Jeffreys, John Raitt, Bert Wheeler, Robert Halliday, Charlotte Rae, and Peter Conlow), with an uncredited chorus and Joseph Littaw directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted) using music and lyrics by Ralph Blane, record the tracks "Prologue/The Wake (with vocals by the ensemble)/The Girl That I Court In My Mind (vocals by John Riatt)", "My Home's A Highway (vocals by Anne Jeffreys)/We're For Love (vocals by Bert Wheeler and Chorus)", and "My Heart's Darlin' (vocals by Anne Jeffreys and John Raitt)/Love Has Nothing To Do With It (vocals by Bert Wheeler, Robert Halliday, Charlotte Rae, and Chorus)" at the first session, "Goin' On A Hayride" (vocals by Anne Jeffreys, John Raitt, Petter Conlow, and Chorus)/I'll Sing You A Song (vocals by Bert Wheeler, Robert Halliday, Peter Conlow, and Chorus), "It Must Be Spring (vocals by Anne Jeffreys and Chorus)/Wedding March (vocals by the Ensemble)/The Army Mule Song (vocals by John Raitt, Bert Wheeler, Peter Conlow, and The Chorus)", "What Do I Know? (vocals by Anne Jeffreys)/Love Has Nothing To Do With Looks (Reprise) (vocals by Anne Jeffreys)" at the second session, and "It's A Wishing World (vocals by Anne Jeffreys and John Raitt)/Trottin' To The Fair (vocals by John Raitt, Robert Halliday, and Chorus)" and "April Face (vocals by Anne Jeffreys, John Raitt, and Bert Wheeler)/Kevin's Prayer (vocals by Bert Wheeler)/Finale (vocals by The Ensemble)" at the third session. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the original Broadway cast album "Three Wishes For Jaime" (S-317).

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend", with orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle and "Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping (For Your Heart)" by Nat King Cole and the Trio, on the flipside, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles chart
1962 - Lou Rawls (on vocals, with unlisted musicians) records the track "Save Your Love For Me" and a as yet unissued take of the track "What Makes The Ending So Sad?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 4761) with "Please Let Me Be The First To Know" (recorded February 23, 1962) on the flipside.

1967 - The cover of The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album is staged by Peter Blake and photographed by Michael Cooper at 4 Chelsea Manor Studios, 1-11 Flood Street, just off King's Road in Chelsea in the late afternoon.

45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass", with "There's Gonna Be Some Changes Made" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

40 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-Motion", with "Destitute And Losin'" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flip side is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

1985 - Power Station's Capitol Records single "Some Like It Hot", with "The Heat Is On" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1997 - Trace Adkin's Capitol Records Nashville single "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing" with "634-5789" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1955 - The Best Music/Song Oscar went to Jule Styne (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the title track to the motion picture "Three Coins in the Fountain" which was sung by Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra and released as a single by Capitol Records

45 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost's Imperial Records single "Traces", with "Mary Mary Row Your Boat" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

40 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Mike Oldfield's Virgin Records single "Tubular Bells", with a shorter version on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Virgin Records catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1975 - Future Capitol Records artist Minnie Ripperton's Epic Records single "Lovin' You", with "Edge Of A Dream" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Capitol Records currently distributes Ripperton's complete catalog and the track has appeared on various Capitol Records compilation albums.

35 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Norah Jones, singer, songwriter, pianist, daughter of sitarist Ravi Shankar, and Blue Note Records artist, is born in New York City, New York

10 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Timi Yuro (born Rosemary Timotea Yuro), singer and Liberty Records artist, dies in Las Vegas of throat cancer at age 63

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1986 - James Cagney, actor, dancer, singer and president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1942-1944, dies at his Dutchess County farm in Stanfordville, New York of a heart attack. He is interred in the Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York.