OCTOBER 15, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1915 - Nellie Lutcher, pianist, singer, daughter of bandleader and bass player Issac Lutcher, sister of saxophonist Joe Woodman Lutcher, aunt of Latin jazz percussionist Daryl "Munyungo" Jackson, an officer of LA Musicians' Union Local 47 for many years, and a Capitol Records (1947-1952), Liberty Records (1956) and Imperial Records (1957) artist, is born Nellie Rose Lutcher in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lutcher was signed to Capitol by Dave Dexter, Jr. who heard her perform "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" when she closed a March of Dimes benefit broadcast at Hollywood High School.
1917 - Alan Livingston is born Alan Wendell Livingston, in McDonald, Pennsylvania. Livingston is brother of songwriter Jay Livingston (who with his partner Ray Evans wrote many hit songs that were covered by Capitol Records artists including "Mona Lisa". Ray and Jay had a cameo as themselves in the motion picture "Sunset Boulevard" which also featured Nancy Olsen, who is currently married to Alan). Livingston is also a saxophone player, was a bandleader while a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and during his first stint with Capitol Records, served as vice president of Childrens Records creating Bozo The Capitol Clown as well as writing and producing many of Capitol's childrens releases including the hit single "I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat". Later as a VP of A&R, Livingston was responsible for Capitol signing Frank Sinatra. Livingston would leave Capitol to become a a programming executive at NBC and would greenlight the pilot for "Bonanza" (for which his brother Jay, again with partner Ray Evans, wrote the theme song). Livingston returned to Capitol as president during the 1960s, bringing Capitol into the "modern" rock era with the signing of The Beach Boys, The Steve Miller Band, The Band, and others including The Beatles. Livingston would later recall the "butcher" cover of their Capitol Records album "Yesterday and Today" and protest against the R.I.A.A. when their song "Yesterday" was not nominated for Song Of The Year. Livingston would become chairman of Capitol Records heading the merger with Audio Devices, Inc. that created Capitol Industries, Inc.
1970 - Eric Benét, singer, member (with his sister and cousin) of the Capitol Records group Benét (1992), solo recording artist for Warner Bros. Records, actor, and former husband of Halle Berry, is born Eric Benét Jordan in Milwaulkee, Wisconsin

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Chico Hamilton on drums, and Bob Whitlock on bass record the tracks "Walkin' Shoes", "Freeway", "Frenesi", "Nights at the Turntable", and "Aren't You Glad You're You" for Pacific Jazz. Pacific Jazz' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.
1958 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "To Love And Be Loved", which will be released on a Capitol Records single, and "I Couldn't Care Less" with arrangements by Nelson Riddle who conducts the orchestra (Gus Bivona, Dale Issenhuth, Jules Jacob, Abe Most, and Wilbur Schwartz on reeds; Frank Beach, and Conrad Gozzo on trumpet; Francis Howard, Murray McEachern, and Dale McNickle on trombone; John Cave, Vincent De Rosa, and Richard Perissi on french horn; George Roberts on baritone trombone; Al Viola on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; William 'Bill' Miller on piano; Kathryn Julye on harp; Bill Richmond on drums; Larry Bunker on percussion; Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Jacques Gasselin, Carl Lamagna, Dan Lube, Ricky Marino, Lou Raderman, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, and Gerald Vinci on violin; Joseph Di Fiore, Alvin Dinkin, Stan Harris, and Paul Robyn on viola; James Arkatov, Elizabeth Greenschpoon, Edgar Lustgarten, and Eleanor Slatkin on cello) at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California.
1958 - On the same day, Dean Martin records the tracks "Hit the Road to Dreamland", "Sleepy Time Gal", "All I Do Is Dream of You", and "Wrap Your Trouble in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)" with Frank Sinatra conducting the orchestra (Benjamin Barrett: Contractor; Alfred Viola on guitar; Joseph G. 'Joe' Comfort on bass; William Richmond on drums; Ken Lane and William 'Bill" Miller on piano; Elizabeth Greensporn and Eleanor Aller Slatkin on cello; Kathryn Julye on harp; Alvin Dinkin and Paul Robyn on viola; Victor Arno, Daniel 'Dan' Lube, Amerigo Marino, Louis Raderman, Paul C. Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Gerald Vinci on violin; Gus Binova, Dale Issenhuth, Jules Jacob, Abraham E. Most, and Wilbur Schwartz on saxophone; Frances L. 'Joe' Howard, Murray McEachern, and George M. Roberts on trombone; Frank F. Beach, Conrad Gozzo, and Dale McMickle on trumpet) at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Lee Gillette for Martin's Capitol Records album "Sleep Warm"
1964 - Capitol Records legally takes control of the 14 Beatles songs that Vee-Jay Records had stretched into five albums, six singles, four reissue singles, and an EP
1964 - The Beatles end an 105 week consecutive run on the U.K. singles chart which started October 11, 1962 making them the group with the most consecutive weeks on the British singles chart
1973 - Capitol Records releases The Band's album "Moondog Matinee"
1977 - Capitol Records releases Bob Welch's single "Sentimental Lady" with "Hot Love, Cold War" on the flip side
1982 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles compilation album "The Beatles - 20 Greatest Hits"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1971 - Rick Nelson, former Imperial Rercords, future Capitol Records artist, and one of the acts performing at a '50s nostalgia concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, is booed by the audience for playing new music. The incident would be the basis for Nelson's next hit single "Garden Party".
2005 - Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson speaks at "Bop Street", a tribute to Gene Vincent, in Van Nuys, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Local act Buddy (aka Buddy Holly) and Bob open for Elvis Presley at his concert in Lubbock, Texas