NOVEMBER 16, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1913 - "Smiling" Jack Smith, singer, television game show host ("You Asked For It"), and Capitol Records artist (From 1946-1949 as a solo artist and with backing from The Clark Sisters and The Crew Chiefs, also in duets with Margaret Whiting), is born Jack Ward Smith in Fort Ward, on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle), Washington. Smith also released a series of children's records on Capitol's Toyland label. Smith got the nickname "Smiling" Jack Smith while working as a solo performer on CBS-Radio's show "The Prudential Hour" when its host, Deems Taylor, called him "The Man With the Smile in His Voice." The nickname also helped Smith from being confused with another singer of the time named "Whispering" Jack Smith who, co-incidentally, was born on the same day in 1918.
1916 - "Daws" Butler, radio actor, cartoon and commercial voice actor (Beany & Cecil, various MGM, Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera shows, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Cap'n Crunch), and Capitol Records artist on various childrens records and with fellow Capitol Records artist Stan Freberg (co-writing most of their material), is born Charles Dawson Butler in Toledo, Ohio

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - The Capitol Jazzmen (Billy May on trumpet, Jack Teagarden on trombone and vocals, Jimmie Noone on clarinet, Dave Matthews on tenor saxophone, Joe Sullivan on piano, Dave Barbour on guitar, Artie Shapiro on bass, and Zutty Singleton on drums) record two takes of the tracks "Clambake In B Flat" and "Casanova's Lament" (with vocal by Teagarden), as well as the tracks "Solitude Swaggie", "Solitude" and "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry" (also with vocal by Teagarden) with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. in Los Angeles for the Capitol Records album "New American Jazz" which includes a booklet, whose size and content, are uncannily close to what the best CD booklets contain in contemporary re-issues. Unfortunately, this landmark album has yet to be issued on CD by Capitol or any of its related labels (hint, hint!!!!)
1944 - Piano soloist Joe Sullivan (who also wrote "Clambake in B Flat") records the tracks "The Moon Is Low", "Reflections", "It's The Talk Of The Town", "My Silent Love" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.
1954 - The Benny Goodman Quintet (Goodman on clarinet, Ruby Braff on trumpet, Mel Powell on piano, George Duvivier on bass and Bobby Donaldson on drums) records the tracks "Rock Rimmon", and "You’re A Sweetheart",and The Benny Goodman Trio (Goodman on clarinet, Mel Powell on piano, and Bobby Donaldson on drums) record the tracks "Rose Room" and "What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry", in NYC for Goodman's Capitol Records album "B.G. In Hi-Fi".
1954 - Seventeen year old Jerry Reed performs at a gala country show in Atlanta, Georgia honoring Capitol Records artist Faron Young, who had just been discharged from the army. Capitol records' country music chief Ken Nelson was there to celebrate the occasion, and Bill Lowery, who helmed a popular live country music show Saturday mornings over WGST radio, encourags Nelson to consider signing the young singer to Capitol Records. After some initial reluctance, with Nelson feeling that Reed was too young to be recording, Lowery's persistence paid off with Reed being signed to a three-year contract. Reed's first Capitol session will be held in Nashville's Castle Studios on October 17, 1955.
1954 - The 5 Keys (Maryland Pierce, Rudy West, Ripley Ingram, Ramon Loper, and Bernie West) have their second session for Capitol Records recording the tracks "Cause You're My Lover", "Don't You Know I Love You", "So Glad", "Close Your Eyes", and "Doggone It, You Did It".
1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Sixteen Tons", with "You Don't Have to be a Baby to Cry" on the flip side, becomes the fastest-selling record in history to that date, jumping to #1 on the singles chart in just 3 weeks, where it will stay for eight weeks
1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Love’s Gonna Live Here", with "Getting Used To Losing You" on the flip side, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and will be #1 on the Country Singles chart for 16 weeks
1964 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album" and their single "The Man With All The Toys" with "Blue Christmas" on the flip side
1964 - Judy Garland performs "Once In A Lifetime" as part of concert at the London Palladium. A recording of the performance will be released by Capitol on the CD "Judy Garland: The One And Only" in 1991.
1968 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records album "Wichita Lineman" enters Billboard's album chart where it will hit #1 on December 21, 1968
1970 - Capitol Records releases Grand Funk Railroad's "Grand Funk Live Album". Thanks to Gary Eaton for the correct date and check out his blog on Grand Funk
1970 - Anne Murray's second Capitol Records single "Snowbird", which is the flip side of "Just Bidin' My Time", is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. becoming the first Canadian recording artist to earn a U.S. Gold single.
1971 - John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band's Apple Records single "Imagine", with "Its So Hard" on the flip side and distributed in the United States by Capitol Records", peaks at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974- John Lennon's Apple Records single "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" with "Beef Jerky" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Lennon's only solo single to do so
1988 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' album "Hot Dog"
1993 - Frank Sinatra is presented Capitol Records' first "Tower Of Achievement" award by Charles Koppelman (then Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, EMI Records Group, North America) and Gary Gersh (then President & Chief Executive Officer, Capitol Records) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. According to the press release, "The Tower of Achievement is an exclusive award given by Capitol Records to honor a label recording artist or group for their irreplaceable contribution to music. Artists become eligible for the award 15 years after their first Capitol Records release and when total worldwide album sales exceed the 10 million mark. The goal of The Tower of Achievement award is to honor Capitol artists whose musical achievements have left an indelible mark on American popular culture. The solid brass award with silver and gold accents was created by Michael Vanderbyl, a distinguished designer, who has served on international committees as well as chaired the 1992 National Endowment for the Arts Presidential Design Awards. Inspired by the sculptures by Brancusi, the Capitol Records landmark building is shown supported by an abstract silhouette of a heroic figure representing the artists integral role as the foundation of Capitol Records."
1995 - Les Baxter, arranger, band leader, and Capitol Records artist, gives his last public performance, which is held at the Century Club, in Century City, California. Baxter will die January 15, 1996 of a massive heart attack due to kidney failure at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California at age 73.
2001 - Tommy Flanagan, pianist, dies of an arterial aneurysm at age 71 in New York City, New York. He worked both as a solo artist and as a session player for, and group member with, many Capitol, Blue Note, United Artists and Roulette artists as shown in the article on the Jazz Discography Project's website.
2007 - It was announced on Santa Monica NPR radio station KCRW's local morning news segment that The Capitol Tower has been given Historical Monument status by Los Angeles' City Council which will protect the exterior of the building from any significant changes and the words CAPITOL RECORDS from being removed from the top of the building. No word yet if this will do anything to help protect or restore the mural on the south side of the building.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1873 - W.C. Handy, "father of the blues", composer (his best known work being "St. Louis Blues"), coronet player, and band leader, is born William Christopher Handy in Florence, Alabama. Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole with play Handy in "St. Louis Blues", the motion picture loosely based on Handy's life.
1979 - Kenny Roger's Liberty Records single "You Decorated My Life" is at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Liberty Records, a Capitol Records subsidiary that revived the Liberty Records name, became Capitol Records Nashville after its offices were moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
1980 - Kenny Rogers' Liberty Records single "Lady", written and produced by Lionel Richie, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Liberty Records, a Capitol Records subsidiary that revived the Liberty Records name, became Capitol Records Nashville after its offices were moved to Nashville, Tennessee.
1987 - Billy Idol's Chrysalis single "Mony Mony 'Live'" hits #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart. EMI Music, Capitol Records parent company, currently owns the Chrysalis catalog.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1935 - The Rodgers and Hart musical, "Jumbo", opens in The Hippodrome, in New York City for a run of 233 performances.