AUGUST 23, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Tex Williams (aka Jack Williams until given the nickname "Tex" by band leader Spade Cooley), singer, guitarist, band leader, actor and Capitol Records artist (1946-1951 and 1960-1974) is born Sollie Paul Williams in Ramsey, Fayette County, Illinois
1949 - Rick Springfield, singer, guitarist, actor, and Capitol Records artist (1972-1973) is born Richard Lewis Springthorpe in in Guildford, New South Wales, Australia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "When I Stop Loving You", "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Waltz" with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra (John Hacker, Dominic Mumolo, Warren Webb, and James Williamson on reeds; Simon Zenther on trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; John Cave and Vincent De Rosa on french horn; Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hill, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, and Felix Slatkin on violin; Staney Harris and David Sterkin on viola; Cy Bernard, Edgar Lustgarten, and Eleanor Slatkin on cello; Bill Miller on piano; Joe Comfort on bass; Allan Reuss on guitar; Lou Singer and Alvin Stoller on drums), and with background vocals by The Jimmy Joyce Singers, at Capitol Records' Studios (formerly KHJ Radio Studios) on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California with producer Voyle Gilmore
1964 - The Beatles perform their first concert at The Hollywood Bowl. The show is recorded and some of the songs will be released by Capitol, after being remastered and sonically cleaned up by on the album "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" in 1977.
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Ringo Starr quits The Beatles during a recording session for their self-titled album (aka "The White Album"). He will return to the group on September 3, 1968 and finds flowers on his drum kit from the rest of the band.
15 Years Ago Today In 1993 - Capitol Records releases Duran Duran's single "Too Much Information" on cassette and CD. The CD had two versions of "Too Much Information" with "Drowning Man" and a live version of "Hungry Like A Wolf" that was recorded at Tower Records in Hollywood California on May 15, 1993. The cassette single had "Too Much Information" with "Drowning Man" and also came with a free cassette, called "No Ordinary EP" with live versions "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Notorious", and "Come Undone" also recorded at the Tower Records concert.
1994 - Capitol Records releases the compilation album "Christmas With Bing Crosby"
1996 - Alyce King Clarke, member of the Capitol Records singing group The King Sisters (1957-1966), dies following a long history of repiratory problems

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Nat "King" Cole speaks at the Republican National Convention in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - John Lennon marries Cynthia Powell at the Mount Pleasant Registry Office in Liverpool, England
1965 - The Beatles' United Artists soundtrack album to the United Artists motion picture "Help!" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Capitol Records currently owns the United Artists catalog.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Keith Moon, actor, singer, and drummer with the band The Who, is born Keith John Moon in Central Middlesex Hospital on Acton Lane in Willesden, England