AUGUST 24, 2008

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nat "King" Cole records "The Christmas Song" for the third time. This verion was recorded at Capitol Records' Studios on Melrose Avenue and was produced by Lee Gillette with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra. This was a HiFi Mono recording done on Ampex Tape and recorded on an Ampex 200 tube recorder.
1964 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Matchbox" with "Slow Down" on the flip side
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Something New" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
30 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Louis Prima, composer, trumpeter, bandleader, and Capitol Records recording artist, dies in New Orleans at age 77 after being in a coma since 1976 as a result of brain surgery to remove a tumor
1987 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles albums "The Beatles" (aka "The White Album") and the soundtrack to the United Artists animated movie "Yellow Submarine" on CD for the first time in the United States as part of a simultaneous world wide release
20 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Nat Stuckey, radio personality, band leader of The Louisiana Hayriders, and composer (co-wrote, with Buck Owens and Don Rich, Owens' #1 country song "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line", released by Capitol Records, which will be #1 for seven weeks), dies in Nashville, Tennessee at age 55
1999 - Capitol Records Jazz, a division of Blue Note Records, which is owned by Capitol Records, releases the compilation album "Trumpet Blues: The Best Of Harry James"
2004 - Capitol Records Canada releases Don Yute's album "Boobilious"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1924 - Francis Barraud, painter of the "His Master's Voice" pictures, the corporate logo for His Master's Voice and EMI, dies

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1962 - Producer Phil Spector records a "wall of sound" version "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" with Bobby Sheen doing the lead vocal with former Capitol Records singing group (1957-1958 and formerly known as The Dreamers until Capitol exec Tom Fransend renamed the group) The Blossoms (Darlene Wright [soon to be renamed Darlene Love], Fanita James, and Gloria Jones) doing backup vocals. When the track is released it will be credited to Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans.