OCTOBER 21, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1931 - Roy Nichols, guitarist, songwriter, Capitol Records session guitarist, 1988 inductee in the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame, and first member hired by Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard for his backing band The Strangers (and a member for 22 years from 1967-1987), is born in Chandler, Arizona. If anyone knows his middle name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - At two sessions held this day at C. P. MacGregor Studios in Los Angeles, California St. Luke's Choristers (a boy choir conducted by William Ripley Dorr with Roy Bargy Orchestra [string orchestra with unlisted lineup]) records the tracks "The First Nowell", "Silent Night" (with Chauncey Haines, Jr. on organ), and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (featuring Phillip Haynes on soprano vocals" at the first session and "Deck The Halls/Christmas Eve Is Here" (with chimes played by unlisted musician) and "Away In A Manger" (with Chauncey Haines, Jr. on organ) at the second session. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on the group's album "Christmas Carols By The St. Luke's Choristers" (BD-2) which was also second album released by the label.
1944 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You", with "I Realize Now" on the flip side, tops the "Race Music" charts in the United States. The single will also cross over to the Pop charts where it will peak at #20.
1947 - Freddie Stewart (on vocals), with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "Diane" and "As Sweet As You Are" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues both tracks together as a single (Capitol 479).
1947 - Bobby Sherwood (on vocals), with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Pardon Me, Pretty Baby" and "Forever Amber" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues both tracks together as a single (Capitol 477).
60 Years Ago Today In 1948 - In Los Angeles, California Capitol Records assembles tracks previously recorded by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra (Frank Bruno on trumpet; Hunt on trombone and vocals; Rosy McHargue on clarinet; Carl Fisher on piano; Harvey Chernap on bass; and Glenn Waller on drums) for The Capitol Transcription Service to create final tracks for the titles "Royal Garden Blues" (issued as a single [Capitol 893] with "That's A Plenty" on the flip side), "High Society" (issued as a single [Capitol 15299] with "Wabash Blues" on the flip side), "Louella (issued as a single [Capitol 1319] with "Copenhagen" on the flip side), and "Freedom Don't You Weep, Don't You Moan" (which, as of 2005, remains unissued).
1949 - At the same session held this day in Los Angeles, California Margaret Whiting, with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "The Sun Is Always Shinging Somewhere" and "Sorry" and Mel Torme, also with Devol and His Orchestra, records the tracks "The Blossom On The Bough" and "Don't Do Something To Someone Else". Capitol Records issues Whiting's tracks together as a single (Capitol 57-776) and Torme's tracks together as a single (Capitol 57-775).
1949 - Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan (on vocals and guitar with Charles Aldridge and Joyce "Red" Murrell on guitar; and Alan Barker on bass) records the tracks "Sorrows I Can't Hide", "All Alone In Texas", "I Ain't Gonna Bring My Bacon Home To You", "I'm Gonna Whittle You Down To Size", and "Who's Kiddin' Who?" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records issues the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol Americana 57-40261) and the second and last tracks together as a single (Capitol Americana 40287).
1949 - Gordon MacRae (with The Eddie Kirk Combo [lineup unlisted]; and Andy Parker and The Plainsmen [Charles Morgan, George Bamby, Paul Walter Smith]) records the tracks "Mule Train" and "Dear Hearts And Gentle People" (with a vocal group with an unlisted lineup) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the tracks together as a single (Capitol 777).
1949 - The Calvary Quartet (lineup unlisted) records five tracks for The Capitol Records Transcription Service in Los Angeles, California. There is no track listing or commercial information listed. If anyone knows what was recorded please leave a comment.
1951 - Rod Morris (aka Rodney "Rod" Morris on vocals and guitar) and His Missourians (listed as probably Bob "Birdy" Birdsong and Jackie Bush on electric guitar; Bill Schlotter on steel guitar; Russ Cox on bass; and Johnny Cox on drums) record the tracks "I've Got News For You", "Nobody Home", "Ten To One I Love You", and "Three Empty Bottles" at radio station KSOO in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Capitol Records issues the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 2022), the second track as a single (Capitol 2541) with "Free, Wise And 21" on the flip side, and the last track as a single (Capitol 2301) with "When It Rains Banana Peels" on the flip side.
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - During the same session held this day at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California Daws Butler (on vocals) with music by Billy May using arrangements by Dave Cavanaugh to conduct the orchestra (Mannie Klein and John Best on trumpet; Si Zentner and Robert Raesinger on trombone; Wilbur Schwartz, Harry Klee, Jules Jacob, Arthur Fleming, and Gordon Green on saxophones; Walter "Moe" Wechsler on piano; Meyer Rubin on bass; Lou Singer on drums; and on strings: Harry Bluestone, Felix Slatkin, and Mischa Russell on violin; and Paul Robyn on viola) records the tracks "Peppy Possum: Part 1" and "Peppy Possum: Part 2" then Tom Conway does the narration with Art Gilmore to Billy May's music (May conducting his own arrangements to the same orchestra) records the tracks "Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue: Part 1" and "Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue: Part 2" using a script adapted by Robert Willheimat. Capitol Records issues Butler's tracks as the Children's 78rpm record "Peppy Possum" with a picture sleeve (CAS-3189) and, after a vocal overdubbing session on November 19, 1953, issues Conway's tracks as the Children's 78rpm record "Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue" with a picture sleeve (CAS-3198).
1954 - Jacki Gleason and His Orchestra (featuring Bobby Hackett on trumpet, rest of the lineup unlisted) records the tracks "Stella By Starlight", "Marie", "Jeannine, I Dream Of Lilac Time" and "Dinah" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Gleason's album "Music To Remember Her" (H-570).
1955 - Billy May and His Orchestra (with May conducting his own arrangements to Dick Cathcart on trumpet; Elmer "Moe" Schneider on trombone; Matty Matlock on clarinet; Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone; with John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Vito "Mickey" Mangano, and Uan Rasey on trumpet; Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, Tommy Pederson, and Si Zentner on trombone; Vince De Rosa on French horn; Clarence Karella on tuba; Skeets Herfurt and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxophone, flute and clarinet; Ted Nash on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute; Jules Jacob on tenor saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and English horn; Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, and bass saxophone; Paul Smith on piano, celeste, and calliope; Al Hendrickson on guitar and banjo; Joe Mondragon on bass; Alvin Stoller on drums; Lou Singer on percussion; and Ann Mason
Stockton on harp) record the tracks "Sugar Foot Strut" and "South Rampart Street Parade" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records issues both titles on May's album "Sorta-Dixie" (T 677).
1956 - Jack Teagarden (on trombone and vocals) with Van Alexander's Orchestra (Alexander conducting his own arrangements to Conrad Gozzo and Charlie Teagarden on trumpet; Simon "Si" Zentner and Ben Benson on trombone; Gus Bivona and Phil Sobel on alto saxophone; Jack Chaney on tenor saxophone; Jules Jacob on baritone saxophone; Bobby Hammack on piano; Mike Rubin on bass; and Irv Cottler on drums), records the tracks "Goin' Home" (vocals by Jack Teagarden), "Nobody Knows The Trouble" (vocals by Jack Teagarden), "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", and "River Deep (vocals by Jack Teagarden) at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records issues all the tracks except "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" (which was rejected and it's continued existence is not listed) on Teagarden's album "Swing Low,Sweet Spiritual" (T 820).
1957 - Capitol Records released Buck Owens' single "Come Back" with "I know What It Means" on the flip side
1957 - Johnny Otis records vocal overdubs for his tracks "Good Golly", "Livin' In Misery", and "Shake It, Lucy Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the final track on Otis' album "The Johnny Otis Show" (T 940).
1957 - During two sessions held at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (unlisted lineup), conducted by William Steinberg, records Prokofiev's "Suite from 'Love For Three Oranges'" at the first session and Rismky-Korsakov's "Suite From 'Le Coq D'Or'" at the second session. Capitol Records issues the tracks on the orchestra's album "RIMSKY-KORSAKOV - Suite From 'Le Coq D'Or'/PROKOFIEV - Suite from 'Love For Three Oranges'" (P-8445).
50 Years Ago Today in 1958 - Gordan MacRae, with Van Alexander and His Orchestra (unlisted lineup), records the tracks "Fly Little Bluebird", "Little Do You Know", and "Jingle Bells Cha Cha Cha" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol F4116) and (as of 2005) has yet to issue "Jingle Bells Cha Cha Cha".
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra (Riddle conducting his won arrangements to unlisted brass, reeds, strings and rhythm sections and featuring George Roberts on bass trombone) records the tracks "Indian Summer", "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries", "Isn't This A Lovely Day", "June In January", "Bye Bye Blues", "It's So Peaceful In The Country", and "The Joy Of Living" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Riddle's album "The Joy Of Living" (T 1148).
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Gene Vincent (on vocals) and His Blue Caps (Clifton Simmons on piano; Johnny Meeks on guitar; Grady Owen on rhythm guitar; and Clyde Pennington on drums) record the tracks Reddy Teddy" and "Vincent's Blues" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 10:00am and 1:00pm. Capitol Records issues the tracks on the group's album "Sounds Like Gene Vincent" (T 1207).
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Ray Stevens (on vocals with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "The Clown", "Your Kisses" and "School" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol F4101) and (as of 2005) yet to issue "Your Kisses".
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Dorothy Donegan (on piano with unlisted bass and drum musicians) records the tracks "Little White Lies", "How High The Moon", "Caravan", and "It Had To Be You" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Donegan's album "Dorothy Donegan Live!" (T 1155).
1959 - Don Baker (on organ with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "Willow Weep For Me", "Orchids In The Moonlight", "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "The Moon Was Yellow", "Comedian's Gallop", and "Adios" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Baker's album "Don Baker's Dozen" (T 1363).
1959 - Sue Raney (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra, (Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, Tommy Pederson, and George Roberts on trombone; Ted Nash, Harry Klee, Justin Gordon, and George Poole on woodwinds; Jimmy Rowles on pianos; Bobby Gibbons on guitar; Ralph Pena on bass; Irving Cottler on drums; Emil Richards on percussion; and Verlye Mills on harps) records the tracks "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "September In The Rain", "Rain On The Roof", and "Blue Tears" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the tracks on Raney's album "Songs For A Raney Day" (T 1335).
1959 - George Shearing (on piano) and His Orchestra (Emil Richards on vibraphones; Jean "Toots" Thielemans on guitar; Al McKibbon on bass; and Percy Brice on drums) record the tracks "You Look Like Something", "Chelsea Bridge", "Just Plain Bill", "Stairway To The Stars", and "Like A Ship Without A Sail" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks except the last (which as 2005 remains unissued) on Shearing's album "The George Shearing Quintet With Brass Choir - Satin Brass" (T 1326).
1959 - Dick Williams (on vocals), with Jack Marshall's Music (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "I Cried For You", "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Love Is A Serious Thing", and "There's No Fool Like An Old Fool" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Williams' album "Love Is Nothin' But Blues" (T 1330).
1960 - The Jonas Jones Quartet (Jones on trumpet; Teddy Brannon on piano; John Brown on bass; and George Foster on drums) records the track "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the track on Jones' album "Great Instrumental Hits" (T 1557).
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - At a single session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first Bing Crosby records the tracks "Christmas Dinner Country Style" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" with Ralph Carmichael and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) then Ralph Carmichael and His Orchestra record the tracks "Smile" and "The Beat Of The Night" alone. Capitol Records will issue Crosby's tracks together as a single (Capitol 5088) and Carmichael's tracks together as a single (Capitol 5104).
1964 - Sebastian Temple records the tracks "Africa Belongs To The Lion" and "Chicken Talk" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the tracks on Temple's album "Africa Belongs To The Lion" (T 2303).
1964 - The Cannonball Adderley Sextet (Nat Adderley on cornet and trumpet; Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto saxophone; Charles Lloyd on flute and tenor saxophone; Joe Zawinul on piano; Sam Jones on bass; and Louis Hayes on drums) records the tracks "Sewing Machine" and "Matchmaker" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues the tracks on Cannonball Adderley's album "Fiddler On The Roof" (T 2216).
1965 - The Hollyridge Strings (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "Opposites", "An Occasional Flight Of Fancy", "Gaiety 'Delicatessen'", and "Just The Crust" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on the group's album "Skyscraper" (T 2411).
1965 - The Beatles record the track "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" (with George Harrison playing the sitar for the first time on one of the band's songs) and started recording the track "Nowhere Man" (which they would finish the next day, October 22, 1965) in Studio Two at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, London, England
1966 - Rubin Mitchell (on piano with unlisted session musicians) records the tracks "The Jitterbug Waltz", "Summer Wind", "Mas Que Nada", "Slaughter On 10th Avenue", "That's All", and "Somewhere" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Mitchell's album "Presenting Rubin Mitchell" (T 2658).
1967 - Bobbie Gentry (on vocals and guitar) records the tracks "Refractions" and "Morning To Midnight" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records, as of 2005, has yet to issue either track recorded at this session.
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Bettye Swann (on vocals with unlisted musicians) records the track "Angel Of The Morning" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the track on Swann's album "The Soul View Now!" (ST-190).
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Pollution (lead by Otis Hale with Richard Lewis on keyboards and vocals; James Quill Smith on guitar and vocals; John Kenneth Lambert on bass and vocals; Duane Bryant and Barbara Busa on vocals and unlisted instruments) records the track "High Time" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the track on the band's album "Heir - Pollution" (ST-205).
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Tony Sandler and Ralph Young (on vocals), with Jimmy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "I Believe", "Viva El Amor", "Make Me Rainbows", and "Something Is Happening" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on the duo's album "Together" (ST-159).
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records registers the puchased masters of Randy Fuller's tracks "A Thousand Miles In Space", "Captain Zig Zag", "Now She's Gone", "Revelation", and "It's Love Come What May". Show Town, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, issues the first and fourth tracks together and a single (Show Town 482), the fourth and fifth tracks together as single (Show Town 482), and (as of 2005) yet to issue the other tracks.
1969 - Overdubs are recorded for The Lettermen's tracks "For Love", the medley "Traces/Memories", "Hang On Sloopy", "(I Want To Be Free) For Once In A Lifetime", and "Spinning Wheel" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the finished versions of "For Love" on the group's album "Goin' Out Of My Head" (ST 2865), "Traces/Memories", "Hang On Sloopy" and "Spinning Wheel" on the group's album "Traces/Memories" (ST-390), and "(I Want To Be Free) For Once In A Lifetime" as a single (Capitol 2697) with "Traces/Memories" on the flip side.
1969 - Grand Funk (aka Grand Funk Railroad - lineup unlisted) records the track "Inside Looking Out" in Cleveland, Ohio. Capitol Records purchases the master for this and other tracks the groups recorded for The Cleveland Recording Compnay and releases all the tracks on the band's eponymous album "Grand Funk" (SKAO-406).
1969 - Terry Knight records the track "I'll Keep Waiting Patiently" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the track as a single (Capitol 2737) with "Lullaby" on the flip side.
1972 - The Strangers (Roy Nichols on lead guitar; Bobby Wayne and Marcia Nichols on rhythm guitar; Norm Hamlet on steel guitar; Dennis Hromek on bass; and Biff Adam on drums) record the tracks "It's Only Love", "Cherokee Fiddle", and "Country Gas" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on The Strangers's album "Totally Instrumental With One Exception" (ST-11141).
1974 - Tony Booth (on vocals with unlisted session musicians) records the track "Watch Out For Lucy" at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California for Buck Owens Enterprises. Capitol Records purchases the master on October 28, 1974 and releases the track as a single (Capitol 3994) with "Good As Gone" on the flip side.
1974 - At two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Barbara Acklin (on vocals), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using an arrangement by James L. Mack, records the track "I Like Your Love" at the first session and "You Gave Him Everything, But I Gave Him Love" and "How Can You Lose Something You Never Had" at the second session. Capitol Records issues "I Like Your Love" and "How Can You Lose Something You Never Had" on Acklin's album "A Place In The Sun" (ST-11377) and "You Gave Him Everything, But I Gave Him Love" as a single (Capitol 4013) with "Special Loving" on the flip side.
1974 - John Lennon enters the Record Plant studios in New York City for 5 straight days of sessions to re-record tracks for his Capitol Records "Rock 'N' Roll" album which he will produce himself
1975 - At two sessions held this day in Studio B at Jack Clemens Studios in Nashville, Tennessee James Talley (on accoustic guitar and vocals with Johnny Gimble on fiddle and mandolin; Rick Durrett on piano and electric piano; Charlie McCoy on harmonica; Steve Blailock on electric and acoustic guitar; Josh Grave on Dobro resonator guitar; Doyle Grisham on steel, acoustic, and electric guitar; Steve Mendell on upright and electric bass; Karl Himmel on drums and percussion; Chris Laird on drums; Dave Gillon, Steve Mendell, and Jim Rooney on harmony vocals) records the tracks "She's The One" and "You Can Never Tell" at the first session and "Everybody Loves A Love Song" at the second session. Capitol Records issues all the tracks on Talley's album "Tryin' Like The Devil" (ST-11494). Later in the day Talley (on vocals with Jerry Shook on acoustic guitar and harmonica; Dave Gillon on acoustic guitar; Doyle Grisham on Dobro resonator guitar; on Mike Leech electric bass) records the track "Deep Country Blues" at Hound's Ear Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records also issues this track on Talley's album "Tryin' Like The Devil" (ST-11494).
1977 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' compilation album "Love Songs"
1980 - Juice Newton, with unlisted musicians, records the track "Queen Of Hearts" at Soundcastle Studio in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records issues the track on Newton's album "Juice" (ST-12136).
1982 - The Deserters (lineup unlisted) record the track "Got To You" in Los Angeles, California. As of 2005 the track is unissued.
1985 - Dobie Gray (on vocals with unlisted session musicians) records the track "House Divided By Two" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records issues the track on Gray's album "From Where I Stand" (ST-12489).
1985 - Brenda and The Big Dudes (lineup unlisted) record the track "I'll Find You". There is no recording location or issue information listed. If anyone knows where the track was recorded, the lineup of the band, or if the track was released, please leave a comment.
1991 - Poison's Capitol Records album "Open Up And Say Ahh!" is certified as 5 times Multi-Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1995 - Shannon Hoon (born Richard Shannon Hoon), songwriter and lead singer of Capitol Records group Blind Melon, is found dead at age 28 of an intense cocaine overdose in the band's tour bus before a sound check for a show at Tipitina's in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is later buried in Dayton, Indiana.
1994 - Ginger Mercer (born Elizabeth Meltzer), Broadway dancer and actress, wife of Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer, and founder of the Johnny Mercer Foundation, dies at age 85. If any one knows the cause and location of her death, please leave a comment.
1995 - Maxene Andrews, singer, actress, and member of the Capitol Records trio The Andrew Sisters, dies of a heart attack at age 79 in Hyannis, Massachusettes while on vacation from her role in the off-Broadway musical "Swingtime Canteen". She is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1915 - Owen Bradley, record producer, studio owner, and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee in 1974, is born in Westmoreland, Tennessee. Capitol Record producer Ken Nelson would use Bradley's Nashville studio to record many Capitol artists including the single version of Gene Vincent's "Be Bop A Lula"
1982 - Marty Balin records the track "Will You Forever". EMI America issues the track as a single (EMI America 8153) with "What Is Love" on the flip side. If anyone knows where the track was recorded or who else was performing at the session please leave a comment. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns EMI America's catalog.
1999 - Former Capitol Records artist Marilyn King (The King Sisters) and Herb Jefferies, with the Paul Smith Trio, perform "Salute to Duke Ellington" at The Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College, Whittier, California at 8 p.m.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Buddy Holly's last recording session is held at Pythian Temple in New York City
1970 - John Thomas Scopes, the high school teacher who was convicted of teaching evolution in a Tennessee school after the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, dies at age 70. He is later buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah, Kentucky