JUNE 11, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1952 - Donnie Van Zandt, vocalist, guitarist and founder of the Capitol (single "Teacher Teacher" and on the soundtrack album for the motion picture "Teacher") and Charisma Records (a subsidiary of Virgin Records) group 38 Special and with his brother Johnny Van Zant in the group The Van Zants, is born in Jacksonville, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Tex Ritter records the tracks "(I Got Spurs That) Jingle Jangle Jingle" and "Goodbye My Little Cherokee" at has his first Capitol Records recording session (location unknown, but since Capitol was using C. P. MacGregor Studios for other artists at the time, they were probably recorded there). The tracks will be released as the A and B sides respectively of Capitol's tenth 78 rpm single in August 1942.
1946 - Peggy Lee is back at Radio Recorders studios in Los Angeles, California with The Four Of A Kind (Dave Barbour on guitar; Buddy Cole on piano, organ and celeste; Phil Stephens on bass; and Tom Romersa on drums) to record for radio transcription the tracks "The Best Man", "If You Were The Only Boy", "Love Doesn't Grow On Trees", "I Guess I'll Get The Papers And Go Home" and "My Sugar Is So Refined"
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Whiting and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #9, and Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #16
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole's double sided Capitol Records hit "A Blossom Fell" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) and "If I May" (with The Four Knights on backing vocals and Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is #4, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is #9, Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #11, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #22
1956 - Bing Crosby with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra record the album "Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings" in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1966 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Paperback Writer" with "Rain" on the flip side. Rain would be the first popular single to use tape run backwards as part of the song. "Paperback Writer will peak at #1 and "Rain" at #23 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 – Paul McCartney & Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Ann Murray's Capitol Records album "Heart Over Mind" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Neil Finn, with Nick Seymour, drummer Paul Hester, and Craig Hooper of The Reels, give their first peformance as The Mullanes (Mullane is Neil's middle name) in Melbourne, Australia. When the group, minus Seymour, relocate to Los Angeles, they change the name of the band to Crowded House (named after their living conditions in L.A.).
1996 - Capitol Records released the 2 CD compilation album "Dean Martin - The Capitol Years" with 40 tracks including previously unreleased material and studio chatter.
2006 - According to a news item on their website, Capitol Records group Queensryche is arrested at the Amsterdam airport for smuggling illegal firearms

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Joey Dee, actor and lead singer of the Roulette Records group Joey Dee and The Starlighters (best known for the single "Peppermint Twist" and not to be confused with The Starlighters who recorded for Capitol in the 1940's), is born Joseph DiNicola in Passaic, New Jersey. Capitol Records/EMI now owns the Roulette Records catalog. Nick & Renee DiNicola have put together a great site for Joey who still tours as Joey Dee and The Starlighters. Roulette Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1958 - Liberty Records releasese Eddie Cochran's single "Summertime Blues" with "Love Again" on the flip side. Liberty Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - At ceremony #57, Barbara Stanwick and Robert Taylor leave their hand and footprints at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California