OCTOBER 4, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1925 - Jack Kingston, singer, songwriter, yodeler, and the first Canadian country artist signed by Capitol Records (1950), is born in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter), doing vocals and guitar, with Paul Howard on zither (and probably Dave Dexter, Jr. producing) records the tracks "Ella Speed", "Rock Island Line" (which he originally recorded in 1937), "Tell Me Baby" and "Take This Hammer" in Los Angeles, California. "Rock Island Line" will be released by Capitol Records on the anthology album "The History Of Jazz, Volume 1, The 'Solid' South". The other tracks will be released by Capitol Records on the album "Leadbelly" as part of the label's "Classics In Jazz" series.
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Johnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers (Clark Yocum, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry) with June Hutton and Paul Weston and His Orchestra (Don Anderson, Ray Linn and Nate Kazebier on trumpet; Allan Thompson and Burt Johnson on trombone; Fred Stulce, Arthur "Doc" Rando, Matty Matlock, Eddie Miller and Harry Schuchman on saxophones; Stan Wrightsman on piano; Nappy Lamare on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; Nick Fatool on drums; & 6 violins) record the tracks "I'm Gonna See My Baby" and "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive" as a single (Capitol 180) with the track "There's A Fellow Waiting in P'Keepsie" on the flip side. The single will enter Billboard's Popular Retail Singles chart on January 4, 1945 where it will stay for 13 weeks and eventually peak at #2. "I'm Gonna See My Baby" will be released as the flip side of the single "Candy" (Capitol 183) which enters the charts at #9 on February 24, 1945, stays for 15 weeks and peaks at #2 on April 14, 1945.
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Jo Stafford, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, records the tracks "I Promise You" and "Let's Take The Long Way Home" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks together as a single (Capitol 181) but the will not chart.
1945 - James Baskett and Johnny Mercer, with The Pied Pipers and Billy May and His Orchestra (Mannie Klein, Don Anderson and Holly Humphries on trumpet; William Schaefer, Ed Kusby and Hoyt Bohannon on trombone; Fred Fox on french horn; John Gruey, J.A. Krechter, Donald Renfrew, Warren Baker and Lloyd Hildebrand on saxophones; Frank Leithner on piano; John Ryan on bass; John Cyr on percusssion; Ann Mason on harp; and on strings: Edward Bergman, Walter Edelstein, Peter Ellis, George Kast, Sol Kindler, Dan Lube, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson and Olcott Vail on violin; Albert Burton and David Sterkin on viola; Fred Goerner and Joseph Saxonon cello) using a script adaptation by Alan Livingston, record the track "The Laughing Place, Part 1" at the studios of Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. Capitol will release the track as part of the children's album "Tales Of Uncle Remus", a soundtrack album for Walt Disney's combined live action movie "Song Of The South"
1946 - In a really long recording session at Radio Records in Hollywood, California Wesley Tuttle & His Texas Stars (Tuttle on vocals with Darol A. Rice on clarinet; Charles Linville on fiddle; Paul Sells on accordian; Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano; Eddie Kirk, Merle Travis, and Lewis Jack Rivers on rhythm guitar; Agapito "Pepe" Martinez on steel guitar; Allen Williams on bass; Tommy Romersa on drums) first record the track "Old Shep". Capitol will release the track on the compilation album "Cowboy Hit Parade" (Capitol AD-55). Then Johnny Mercer, Merle Travis (also on guitar) and Wesley Tuttle share the vocals (with Darol A. Rice on clarinet; Charles K. Linville on fiddle; Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano; Eddie Kirk and Lewis Jack Rivers on rhythm guitar; Agapito "Pepe" Martinez on steel guitar; Allen J. Williams on bass and Tommy Romersa on drums) when they record the track "The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along". Then Jerry Colonna with Wesley Tuttle Texas Stars (although Capitol Records' files indicate it was with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra) records the tracks "Oh Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave Wyoming" (written by Morey Amsterdam). Then Johnny Mercer comes back and records the track "A Little Too Far" also with Wesley Tuttle Texas Stars and , finally, Jerry Colonna returns with Wesley Tuttle Texas Stars to record the track "When Rosie Ricoola Do The Hoola Ma Boola". Capitol Records will release the Jerry Colonna's tracks together as a single (Capitol 330) and "The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along" and "A Little Too Far" together as a single (Capitol 400).
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Pedro De Cordoba, with Richard "Keys" Biggs on organ, speaks on the tracks "1st and 2nd Gospel According To St. Luke" and the medley "3rd Gospel Accord To St. John/The Lord's Prayer/Hail Mary/Gloria" which Capitol Records will release as a single (Capitol 9010).
1951 - The Mellowmen Quartet record 2 tracks for the Capitol Records Transcription Service in Los Angeles, California. If anyone knows what was recorded, please leave a comment.
1951 - Mel Tormé (on piano and vocals, with Mary Osborne on guitar; Clyde Lombardi on bass; and Bunny Shawker on drums) records the tracks "You're A Heavenly Thing" and "Heart And Soul" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will release "You're A Heavenly Thing" as a single (Capitol 1864) with "Foolish Little Rumors" on the flip side. "Heart And Soul" will eventually be released on the CD "Capitol Sings Hoagy Carmichael - Stardust"
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan (doing vocals and guitar with Shelby "Tex" Atchison on fiddle; Billy Liebert on piano; Jimmy Bryant and Billy Strange on guitar; Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar; Red Murrell on bass; and Roy Harte on drums) records the tracks "Jolly Captain Huddlestead", "A Sailor's Letter", "What's Another Broken Heart" and "I Wonder If I Can Lose The Blues This Way" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release "I Wonder If I Can Loose The Blues This Way" and "A Sailor's Letter" together as a single (Capitol 2977) and "Jolly Captain Huddlestead" and "What's Another Broken Heart" together as a single (Capitol 3157).
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Billy May and His Orchestra (John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein and Uan Rasey on trumpet; Si Zentner, Murray McEachern, Ed Kusby and Tommy Pederson on trombone; Skeets Herfurt and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxophone; Ted Nash and Fred Falensby on tenor saxophone; Chuck Gentry on bass saxophone; Paul Smith on piano; Al Hendrickson on guitara; Joe Mondragon on bass; Alvin Stoller on drums and vocals; Lou Singer on percusssion; Jack Costanzo on bongos; Mike Pacheco on congas; Frank Guerrero on timbales) record the tracks "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "Loop De Loop Mambo" (with vocals by The Maytimers), "Suzette" (with vocals by The Maytimers), "Suddenly" and "Trees" at Capitol Records Studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Loop De Loop Mambo" together as a single (Capitol 2948), "Suzette" will be released as a single with "Street Of Dreams" on the flip side (Capitol 3297), "Suddenly" will be released on the EP "Dance To The Bands" (Capitol TBO 727) and "Trees" remains unissued as of 2005. All the tracks were arranged and conducted by Billy May.
1956 - Nat "King" Cole, with an orchestra (Harry Edison, Conrad Gozzo, Clyde Hurley, Vito Mangano, and Shorty Sherockon on trumpet; Murray McEachern and Ray Sims on trombone; Juan Tizol on valve trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; Willie Smith and Mahlon Clark on alto saxophone; Babe Russin and William Skalak on tenor saxophone; Joe Koch on bass saxophone; Bill Miller on piano; John Collins on guitar; Charles Harris on bass; and Lee Young on drums), using arrangements and conducted by Nelson Riddle, records the tracks "True Blue Lou", "Like Someone In Love" "I'm Shooting High" and "Tangerine" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. The tracks will be unreleased until they appear on complilation CDs or are released in foreign markets years later.
1957 - Wesley "Speedy" West (on steel guitar with Elmer Schmidt on piano) records the instrumental tracks for the songs "Drifting And Dreaming", "My Little Grass Shack", "Sweet Hawaiian Chimes" and "Blue Hawaii" at The Capitol Tower in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks on his album "Speedy West With The Seven Seas Serenaders - West Of Hawaii" (Capitol T 956)
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Tommy Sands, with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, records the tracks "Quiet Girl", "You Hold The Future" and "I Gotta Have You" and one other track whose information has been lost in Los Angeles, California. "Quiet Girl" remains unissued as of 2005. Capitol Records released "You Hold The Future" and "I Gotta Have You" together as a single (Capitol 4316). If anyone has any information as to what the fourth track recorded at this session is or where the session was held, please leave a comment.
1960 - Dickie Harrell does drum overdubs for the track "Drum Opus IX: Goon Bat" in Los Angeles, California. The track will be released by Capitol Records on his album "Drums And More Drums" (Capitol ST 1502)
1960 - The Kingston Trio (Dave Guard on vocals and banjo, Nick Reynolds on vocals and guitar, Bob Shane on vocals, guitar and banjo), with Morris "Buck" Wheat on bass, records the track "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep", "Blow The Candle Out", "Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies" and "Blue Eyed Gal" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release the last three tacks on the EP "Make Way!" and the first track would later be released on compilations.
1960 - Organist Jackie Davis (with Irving Ashby on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; and Weedee Morris on drums) records the tracks "Stop, Look And Listen", "Stompin' At The Savoy" and "Time On My Hands" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the last two tracks on his album "Big Beat Hammond". "Stop, Look And Listen" remains unissued as of 2005.
1960 - The DeCastro Sisters (Babette, Cherie, and Olga), with an unknown backing group, record the tracks "There Goes My Heart", "Red Sails In The Sunset", "I Love You" and "I Love You, Yes I Do" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks on their album "A Rockin' Beat". If anyone has information on who worked on the session, please leave a comment.
1960 - Virgil Fox records the tracks "Where E'er You Walk" by Handel (which remains unissued as of 2005) and "Dreams" by Hugh McAmis at Riverside Church in New York City, New York. "Dreams" will be released by Capitol Records on Fox's album "Vale Of Dreams" as part of Capitol's Promenade series.
1961 - Vic Damone, with Jack Marshall's Music (arrangements and orchestra conducted by Marshall), records the tracks "When The Lights Are Low", "After The Lights Go Down Low", "Linger Awhile", "Close Your Eyes" and "Stella By Starlight" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks on his album "Linger Awhile With Vic Damone".
1961 - The Beach Boys (Mike Love on vocals; Brian Wilson on vocals and drums; Carl Wilson on lead guitar and vocals; Al Jardine on guitar and vocals) record the track "Surfin'" at Keen Studios in Beverly Hills, California for Candix Records. The master will later be sold to Capitol Records and released on their album "Surfin' Safari".
1961 - Pianish Joe Bushkin, with unknown session musicians, records the tracks "The Man I Love", "The Song Is Ended", "Once In A While" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" in New York City, New York. The tracks remain unreleased by Capitol Records as of 2005.
1961 - Three days of sessions recording the original Broadway cast soundtrack to Noel Cowards' "Sail Away" (featuring Charles Braswell, Grover Dale, Patricia Harty, James Hurst, Paul O'Keefe, and Elaine Stritch on vocals and an unknown men's chorus with Orchestra) with conductor Peter Matz begin in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will release all the tracks on the album "Sail Away" (Capitol WAO/SWAO 1643).
1962 - June Christy, with an orchestra (Ronnie Lang on flute; Laurindo Almeida on guitar; Joe Mondragon on bass; Shelly Manne on drums; Milt Holland and Emil Richards on percussion; and George Kast, Dan Lube, Erno Neufeld, Lou Raderman, Felix Slatkin, Robert Barene, Nathan Kaproff and Samuel Freed on violin) arranged and conducted by Bob Cooper, records the tracks "One Note Samba" and "Bossa Nova" which Capitol Records will release together as a single (F4864)
1963 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland on tenor vocals, Marvin Ingram [aka Marvin Inabnett] on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals) with unknown studio musicians, record the tracks "We Don't Give A Hootenanny", "I'm Falling In Love With A Girl", "The Greatest Surfer Couple" and Timbuktu" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release "I'm Falling In Love With A Girl" and "The Greatest Surfer Couple" together as a single (Capitol 5074). The other two tracks remain unissued as of 2005.
1963 - Tony Roma, with unknown session musicians, records the tracks "Turn Her Around", "You're Nothing But A Girl" and "If You See My Love" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will release the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 5101). "You're Nothing But A Girl" remains unissued as of 2005.
1963 - The Jonas Jones Quartet (Jonah Jones on trumpet; four unknown trombones; André Persiany on piano; John Brown on bass and Danny Farrar on drums) record the tracks "My Monday Date", "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home", "Moten Swing" and "Somethin' (Struttin' With Some Barbecue)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks as part of Jones' album "Blowin' Up A Storm". If anyone knows who performed on trombone, please leave a comment.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Vocalsist Ernie Andrews, with The Cannonball Adderley Quintet (Nat Adderley on cello; Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto saxophone; Joe Zawinul on piano; Sam Jones on bass; and Louis Hayes on drums), records the tracks "I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", "Bill Bailey", "Don't Be Afraid Of Love", "Big City", "Green Door" and "Work Song" (listed as "Chain Gang" in Capitol's files) at a live performance at The Lighthouse Club in Hermosa Beach, California. Capitol Records will release the first 4 tracks on the album "Live Session!". The last two tracks remain unissued as of 2005.
1965 - Andy Russell, with unknown backing, records the tracks "Nothing Matters But You", "One Kiss For Old Times" and "I'll Be Standing By" in Los Angeles, California. The tracks remain unissed as of 2005
1965 - Dallas Frazier records the tracks "That Ain't No Stuff", "Elvira" and "When The Bell Goes Ding Dong" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will release the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 5560). "When The Bell Goes Ding Dong" remains unissued by Capitol Records.
1966 - Jody Miller, with unknown backing, records the track "If You Were A Carpenter" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records released the track as a single with "Let Me Walk With You" on the flip side (Capitol 5768). If anyone has more information about the session, please leave a comment.
1966 - Lou Lawton records an overdub for the track "I Turned My Back On Love" in New York City, New York which remains unissued by Capitol Records as of 2005.
1966 - The Beach Boys record the track "Our Prayer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol will eventually release the track on the 5 CD set "Good Vibrations - 30 Years Of The Beach Boys". If anyone has more information about the session, please leave a comment.
1967 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Jay Daversa, Clyde Raesinger, Carl Leach, Dalton Smith, and Jack Laubach on trumpet; Tom Whittaker, Dick Shearer, and Tom Senff on trombone; Jim Amlotte on bass trombone; Graham Ellis on bass trombone and tuba; Ray Reed on alto saxophone and piccalo; Alan Rowe and Bob Dahl on tenor saxophone; John Mitchell on bass saxophone; Bill Fritz on baritone and bass saxophone and flute; Stan Kenton on piano; Monty Budwig on bass; Dee Barton on drums; Chino Valdes on congas and bongos) record the tracks "Interchange", "Changing Times", "A Man And A Woman", "Imagine" and "The World We Knew" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks on Kenton's album "The World We Know".
1967 - Elli St. James (aka Elli Janov) records the tracks "Theme 1", "My Heart Won't Let Me Shake You, Baby", and "Portobello Road" in Los Angeles, CA. Capitol will release "Theme 1" and "Portobello Road" together as a single (Capitol 2037). If anyone knows if "My Heart Won't Let Me Shake You, Baby" was ever released, please leave a comment.
1967 - Summer Snow records the tracks "Flying On The Ground" and "Your Thoughts Have Wings" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol would purchase the masters and release the tracks together as a single (Capitol 2031).
1968 - Linda Rondstadt and The Stone Poneys record the tracks "Break My Mind", "It's About Time" and "We Need A Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Of Rock 'N' Roll)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks on the group's album "Hand Sown...Home Grown".
1968 - The Beach Boys record the track "Time To Get Alone" in Los Angeles, California which Capitol Records will release on their album "20/20".
1968 - Bill Tinker records the tracks "Again, Again", "Son", "Dee Anne" and "Anything You Ask" in the first session of the day and "Silver Love Line", "You Could Get High", "Midway" and "Man From Birmingham" at the second session of the day in Los Angeles, California. All the tracks will be included on his Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) album "Inside Out". "Man From Birmingham" will be released as a single by Tower Records (Tower 472) with "An Everyday Thing" on the flip side.
1971 - Billy May and The Time-Life Orchestra (John Audino, John Best, Uan Rasey, Pete Candoli, and Mickey Mangano on trumpet; Ed Kusby, Gil Falco, Dick Noel, and Dave Wells on trombone; Les Robinson, Ronnie Lang, Abe Most, Justin Gordon, Nat Brown, and Chuck Gentry on saxophone; Ray Sherman on piano; Bob Bain on guitar; Rollie Bundock on bass; Nick Fatool on drums; and Larry Bunker on vibraphone) with May conducting his own arrangements, record the tracks "Rose Room", "Sidewalks Of Cuba", "Solo Flight" and "Yesterdays" at The Capitol Tower Studios" in Hollywood, California. Time-Life will release the tracks.
1971 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's album "The Folk Album" which features Ford's youngest son Brion (then 19) accompanying his father on the track "Cotton Fields", and Buck Owen's compilation album "The Best Of Buck Owens, Volume 4"
1973 - David Frizell records the track "I've Been Satisfied" at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California for Buck Owens Enterprises. Capitol will purchase the masters and release the track as a single (Capitol 3787) with "Jesus and Joe" on the flip side.
1973 - Billy C. Graham records the tracks "Have A Good Time", "I'm Just A Pushover", "Dreaming" and "You're My Kind Of Woman" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release "Have A Good Time" as a single (Capitol 3909) with "(She's The) Reason For Giving A Damn" on the flip side. The other tracks from the session remain unissued as of 2005.
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Al Martino does an overdub for the track "Love Will Conquer All" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol will release the finished track on Martino's album "To The Door Of The Sun".
1975 - Natalie Cole's first hit Capitol Records single "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" written by Chuck Jackson and Cole's future husband Marvin Yancy, with "Joey" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's R&B chart
1975 - Billy Jean Campbell files for divorce from Capitol Records artist Glen Campbell
1976 - Glen Campbell does overdubs for the tracks "When Did I Lose Your Love" (unreleased as of 2005), "Early Morning Song" and "This Is Sarah's Song" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the finshed versions of the last two tracks on Campbell's album "Southern Nights".
1977 - Connie Cato, with unknown session musicians, records the tracks "It's Late (And I Have To Go)", "Yellow House Of Love" and "Saturday Night Sin" in Nashville, Tennesee. Capitol will release "Yellow House Of Love" as a single (Capitol 4547) with "Then Give Him Back To Me" on the flip side. It is unknown if the other two tracks have been issued.
1978 - A Taste Of Honey's debut Capitol Records album, "A Taste Of Honey", is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1982 - Little River Band records the tracks "The Other Guy", "D", "One Day", "St. Louis", and two mixes of "Down On The Border" in Australia. Capitol Records released "The Other Guy" as a single (Capitol 5185) with "No More Tears" on the flip side. The next three tracks remain unreleased as of 2005. The first mix of "Down On The Border" was released by Capitol Records on the album "Greatest Hits" and the second on the album "The Net".
1985 - Anne Murray, with an orchestra arranged by Keith Diamond, records the track "Reach For Me" at Unique Recording Studio in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will release the track as a single (Capitol 5576) with "Who's Leaving Who" on the flip side.
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owen's album "Act Naturally" on CD
2000 - Capitol Records artist Faron Young is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the 2000 CMA Award Show in Nashville, Tennessee
2001 - Capitol Record producer Ken Nelson and Capitol Records group The Jordanaires are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in a special ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee
2005 - Capitol Records releases Liz Phair's album "Somebody's Miracle", Ebony Eyez's album "7 Day Cycle", The Magic Numbers self-titled album, John Lennon's compilation album "Working Class Hero-The Definitive Lennon" 2 CD set, and a remastered version of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album "Acoustic" on CD
2005 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Chris Cagle's album "Anywhere But Here"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 or 1960 - Afrika Bambaataa, early developer of Hip-Hop, record producer and EMI America artist (1988-1991), may have been born on this day (maybe as Kevin Donovan) in South Bronx, New York City, New York. Capitol Records currently owns EMI America's catalog. If anyone knows his true birth name and birth date, please leave a comment.
1983 - Kim Carnes works on a Dance mix of her track "Invisible Hands" that will be released by EMI America Records as a single (EMI-Am. 7815) with the track's original mix on the flip side. EMI America's catalog is owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Graham Chapman, certified medical doctor, actor, comedian, member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, dies of spinal cancer at age 48 in a hospital in London England, the day before a 20th anniversary celebration for the show. Fellow Python member Terry Jones jokingly said, "I thought it was in terribly bad taste for him to die when he did" and "That was the worst case of party-pooping I have ever come across". In 1988 when I was working for Virgin Records America, I adapted the U.K packaging of Monty Python's "The Final Rip Off" 2 CD set for release in the United States. Capitol Records currently owns the Virgin Records America.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Russell Simmons, co-founder (with Rick Rubin) of Def Jam Records, older brother of Rev. Joseph Simmons (aka "Run" of Run-DMC), and media entrepreneur, is born in Queens, New York
1970 - Janis Joplin, singer, is found dead of a heroin overdose at age 27 her room at the Landmark Motor Hotel (now called the Highland Gardens Hotel), 7047 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA. She is cremated at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California, and her ashes are scattered into the Pacific Ocean.