SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1922 - Oscar Pettiford, double bass and cello player, composer, member of Capitol Records group Woody Herman and His Orchestra, Thad Jones' Blue Note Records group, and Jimmy Guiffre's Atlantic Records group, as well as a player on recordings with Charlie Barnet, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Stan Getz, and "discoverer" of Capitol Records artist Cannonball Adderley, is born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma
1940 - Dewey Martin, singer, drummer, with the Tower Records band Sir Raliegh and The Coupons, on a demo for Capitol for the band The Dillards, drummer with the band The Herd which will become Buffalo Springfield, is born Walter Milton Dewayne Midkiff in Chesterville, Ontario, Cananda
1953- Deborah Allen, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and Capitol Records artist, is born Deborah Lynn Thurmond in Memphis, Tennessee

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger and conductor Billy May, records the tracks "Just In Time", "The Song Is You", and "It All Depends On You" which will be remain unreleased until it is included as a bonus track in 1987 on the CD version of his Capitol Records album "Come Dance With Me!"
1968 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "I've Got You On My Mind Again" with "That's All Right With Me" on the flip side
1977 - Mary Ford (born Iris Colleen Hatfield), singer, motion picture actress, guitarist, television variety show co-host ("The Les Paul and Mary Ford at Home Show"), one-time wife of Capitol Records artist Les Paul, and half of the Capitol Records duo Les Paul and Mary Ford, dies at age 53 in Arcadia, California of cancer after spending 54 days in a diabetic coma and is later buried at Forest Lawn-Covina Hills in Covina, California
1990 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Friends In Low Places", on the flip side of "Dance", is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
2003 - Capitol Records releases Bonnie Raitt's compilation album "The Best of Bonnie Raitt"
2004 - Capitol Records releases The Smashing Pumpkins' album "I Might Be Wrong-Live Recordings"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955- James Dean, stage, television and motion picture actor, is killed in head-on collision while driving his Porsche Syder at 75 miles an hour at the intersection of routes 46 and 41, near Cholame, California. Capitol Records will later release a soundtrack album for the documentary film "The James Dean Story.
1987 - Virgin Records artist Roy Orbison records the television special "Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night" for Cinemax at The Coconut Grove in The Ambassador Hotel. I was working at Virgin at the time and was in the audience in the back of the room. Also in the audience were singer Billy Idol (who was in total awe of Roy) and actor Patrick Swayze (who, by the end of the show was feeling no pain). The Ambassador was torn down in 2006 to make room for a new school. After the show I met Roy and he was nice enough to sign a CD I brought of his early recordings. The next morning Los Angeles was hit by the biggest earthquake (5.6 on the Richter scale) and after shocks since the '70s. I was at home when the first one hit and at Virgin's offices for a large aftershock that had the staircases swaying. I later designed the packaging for Virgin's promotional version of the video. Virgin Records is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group. The Ambassador Hotel was demolished by its new owner, The Los Angeles Unified School District, in 2006 to make way for a new school. The Coconut Grove building is also no longer standing. It was originally promised to be turned into the new school's auditorium after the floor had been tilted for seating, but an examination determined that the concrete in 66 percent of the structure didn't meet current standards for surviving a large earthquake and the LAUSD board got its way and it was demolished to make way for a new auditorium. An article in the Los Angeles Times said that one bright note was that the original sign for the Coconut Grove was found when the glass entryway that was a later addition to the building was demolished.
1988 - John Lennon's star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame is unveiled with Yoko Ono in attendance
1990 - Maxi Priest's Charisma Records (a subsidiary of Virgin Records, distributed at the time in the United State by Atlantic Records) single "Close To You", with "I Know Love" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. The single was released by 10 Records (another Virgin Records subsidiary) in the United Kingdom. 10 Records' and Charisma Records' catalogs are currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Former Capitol Records artist, Broadway and motion picture actress Liza Minnelli receives a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame
1993 - George Harrison guests on Fox-TV's "The Simpsons"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1452 - Johann Guttenberg publishes a German language version of The Bible, the first book in Europe to be printed using moveable type
1935 - George and Ira Gershwin's opera "Porgy And Bess" premieres at The Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusettes
1950 - Billboard Magazine renames its Hillbilly singles chart to become the "Country & Western" chart
1960 - At the end of the last episode of the NBC-TV series "The Howdy Doody Show" the normally silent character Clarabell The Clown says "Good-bye" to the audience.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1922 - Louise Dinning aka Lou Dinning, singer and part of the Capitol Records group The Dinning Sisters (with her sisters Ginger and Jean), is born in Grant County, Oklahoma. Her brother, Mark Dinning, had his own hit with the single "Teen Angel" which was written by his sister Jean.
1938 - Tommy Boyce, music producer, songwriter (most notably with partner Bobby Hart) and member of the Capitol Records band Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart is born Sidney Thomas Boyce in Charlottesville, Virginia
1948 - Mark Farner, guitarist and lead vocalist for the Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad is born in Flint, Michigan
1968 - Brad Smith, bass and flute player for the Capitol Records band Blind Melon is born in West Point, Mississippi

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Capitol Records artist Jimmy Wakely debuts on The Grand Ole Opry
1948 - The Mel Powell Septet (Clyde Hurley on trumpet, Lou McGarity on trombone, Gus Bivona on clarinet, Don Lodice on tenor saxophone, Mel Powell on piano, Tiny Berman on bass, and Frank Carlson on drums) record the track "Muskrat Ramble" in Los Angles, California for Capitol Records as part of the soundtrack album for the Samuel Goldwyn film "A Song Is Born" which was sold to benefit the Damon Runyon Memorial Cancer Fund
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Tex Ritter records the tracks "America Our Land", "This Land Is Your Land", and "Remember The Alamo" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will later issue the tracks on Ritter's album "Sweet Land Of Liberty" (T 2743).
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Victor Aller (on piano) and The Concert Arts Orchestra (lineup unlisted), conducted by Felix Slatkin, record Dohnanyi's "Variations On A Nursery Tune, Part 1" at the first session and "Variations On A Nursery Tune, Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the tracks on the orchestra's album "BRITTEN - The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra/DOHNANYI - Variations On A Nursery Tune" (P-8373).
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Jeanne Black (on vocals) with unlisted others, records the tracks "Heartbreak U.S.A.", "His Own Little Island", "Guessin' Again" and the as yet unissued track "Keep It Secret" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 4654) and the third track as a single (Capitol 4685) with "A Letter To Anya" (recorded December 18, 1961) on the flip side.
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Joe Bushkin (on piano), with unlisted others, records the as yet unissued tracks "Soliloquy", "Hallelujah", and "One For My Baby" for Capitol Records in New York City, New York.
1964 - The Beatles record the track "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" at Abbey Road Studios in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the track on the group's album "Beatles VI" (Capitol T 2358).
40 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Quicksilver Messenger Service recorded the track "Song For Frisco" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will later issue the track on the band's album "Quicksilver" (Capitol SW-819).
1969 -Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Tall Dark Stranger"
1973 - Grand Funk's Capitol Records single "We're An American Band", with "Creepin'" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1979 - The Knack's Capitol Records single "My Sharona", with "Let Me Out" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1986 - During two sessions held this day, Suzy Bogguss with leader Sonny Garrish and Larry Paxton, Jerry Kroon, Brent Rowan, and Mitch Humphries, records the tracks "A Little Common Kindness", "I Don't Want To Set The Word On Fire", and "What About Her Heart" at the first session between 10 AM and 1 PM and, after Robert Ogdin replaces Mitch Humphries, records the the tracks "It Must Be You", "It Just So Happened", "Hopeless Romantic", and "Don't Talk To Me" at the second session between 2 PM and 5PM at Music City Music Hall in Nashville, Tennessee. After Overdubs are recorded at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee on September 30 and October 10, 1986 Capitol Records will issue "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" and "Hopeless Romantic" together as a single (Capitol 5669). The other tracks are, so far, unreleased.
25 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Ann Wilson (on vocals), with unlisted others, records "The Best Man In The World" for "The Golden Child" motion picture soundtrack. Capitol Records will issue the track as a single (Capitol 5654) with an instrumental version of the song on the flipside.
2003 - Wesley Tuttle, singer, yodeler (yodeled in Disney's "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs"), actor, guitarist and the second country artist signed to Capitol Records (1944-1957), dies in Sylmar, California of heart failure at age 85
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - The Los Angeles Times reports that EMI is selling The Capitol Tower and adjoining buildings and property to an East Coast Developer for $50 million dollars (cheap!) and that Capitol Records and The Capitol Tower Studios will become tenants of the building "for many years". The article also stated that the south east parking lot will probably be developed into a multi purpose building with housing, offices and shops. So far no renderings of the new building or any idea on how much it will block the view of The Tower when driving by on Hollywood Boulevard or north on Vine Street.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Future Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox joins The Grand Ole Opry
1963 - "The Judy Garland Show" premieres on CBS-TV with former Capitol Records artist Mel Torme as musical advisor and arranger for the series. Capitol would eventually be one of the many companies to release live tracks from the show on various compilation albums.
1984 - Teddy Reig, a&r man and record producer for Roulette Records artists Count Basie, Jack Teagarden, Randy Weston, Thad Jones and Sara Vaughn, dies in Teaneck, New Jersey at age 65. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1987 - Dan Seal's EMI America single "Three Time Loser", with "On The Front Line" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1987 - EMI America Records releases The Red Hot Chilli Peppers' album "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan".
1992 - EMI America Records releases The Red Hot Chilli Pepper's compliation album and video "What Hits!?".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Gene Autry, actor, singer, and baseball team owner, is born Orvon Gene Autry in Tioga, Texas
1935 - Jerry Lee Lewis, pianist, singer and Sun Records recording artist, is born in Ferriday, Louisiana
1970 - Edward Everett Horton, singer, dancer, Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion picture actor, and cartoon voice artist, dies of cancer in Encino, California at age 84

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1930 - Tommy Collins, songwriter, singer, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee, and a Capitol Records artist (1953-1957 and 1963-1964) is born Leonard Raymond Sipes at a farm just outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Rockabilly Hall Of Fame website has a great biography page on Tommy.
1952 - Andy Ward, drummer with the Capitol Records group Marillion (1983), is born in London, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1959 - Stan Kenton, his orchestra, June Christy, and The Four Freshmen begin a five-week road tour with a concert at Murray State College in Kentucky. Their October 10 concert at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, performed in front of more than twelve thousand people in a pouring rainstorm, will be recorded and released as the Capitol Records album "Road Show".
1959 - The Kingston Trio records John Stewart's "Green Grasses" which will be initially released as the flip side of their Capitol Records single "Coo Coo-U"
1962 - Capitol Records artist Judy Garland files for divorce from her husband and manager Sid Luft, father of her daughter Lorna and son Joseph
1963 - The Beach Boys' "Little Deuce Coupe", the flip side of their Capitol Records' single "Surfer Girl", peaks at #15 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Leaves (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Lemon Princess" and "Officer Shayne" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks on the group's album "All The Good That's Happening" (Capitol T 2638).
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Lou Rawls (on vocals), with H.B. Barnum conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Freddie Hill and Tony Terran on trumpet, Jackie Kelso, Jim Horn, and Jay Migliori on saxophones, Tommy Strode on piano, Tommy Tedesco and Arthur Wright on guitar, Jimmy Bond on bass, and John Gueri on drums), records the tracks "A Woman Who's A Woman" and "You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 5790).
1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "It's The Little Things", with "Don't Cut Timber On A Windy Day" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", with "Revolution" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will stay for nine weeks
1974 - Andy Kim's Capitol Records single "Rock Me Gently", with "Rock Me Gently Part II" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1988 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Hot Dog", with "Second Fiddle" on the flip side
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Garth Brooks' Capitol Nashville album "Ropin' The Wind" becomes the first album to ever enter both of Billboard's Top 200 Albums and Top Country Albums charts at #1 at the same time
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Miles Davis, trumpet player and Capitol Records (1949-1950)and Blue Note Records (1952-1954) artist, dies after a stroke in Santa Monica, California at age 65
1999 - Capitol Records releases Garth Brooks' album "Garth Brooks In... The Life of Chris Gaines"
2004 - Capitol Records releases Duran Duran's album "Astronaut" on CD and a limited double vinyl version. Capitol Records also releases Everclear's compilation album "Ten Years Gone - The Best Of Everclear 1994-2004", and the compilation CD "Ultimate Christmas Cocktails" as part of its Ultra-Lounge series

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1902 - Ed Sullivan, newspaper sportswriter and theater columnist, gossip columnist on radio and newsreels, and radio and television variety show host (CBS' "Toast Of The Town" which will become "The Ed Sullivan Show" and showcases many Capitol Records artists, and played an important part in kicking of Beatlemania in the U.S.), is born Edward Vincent Sullivan in Manhattan, New York
1963 - Murray The K becomes the first disc jockey in the United States to spin a track by The Beatles when he plays their Swan Records single "She Loves You", which has "I'll Get You" on the flip side, on his daily record review contest on radio station WINS in New York City, New York. The single came in third out of the five played.
2004 - Nonesuch Records releases a newly recorded version of Brian Wilson's album "Smile", which had been started 38 years earlier as a Beach Boys' album for Capitol Records and shelved a year after recording started.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1909 - Al Capp, cartoonist who created the strp "Li'l Abner" (which was later adapted into a musical with lyrics by Capitol Records' co-founder Johnny Mercer) and also invented the holiday Sadie Hawkins Day, is born Alfred Gerald Caplin in New Haven, Connecticut
1964 - Nacio Herb Brown (born Ignacio Herb Brown), Broadway and Hollywood composer ("Singin' In The Rain", "Lucky Star", "Broadway Melody", etc. with lyricist Alan Freed) and 1970 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, dies in San Francisco, California at age 68

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
1933 - Glenn and Dorothy Wallichs are married. Glenn will go on to found Hollywood's first music superstore – Wallichs' Music City ("Sunset and Vine") – and co-found Capitol Records, where he will also serve as vice-president, president and chairman of the board. After Glenn's death in 1971 Dorothy, who will die on December 19, 2002, will go on to quietly do charitable works including contributing funds to the University of Redlands in California to build, and then refurbish, The Glenn Wallichs Theatre.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1927 - Bud Powell, composer, pianist, member of the Capitol Records band Cootie Williams and His Orchestra and a solo Blue Note Records artist, is born Earl Powell in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Ground breaking occurs for the world's first round office building – The Capitol Tower – when Capitol Records' president Glenn Wallichs uses a bulldozer instead of a traditional shovel to start construction. The ceremony is emceed by Don Wilson with many Capitol Records artists and executives attending as well as local politicians. Later that day, Capitol Records president Glenn Wallichs is roasted by local Los Angeles radio disc jockeys at a lunch hosted by The Los Angeles Ad Club, with emcee Dean Martin. Both events are recorded and pressed as the souvenir two record 10" 33RPM album called "Glenn Wallichs' Day" which is given to employees and others. Wallichs and his wife Dorothy will then continue to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary.
1964 - Capitol Records group The Beach Boys make their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
1965 - Stan Kenton begins three straight days of sessions, recording tracks for his Capitol Records album "Stan Kenton Conducts The Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra", at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Soupy Sales records the tracks "Use your noggin'", "The Backwards Alphabet", and the as yet unissued track "You Came A Long Way From St. Louis" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 5766).
1967 - Gordon Waller, of Capitol Records group Peter and Gordon, records the track "So Long Dad" by Randy Newmann, but the track is never released
1973 - Tennessee Ernie Ford records the tracks "Bits And Pieces Of Life", which will be released as the flip side of Ford's Capitol Records single "Come On Down" on June 24, 1974, and "Smokey Taverns, Bar Room Girls", which will have the track "The Devil Ain't A Lonely Woman's Friend" as its flip side when it's released as a single on October 13, 1975
1973 - Grand Funk's Capitol Records single "We're An American Band", a version of which Capitol has pressed on gold-colored vinyl, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1979 - Jimmy McCulloch, lead guitarist with the Capitol Records band Wings as well as a member of the bands Thunderclap Newman and Stone The Crows, dies in London, England at age 26 of a heart failure due to overuse of heroin, morphine, alcohol and marijuana
1995 - Rosemary Clooney begins four straight days of sessions, recording tracks for her album "Dedicated To Nelson", at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
In 2005 - Capitol Records releases: Blind Melon's compilation album "Tones Of Home: The Best Of Blind Melon" on CD and their concert film "Live At The Metro" on DVD; The Band's "A Musical History", a box set covering The Band's recording career from 1963 to 1976, with 37 previously unreleased tracks; and the Christmas compilation "Christmas Cocktails Part Three" as part of its Ultra-Lounge series
2010 - Buddy Morrow (born Muni Zudekoff on February 8, 1919 in New Haven, Connecticut), trombonist, bandleader of The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra for over 30 years (last playing with the band three days earlier on September 24, 2010 in Ormond Beach, Florida) and Capitol Records session artist for recordings by Nat "King" Cole, Mel Tormé (including a duet with Tormé and Peggy Lee), Jackie Gleason and Arte Shaw, dies at his home in Maitland, Florida at age 91.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - NBC-TV broadcasts the nationwide debut of "Tonight!" (later renamed "The Tonight Show"), hosted by future Capitol Records artist Steve Allen. It is also Allen's new wife's (they married on July 31, 1954), motion picture and television actress Jayne Meadows, birthday. She was born Jayne Meadows Cotter in Wuchang, China in 1920.
50 Years Ago Today 1961 - Liberty Records releases Johnny Burnette's single "God, Country and My Baby" with "Honestly I Do" on the flip side. Capitol Records currently owns Liberty's catalog
1963 - Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI, releases Cillia Black's first single, "Love of the Loved", in the United Kingdom. Capitol Records will later distribute Black's releases in the United States.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1885 - Joseph McCarthy, lyricist (best known for the Broadway musicals "Irene", "Kid Boots", and "Rio Rita" as well as the songs "You Made Me Love You", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "In My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown", and "Rio Rita"), is born in Somerville, Massachusettes
1898 - Vincent Youmans, musician, composer ("Hit The Deck", "Great Day!", "No, No Nanette" {w/Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II}, "I Know That You Know (w/Harbach}, "More Than You Know", "Rise ’n’ Shine", "Flying Down To Rio", "The Carioca" and many more), and Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee, is born in New York City, New York
75 Years Ago Today In 1936 - Don Cornelius, television show creator (best known for the syndicated show "Soul Train" which he hosted from 1971-1994 and still produces), is born in Chicago, Illinois
1942 - Glenn Miller gives his final civilian performance before entering the U.S. Army when he and his orchestra perform at the Central Theater in Passaic County, New Jersey
1947 - Meatloaf, actor and singer, is born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1967 - Shannon Hoon, lead singer and harmonica, kazoo and acoustic guitar player with the Capitol Records band Blind Melon, is born Richard Shannon Hoon in Lafayette, Indiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Capitol Records releases Judy Garland's debut album for the label, "Miss Show Business"
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Gordon Jenkins conducts his own arrangements to an uncredited orchestra and The Ralph Brewster Singers (lineup also unlisted) as they record "To Each His Own", "I Kiss Your Hand Madam", "My Reverie" and "Cherie, I Love You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra's album "Night Dreams" (T 781).
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Lonnie Sattin (on vocals), with Ray Ellis conducting an uncredited orchestra and chorus, records the track "I Remember You Love", the as yet unissued track "Don't Have To Tell Nobody", and the tracks "(You're) The First One To Find The Rainbow" and "I Think I Go, I Think I Stay" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol F374) and the last track as a single (Capitol F3632) with "Walk Along With Kings".
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Buck Owens and His Buckaroos (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Down On The Corner Of Love", "The House Down The Block", "Fool Me Again". "You're For Me", and "Blues For Life" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release "You're For Me" as a single on November 5, 1962 with "House Down The Block" on the flip side (Capitol 4872) and all the tracks on Owens' album "You're For Me" (Capitol T 1777).
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Joe Bushkin, on piano with unlisted others, records the as yet unissued tracks "Make Someone Happy", "You're Just In Love", "I've Got A Crush On You", and "Stompin' At The Savoy" for Capitol Records in New York City, New York.
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Arch Oboler records the tracks "Dentist-Patient/Lights Out/Western/Railroad tTrack-Drunk/Housewife" at the first session and at the second he records the tracks "Chicken Heart/Dachau/Baby & Dog/Laughing Man/Medieval Execution/Inside out" and "Baby in Frypen" in Los Angeles, California. There is no listing for any release.
1962 - The Kingston Trio record the track "The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)" for their Capitol Records album "New Frontier". Ten years later Roberta Flack would cover the song.
1965 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Only You (Can Break My Heart)", with "Gonna Have Love" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Dobie Gray, singer and songwriter, signs with Capitol Records
1969 - The Beatles' last recorded studio album "Abbey Road" is released by Apple Records and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States
1970 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "It's Only Make Believe", with "Pave You Way Into Tomorrow" on the flip side, enters the U.S. Country singles charts where it will peak at #3
1974 - Apple Records releases John Lennon's album "Walls And Bridges" with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States
1993 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Ain't Goin' Down (Till The Sun Comes Up)" with "Kickin' And Screamin'" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1995 - Capitol Records releases Jill Sobule's track "Supermodel", from the original motion picture soundtrack album for the film "Clueless" (also released by the label), as a 7" jukebox 45rpm single with The Smoking Pope's track "Need You Around" (also on the soundtrack album) as the flip side
1995 - Capitol Records Nashville releases John Berry's album "O Holy Night"
1995 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's compilation CD set "The Capitol Years"
1997 - A memorial service is held for one time Capitol Records artist Jimmy Witherspoon at the True Vine Baptist Church1437 in Inglewood, California
2000 - Capitol Records releases the Frank Sinatra box set, "Frank Sinatra - Concepts", which contains all 16 of Sinatra's Capitol Concepts albums digitally remastered and replaces the previous, limited-run, wooden "Concepts" box
2003 - Robert Palmer (born Robert Allen Palmer), lead singer of the Capitol Records group Power Station, dies in Paris, France of a heart attack at the age of 54. He is later interred at the cemetery in city where he resided at the time, Lugano, Switzerland.
2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "Days Go By" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts, becoming his fifth #1
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Sean Lennon appears on "The Late Show with David Letterman" to promote his new album "Friendly Fire" whose release has been delayed to October 3 from it's original September 26 date
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records releases: Saosin's self-titled album as a standard CD and as a CD and DVD set that includes videos of songs on the album; the soundtrack to the motion picture "The U.S. VS John Lennon"; Peggy Lee's compilation album "Christmas With Peggy Lee"; and re-releases George Harrison's "Living In A Material World" as a digitally remastered CD and as a CD and DVD set that includes a live performance of "Give Me Love" as well as a rare photos that play to other songs
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Jazz re-releases, as part of its "The Great Jazz Vocal Collection", Dinah Shore and Andre Previn's Capitol Records album "Dinah Sings Previn Plays", June Christy's Capitol Records album "The Intimate Miss Christy", Sue Raney's Capitol Records album "All By Myself", Irene Kral and Herb Pomeroy's United Artists album "The Band And I", and Julie London's Liberty Records album "Around Midnight". Capitol Jazz is a Blue Note label, which is currently a subsidiary of Capitol Records. The Liberty and United Artists catalogs are currently owned by Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1928 - Julie London, singer, motion picture and television actress, wife first to actor and television producer Jack Webb and then to actor, record producer, composer and pianist Bobby Troupe, and Liberty Records artist, is born Julie Peck in Santa Rosa, California
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Blueberry Hill" enters Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart where it will eventually reach # 4. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1969 - Drummer Elvin Jones, with Joe Farrell on tenor saxophone, flute and english horn, George Coleman on tenor saxophone, Pepper Adams on baritone saxophone, Wilbur Little on bass, and Candido Camero on congas, records the tracks "Mr. Jones", "Yes" without Camero, "Agappe Love", "Whew" without Adams and Camero, and "Agenda", at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with producer Francis Wolff and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder. The tracks would appear on Jones' Blue Note Records albums "Mr. Jones" and "Polycurrents". Blue Notes catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - EMI Classics releases Paul McCartney's fourth classical album "Ecce Cor Meum"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1887 - Emile Berliner, a German immigrant living in Washington, D.C., patents a disk recording device that makes mass production of phonograph records feasible. He will later license the patent in the U.K. to The Gramophone Corporation which would become EMI. They would in turn license the use of their logo "His Master's Voice" to Berliner to use in the United States. Berliner's company would later become RCA.
1898 - George Gershwin, composer, is born Jacob Gershowitz in Brooklyn, New York
1962 - "The Beverly Hillbillies" debuts on CBS-TV and will air 274 episodes over 9 seasons. It is also series co-star (Ellie Mae Clampett) Donna Douglas' 29th birthday. Douglas has also had a role on an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and co-stars with Elvis Presely in the motion picture "Frankie And Johnny".
1964 - "Gilligan's Island" debuts on CBS-TV and will air 98 episodes over 3 seasons

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1940 - Wade Flemons, solo VeeJay Records artist and founding member, musician, and vocalist in the Capitol Records group The Salty Peppers which later became Earth, Wind and Fire, is born in Coffeyville, Kansas
1973 - Ras Kass, rapper and Priority Records solo artist and part of the group The HRSMN, is born John Austin IV in Carson, California. Priority Records is a division of Capitol Records.
1974 - Daniel Kessler, guitarist and backing vocalist in the Capitol Records/EMI band Interpol, is born Daniel Alexander Kessler in London, England.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1946 - On the last night of a four night stand at The Circle Room in the Hotel La Salle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that is broadcast on WEMP, The King Cole Trio (arranger Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) performs an instrumental version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" as well as songs "Sweet Lorraine", "Oh, But I Do" (with the entire band on vocals), "My Sugar Is So Refined" and "Closing Theme (F.S.T.)". Capitol Records will release transcriptions of the all the tracks on the CD "Nat King Cole Trio - Live At The Circle Room" (Capitol 5-21859-2).
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - In a split session held on this day in Los Angeles, California Jimmy Wakely (on vocals) and his Cowboy Band (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight" and "Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon" at the first session and then at the second session Jimmy Wakely and Lucille "Lou" Dinning (both on vocals) with Don Robertson's Music (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "Each Step Of The Way" and "Just A Little More Waiting". Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 1880), the third track as a single (Capitol 1838) with "Gonna Walk With My Lord" on the flipside, and the last track as a single (Capitol 1936) with "Missing In Action" on the flipside.
1953 - Jerry Lewis and June Foray (on vocals) with the Van Alexander Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the tracks "The Nagger, Part 1" and "The Nagger, Part 2" using a script written by Warren Foster and adapted by Alan Livingston at Capitol's Melrose Avenue Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the tracks together on the children's records album "The Nagger" (Capitol CAS-3190).
55 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Gordon Jenkins conducts his own arrangements to an uncredited orchestra along with The Ralph Brewster Singers (lineup also unlisted) as they record the tracks "Drifting And Dreaming", "My Silent Love", "Allah's Holiday", and "Does Your Heart Beat For Me?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra's album "Night Dreams" (Capitol T 781).
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Vic Damone (on vocals) with Jack Marshall conducting his own arrangements to an uncredited orchestra records the tracks "'Tender Is The Night' Theme" and "Something You Never Had Before" and unissued takes of the tracks "Stella By Starlight" and "Linger Awhile" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol F4645).
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Capitol Records artist Donna Loren appears on the NBC-TV series "The Monkees" in the episode "Everywhere A Shiek, Shiek"
1967 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "It Takes People Like You" with "You Left Her Lonely Too Long" on the flip side
1974 - Andy Kim's Capitol Records single "Rock Me Gently", with "Rock Me Gently Part II" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Capitol Records releases Mel McDaniel's second single "I Thank God She Isn't Mine" with "I'll Keep On Lovin' You" on the flip side
35 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Captiol Records group Wings raises $50,000 when it plays a benefit concert for the restoration of water-damaged art treasures in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy
1982 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records single "Abracadabra" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1993 - Apple and Capitol Records artist George Harrison makes guest appearances on "The Simpsons" along with David Crosby
1997 - Capitol Records releases Everclear's album "So Much For The Afterglow"
10 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Capitol Records releases Dave Koz & Friends' album "A Smooth Jazz Christmas"
2002 - Capitol Records releases a 24 bit digitally remastered CD of Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band's "Stanger In Town" album
2002 - Masanori Sasaji & L. A. Allstars start the first of two straight days of recording sessions for their album "Afro Blue" in front of a live audience, using the combined space of Studio A and B at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California by opening the retractable walls
2005 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville album "Golden Road" is certified triple platinum by the R.I.A.A.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Roulette release Frankie Lymon's first solo single, "My Girl". Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1963 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano, Bobby Haynes on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "Mr. Sandman", "Some Samba", and with Joe Sample on electric piano, "Stix March" for their Pacific Jazz album "Heat Wave" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer and recording engineer Richard Bock on to four track masters. Pacific Jazz's library is currently owned by Capitol Records and re-issued by Blue Note Records.
1965 - ABC-TV debuts the King Features Syndicate cartoon series "The Beatles"
1969 - With its final acquisition of Northern Songs and Lenmac Enterprises Ltd., which is started on May 5, 1969, Associated Television (ATV) gains control of almost all of the Lennon-McCartney song catalog
1977 - Kenny Rogers' United Artists single "Daytime Friends", with "We Don't Make Love Anymore" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1990 - Dave Grohl, former drummer of the Washington, D.C. band Scream and future guitarist of the Capitol Records band Foo Fighters, joins the band Nirvana
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Saffron Sahara, daughter of Simon LeBon (best known as the lead singer of the Capitol Records group Duran Duran) and his wife Yasmin Parvenah, is born
10 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Virgin Records releases two singles, "Dig In," by Lenny Kravitz and "God Gave Me Everything" by Mick Jagger to digital retailers via Liquid Audio. They will be the first downloadable singles that The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) will agree to accept for Grammy consideration.
10 Years Ago Today In 2001 - EMI America, a division of Capitol Records, releases Poison's compilation album "Poison – Rock Champions"
2007 - Capitol Records releases Hurt's album "Vol. II".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1639 - The first printing press in the English colonies in North America begins operation at The Cambridge Press in New England
1690 - "Publick Occurrences", the first newspaper published in America, is printed by Richard Pierce and edited by Benjamin Harris in Boston in the English colony of Massachusettes. Only one issue will be published before the English authorities suppress it.
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Mark Hamill, television, motion picture and stage actor, cartoon voice actor, and silver age comic book collector, is born Mark Richard Hamill in Oakland, California

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1923 - Fats Navarro, trumpet player, bandleader, and Capitol (as a member of Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra and The Benny Goodman Sextet) and Blue Note Records (solo and part of The Tadd Dameron Sextet) artist, is born Theodore Navarro in Key West, Florida. Dr. Stuart A. Varden has a wondeful site on the life of Fats with a pretty detailed sessionography.
1924 - Sheila MacRae, singer, motion picture and television actress (best known as the third Alice Kramden on "The Honeymooners" segment of "The Jackie Gleason Show", wife of Capitol Records artist Gordon MacRae, and a Capitol Records artist as part of a duo with her husband, is born Sheila Margaret Stephens in London, England. Gordon and Sheila were at the opening night festivities for The Capitol Tower.
75 Years Ago Today In 1936 - Jim Henson, puppeteer, television and motion picture producer, and creator of The Muppets (an adaptation of their move "Muppets Treasure Island" was released by Capitol Records), is born James Maury Henson in Greenville, Mississippi
70 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Linda McCartney, photographer, singer, keyboard player, first wife of Paul McCartney, member of the Capitol Records group Wings, author, animal rights protector, vegetarian food manufacturer and, posthumously, a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Linda Louise Eastman in Scarsdale, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1946 - James (Jim) Baskett, Johnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers and Billy May conducting his own arrangements to his Orchestra (Uan Rasey on trumpet, Ed Kusby, Elmer Smithers, Carl Loeffler, and Arthur Frantz on trombone Nicholas Dann, J.A. Krechter, George Smith, Herman Berardinelli, and Arthur Fleming on saxophones, Ray Turner on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, Ralph Hansell on percussion, Kathryn Thompson on harp & a string section with Harry Bluestone, Ivan Eppinoff, Howard Halbert, Nicholas Pisani, Mischa Russell, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, and Olcott Vail on violin, Stanley Spiegelman and David Sterkin on viola, Cy Bernard and Fred Goerner on cello), using a script adaptation by Alan Livingston, record the tracks "Running Away, Part 2" and "Brer Rabbit And The Tar Baby, Part 2" at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release both tracks as part of the children's album "Tales Of Uncle Remus" (Capitol CC-40).
60 Years Ago Today in 1951 - Jan Garber and His Orchestra featuring Roy Cordell and The Dinning Sisters (Ginger, Delores & Jean Dinning) on vocals, record the tracks "Painting Clouds With Sunshine", "Heartbreak Hill" (with vocals by The Dinning Sisters), "We're In The Money (Gold digger's Song)", "Chances Are" (vocals by Roy Cordell), and "Jazz Pizzicato" (vocals by Roy Cordell) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 1852), "Heartbreak Hill" as a single (Capitol 1858) with "No! No! No! Not That!" (record on October 12, 1951) on the flip side, and the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol 1827).
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Bob Crosby and His Orchestra (with Bob leading Charlie Teagarden, Zeke Zarchy, and Ray Linn on trumpet, Murray McEachern, Ted Vesely, and Elmer Schneider on trombone, Matty Matlock on clarinet and alto saxophone), Willie Schwartz on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone, John Rotella on tenor and baritone saxophone, Stan Wrightsman on piano, Nappy Lamare on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) record the tracks "I Never Was Loved By Anyone Else" and "Sans Souci" (both with vocal by Gisele MacKenzie), and "Crying Shame" (with vocals by Bob Crosby and Jeanne Gayle) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 1826) and the last track as a single (Capitol 1894) with "Savoy Blues" (recorded October 3, 1951).
55 Years Ago Today in 1956 - The Andrews Sisters (vocalists Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, and Patty Andrews) with The Robert Mitchell Boys Choir (8 unidentified children) and The Lynn Murray Orchestra (with unlisted musicians) record the as yet unissued track "Hosanna, Hosanna" and the tracks "A Child's Christmas Song" and "Silver Bells" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol F3583).
55 Years Ago Today in 1956 - Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals), with Stuff Smith on violin, John Collins on guitar, Alvino Rey on steel guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, and Lee Young on drums, records the tracks "Sometimes I'm Happy", "I Know That You Know", "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", and "Two Loves Have I" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 2 PM and 7PM. EMI and Capitol will release all the tracks together for the first time on the English pressing of Cole's album "After Midnight" (EMS1103).
55 Years Ago Today in 1956 - At two sessions held this day in New York City, New York for Capitol Records Benny Goodman and His Orchestra record the as yet unissued tracks "'Warm Up' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" and "'Rag' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" at the first session and "'Ride Out' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" and "'Contrapuntal Blue' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" at the second session.
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Laurindo Almeida on guitar, with Ray Turner on piano, records Gnattali's "Concertino For Guitar And Piano, Movements 1 and 2" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the track on Almeida's album "Impressoes Do Brasil (Impressions Of Brazil)" (Capitol P-8381).
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Under The Influence Of Love" with "Bad Bad Dream" on the flip side. Other references list this single as being released on July 24, 1961. If anyone knows for sure which date is accurate, please leave a comment.
1962 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's single "One More Town" (Capitol 4842) with "She Was Too Good To Me" on the flip side. On the same day, the group records the track "New Frontier", written by John Stewart, for their upcoming Capitol Records album of the same name.
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Billboard magazine, in an article with today's street date, reports that The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer", with "Eleanor Rigby" on the flip side, has sold 1.2 million copies in just 4 weeks and has become the band's 21st gold single, setting a record for the most gold records earned by any act in R.I.A.A. history to that date
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Knack records the tracks "I'm Aware", "No Show Today" and "Merry-Go-Round" in Los Angeles, California.
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1969 - Before it's release, Capitol Records sends out new artwork to manufactures for the back cover of The Beatles' album "Abbey Road" which adds the song "Her Majesty" after "The End" in the track listing after many covers had been printed (and used) without listing the song. Both versions are shipped, with the revised version being rarer.
40 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Helen Reddy records the track "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" in Los Angles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on Reddy's album "No Sad Song" (Capitol ST-857).
1973 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's album "Ernie Ford Sings About Jesus" (Capitol Capitol ST-11232)
35 Years Ago In 1976 - The Pousette-Dart Band records the tracks "May You Dance" and "Listen To The Spirit" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks on the band's album "Amnesia" (Capitol SW-11608).
1990 - Capitol Records releases Megadeth's album "Rust In Peace"
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Liberty/SBK Records, a division of Capitol Records, releases Billy Dean's album "Billy Dean". It will go on to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. and have 2 singles that peaked at #4 on the U.S. Country charts in 1991 - "You Don't Count the Cost" and "Only the Wind" - and two that charted in 1992 - "Billy the Kid" which peaked also at #4, and "If There Hadn't Been You" which peaked at #3.
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Capitol Records releases Barbara Mandrell's last studio album for the label "Key's In The Mailbox".
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), cartoonist, writer, whose children's stories "Gerald McBoing Boing" and "Gossamer Wump" were released as double sided singles with original artwork paper sleeves by Capitol Records, dies at age 87 in La Jolla, California following several years of illness
1998 - Capitol Records releases Less Than Jake's album "Hello Rockview"
2002 - Tuckertime Records releases Tanya Tucker's album "Tanya" with distribution by Capitol Records Nashville
2002 - Capitol Records releases the compilation album "Judy Garland: The Capitol Years 1955-1965" on CD
2002 - Capitol Records Nashville releases John Berry's compilation album "Certified Hits"
2003 - Matthew Jay, Capitol Records artist, dies at age 24 after falling seven stories from his apartment in Nottingham, England
2007 - Rob Sweitzer and Mark Padgett of the Capitol Records group Mae quit the band. They would return in 2010 and resumed playing with the band on June 19, 2010 when Mae played a show in Singapore.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1915 - Mary Jane Gumm (aka aka Janie, aka Susie or Suzy), member of the singing group The Gumm Sisters, sister of future Capitol Records artist Judy Garland and aunt to future Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, is born. If anyone knows where (possibly Grand Rapids, Minnesota), please leave a comment.
1942 - Gerry Marsden, lead singer with the Parlophone Records group Gerry and The Pacemakers (the second group managed by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein), is born in (Toxteth) Liverpool, England. Parlophone is distributed by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group in the United Kingdom.
1955 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Ain't That A Shame" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
1955 - "The Ford Star Jubilee" 90 minute variety show premieres on CBS-TV with Judy Garland, on her first television special, re-creating much of her popular stage show. Two days later, on September 26, 1955, Capitol Records releases Garland's album "Miss Show Business" which contains studio versions of many of the songs she performed on the special.
1963 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano, Bobby Haynes on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "On Broadway Pacific", "Free Sample", "Sassy", "You Are Sometimes Only Rain", and "Moon River" for their Pacific Jazz album "Heat Wave" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer and recording engineer Richard Bock on to four track masters. Pacific Jazz's library is currently owned by Capitol Records and re-issued by Blue Note Records.
1964 - "The Munsters" premieres on CBS-TV. Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group The Standells will make a guest appearance on an episode performing two songs
1977 - "The Love Boat" premieres on ABC-TV starring Gavin MacLeod, stepfather of Capitol Records' one-time VP of Creative Services Tommy Steele. Not knowing this the first time it happened while I was working freelance inhouse at Capitol, I was wondering why Captain Stubing was sitting on the couch in Tommy's office.
1988 - Bobby McFerrin's EMI Manhattan single "Don't Worry Be Happy", the first a cappella record to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, is still #1

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Jan Garber's Capitol Records single "You're Breaking My Heart", with "Now That I Need You" on the flip side, enters Billboard's single chart
1954 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Don't Change Your Mind About Me" with June Hutton and the Pied Pipers, "Someone To Watch Over Me", "You, My Love" with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle at Capitol Records' studios on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California
1962 - The Kingston Trio record the track "Genny Glenn" for their Capitol Records album "New Frontier"
1968 - The Beatles, in Studio Two at EMI Studios, London, England, record 45 takes of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" with John Lennon on lead guitar and singing guide vocal, George Harrison playing a fuzz lead guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, and Ringo Starr on drums.
1974 - Apple Records releases John Lennon's single "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" that has Elton John on vocal harmonies and piano, with "Beef Jerky" on the flip side, that is distributed by Capitol Records in the United States
1978 - A Taste Of Honey's Capitol Records single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1982 - Singer, motion picture actor, guitarist and Capitol Records solo artist and duet artist with Margaret Whiting, Jimmy Wakely (born James Clarence Wakeley) dies at age 68 either of heart failure in Mission Hills, California or of emphysema in Sylmar, California. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment or contact me.
1987 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records album "Something To Talk About" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1997 - Capitol Records, using Liquid Audio technology, becomes the first of the world's then six major labels to sell CD-quality singles for consumers to download before they are made available at retail stores when it releases the standard version of Duran Duran's "Electric Barbarella" single online at its website for 99 cents, and a special "internet only mix" for $1.99, after allowing fans to listen to, but not download, the song since Tuesday September 9, 1997

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
85 Years Ago Today In 1926 - John Coltrane, tenor and soprano saxophonist, bandleader, and Blue Note Records session and solo artist, is born John William Coltrane in Hamlet, North Carolina
1955 - Leon Taylor, drummer, son of Dolton Records group The Ventures' drummer Leon Taylor, and now the band's current drummer, is born Melvin Leon Taylor in Johnson City, Tennessee. Dolton's catalog was at first distributed by Liberty Records, and then by United Artists Records, and is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group
1977 - Former Capitol Records artist Cheryl Ladd replaces Farrah Fawcett on the ABC-TV series "Charlie's Angels"
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - RCA announces that it has hired former Capitol Records director of business affairs Arnold J. Holland to become director of business affairs for its RCA "SelectaVision" VideoDiscs division, an early version of laser discs that were sealed in plastic cartridges then loaded into the player like an eight track cartridge
2005 - NBC-TV premieres the series "Three Wishes" which featured Capitol Records Nashville band Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand’s song, “Dream Big” in its national television promotions

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1912 - The first Mack Sennett "Keystone Comedy" is released and features two split-reel comedies, “Cohen Collects a Debt” and “The Water Nymph”
1920 - Mickey Rooney, singer, dancer, Vaudeville, motion picture, radio and television actor, and motion picture director, is born Joe Yule, Jr. in Brooklyn, New York
1930 - Ray Charles, singer and pianist, is born Ray Charles Robinson in Albany, Georgia
1962 - The first episode of Hanna-Barbara's animated comedy television series "The Jetsons" is broadcasted
1987 - Bob Fosse, born Robert Louis Fosse, dancer, choreographer, singer, and director of Broadway musicals and motion pictures, dies of a heart attack at age 60 in Washington, D.C.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ray Wetzel, trumpet player with the Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, is born in Parkersburg, West Virginia
1938 - Dean Reed, actor, songwriter, singer, and Capitol Records artist, is born Dean Cyril Reed in Denver, Colorado

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - Nick Reynolds, member of the Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio, marries comedienne Joan Harriss in between performances at the hungry-i in San Francisco, California and will honeymoon at the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, Hawaii while the group performs there
1959 - Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine record the track "Let's Do It" in stereo for the soundtrack to the film "Can Can" with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle. Capitol Records will release the track as part of the original soundtrack album for the film.
1967 - Capitol Records artist Mrs. Miller is the subject of an article in Life magazine with today's cover date
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1969 - Capitol Records releases The Band's self-titled album
1974 - Andy Kim's Capitol Records single single "Rock Me Gently", with "Rock Me Gently Part II" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1979 - The Knack's Capitol Records single "My Sharona" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 - Jimmy Bryant, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records session and recording artist who worked most often with Capitol Records artist Speedy West, dies at age 55 of lung cancer in Moultrie, Georgia
1990 - Wilson Phillips' SBK Records (distributed by Capitol Records in the United States) single "Release Me" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1992 - Capitol Records releases Blind Melon's self-titled debut album
1992 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Garth Brooks' album "The Chase"
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton), motion picture actress, singer, and Capitol Records artist, dies at her home in North Hollywood, California at age 81 and is later interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California
1997 - Capitol Records artist Hank Thomspon is inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame along with Wayne Carson and Roger Cook

Connie Haines, Beryl Davis, Johnny Grant, Jane Russell

2008 - Connie Haines, singer, motion picture actress, lead female vocalist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and a Capitol Records artist who, as a featured vocalist with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra, was part of the first 9 singles released by Capitol Records (#106—"He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings" with "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows" on the flip side) on July 1, 1942 and later would be part of a Capitol Records gospel trio with Beryl Davis and Jane Russell with whom she attended the opening night ceremonies for The Capitol Tower, has died of myasthenia gravis at age 87 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Shari Belafonte, singer, motion picture and television actress, and daughter of one-time Capitol Records artist Harry Belafonte, is born in Hackensack, New Jersey
1964 - The musical "Fiddler On The Roof" opens at Imperial Theatre on Broadway starring Zero Mostel, whose previous show "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"'s cast album was released on Capitol Records. The cast also features Bert Convy, formerly a member of the Capitol Records group The Cheers and later better known as a game show host.
1964 - NBC-TV premieres "The Man From U.N.C.L.E" starring Robert Vaughn and future Capitol Records artist David McCallum
1972 - Sonny James' first single for Columbia Records after leaving Capitol Records, "When The Snow Is On The Roses" with "Love Is A Rainbow" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1980 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono become the first act to sign a distribution deal for their LENONO Music label with Geffen Records which will release their upcoming album "Double Fantasy"
1984 - John Waite's EMI America single "Missing You", with "For Your Love" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1989 - Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline), songwriter whose compositions have been covered by many of Capitol's artists which were the souce for the tribute album "Puttin' on the Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin" released on CD on August 17, 1992, dies at age 101 of a heart attack in New York City and is later interred the Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1960 - Joan Jett, guitarist, singer, member of the band The Runaways and solo artist, is born Joan Marie Larkin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Capitol Records Distribution Company is formed
1964 - Capitol Records releases Peter and Gordon's single "I Don't Want to See You Again", written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with "I Would Buy You Presents" on the flip side
1969 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Tall Dark Strangers", with "Sing That Kind Of A Song" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1995 - Blind Melon make their second and final appearance on “Late Show With David Letterman”, performing "Galaxie", exactly 1 month before lead singer Shannon Hoon dies of an overdose on October 21, 1995
1999 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' compilation albums "The Greatest Hits Vol. 1: 20 Good Vibrations" and "Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - 20 More Good Vibrations". EMI International also releases The Beach Boys' double CD compilation "Original Gold"
1999 - Capitol Records releases The Chipmunks' compilation CD "Greatest Christmas Hits" and Alvin And The Chipmunk's compilation CD "Greatest Hits - Still Squeaky After All These Years"
2003 - Dierks Bentley's debut Capitol Records Nashville single "What Was I Thinkin'", with "Whiskey Tears" included on the Enhanced CD Single, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts where it will stay for 2 weeks
2003 - Jon Mattox, Albie Dunbar, and Sebastian Sheehan of the band Laughing With Lulu, master tracks for their album "In" at The Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, California. Jon Mattox's blog has some great photos from that day inside The Tower.
2004 - Capitol Records releases Skye Sweetnam's album "Noise From The Basement"
2004 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Keith Urban's album "Be Here"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Bassist Paul Chambers, with Donald Byrd on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Horace Silver on piano, and Philly Joe Jones on drums record the tracks "Omicron", "Whims Of Chambers", "Nita", "We Six", "Dear Ann", "Tale Of The Fingers", and "Just For The Love" for Chambers' Blue Note Records album "Whims Of Chambers" at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey with recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder and producer Alfred Lion. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1974 - Walter Brennan, singer, television and three-time Oscar winning motion picture actor, and Liberty Records artist (best remembered for the single "Old Rivers" with "The Epic Ride Of John H. Glenn" on the flip side), dies from emphysema in Oxnard, California at age 80 and is later interred in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
2004 - Angel Records, a division of Capitol Records, releases Chet Baker's compilation albums "Chet Baker Big Band", "Chet Baker Ensemble", "Chet Baker Sextet", "Chet Baker Sings and Plays", and "Chet Baker - Prince of Cool"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1912 - Chuck Jones, animator, animation director, and animation studio owner, is born Charles Martin Jones in in Spokane, Washington. OK corporate overlords, you've got 1 year notice to plan a centennial celebration that'll make us rabid fans happy and you even richer :)

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
100 Years Ago Today In 1911 - Frank DeVol, bandleader, songwriter, television theme song and score composer, arranger, and Capitol Records artist is born Frank Denny De Vol in Moundsville, West Virginia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford records the tracks "Sixteen Tons" and "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" with Jack Fascinato conducting the studio orchestra at Capitol Records' Melrose studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release both tracks together as a single on October 17, 1955.
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Wanda Jackson (on vocals), with J.R. "Jelly" Sanders on fiddle, Joe Maphis on lead guitar, Buck Owens and Lewis Talley on rhythm guitar, Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Clarence "Bud" Dooley on bass, and Marion "Pee Wee" Adams on drums, records the tracks "Baby Loves Him", "Honey Bop", "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" and "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad" at The Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, California.
1963 - Judy Garland sings the song "Fly Me To the Moon (In Other Words)" live for her CBS television show and a recording of the performance will appear on her Capitol Records album "Just For Openers"
1973 - Former Capitol Records artists, singer and guitarist Jim Croce (who recorded for Capitol as part of a duo with his wife Ingrid Croce), age 30, and guitarist and pianist Maury Muehleisen, age 24, are killed in a small commercial airplane when it crashes in Natchitoches, Louisiana along with Jim's road manager Dennis Rast, his booking agent Ken Cortese, the opening act comedian George Stevens, and the pilot Robert Newton Elliott
1988 - Freddie Jackson's Capitol Records album "Don't Let Love Slip Away" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1988 - Poison's Capitol Records album "Open Up And Say Ahh!" is certified Multi-Platinum by the R.I.A.A. for selling 2 million copies
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Paul Weston (born Paul Wetstein, aka pianist Jonathan Edwards), arranger, conductor, composer, band leader, creator of "Mood Music", Capitol Records' first music director and musical director for many movies, radio and television shows and specials, a founder and first national president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a founder of Corinthian Records, Capitol Records artist, and husband of Capitol Records artist Jo Stafford, dies at age 84 in Santa Monica, California and memorial services were later held at Church Of The Good Shepherd, 505 N. Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, California
2005 - Capitol Records Nashville announces that their recording artist Trace Adkins was released from the hospitol four days after undergoing emergency surgery for an abdominal inflammatory infection

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1948 - Future Capitol Records artists The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan, Don Barbour, Ross Barbour, and Hal Kratzsch) perform at their first professional booking when they appear at the "113 Club" in Fort Wayne, Indiana
1953 - Ricci James Martin, actor and son of Capitol Records artist Dean Martin and his wife Jeanne Martin, is born
1967 - Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, sons of actor and Imperial Records artist Rick Nelson and actress Kristin Harmon, are born Matthew Gray Nelson and Gunnar Eric Nelson in Santa Monica, California. Both were involved in the production of their father's Capitol Records box set "Legacy".
1987 - Dan Seals' EMI America Records single "Three Time Loser", with "On The Front Line" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1920 - Jay Ward, animator, animation director and producer, and animation studio owner, is born J Troplong Ward in Berekely, California
1973 - The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California opens with headliner Neil Young

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1933 - David McCallum, actor ("The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", "The Invisible Man", "N.C.I.S.", etc.) and Capitol Records recording artist is born David Keith McCallum in Glasglow, Scotland
1934 - Brian Epstein, author, manager of his family's North End Road Music Stores (NEMS) and manager of the EMI/Capitol Records group The Beatles (1962-1967), as well as Gerry and The Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, The Fourmost, The Big Three, The Silkie, Tommy Quickly, The Cyrkle, The Remo Four, and others, is born Brian Samuel Epstein in Rodney Street, in Liverpool, England
70 Years Ago Today In 1941 - "Mama" Cass Elliot, motion picture actress (movie version of "H.R. Pufnstuf"), singer (both with the group The Mamas And The Papas and as a solo artist), and a Capitol Records artist (on the soundtrack to “H.R. Pufnstuf”), is born in Balt, Maryland.
1942 - Danny Kalb, guitarist and founder of the Capitol Records recording group (1971-1972) The Blues Project, is born in Mount Vernon, New York
1945- Freda Payne, singer, actress, and Invictus Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records formed by Brian and Eddie Holland) artist, is born Freda Charcelia Payne in Detroit, Michigan. On her birthday in 1970, her single "Band Of Gold" is #1 on the U.K. Pop singles charts.
1949 - Twiggy, supermodel, motion picture actress, judge on television talent show, singer, dancer, and Capitol Records artist, is born Lesley Hornby in the London suburb of Neasden, England
1952 - Nile Rodgers, singer, founding member of the group Chic, member of the group The Honeydrippers, record producer for Capitol Records band Duran Duran and EMI America artist David Bowie, and assisted with the production of Capitol Records band Power Station's self-titled debut album, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra hosts a special episode of the radio show "Biography in Sound" on the life of Capitol Records artist Stan Kenton, playing several of Kenton’s records and narrating the highlights of Kenton’s career and new approaches on Jazz music
1960 - Stan Kenton and his Orchestra record eight tracks at their first recording session with four mellophonium players (Gene Roland, Joe Burnette, Bill Horan and Tom Wirtel), playing to the charts of Johnny Richards and Gene Roland, at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Some of the tracks are included on the CD of Kenton's Capitol Records album "Cuban Fire!" that was re-issued by Capitol Jazz, a division of Blue Note Records, which is a subsidiary of Capitol Records
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - At the first session for The Beach Boys' album "Smile", Brian Wilson records "Our Prayer" also known as just "Prayer" that he intends to be the unlisted intro to the album but not a proper track, at Columbia Studio in Los Angeles, California
1979 - Louis Ferdinand Busch (aka Lou Busch and aka Joe "Fingers" Carr), pianist, Capitol Records and Warner Brothers Records A&R executive and producer, head of Capitol Records Transcription service, session pianist for Peggy Lee, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Jo Stafford, one-time husband of Capitol Records artist Margaret Whiting and father of Debbie Whiting, and Capitol Records recording artist under the name Joe "Fingers" Carr, is killed in an auto accident in Camarillo, California at age 69 and is later interred in the Westwood Village Mortuary near UCLA in Westwood, California
1979 - John Simmons, bass player in an early lineup of The King Cole Trio and with Capitol Records artist Illinois Jacquet's band as well as playing on Capitol Records sessions for Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee and Sammy Davis, Jr., dies either in Orange, New York or Los Angeles, California at age 61. If anyone knows for sure which city, please leave a comment.
1982 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records single "Abracadabra", with "Baby Wanna Dance" on the flip side, returns to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 single chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Capitol Records releases Megadeth's album "Peace Sells"
1999 - Capitol Records artist Tommy Collins is inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records releases Chingy's album "Hoodstar"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
2009 - Arthur Ferrante (born Arthur Richard Ferrante), pianist and part of the United Artists recording duo Ferrante and Teicher, has died at age 88 of natural causes early this morning at his home in Longboat Key, Florida according to his manager, Scott W. Smith.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1894 - Willard Robison, singer, bandleader (Willard Robison's Levee Loungers and Willard Robison & The Deep River Boys, The Deep River Orchestra), radio show host, and composer (best known for "A Cottage For Sale" with lyrics by Larry Conley) whose songs were covered by various Capitol Records artists on the album "Willard Robinson's Deep River Music", is born in Shellbina, Missouri
1917 - June Foray, voice actor (Rocket J. Squirrel, Natasha, Witch Hazel, and many others), actress and Capitol Records recording artist on many children's records and comedy records with Stan Freberg and Daws Butler, is born in Springfield, Massachusettes
70 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Gary Lane, bass player with the Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group The Standells, is born
1953 - Carl Jackson, vocalist, bluegrass instrumentalist, songwriter, and Capitol Records session player and recording artist, is born in Louisville, Mississippi

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Frank Morgan (born Francis Phillip Wupperman), Broadway, motion picture (best remembered for his five roles in the M-G-M motion picture "The Wizard Of Oz"), and radio actor, and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the Dr. Seuss children's record "Gossamer Wump"), dies in Beverly Hills, California of a heart attack during a break in shooting the M-G-M motion picture "Annie Get Your Gun" and is later buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York
1957 - Lyle Ritz begins recording sessions for his album "How About Uke?" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Help!", with "I'm Down" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1967 - Merle Haggard records "Sing Me Back Home" which Capitol Records will release as a single on October 23, 1967 with "Good Times" on the flip side
1970 - Jimi Hendrix, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (on the 1970 live album "Band Of Gypsys"), dies in the basement flat of the Samarkand Hotel at 22 Lansdowne Crescent in London, England at age 27 after drinking wine, taking sleeping pills prescribed for his girlfriend Monika Dannemann who was with him and called for an ambulance, then choaking on his own vomit
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Billy Squier's second Capitol Records album, "Don't Say No", is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1988 - Dan Seals' Capitol Records single "Addicted", with "Maybe I'm Missing You Now" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1994 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later to be renamed Capitol Records Nashville) album "In Pieces" debuts at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums and Country albums charts
1997 - Jimmy Witherspoon, blues, R&B big band and jazz baritone singer and Capitol Records and Blue Note Records artist, dies in his sleep in Los Angeles, California at age 74

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1793 - George Washington lays the cornerstone for the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. which was designed by Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish-trained physician living in the British West Indies. The Capitol building would later become part of Capitol Records' first logo, which will be later simplified to use just the dome and cuppola.
1905 - Eddie Anderson, radio, motion picture, and television actor (best remembered for the role of Rochester Van Jones on the Jack Benny radio and television shows and related movies), who introduced Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole to his future wife Maria Ellington, is born Edmund Lincoln Anderson in Oakland, California
1940 - Frankie Avalon, singer, motion picture actor, and United Artists Records artist (soundtrack of "Muscle Beach Party"), is born Francis Thomas Avallone in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1942 - Future Capitol Records artist Tennessee Ernie Ford married Betty Jean Heminger
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Take Good Care Of My Baby", with "Bashful Bob" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1964 - "The Addams Family" debuts on ABC-TV. The character Lurch, played by Ted Cassidy, will release a single with a picture sleeve on Capitol Records called "The Lurch"
1973 - Ringo Starr buys John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Tittenhurst Park manor and immediately made in the in-house studio, re-christened Startling Studios, available for use by other recording artists
1988 - Bobby McFerrin's EMI Manhattan single "Don't Worry Be Happy" (Edit), with "Simple Pleasures" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1927 - The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) begins when it broadcasts the opera "The King’s Henchman" as its first program. 26-year old William S. Paley put the network together by purchasing 16 failing radio stations at a cost between US$250,000 and $450,000.
1932 - Actress Peg Entwistle commits suicide by jumping from the H in the Hollywood sign
1943 - Decca Records agrees to pay royalties into an American Federation Of Musicians fund for all records released, thus ending the union-led ban on instrumental recordings for the label. Capitol Records will settle less than a month later on October 8, 1943, but Columbia and RCA/Victor Records will hold out until November 1944, giving Capitol an exclusive on many new recordings that will help make it into one of the top four labels in the United States.
1957 - The Crickets' Brunswick single "That'll Be The Day", with "I'm Looking For Someone To Love" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1904 - Jerry Colonna, comedian, actor, saxophonist, second banana to Bob Hope on his radio show and during their USO tours, and Capitol Records artist, is born Gerardo Luigi Colonna in Boston, Massachusetts
1950 - Fee Waybill, lead singer of the Capitol Records group The Tubes, is born John Waldo in Omaha, Nebraska

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY!
1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford records both tracks for the single "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry", with "Sixteen Tons" as the flip side, at Capitol Records' studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California with arranger Jack Fascinato and producer Lee Gillette. Disc Jockey's would quickly make the flip side the hit after Capitol ships the record on October 17, 1955.
1955 - Capitol Records released "Magic Melody, Part Two". The tune consists only of the last two notes of the musical phrase, “Shave and a haircut, two bits,” making it the shortest tune ever to be released.
1972 - Capitol Records artist, Mark Guerrero with The Mudd Brothers, perform at "the first ever Chicano rock concert" at Cal State L.A. Statium
1990 - Captiol Records releases Poison's single "Something To Believe In" with "Ball And Chain" on the flip side
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Ronnie Milsap's compliation album "Ronnie Milsap Sings His Best Hits For Capitol Records"
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records releases the leopard spotted, faux fur covered "Ultra-Lounge Fuzzy Sampler"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Twenty-one year old Peggy Lee makes her on stage debut as the singer with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra at The Meadowbrook in New Jersey. Both Lee and Goodman would become Capitol Records artists later in the '40s.
1962 - Pianist Duke Ellington, with Charles Mingus on bass and Max Roach on drums, records his United Artists album "Money Jungle" at Sound Makers Studios in New York City with producer Alan Douglas and recording engineer Bill Schwartau. The album will be reissued by Blue Note Records on CD. Capitol Records currently owns the United Artists and Blue Note Records catalogs.
1967 - The first printed "Paul Is Dead" story appears in Tim Harper's article for the Drake Times-Delphic (the student newspaper of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa) titled "Is Beatle Paul McCartney Dead?"
1999 - The United States Post Office issues a stamp, illustrated by Robin Shepherd (who started his career painting cels for the movie) and graphic designer Caleb Lawrence, to commemorate the re-issue of The Beatles' animated feature film "Yellow Submarine"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1923 - Hank Williams, songwriter, guitarist, and singer, is born Hiram King Williams in Georgiana, Alabama

SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1946 - At a split session held in New York City, New York first Andy Russell (on vocals), with Paul Weston and his Orchestra, records the tracks "You're Everything To Me" and "The More I Go Out With Somebody Else" then Jo Stafford, again with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, records the track "Promise". Capitol Records will release both of Russell's tracks together as a single (Capitol 310) and Stafford's track as a single (Capitol 317) with "This Time" on the flipside.
1963 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "Surfer Girl"
1963 - Capitol Records Canada releases The Beatles' single "She Loves You", with "I'll Get You", on the flip side. In the United States, the single is released by Swan Records.
1964 - Capitol Records artist Donna Loren becomes a featured singer on the ABC Television show "Shindig!" which also premieres on this date. Loren will remain the featured female vocalist for the entire run of the show which ends January 8, 1966
1968 - The Beatles record the track "I Will" for their self-titled album (aka "The White Album") at EMI Studios on Abbey Road, in London, England. The also record a version of "Step Inside Love" (which the wrote for Celia Black who also recorded it) which will appear on their album "Anthology 3"
40 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Helen Reddy records an as yet unreleased version of ""New Year's Resolution" and the track "How?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release "How?" on Reddy's album "No Sad Song" (Capitol ST-857).
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - T-Connection (Theophilus Cockley on keyboards and vocals, Kirkwood Cockley on bass and vocals, Tony Flowers on percussion & unlisted others) records the tracks "Might As Well Dance" and "Goombay Time" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release both tracks on the band's album "Pure & Natural" (Capitol ST-12191).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1963 - Richard Marx, singer, songwriter, record producer and EMI America Records artist, is born Richard Noel Marx in Winnetka, Illinois. Capitol Records currently owns the EMI America library.
2003 - Virgin Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases A Perfect Circle's album "Thirteenth Step"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - "The Dean Martin Show" premieres in a Thursday 10:00 pm time slot on the NBC television network
1977 - Marc Bolan, lead singer of the band T-Rex, is killed at age 29 early in the morning in auto accident on a tight curve in Barnes Common in London, England when his common law wife, mother of his son Rolan Seymour Bolan, and former Tower Records artist ("Tainted Love"), Gloria Jones, looses control of the car she's driving and hits a tree. Jones survives and arrives home the next day to find her home vandalized by Bolan's fans looking for souvenirs. Capitol Records will send a flower arrangement shaped like a large white swan to Bolan's funeral.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1928 - Cannonball Adderley, alto saxophonist, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist, is born Julian Adderley in Tampa, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1961 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California The Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus Band, conducted by Merle Evans, records the tracks "March Of The Spanish Soldiery", "World Events", "The Cantonians March", "March Ponderoso", "Colossus Of Columbia March" at the first session and "The Circus Bee March", "The "Crimson Flush March" and a medley of "The Crimson Petal" and "The bastinado Galop" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Circus Parade" (Capitol FBF-313)
1962 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Ramblin' Rose", with "The Good Times" on the flip side, peaks at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart becoming Cole's highest-charting pop single
1973 - Helen Reddy's Capitol Records single "Delta Dawn", with "If We Could Could Still Be Friends" on the flip side, peaks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2005 - Michael Sidney Luft, third husband (1952-1964) Judy Garland, father of her children Joey and Lorna Luft, and Garland's manager during her early years with Capitol Records, dies at age 89 in Santa Monica, California after a heart attack.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1899 - Francis Barraud's painting "His Master's Voice" is purchased by The Gramophone Company Ltd. (which will become EMI). The picture is first used the following year on the Company's Record Supplement for January 1900 and becomes the company's official logo through out the world except for the United States. In the United States Victor Recording Company acquires the rights to use the image as their logo and eventually becomes the logo for the Radio Corporation of America after it acquires Victor.
1955 - Frank Sinatra introduces the song "Love And Marriage" on the NBC television production of "Our Town" as well as acting in the special. Sinatra will later record the song (specially written by Sammy Cahn and his new partner James Van Heusen), for release on Capitol Records.
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Pendletones (later to become The Beach Boys) record the tracks "Lavender", "Luau" and "Surfin'" at their first recording session. It's held in Hite Morgan's living room studio. Check out the liner notes for "Lost & Found" for more information about the session.
1975 - Pink Floyd's album "Wish You Were Here" is released by Harvest Records, a division of EMI, in the UK and on Columbia Records in the United States. Capitol Records currently releases all the Pink Floyd albums, and released a 25th anniversary CD edition of "Wish You Were Here" on April 25, 2000.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1959 - John Berry, singer and Capitol Records Nashville artist (1992-1998) is born in Aiken, South Carolina
1970 - Craig Montoya, bass player with the band Red Spector and the Capitol Records band Everclear (1992-2003), is born Craig Aloysius Montoya in Spokane, Washington

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1962 - Bunny Brunel, Mike Stern, Billy Childs, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Chic Corea begin sessions for their "Dedication" album at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfer Girl", with "Little Deuce Coupe" on the flip side, peaks at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", with "Revolution" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1970 - Captiol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's single "Rainy Night In Georgia" with "Let The Lovelight In Your Eyes Lead Me On" on the flip side
1992 - Capitol Records releases Blind Melon's self-titled debut album and the compilation album "Christmas On The Range: Cowboy Classics From Capitol Records"
1999 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' remastered soundtrack album "Yellow Submarine" in the United States, one day after EMI had released it in the rest of the world.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1959 - Bill Britten begins playing Bozo and a number of other characters on "The Bozo Show" on WPIX Channel 11 in New York City. He'll stay with the show until April 1964. Capitol Records' VP of Children's Records, Alan Livingston, created Bozo in 1946.
1999 - Capitol Jazz, a subsidiary of Blue Note Records, releases The Benny Goodman Trio's complilation album "The Complete Capitol Trios" on CD. Blue Note Records is owned by Capitol Records.
1999 - Blue Note Records releases the 2 CD RVG edition of Sonny Rollins' album "A Night At The Village Vanguard". Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
95 Years Ago Today In 1916 - Dick Haymes, singer, radio and motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist (1955-1957), is born Richard Benjamin Haymes in Buenos Aires, Argentina
1925 - Mel Torme, singer, drummer, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records artist (1949-1952), is born Melvin Howard Torme in Chicago, Illinois
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Dave Mustaine, guitarist, singer, songwriter, member of the band Metallica and the Capitol Records band (1986-2000) Megadeth, is born David Scott Mustaine in La Mesa, California
1967 - Stephen Perkins, drummer for the bands Porno For Pyros, Banyan, Infectious Grooves, Hellride, and the Capitol Records bands Jane's Addiction and The Panic Channel, is born Stephen Andrew Perkins in Los Angeles, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - Nancy Wilson, with arranger Sid Feller conducting the orchestra, records the track "I'll Only Miss Him When I Think of Him"
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono perform at a rock 'n' roll revival concert at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, backed by Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Alan White. It is the first time Lennon has given a rock performance on stage without Paul McCartney or the rest of The Beatles since 1957.
1977 - Leopold Stokowsky, conductor and Capitol Records artist, dies in his sleep at age 95 in his house in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England
20 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Vern Yocum, copyist, librarian, orchestrator and woodwind player, brother of Clark Yocum of the Capitol Records recording group The Pied Pipers, co-founder of The Musician’s Guild, founder of Hollywood’s top music preparation office which did work for hundreds of performers from the radio, television, film, and recording industries including Capitol Records artists and arrangers Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Peggy Lee, Keely Smith, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Alex Stordahl, Gordon Jenkins, Billy May, Frank Duval, George Cates, Don Costa, and André Previn, dies of bladder cancer at age 82
2005 - Capitol Records releases The Dandy Warhol's album "Odditorium or Warlords of Mars"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - Zack Starkey, son of Capitol Records artist Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen, is born
2005 - Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Records, releases David Axelrod's compilation album "The Edge - David Axelrod at Capitol Records 1966-1970"
2005 - EMI Classics, a division of Capitol Records, releases the compilation of recordings of compositions by Fritz Kreisler entitled "Kreisler: Original Compositions & Arrangements".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
15 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Tupac Shakur, singer, songwriter, poet, and actor, dies at age 25 of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada six days after being shot four times by an unknown drive-by shooter also in Las Vegas

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ella Mae Morse, singer with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born in Mansfield, Texas
1952 - Gerry Beckley, lead and backing singer, keyboardist, guitarist, bass guitarist, and harmonica player all for the Capitol Records group (1975-1985) America, is born in Fort Worth, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1960 - Capitol Records artist Tommy Sands weds Nancy Sinatra, Jr., daughter of Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra
1960 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's single "Everglades" with "This Mornin', This Evenin', So Soon"
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "A Million Dreams Ago" and "I'll Remember April" with arranger Axel Stordahl conducting the orchestra, in Studio A at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for Sinatra's last Capitol Records album "Point Of No Return". This will be the last of Sinatra's sessions for Capitol Records before he leaves to start Reprise Records.
1963 - The Beatles record "Don't Bother Me" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England with producer George Martin. This is their first time recording a song written by George Harrison as EMI artists.
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Yesterday" with "Act Naturally" on the flip side
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles Capitol Records single "Yellow Submarine", with "Eleanor Rigby" on the flip side, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1972 - William Boyd (born William Lawrence Boyd), motion picture and television actor (best remembered for his on going roll as Hopalong Cassidy) and Capitol Records artist (the Hopalong Cassidy series of Childrens records), dies at age 77 in Laguna Beach, California and is later buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
1993 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Ain't Going Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up)", with "Kickin' And Screamin'" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.
2000 - Capitol Records releases Amy Correia's album "Carnival Love" with Blind Melon's guitarist Christopher Thorn and bass player Brad Smith playing with her.
2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "Days Go By", released on a CD-Single with another version of the song on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records releases Bob Seger's first studio album in 11 years, "Face The Promise", as both a standard CD and a limited edition CD/DVD package. Capitol has also scheduled releases for today of a Dean Martin compilation "Christmas With Dino", David Gray's album "Sell, Sell, Sell", The Proclaimers' album "Sunshine on Leith" and Talk Talk's album "Spirit of Eden".
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Music Catalog Marketing release Merle Haggard's compilation album "Hag: The Best Of Merle Haggard" with liner notes by Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Take Good Care Of My Baby", with "Bashful Bob" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1970 - "Josie And The Pussycats" debuts on CBS-TV. Capitol Records releases a soundtrack album featuring vocals by Cheryl Ladd.
1977 - James Louis McCartney, son of Capitol Records artists Paul and Linda McCartney, is born
2000 - EMI Classics releases Plácido Domingo's album "Songs Of Love". EMI Classics is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
5 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Virgin Records releases Daz Dillinger's album "So So Gangsta" in both an Edited and a Parental Advisory version. Virgin Records is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
145 Years Ago Today In 1866 - "The Black Crook", a four-act performance, becomes the first burlesque show to open in New York City and will run for 475 performances making $1.3 million for its producers (about US$16.5 to $33 million in 2007 dollars with inflation depending on which calculator you use - believe it or not, some years actually have negative inflation!)
1959 - "Bonanza" premieres on NBC-TV becoming the first regularly-scheduled TV program broadcast in color. The series was green-lighted by Alan Livingston, former VP of Childrens records and VP A&R at Capitol Records and the company's future president and Chairman of the Board. The series' theme song was written by Livingston's brother Jay Livingston with writing partner Ray Evans.
45 Years Ago Today In 1966 - "The Monkees" premieres on NBC-TV
2003 - Johnny Cash, singer, songwriter, guitarist, dies at age 71 at at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure