DECEMBER 11, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1935 - Tom Brumley, songwriter, steel guitar builder, 1992 Steel Guitarist Hall of Fame inductee, and steel guitarist with the Capitol Records group Buck Owens and the Buckaroos as well as The Stone Canyon Band, is born either in Stella or Powell, Missouri. If anyone knows for sure which city Tom was born in, and/or is his middle name, please leave a comment.
1957 - Mike Mesaros, electric bass player with the Capitol Records band The Smithereens, is born in Trenton, New Jersey

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - "The Chesterfield Supper Club" (a 15-minute show sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes that will air five nights a week), featuring Capitol Records artist Jo Stafford, Perry Como and many other stars, debuts on NBC radio
1945 - Frank De Vol and His Orchestra (with De Vol conducting his own arrangements to unlisted musicians) record the tracks "Parlez-Moi D'Amour", "I'll See You Again" and "One Night Of Love" at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on De Vol's album "Concert Of Waltzes" (Capitol EBF-2010).
65 Years Ago On This Day In 1946 - Tex Ritter & The Dinning Sisters (vocal trio), with The Paul Sells Orchestra (with Sells leading and playing accordion, Andrew Secrest on trumpet, Darol Rice on clarinet, Fred Cianci and Mischa Russell on fiddle, Johnny Bond and Merle Travis on guitar, Agapito "Pepe" Martinez on steel guitar, and Cliffie Stone on bass) record the tracks "Down In The Diving Bell" (without Ritter), "Cool Water", "Trouble In Mind" and (without The Dinning Sisters) "The Roving Gambler" at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California between 8:00 PM and 12:55 AM on December 12, 1946. Capitol Records will issue the first three tracks on the album "Tex Ritter And The Dinning Sisters" (AD-96) and The Bear Family will issue the last 3 tracks in Germany in Ritter's CD Box Set "Blood On The Saddle" (BCD 16260).
1947 - Tex Williams (on vocals and leading the band) & His Western Caravan. (with Max Fidler, Andrew "Cactus" Soldi, and Rex Call on fiddle, Paul "Spike" Featherstone on harp and flute, Ossie Godson on piano, Pedro De Paul on accordion, John Weiss and Benny Garcia, Jr. on electric guitar, Smokey Rogers on guitar, Joaquin Murphy on steel guitar, Deuce Spriggens on bass, and Muddy Berry on drums) record the tracks "Old Paint's Compliant" and "Flo From St. Joe, Mo." in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 15321) with "Hurry, Don't Delay" on the flip side and the second track as a single (Capitol 40109) with "Suspicion" on the flip side.
1947 - Hal Derwin (on vocals) & His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) , featuring The Hi-Lighters (vocalists Hal Derwin, Mildred Springer, and Jean Taylor), record the as yet unissued track "Oh My Darlin'", the track "Worry, Worry, Worry", the as yet unissued track "Every Little Thing You Do", and the track "One Dozen Roses" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 498) with "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye" on the flip side and the last track as a single (Capitol 502) with "No One But You" on the flip side.
1947 - The Benny Goodman Sextet (Jake Porter on trumpet, Goodman on clarinet, Red Norvo on vibraphone, Mel Powell on piano, Artie Shapiro on bass, and Bill Douglass on drums) records the tracks "Henderson Stomp", "You Took Advantage Of Me", and "Behave Yourself" (with Goodman also on vocals) at Radio Recorders in Los Angels, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last track on Goodman's album "Easy Does It!" (CCN-295). Mosaic Records will issue all three tracks on Goodman's box set "The Complete Capitol Small Group Recordings of Benny Goodman 1944-1955" (MQ6-148)
1947 - Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers (vocalists June Hutton, Chuck Lowry, Hal Hopper, and Clark Yocum), with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Ray Woods, Charlie Griffard, Zeke Zarchy, and George Seaberg on trumpet, Ed Kusby, Allan Thompson, and Elmer Smithers on trombone, Fred Stulce, Matty Matlock, Herbie Haymer, Len Hartman, and Jules Kinsler on saxophones, Milt Raskin on piano, George Van Eps on guitar, Jack Ryan on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums), record the tracks "You Don't Have To Know The Language", "Hooray For Love" and "I've Been A Hit" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 15025) with "My Gal Is Mine Once More" on the flip side, the second track as a single (Capitol 15028) with "1,000 Isle Song" on the flip side, and the last track as a single (Capitol 15412) with "The Glow Worm" on the flip side.
1947 - Susan Carroll, announced by Norman La Plante, records the tracks "Part 1: Waistline And Tummy Excercise", "Part 2: Fanny And Hip Excercise", "Part 3: Duck Walk And Leg Exercise", Part 4: Thigh And Can-Can Excercise", Part 5: Body Alignment Excercise", and "Part 6: Hips, Waist, Chest And Bust Line Excercise" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the album "Norman La Plante & Sue Carroll" (BC-82).
1948 - Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1948 - Jimmy Wakely (on vocals), with an Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Till The End Of The World" and "Tellin' My Troubles To My Old Guitar" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol 15368) with "Moon Over Montana" on the flip side and the second track on Wakely's album "Songs Of The West" (CCF-4008).
1950 - Irving Marblestone (as "Eddie Stone", on vocals) with unlisted others, records the as yet unissued tracks "Just A Little Drink", "Scared", "Long Ago In Mexico", and "I Ain't Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin'" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records.
1950 - During a split session, first Nat "King" Cole (on vocals and piano), with The Joe Lipman Orchestra (which according to Down Beat Magazine were Chris Griffin, Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Maxwell, and Dick Poole on trumpet, Buddy Morrow, Will Bradley, and Kai Winding on trombone, Toots Mondello, Murray Williams, Hank Ross, Artie Drellinger,and Stanley Webb on reeds, Irving Ashby on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Shelly Manne on drums, Jack Costanzo on bongos) and & The Ray Charles Singers (lineup unlisted), records the track "Jet" and then The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Irving Ashby on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Jack Costanzo on bongos) and The Neal Hefti Orchestra (listed as probably the same band as above) record "Paint Yourself A Rainbow" (with an unlisted string section) and "Destination Moon (Jeepers Creepers)" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Jet" as a single (Capitol 1365) with "The Magic Tree" on the flip side and "Destination Moon (Jeepers Creepers)" as a single (Capitol 1401) with "Always You" on the flip side. Mosaic Records will issue the last two tracks on the box set "The Complete Capitol Recordings Of The Nat King Cole Trio" (MR27-138).
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Hank Thompson (on vocals and guitar) and His Brazos Valley Boys (Joe Herman "Big Red" Hayes and Kenneth Allen "Little Red" Hayes on fiiddle, Gilbert "Gil" Baca on piano, Billy Gray on guitar, Harold Lee "Curly" Chalker on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and William Wayne Foster on drums), record the tracks "The Wild Side Of Life", "Waiting In The Lobby Of Your Heart", "Don't Make Me Cry Again" and "Cryin' In The Deep Blue Sea" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California between 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 1942) and the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 2063).
60 Years Ago Today In 1951 - The Harold Byrns Chamber Orchestra (lineup unlisted), conducted by Harold Byrns, records Arensky's "Variations On A Theme By Tchaikovsky" in three parts at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all three parts on the orchestra's album "ARENSKY - Variations On A Theme By Tchaikovsky/GRIEG - The Holberg Suite" (P-8158).
1953 - Capitol Records purchases the masters to "Deacon" Andy Griffith's Colonial Records tracks "What It Was, Was Football, Part 1", "What It Was, Was Football, Part 2", "Romeo And Juliet, Part 1" and "Romeo And Juliet Part 2". Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 2693) and the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol 2698) and all the tracks together on Griffith's album "Andy Griffith" (EAP-1-498).
1953 - Bud Freeman (on tenor saxophone) and His Group (Dick Cary on piano, George Barnes on guitar, Jack Lesberg on bass, and Don Lamond on drums), record the tracks "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Three Little Words", "Blue Moon" and "Indian Summer" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Freeman's album "Classics In Jazz - Bud Freeman" (EBF-625).
55 Years Ago Today in 1956 - Les Baxter (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the track "Ruby Lips", the as yet unissued track "I Need Your Love" (with an unlisted chorus), and the instrumental track "A Woman's Devotion" (which will get vocal overdubs by an unlisted chorus on December 19, 1956) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track as a single (Capitol F3728) with "The Lonely Whistler" on the flip side and the last track with the vocal overdub as a single (Capitol F3624) with "The Clown On The Eiffel Tower" on the flip side.
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Hank Thompson (on vocals and guitar, with Amos Lee Hedrick, Julian Franklin "Curly" Lewis, and Billy Peters on fiddle, Donald Charles McDaniel on piano, Merle Travis on guitar, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and Paul McGhee on drums) records the tracks "Hang Your Head In Shame", "The Gypsy", and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" at an overtime session held from 10:00 AM to 1:00PM and then from 1:00 PM to 2:00PM at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Hank Thomspon and His Brazos Valley Boys' album "Hank" (T 826).
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Jackie Gleason conducts his large string Orchestra featuring Bobby Hackett on trumpet (but all others unlisted) as they record "I Love You Much Too Much", the unissued tracks "Get Out Of Town" and "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You", and the tracks "Serenade In Blue" and "Just A Memory" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the first, fourth and fifth tracks on Gleason's album "Music For The Love Hours" (W 816).
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Carole Bennett (on vocals), with Earl Sheldon and his Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Let The Chips Fall", "Play The Music", "Haunted Lover", and Miser's Gold" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the first and third tracks together as a single (Capitol F3693) and the second and last track together as a single (Capitol F3620).
1957 - Frank Sinatra (on vocals), with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Sherock, and Harry Edison on trumpet, Dick Noel, Jimmy Priddy, and Russell Brown on trombone, Juan Tizol on valve trombone, Skeets Herfurt, Harry Klee, Billl Green, Babe Russin, and Joe Koch on woodwinds, Bill Miller on piano, Bobby Gibbons on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Bill Richmond on drums, Kathryn Julye on harp, and a string section with Israel Baker, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, David Frisina, Ben Gill, Henry Hill, Murray Kellner, Paul Nero, Paul Shure, and Felix Slatkin on violin, Alvin Dinkin, Stanley Harris, and David Sterkin on viola, Kurt Reher and Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the tracks "You'll Always Be The One I Love", "If You Are But a Dream", and "Put Your Dreams Away" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM on December 12, 1958. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Sinatra's album "This Is Sinatra,Vol. 2:" (W 982)
1957 - Lonnie Sattin (on vocals with an unidentified orchestra) records the tracks "Ring Around The Moon" and "My Heart's Your Home" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the two tracks together as a single (Capitol F3879).
1957 - During two sessions held this day The Ballet Theatre Orchestra (lineup unlisted), conducted by Joseph Levine, records parts of Tchaikovsky's "Suite from 'The Sleeping Beauty'" at The Riverside Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York. The parts include "Introduction And March", "Pas De Quatre, Act III:Puss In Boots" and "Pas De Quatre (Bluebird)" and "Waltz, Act I". Capitol Records will issue all the parts on the orchestra's album "TCHAIKOVSKY - The Sleeping Beauty" (P-8449) and "Waltz, Act 1" on Leonard Pennario's album "More I Like TCHAIKOVSKY" (P-8632).
1957 - During two sessions held this day The Ballet Theatre Orchestra (lineup unlisted), conducted by Joseph Levine, records parts of Tchaikovsky's "Suite from 'The Sleeping Beauty'" at The Riverside Plaza Hotel in New York City, New York. The parts include "Introduction And March", "Pas De Quatre, Act III:Puss In Boots" and "Pas De Quatre (Bluebird)" and "Waltz, Act I". Capitol Records will issue all the parts on the orchestra's album "TCHAIKOVSKY - The Sleeping Beauty" (P-8449) and "Waltz, Act 1" on Leonard Pennario's album "More I Like TCHAIKOVSKY" (P-8632).
1958 - Frank Sinatra (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Shorty Sherock, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, and Pete Candoli on trumpet, Milt Bernhart, Si Zentner, Tommy Pederson, and Murray McEachern on trombone; Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz, Babe Russin, Fred Falensby, and Chuck Gentry on saxophones and woodwinds, Bill Miller on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), records an unissued take of "Day In, Day Out" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 9:15 PM and 11:00 PM. The track will be re-recorded on December 22, 1958.
1958 - Rudolf Firkusny (on piano), records Schumann's "Kinderscenen (Scenes from childhood)" at Capitol Records' Studio A in New York City, New York. Capitol will issue the track on Firkusny's album "SCHUMANN - Kinderscenen (Scenes From Childhood)/CHOPIN - Sonata N°3 in B Minor" (P-8526).
50 Years Ago On This Day In 1961 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Kenton on piano, Dalton Smith, Marvin Stamm, Bob Rolfe, Bob Behrendt, and Norman Baltazar on trumpet, Bob Fitzpatrick, Dee Barton, and Bud Parker on tuba, Jim Amlotte and Dave Wheeler on trombone and tuba, Ray Starling, Dwight Carver, Keith LaMotte, and Carl Saunders on mellophone, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Buddy Arnold and Paul Renzi on tenor saxophone, Joel Kaye and Allan Beutler on baritone saxophone, Pat Senatore on bass, and Jerry McKenzie on drums) record the tracks "Stairway To The Stars", a rejected take of "Malaguena" and the track "Almost Like Being In Love" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track on Kenton's album "Adventures In Jazz" (T 1796). The last track will be retaken on December 14, 1961.
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Hollyridge Strings (unlisted lineup of musicians with Perry Botkin, Jr. conducting his own arrangements to an unlisted lineup of musicians) record the unissued tracks" Theme From 'Moonlight Sonata'" and "La Paloma" and the tracks "Light In The Piazza" and "My Melancholy Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol 4687).
50 Years Ago Today, during two sessions held in New York City, New York, Jack Scott (on vocals), with Bill Sanford conducting the orchestra (that includes unlisted guitar, bass and drum players and vocal group), records "Sad Story" and "You Only See What You Wanna See" (with an unlisted organist) at the first session and "I Can't Hold Your Letters", "Cry Cry Cry" (with an unlisted brass section and pianist), "Grizzly Bear" (with an unlisted saxophonist and pianist), and "The Part Where I Cry" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Sad Story" and "I Can't Hold Your Letters" together as a single (Capitol F4796), "You Only See What You Wanna See" and "The Part Where I Cry" together as a single (Capitol F4738), and "Cry Cry Cry" and "Grizzly Bear" together as a single (Capitol F4689).
1964 - Capitol Records releases Peter and Gordon's album ""I Don't Want To See You Again" in the United States
1965 - Dave Barbour (born David Michael Barbour), songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, former husband of Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee, and a Capitol Records artist, dies in either Hollywood or Malibu, California at age 53 from a hemorrhaged ulcer. If anyone knows for sure which city, please leave a comment.
1967 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "Darlin'" with "Here Today" on the flip side
1968 - Capitol Records artist Tex Ritter, and the plane that he was a passenger on, are hijacked to Cuba
1970 - Apple Records releases John Lennon's album "Plastic Ono Band" which is distributed by Capitol Records in the United States
35 Years Ago Today In 1976 - The Letterman (Donny Pike, Tony Butala, and Gary Pike on vocals), with Vince Morton conducting his own arrangements to an unlisted orchestra, record the tracks "Before The Next Teardrop Falls", "Storms Of Troubled Times", a disco version of "The Way You Look Tonight" and a unissued medley of "Gone For Good" with "Missouri Melodies" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded on December 29, 1975 and January 5, 1976 for the first 3 tracks, January 8, 1976 for the first track and January 7 and 13, 1976 for the second and third tracks, Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks on the group's album "Kind Of Country" (SW-11508) and the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 4226).
30 Years Ago This Day In 1981 - Capitol Records registers Anne Murray's unissued tracks "Hey! Baby", "Stars", "Animal Crackers", "Hi Lily", "Why, Why, Why", "T.O. Picnic", "Inchworm", "Sunshine", "Sleepy Time" and "Lullabye Medley", which were recorded at Sounds Interchange in Toronto, Canada earlier in December, 1981.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Singer Annie Ross, with The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Henry Grimes on bass, and Dave Bailey on drums), begin two days of sessions (the next will be on December 17, 1957) and records the tracks "How About You?", "I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face", and "It Don't Mean A Thing" at Fulton Studios in New York City, New York. The tracks will appear on Mulligan's Pacific Jazz album "The Genius Of Gerry Mulligan" and on the CD version of Ross' World Pacific Records album "Annie Ross Sings A Song Of Mulligan". Pacific Jazz's and World Pacific's catalog are currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company, EMI Music.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1964 - Singer, record producer, and label owner Sam Cooke is shot to death at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California