DECEMBER 7, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
100 Years Ago Today In 1911 - Louis Prima, songwriter, bandleader, singer, trumpet player, one time husband and partner of Capitol Records artist Keely Smith, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "The Trolley Song", with "Cuddle Up A Little Closer" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
1955 - Benny Goodman and Harry James reunite in NYC during the first of two days of sessions (the next on December 9, 1955) to record Capitol Records’ soundtrack to the motion picture “The Benny Goodman Story”
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - At two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted), conducted by Carmen Dragon, records the tracks "Polonaise In A, Opus 40, N° 1 ('Militaire')" and "Polonaise In A flat, Opus 53, N° 6 ('Heroic')" at the first session and "Waltz in E flat, Opus 18 ('Grande Valse Brillante')", "Waltz in C sharp minor, Opus 64, N° 2", and "Fantaisie-Impromptu, Opus 66" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the orchestra's album "Chopin By Starlight" (P/SP-8371). Angel Records will later reissue the album (Angel S-36061).
55 Years Ago Today In 1956 - The Hollywood String Quartet (lineup unlisted), conducted by Felix Slatkin, record Schubert's "Quartet N° 14 in D minor ('Death of the maiden'), 1st movement" and "Quartet N° 14 in D minor ('Death of the maiden'), 3rd movement" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the tracks on the quartet's album "SCHUBERT - Quartet N° 14 In D Minor 'Death and the Maiden'" (P-8359).
1959 - Four of The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records albums ("The Kingston Trio", "From The Hungry i", "At Large" and "Here We Go Again") are in the top 10 of Billboard's album chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Kingston Trio (vocalists Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane, and John Stewart) with David "Buck" Wheat on bass, perform live at the University of California in Los Angeles, California between 8 PM and 11 PM where the tracks "Roddy McCorley"*, "M.T.A.", "500 Miles"*, " Where Have All The Flowers Gone"*, "Ballad Of The Shape Of Things", and "Goin' Away To Leave You"* were recorded. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the trio's album "College Concert" (T 1658) and The Bear Family will issue the true live and studio recordings in the CD box set "The Kingston Trio - The Stewart Years" (BCD 16161). *According to the liner notes in the Bear Family issue, these titles were remade in studio later on and issued on Capitol's release with dubbed applause from the concert tape. Both versions (live and studio) were issued on the Bear Family set.
1963 - Peggy Lee, records the tracks "Little By Little", "I Got Lost In Her Arms", "I Can't Stop Loving You", and "Unforgettable" with Max Bennett conducting the studio orchestra, and producer Dave Cavanaugh, at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "In Love Again!"
50 Years Ago Today In 1961 - During two sessions held this day at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California, Stan Kenton (on piano) and His Orchestra (Dalton Smith, Marvin Stamm, Bob Rolfe, Bob Behrendt, and Norman Baltazar on trumpet, Bob Fitzpatrick, Dee Barton, and Bud Parker on trombone, 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) records the tracks "If I Were A Bell", "Just In Time", and "Begin The Beguine" at the first session between Noon and 3:00 PM and "Old Devil Moon", "Reuben's Blues" (with Gene Roland on soprano saxophone), "Exit Stage Left" (with Gene Roland on mellophone), and "Blue Ghost" at the second session between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue the last three tracks on Kenton's album "Adventures In Blues" (ST 1985). Creative World Records will issue the first four tracks their re-issue of the album (ST-1025).
1964 - Brian Wilson, member of the Capitol Records band The Beach Boys, marries sixteen-year-old Marilyn Rovell
40 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Apple Records releases Wings' first album "Wild Life" which is distributed in the United States by Capitol Records
30 Years Ago Today In 1981 - At two sessions held in Los Angeles, California The Motels, featuring Martha Davis (on vocals) record the track "Mission Of Mercy" at the first session and "Mine, Forever Mine" at the second. Capitol Records will issue both tracks on the group's album "All Four One" (ST-12177).
1998 - Filling in for an ailing Madonna, Capitol Records Nashville artist Garth Brooks and his alter-ego, Capitol Records artist Chris Gaines, are the opening act for the 1998 Billboard Music Awards. Brooks is named Country artist of the year at the ceremony.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1967 - The Beatles' Apple boutique opens in London

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Over 2,000 people, on ships and on land, are killed in a series of air attacks executed by pilots of the Japanese Navy on the United States Naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii