MARCH 2, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1904 - Dr. Seuss, artist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author ("The Cat in the Hat", "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", "Green Eggs and Ham" and many others) is born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts. Capitol Records would release Seuss' "Gerald McBoing-Boing" in 1950 as a children's record with The Great Gildersleeve (Harold Peary) narrating the story. The story would later be the first cartoon released by UPA.
1955 - Dale Bozzio, singer with Frank Zappa and the Capitol Records group Missing Persons, is born Dale Frances Consalvi in Boston, Massachusettes

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "(I'm A) Square In The Social Circle" on the flip side, is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts. Both songs appear in the Paramount movie "The Stork Club" starring Hutton which was produced by Capitol Records co-founder Buddy DeSylva and features fellow Capitol Records artist Andy Russell in a supporting role. "(I'm A) Square In The Social Circle" was written by Jay Livingston (brother of Capitol Records then new vice president of children's records Alan Livingston) and Ray Evans.
55 Years Ago Today In 1957 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, Dakota Staton (on vocals, with Van Alexander conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (including Jonah Jones on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano and unlisted musicians on vibraphone, guitar, bass and drums) records the tracks "Trust In Me" (with an unlisted flute player), "Summertime", "The Late, Late Show" and "Ain't No Use" at the first session and "A Foggy Day", "Give Me The Simple Life", "Broadway", the unissued track "As Long As I Live" and the track "Moonray" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks except "As Long As I Live" on Staton's album "The Late, Late Show" (T 876).
55 Years Ago Today In 1957 - During two sessions held this day in Studio A at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California, The Hollywood String Quartet (Felix Slatkin on violin, Paul C. Shure on violin, Eleanor Aller on cello, and Alvin Dinkin on viola), conducted by Felix Slatkin, records Beethoven's "Quartet N°12 In E Flat Major, Opus 127, 2nd Movement, Part 1" at the first session and "Quartet N°12 In E Flat Major, Opus 127, 2nd Movement, Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue both tracks on the quartet's album "BEETHOVEN - Quartet N°12 In E Flat Major, Opus 127" (P-8443).
1969 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Only The Lonely", with "The Journey" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Grand Funk Railroad record the track "Upsetter" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track as a single (Capitol 3316) with "No Lies" on the flip side.
40 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Murray Roman's tracks "One And One-Half To Life, Side 1" and "One And One-Half To Life, Side 2".
35 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Helen Reddy (on vocals), with Kim Fowley directing the orchestra (unlisted musicians), records the tracks "Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler" and "Aquarius Miracle" at Brother Studio in Santa Monica, California. After overdubs are recorded on March 14, 1972 also at Brother Studio for "Aquarius Miracle' by Joseph A. Chemay on guitar, Nigel Olsson on drums and Jon Joyce on vocals, Capitol Records will issue both tracks on Reddy's album "Ear Candy" (SO-11640).
35 Years Ago Today In 1977 - The Section (which includes Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Craig Doerge on keyboards, Leland Sklar on bass, and Russ Kunkel on drums with David Crosby and James Taylor on vocals) records the track "Moon Over Fontana" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the track on the group's album "Fork It Over" (ST-11656).
35 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Navarro (Michael Wooten on drums, Rob Galloway on bass, Mark Hallman on guitar, keyboards, harmonica, lead, and background vocals, Robert McEntee on guitar, keyboards, and piano, Ben Carnes and James Tuttle on guitar, Carole King on piano and harmony vocals, David Muse on keyboards, Miguel Rivera on percussion, Richard Hardy on saxophone) records the tracks "Laying My Life Down", "Newborn Highway", and "Listen" with producer Norm Kinney in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the band's album "Listen" (ST-11670).
30 Years Ago Today In 1982 - America (Gerry Beckley and Lee "Dewey" Bunnell on vocals and guitar with Carl Wilson on backing vocals) records the track "Inspector Mills" at Amigo Studios in North Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the track as a single (Capitol 5177) with "Right Before Your Eyes" on the flip side.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1900 - Kurt Weill, composer (best known for "Mack The Knife" ["Mackie der Messer"] from the musical "Three Penny Opera" ["Drei Pfennig Opera"] written with Berthold Brecht) is born in Dessau, Germany.
1983 - The compact disc is launched for home audio by its co-developers Sony and Philips. In six months I'll design my first CD package (including 6x12 long box) for Paul Simon's Warner Bros. album "Hearts And Bones" under the art direction of Jeri McManus (later Jeri Heiden after she married fellow designer John Heiden). The three color posterization on the back of the box was my idea.