JUNE 11, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
60 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Donnie Van Zandt, vocalist, guitarist and founder of the Capitol (single "Teacher Teacher" and on the soundtrack album for the motion picture "Teacher") and Charisma Records (a subsidiary of Virgin Records) group 38 Special and with his brother Johnny Van Zant in the group The Van Zants, is born in Jacksonville, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1942 - At their first session for Capitol Records Tex Ritter (on vocals) and His Texans (Charles Linville on fiddle, Paul Sells on accordion, Johnny Bond on guitar, and Clifford Snyder [as "Cliffie Stone"] on bass), record the titles "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle", "Someone" (with Frankie Marvin on steel guitar), "Goodbye, My Little Cherokee", and "I've Done The Best I Could" (with Frankie Marvin on steel guitar) in Los Angeles, California (possibly at C.P. MacGregor Studios). Capitol Records will issue the first and third titles together as Capitol's first Country single (Capitol 110) and the second and fourth tracks together as a single (Capitol 132).
1946 - Peggy Lee is back at Radio Recorders studios in Los Angeles, California with The Four Of A Kind (Dave Barbour on guitar; Buddy Cole on piano, organ and celeste; Phil Stephens on bass; and Tom Romersa on drums) to record for radio transcription the tracks "The Best Man", "If You Were The Only Boy", "Love Doesn't Grow On Trees", "I Guess I'll Get The Papers And Go Home" and "My Sugar Is So Refined"
65 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Julia Lee (on piano and vocals) and Her Boy Friends (Ernie Royal on trumpet, Dave Cavanaugh on tenor saxophone, Jack Marshall on guitar, Harry Babasin on bass, and Sam "Baby" Lovett on drums) record the titles "There Goes My Heart", "Snatch And Grab It", and "If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Woundn't Be Where I Am)" and then Julia (alone on vocals and piano) records the title "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol 1009), the second title as a single (Capitol Americana 40028) with "I Was Wrong" (recorded June 18, 1947) on the flipside, and the third title as a single (Capitol 1798) with "Scream In The Night" (recorded on July 22, 1950) on the flipside.
1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Whiting and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #9, and Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #16.
60 Years Ago Today In 1952 - At a split session held in Los Angeles, California first Lex Baxter conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" and "Padam...Padam" (with an uncredited chorus) then Helen O'Connell, with The Les Baxter Orchestra and Chorus, records the titles "One, For The Wonder (Of Your Kisses)" and "Long Ago Last Night". Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 2143) and the last two titles as a single (Capitol 2149).
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole's double sided Capitol Records hit "A Blossom Fell" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) and "If I May" (with The Four Knights on backing vocals and Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is #4, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is #9, Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #11, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #22
1956 - Bing Crosby with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra record the album "Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings" in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1966 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Paperback Writer" with "Rain" on the flip side. Rain would be the first popular single to use tape run backwards as part of the song. "Paperback Writer will peak at #1 and "Rain" at #23 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 – Paul McCartney & Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records album "Heart Over Mind" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Neil Finn, with Nick Seymour, drummer Paul Hester, and Craig Hooper of The Reels, give their first peformance as The Mullanes (Mullane is Neil's middle name) in Melbourne, Australia. When the group, minus Seymour, relocate to Los Angeles, they change the name of the band to Crowded House (named after their living conditions in L.A.).
1996 - Capitol Records released the 2 CD compilation album "Dean Martin - The Capitol Years" with 40 tracks including previously unreleased material and studio chatter.
2006 - According to a news item on their website, Capitol Records group Queensryche is arrested at the Amsterdam airport for smuggling illegal firearms

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Joey Dee, actor and lead singer of the Roulette Records group Joey Dee and The Starlighters (best known for the single "Peppermint Twist" and not to be confused with The Starlighters who recorded for Capitol in the 1940's), is born Joseph DiNicola in Passaic, New Jersey. Nick & Renee DiNicola have put together a great site for Joey who still tours as Joey Dee and The Starlighters. Roulette Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1958 - Liberty Records releasese Eddie Cochran's single "Summertime Blues" with "Love Again" on the flip side. Liberty Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - At ceremony #57, Barbara Stanwick and Robert Taylor leave their hand and footprints at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California