JUNE 30, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1939 - Janet H. Shifflett, machinist for fifteen years at Capitol Records and for Audiopak for seven years, is born Janet Henry in Warren County, Virginia
1944 - Glenn Shorrock, singer with the Capitol Records group The Little River Band, is born in Rochester, England
1949 - Andy Scott, guitarist with the Capitol Records group The Sweet, is born Andrew Scott in Wrexham, Wales, United Kingdom

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - It's a busy day for drummer Zutty Singleton as he and his Creole Band (Norman Bowden on trumpet, Shorty Haughton on trombone, Barney Bigard on clarinet, Fred Washington on piano, Bud Scott on guitar, and Ed Garland on bass) record the tracks "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" and "Crawfish Blues", and at the same session, with his trio (Singleton on drums, Bigard on clarinet, and Washington on piano), record a couple of takes of "Barney's Bounce" and "Lulu's Mood". All the tracks will be released by Capitol Records.
1947 - Freddie Slack (on piano and celeste, with Gene Englund on bass, and Dave Coleman on drums), records the tracks "Humoresquire" (with Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell on guitar) and "Celeste Boogie" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records, but the tracks would remain unreleased until included in the 2005 Mosaic Records 3 CD set "Mosaic Select: Freddie Slack".
1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young" (with "That's My Girl" on the flipside) is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is #3 down from #2, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill" is #17 down from #9, and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Josephine" entes the top 20 at #20
1955 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle leading an unknown studio orchestra, records the track "I Thought About You" written by Jimmy Van Husen with lyrics by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California for his Capitol Records album "songs for swingin' lovers!"
1956 - Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps' Capitol Records single "Be Bop A Lula" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart at #23 up from #43, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His  Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "How Little We Know" enters the top 40 tied at #33 (up from #53) with Little Richard's single "Slippin' And A Sliddin'", Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is #37 down from #31, and Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Standing On The Corner" is in a three way tie at #40 (down from #34) with Kay Starr's single "Second Fiddle" and Eddie Fisher (with Hugo Winterhalterr and His Orchestra)'s single "On The Street Where You Live"
1960 - Arranger and tenor saxophonist Bill Holman (with Al Porcino, Ray Triscari, Conte Candoli, Lee Katzman on trumpet; Frank Rosolino and Lew McCreary on trombone; Ken Shroyer on bass trombone; Vince DeRosa and John Cave on french horn; Joe Maini and Charlie Kennedy on alto saxophone; Richie Kamuca and Bill Perkins on tenor saxophone; Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone; Jimmy Rowles on piano; Joe Mondragon on bass; and Mel Lewis on drums) records the tracks "Speak Low", "Lush Life", "Shadrack", and "In A Sentimental Mood" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for his Capitol Records album "Bill Holman - Great Big Band"
1972 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Everybody's Had the Blues Sometimes" hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - George Harrison's Apple Records single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)", with "Miss O'Dell" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, knocking Paul McCartney and Wings' Apple Records single "My Love", with "The Mess" on the flip side, out of the top spot after a 4 week stay, and will itself be knocked out of the following week by Billy Preston's A&M single "Will It Go Round In Circles" with Preston's version of Lennon and McCartney's "Blackbird" on the flipside.
1974 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "He Thinks I Still Care" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1984 - Tina Turner's Capitol Records album Private Dancer enters Billboard's Top 200 albums chart
1995 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Garth Brooks buries the glass master of his LP "The Hits" beneath his star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was the first time something like this had been done.
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - An article in the Los Angeles Times states that Capitol Records pays a dime per square foot in property taxes for The Capitol Tower with an annual tax payment of $11,000. Doing the math, it works out that the total "official" square footage of The Capitol Tower is 110,000 square feet.
2009 - Harve Presnell, singer, Broadway, Television and Motion Picture actor, and Capitol Records artist (as part of the Roger Wagner Chorale and on the original Broadway cast album "The Unsinkable Molly Brown") has died of pancreatic cancer at age 74 at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1917 - Lena Horne, singer, motion picture and television actress, and United Artists Records artist (1965-1966) is born Lena Mary Calhoun Horne in Brooklyn, New York
1931 - Andrew Hill, pianist and Blue Note Records artist, is born in Chicago, Illinois
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Pianist and vocalist Amos Milburn (with Noble Watts on tenor saxophone, Paul Williams on alto and baritone saxophone, Mickey Baker on guitar and an unknown bass player and drummer) records the tracks "Let's Have A Party", "Without Someone To Call Your Own", "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" (without Watts on saxophone), and "Sorrowful Heart" at Audio Video Studios, in New York City, New York for his Aladdin Records album "Let's Have A Party"
1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is still #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and its flip side, "My Blue Heaven", is #22 down from #21. Imperial Records' catalogue is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1962 - Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Sharing You" is #16 up from #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Dion's Laurie Records single "Lovers Who Wander" is #30 down from #14, and Dinah Washington's single "Where Are You" is # 40 down from #36 up from #46. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Laurie, Liberty, and Roulette Records catalogs.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Arranger Onzy Matthews (with Dupree Bolton on trumpet; Earl Anderza on alto saxophone; Hadley Caliman on tenor saxophone; Roosevelt Wardell on piano; Clarence Jones on bass; and Chuck Carter on drums) records the tracks "Joe And I" and "Midnite Lament" at Pacific Jazz Studios, in Los Angeles, California. The tracks will remain unreleased until they became part of the 2007 Mosaic Records 3 CD set "Mosaic Select: Onzy Matthews"
1984 - It's Rupert Perry's last day as president of EMI America Records. The next day he will become executive assistant to the chairman of EMI Music Worldwide, based in Los Angeles, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1939 - Future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra makes his first appearance with future Capitol Records artist Harry James’ band at a show held at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland
1956 - The Goons' first Decca Records single, "I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas", enters the UK singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Brian Epstein signs The Foremost
2006 - "The Beatles LOVE", the latest Cirque du Soleil production which celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles, holds it's Gala Premiere at The Mirage in Las Vegas and Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison are expected to attend. This joint artistic venture marks the first time that The Beatles' company, Apple Corps Ltd., has agreed to a major theatrical partnership. Sir George Martin, The Beatles' original producer, and his son Giles Martin have been working with the entire archive of Beatles recordings to create the musical component for "LOVE". Apple Corps Ltd. will later release the show's soundtrack album through EMI Music. For more info go to issue 60 of Beatlefan online.

JUNE 29, 2013

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Capitol Records releases it first six singles:
101. PAUL WHITEMAN and his Orchestra - "I've Found A New Baby" and "The General Jumped At Dawn"
102. FREDDIE SLACK and his Orchestra - "Here You Are" and, with Ella Mae Morse, "Cow Cow Boogie"
103. JOHNNY MERCER - "Strip Polka" and, with Freddie Slack and his Orchestra, "The Air Minded Executive"
104. DENNIS DAY - "Johnny Doughboy Found A Rose In Ireland" and "Phil The Fluter's Ball"
105. MARTHA TILTON - "The Angels Cried" and GORDON JENKINS and his Orchestra - "I'll Remember April"
106. CONNIE HAINES with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra - "He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings" and "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"
1950 - Mel Blanc records the tracks "Yosemite Sam" and "I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat" for the double disc Capitol Records children's record "Bugs Bunny Sings". The two tracks will also be released as a single with a picture sleeve in 1951 and "I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat" would peak at #9 on Billboard's singles chart and be one of the top 20 songs of the year. The song was produced by Alan Livingston. Livingston, with Billy May and Warren Foster, would also write the lyrics and May would write, arrange and conduct the music.
1951 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocal, trombone, and bass; Don Barbour on vocal and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocal and drums; and Hal Kratzsch on vocal, tumpet, mellophone, and bass) record the tracks "It's A Blue World" and "Tuxedo Junction" (which will be released by Capitol Records as Capitol single #2152) as well as "Intermission Riff" (which will finally be released when it appears on 2000 Mosaic Records box set "The Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Sessions April, 1950-July, 1960") with producer Voyle Gilmour at Capitol's Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California
1959 - Franck Pourcell and His French Fiddlers' Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #23 down from #12 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "M.T.A." enters the top 40 at #28 up from #49
1960 - Arranger and tenor saxophonist Bill Holman (with Al Porcino, Conte Candoli, Lee Katzman, and Ray Triscari on trumpet; Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophone; Charlie Kennedy, Joe Maini, and Richie Kamuca on alto saxophone; Frank Rosolino, Lew McGreery, and Vern Friley on trombone; Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone; Jimmy Rowles on piano; Joe Mondragon on bass; Kenny Shroyer on bass trombone; and Mel Lewis on drums) record the tracks "Quickstep", "The Moon Is Blue", and "June Is Busting Out All Over" for his Capitol Records album "Bill Holman's Great Big Band" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" (with "Anoko No Namaewa Nantenkana" on the flip side) is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Nat "King" Cole's single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #6 up from #7, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #16 down from #11, The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A." is #17 down from #16, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #19 down from #9, and The Beach Boys' single "Shut Down" (the flipside of "Surfin' U.S.A." is #29 down from #23
1964 - Capitol Records releases Nat "King" Cole's single "Marnie" based on music from the soundtrack of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, with "More And More Of Your Amour" on the flip side
1967 - Wanda Jackson records the track "No Place To Go But Home" with producers Ken Nelson and Kelso Herston for her Capitol Records album "Cream Of The Crop" and "You Created Me" with Nelson, Herston and George Richy producing for her Capitol Records album "Wanda Jackson Country!" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records subsidiary Tower Records releases Pink Floyd's second album "A Saucerful Of Secrets"
1989 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney's "Flowers In The Dirt" album
1999 - Capitol Records releases Grand Funk Railroad's anthology album "Thirty Years Of Funk"
2002 - Rosemary Clooney, singer, motion picture and television actress, wife of Capitol Records artist (original Broadway cast album for "Cyrano de Bergerac") Jose Ferrer, lover of arranger and Capitol Records artist Nelson Riddle, and a Capitol Records artist (on a duet album with Bing Crosby), dies at age 74 of lung cancer at her home in Beverly Hills, California. Her home, formerly the home of lyricist Ira Gershwin, has been demolished by a new owner.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1916 - Porky Freeman, guitarist and Western Swing bandleader who gave future Capitol Records artist Merle Travis his first job after Travis moved to California, is born Quilla Hugh Freeman, in Vera Cruz, Missouri
70 Years Ago Today In 1943 - Little Eva, singer (best known for "The Loco-Motion", which was later covered by Capitol Records group Grand Funk Railroad and future Capitol Records artist Kyle Minogue), is born Eva Narcissus Boyd in Belhaven, North Carolina
1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #8 down from #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts' Dolton Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #10 down from #8, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #29 down from #18. EMI Music Group, Capitol Records' parent company, currently owns the Liberty, Dolton, and Imperial Records catalogues.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Essex's Roulette Records single "Easier Said Than Done" is #5 up from #15 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, The Chiffon's Laurie Records single "One Fine Day" is #7 up from #10, Jan And Dean's Liberty Records single "Surf City is #10 up from #20, and Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #26 down from #14. Roulette, Laurie, and Liberty Records' catalogs are currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Del Shannon's cover of The Beatles' tune "From Me To You" enters Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, becoming the first Lennon/McCartney song to appear on the U.S. charts
1986 - Dan Seal's EMI America Records single "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)", with "So Easy To Need" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. EMI America's Country catalog is currently being distributed by Capitol Records Nashville.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1919 - Slim Pickens, motion picture actor ("Blazing Saddles", "Dr. Strangelove...", "1941", etc.), is born Louis Bert Lindley Jr., in Kingsburg, California. Let the whoopin' and a hollerin' commence! :)
1940 - Victor Records releases Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra's single "I'll Never Smile Again", It will be the band's first big hit with future Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers as vocalists. The track had been recorded on May 23, 1940 in New York City and will become the first #1 on Billboard's first top 10 selling chart on July 20, 1940, and would be both Sinatra and The Pied Piper's first #1 on any charts. The instrumental "Marcheta" is on the flip side.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, at ceremony #123, leave their footprints in cement at Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California
1967 - Jayne Mansfield, singer and actress on Broadway and in motion pictures, is killed at age 34 in an auto accident on U.S. Highway 90 on her way from an engagement at a supper club in Biloxi, Misssissippi to a TV interview in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also killed is Mansfield's driver and her divorce lawyer, and suffering minor injuries are three of Manfield's children including future "Law & Order S.V.U." actress Mariska Hargitay.
30 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Sylvester Stallone, at ceremony #148, leaves his footprints in cement at Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California

JUNE 28, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1907 - Jimmy Mundy, tenor saxophonist, arranger (for both sides of Capitol Records' first released single, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's "I Found A New Baby" and "The General Jumped At Dawn"), and songwriter (including "Travlin' Light" with lyricst and Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer), is born in Cincinnati, Ohio
90 Years Ago Today In 1923 - Pete Candoli, Capitol Records session trumpet player (with arrangers Billy May, Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Gordon Jenkins, and Axel Stordahl; on albums by Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Stan Kenton, and more) and husband (1960-1971) of one time Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton, is born Walter Joseph Candoli in Mishawaka, Indiana. There's a great biographic article about Candoli on the Jazz Professional website.
1926 - Mel Brooks, drummer, comedian, Broadway playright and producer, television and motion picture screenwriter, director, producer and actor, and a Capitol Records artist (with Carl Reiner on the "2000 Year Old Man" series of comedy albums), is born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York.
1936 - Tom Drake (aka Steven Yates), guitarist, singer, songwriter and founder of the Capitol Records group The Good Time Singers, is born Thomas Y. Drake in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1950 - Jess Stacy and His Trio (Jess Stacy on piano, George Van Eps on guitar, Morty Corb on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) records the tracks "Careless" (which went unissued until it appeared on the 1997 Mosaic box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions"), "I'll Be Seeing You" (which will be released by Capitol on the album "Classics In Jazz - Piano Stylists"), as well as "Can't We Be Friends" and "Imagination" (which Capitol Records will release together as a single)
1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Mondy Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" is #2 down from #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is #14 up from #19, and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Carioca" is still #18
1957 - The Andrews Sisters finish recording tracks for their Capitol Records album  "Fresh And Fancy Free" with arranger Billy May conducting the studio orchestra at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "I Get Around", with "Don't Worry Baby" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1965 - Red Nichols, cornet player, band leader and Capitol Records artist (1956-1960), dies after a sudden heart attack in his suite at the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and his band were performing. His ashes are later interred in the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills cemetery. There's a nice biographic article by "Dr. Progresso" on the Hole In The Web site.
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "Summer Days (And Summer Nights), produced by Brian Wilson. The album will enter Billboard's Hot 200 album charts on July 24, 1965, my fifth birthday, and contains the hits "Help Me, Rhonda" and "California Girls".
1965 - Capitol Records recording artists Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard are married in Tijuana, Mexico
1966 - Merle Haggard records the tracks "Longer You Wait", "I Can't Stand Me", and "Bottle Let Me Down" at the Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with producers Ken Nelson and Fuzzy Owen and The Strangers (Roy Nichols, Glen Campbell, Lewis Talley, and Jack Collier on guitar, James Burton on guitar/dobro, Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Bob Morris, Bert Dodson, Jerry Ward on bass, Helen Price and James Gordon on drums, George French, Glenn D. Hardin on piano, Bonnie Owens and Billy Mize on additional vocals) for Haggard's Capitol Records album "Swinging Doors And The Bottle Let Me Down"
1966 - Jackie Gleason conducts the orchestra as they record the track "A Taste Of Honey" for Gleason's Capitol Records album "A Taste Of Brass - For Lovers Only"
1967 - Wanda Jackson records the track "Girl Don't Have To Drink To Have Fun" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producers Ken Nelson & Kelso Herston for Jackson's Capitol Records album "Cream Of The Crop"
1972 - Capitol Records registers the master it purchased for Buck Owen's title "You Ain't Gonna Have Ol' Buck To Kick Around No More" which he recorded on June 20, 1972 at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California and will release the title as a single (Capitol 3429) on August 28, 1972 with "I Love You So Much It Hurts" (recorded in July 1972) on the flipside.
1985 - Mischa Spoliansky (born Dec 28, 1898 in Russia), British composer who wrote the scores for several British films including "Saint Joan" (1957) whose soundtrack was released by Capitol Records, dies of natural causes in London, England at age 86 .
25 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Poison's Capitol Records album "Open Up And Say Ahh!" is certified Gold and Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1992 - Howard Roberts, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (1963-1969), dies in Seattle, Washington at age 62
20 Years Ago Today In 1993 - The first recording session for Frank Sinatra's "Duets" album is held at The Capitol Tower Studios, but slight case of laryngitis and anxiety about being isolated in a sound booth causes Sinatra not to be able to perform. But four days later, after a special platform is built amongst the musicians and a hand mike is used for his vocals, Sinatra feels at ease and records nine tracks in five hours.
1997 - Mrs. Miller (born Elva Ruby Connes), Capitol Records artist, dies at age 89 in Vista, California
2005 - Capitol Records releases Megadeth's greatest hits album "Back To The Start"
2006 - Capitol Records artist Corinne Bailey Rae appears on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Roger Gambill, singer, member of The Kingston Trio (1973-1985) after they group left Capitol Records, is born
1967 - The motion picture "The Family Way", with musical score composed by Paul McCartney, premieres in the United States
1991 - "Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio" debuts at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. McCartney co-wrote the 90-minute work with American-born composer Carl Davis to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Liverpool's Royal Philharmonic. The piece will later be released by Capitol Recorsd on an album.
2001 - The Country Radio Broadcasters awards former Capitol Records artist Buck Owens their Career Achievement Award with Brad Paisley making the presentation

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS
1902 - Richard Rodgers, Broadway and motion picture composer (first with lyricst Lorenz Hart, then with Oscar Hammerstein II, and then on his own) is born Richard Charles Rodgers in New York City, New York. Capitol Records released the original Broadway cast album for Rodgers' "No Strings". His works have also been covered by many Capitol Records artist and are the basis for two compilation CDs released by Capitol - "Isn't It Romantic: Capitol Sings Rodgers and Hart" and "Hello, Young Lovers: Capitol Sings Rogers and Hammerstein".
1937 - Sonja Henie leaves her skate prints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California at ceremony #38
1985 - Route 66, the 59 year-old highway of 2,200 miles of blacktop and inspiration for Bobby Troup's song "Route 66" and the television show of the same name, whose instrumental theme song was written and recorded by Capitol Records artist Nelson Riddle and released by Capitol, is decertified as a U.S. highway

JUNE 27, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1924 - Lloyd George (aka Ken Marvin), singer, guitarist, banjo and mandolin player, Capitol Records artist (1949 - as the first Lonzo in the Country duo Lonzo and Oscar and as a solo artist using the name Ken Marvin) and Imperial Records artist (1962 - using his own name), is born Lloyd Leslie George in Cordova, Walker County, Alabama. Peter J. Gossett runs a comprehensive site on the life of Lloyd George.
1942 - Bruce Johnston, Grammy award winning songwriter, keyboardist, bass player and vocalist with The Capitol Records band The Beach Boys, born Benjamin Baldwin in Peoria, Illinois on June 24, 1944, is adopted and has his name changed to Bruce Arthur Johnston
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Lisa Germano, singer, songwriter, violinist, and Capitol Records artist (1994), is born in Mishawaka, Indiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - The July 4, 1942 issue of Billboard hits the newstands today with an article about the first 6 singles set to be released by Capitol in two days on June 29, 1942.
1947 - Jo Stafford records the tracks "Fuedin' And Fightin'" with The Starlighters and Paul Weston's Mountain Boys and "Love And The Weather with Paul Weston and His Orchestra which  will be released together as a single by Capitol Records
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Vaya Con Dios" is #7 up from #10, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby" is still at #11, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" is #13 up from #15 and its flip side "Allez-Vous-En" enters the top 20 at #15, and Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Oh!" enters the chart at #20
1957 - Composer and arranger Johnny Richards begins three days of sessions (the other two being July 8 and 11, 1957) with musicians Burt Collins, Jerry Kail, Paul Cohen, and Doug Mettome on trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl, and Frank Rehak on trombones; Al Antonucci on French horn; Jay McAllister on tuba; Gene Quill on alto saxophone; Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone; Billy Slapin on baritone saxophone and piccolo; Shelly Gold on bass saxophone; Hank Jones on piano; Chet Amsterdam on bass; Maurice Marks on drums; and Willie Rodriguez on tympani, for his Capitol Records album "Wide Range" in New York City, New York
1960 - Capitol Records releases Wanda Jackson's single "Let's Have A Party" with "Cool Love" on the flip side
1961 - Peggy Lee, with arranger Quincy Jones conducting the studio orchestra (an unknown flute french horn and string sections, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Victor Feldman on piano and vibraphones, Stan Levey on drums, and Francisco "Cino" Ponzo on bongos and congas) records the tracks "Smile" and "I Get Along Without You Very Well" with producer Dave Cavanaugh at the last session for her Capitol Records album "If You Go" which was held in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1961 - Singer Nancy Wilson and alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, with Nat Adderley on cornet, Louis Hayes on drums, Sam Jones on bass and Joe Zawinul on piano, begin two days (the next being June 29, 1961) of recording sessions with producers Tom Morgan and Andy Wiswell in New York City, New York for their Capitol Records album "Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley" which will be released in September 1962
1962 - Jackie Gleason's Capitol Records albums "Music, Martinis and Memories" and "Music for Lovers Only" are both certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. as is The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records album "String Along"
1964 - Peter and Gordon's Capitol Records single "World Without Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the song is the first written by the duo, and not performed by The Beatles, to top the chart.
1966 - Capitol Records releases Kay Starr's final album for the label "Tears And Heartaches/Old Records" which was produced by Lex De Azevedo
1966 - Jack Gleason conducts his orchestra as they record "The Shadow Of Your Smile" for his album "How Seet It Is - For Lovers" with PeeWee Erwin on trumpet
1966 - Capitol Records subsidiary Tower Records releases Mae West's album "Way Out West"
1969 - More than 22,000 people pay their respects to Judy Garland at a memorial service at Campbell's Funeral Chapel in New York. She was laid to rest at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York
1980 - Barney Bigard, clarinet player, Capitol Records session musician (on tracks by Capitol Records artists Zutty Singleton, Sonny Greer, Freddie Slack, Peggy Lee, and Ella Fitzgerald) and member of the group The Capitol Jazzmen, dies in Culver City, California at age 74
20 Years Ago Today In 1993 - Garth Brooks Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "That Summer", with "Dixie Chicken" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
2000 - The Kottonmouth King's second Capitol Records album, "High Society", is released
2006 - MTV proclaims today "Headly Sucks Day" as they premiere an "MTV Diary" at 7PM EDT about the Canadian band who recently signed with Capitol Records and whose debut disc for the label is due out on August 29, 2006
2006 - Capitol Records releases a special deluxe CD single of The Beach Boy's "Good Vibrations" with 5 versions of the song and the original flip side "Let's Go Away For Awhile" to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song's release. Check out Michael deMartin's Pet Blog for more info and a lot of fun stuff.
2006 - Capitol was also to release a 30th anniversary edition of The Steve Miller Band's album "Fly Like An Eagle" on DVD with 5.1 surround sound coming as close as currently possible to (and maybe even surpassing) the album's original quadrophonic mix, but as of 5:00 PM 06-28-06 it still hasn't shown up at the Virgin Megastore at Sunset and Crescent Heights or Tower Records in Glendale, CA.
5 Years Ago Today In 2008 - Leonard Pennario, classical pianist, composer and Capitol, Angel and Columbia Records artist, dies of complications from Parkinson's disease at age 83 in La Jolla, California. http://www.leonardpennario.com and http://www.pennario.org are two great websites with more information on this Buffalo born child prodigy who was active until his death.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotion" is still #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Runaround" (with "Truly Do" on the flip side) enters the top 40 at #29 up from #41, and Don Costa and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Theme From 'The Unforgiven'" (with "Streets Of Paris" on the flip side) enters at #37 up from #44. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Imperial, Dolton and United Artist Records' catalogues.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Paul McCartney drops by a recording session of Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, who are recording two Lennon-McCartney songs, "Bad to Me" and "I Call Your Name"
1964 - Jan and Dean's Liberty Records single "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", with "My Mighty G.T.O" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, after being released on June 8,  1964, and will eventually peak at #3
1981 - Kim Carnes EMI America Records album "Mistaken Identity" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart, knocking out REO Speedwagon's album "Hi Infidelity" which had been #1 for 14 weeks. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1986 - EMI America Records releases Queensrÿche's album "Rage For Order". EMI America's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1885 - Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter apply for a patent on the gramophone, which will be granted on May 4, 1886
1964 - The Beatles' Swan Records single "Sie Leibt Dich", with "I'll Get You" on the flip side, peaks at #97 on Billboard's singles chart
1971 - The Filmore East in New York City is closed by promoter Bill Graham. The Beach Boys, The Allman Brothers, The J. Geils Band, and Mountain are among the acts performing on the venue's final night.
1976 - John Lennon receives his "Green Card", number A17-597-321
1989 - Tom Jones, singer, television variety show host, and motion picture actor, is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
2002 - John Entwistle, bassist for the band The Who, dies in Las Vegas, Nevada of a heart attack induced by cocaine one day before the scheduled first show of the band's 2002 US tour

JUNE 26, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1969 - Colin Greenwood, bass player and keyboardist for the Capitol Records band Radiohead, is born Colin Charles Greenwood in Oxford, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #3 down from #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Pied Piper's Capitol Records single "My Happiness" is still #8, and The Sportsmen's a capella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True, Dear" is still #11, Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Twelfth Street Rag" enters the top 20 at #14, and The Sportsmen's Capitol Records single "Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)" (the flip side of "You Can't Be True, Dear") re-enters the top 20 at #20
1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" is still at #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In The Fontain" is still #7, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is still #11, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #11 up from #13 down from #7, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs" is #14 down from #8, and Stan Freberg's Capitol Records single "Point Of Order" is #15 up from #20
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra (which includes Bill Miller on piano), records the tracks "Goodbye" "It's A Lonesome Old Town", and "One For My Baby" for his Capitol Records album "Only The Lonely" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #21 down from #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1964 - Peggy Lee records the tracks "After You've Gone", "C'est Magnifique", "My Sin', and "In The Name Of Love" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "In The Name Of Love" with producer Dave Cavanaugh and Robert Bain, John Pisano, and Howard Roberts on guitars; Chuck Berghofer on bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stan Levey on drums; and Francisco Aguabella on bongos and conga drum
1966- Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Think Of Me", with "Heart Of Glass" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1967 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Your Tender Loving Care" with "What A Liar I Am" on the flip side
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Ziggy Elman (born Harry Finkelman), trumpet player, bandleader, songwriter (co-wrote "And The Angels Sing" with future Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer), and a Capitol Records session musician (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra and others) and solo artist, dies in Van Nuys, California at age 54
25 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Tanya Tucker's Capitol Records single "If It Don't Come Easy", with "I'll Tennessee You In My Dreams" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1996 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Garth Brooks set an all time record at Fan Fair, in Nashville, Tennessee, when he signs autographs for twenty-three consecutive hours
2000 - Edmund E. Nielsen, manager for Capitol Records and record distributor in Hawai‘i, dies in San Antonio, Texas, at age 80
2006 - Gloria Jean Bernard, (born Gloria Jean Swanson) Capitol Records employee in Los Angeles, California before moving to Deluth, Minnesota where she worked for St. Luke Hospital, University of Minnesota, and the Bureau of Mines, dies at age 72 in Edinburg, Virginia

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
80 Years Ago Today In 1933 - The Kraft Music Hall debuts on radio with future Capitol Records artist Paul Whiteman as its first host. Whiteman's radio orchestra would give first national exposure to many future Capitol Records artists including co-founder Johnny Mercer, who replaced future Capitol Records artist Bing Crosby (who was part of The Delta Rhythm Boys), and trombonist and singer Jack Teagarden who would sing with Mercer on the show. The show would go on to have many hosts including Al Jolson and Bing Crosby, and transition to television in 1949 with hosts including Milton Berle, David King, and Perry Como.
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Future Capitol Records artist Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe (who at one time was signed to Capitol Records but never recorded for the label) leave their footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California at ceremony #104
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #5 down from #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and it's flip side "Hello Mary Lou" is #16 up from #17, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "It Keeps Rainin'" is #28 up from #40, and The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Tragedy" is #31 down from #20
1964 - The Beatles' soundtrack of "A Hard Day's Night", as well as the single "And I Love Her", with "Ringo's Theme" on the flip side, are released by United Artists Records. Capitol Records eventually buys the UA catalog and re-releases the album on Capitol.
2007 - Infinity Entertainment releases a DVD set containing 30 episodes of Larry Harmon's Bozo The Clown

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Clifford Brown, trumpet player and Blue Note Records solo artist, dies in an auto accident at age 25. Also killed in the accident is pianist Richard Powell (brother of Bud Powell), and Richard's wife.
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - The R.I.A.A. starts to identify individual computer users who are, "illegally offering to 'share' substantial amounts of copyrighted music over peer-to-peer networks" to bring suit against them.

JUNE 25, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1952 - Tim Finn, Capitol Records solo artist (1989) and member the bands Split Enz (1972-1984) and Capitol Records band Crowded House (1992), is born Brian Timothy Finn in Te Awamutu, New Zealand

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby It's Cold Outside is #4 up from #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugalo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #8 up from #10
1950 - Woody Herman and His Orchestra (Herman on clarinet and alto saxophone; Doug Mettome, Conte Candoli, Don Ferraro, and Rolf Ericson on trumpet; Herb Randel, Bill Harris, and Jerry Dorn on trombone; Phil Urso, Buddy Wise, and Bob Graf on tenor saxophone; Marty Flax on baritone saxophone; Dave McKenna on piano; Red Mitchell on bass; and Sonny Igoe on drums) record the tracks "Music To Dance To" (arranged by Al Cohn), "The Nearness Of You" (arranged by Ralph Burns), and "Sonny Speaks" (also arrnged by Al Cohn) at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. "The Nearness of You" and "Sonny Speaks" will be released by Capitol Records on the album "Woody Herman - Classics In Jazz' and "Music To Dance To" will be released on a single by Capitol with "Johannesburg", recorded in Chicago by the same line up on August 5, 1950
1951 - Billy May and His Orchestra (with May conducting his own arrangements to John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein and Uan Rasey on trumpet, Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, Jimmy Priddy and Si Zentner on trombone, Skeets Herfurt and Willie Schwartz on alto saxophone, Ted Nash and Fred Falensby on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Buddy Cole on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass and Alvin Stoller on drums) record the tracks "All Of Me", "My Silent Love", "If I Had You" and "Lulu's Back In Town" between 8:30PM and Midnight at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release "All Of Me" as a single with "Lean Baby" (recorded on August 22, 1951) on the flip side on September 24, 1951.
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Tommy Collins, at his first Capitol Records recording session, waxes the tracks "You Gotta Have A Licence", "Let Me Love You", "There Will Be No Other", and "I Love You More And More Each Day". All songs were written by Collins.
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra and Chorus' Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is still #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 down from #3, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is #5 up from #6, and Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #19 down from #16
1964 - The Beach Boys record the tracks "The Man With All The Toys", "Santa's Beard", "Merry Christmas, Baby" (which they'll finish up on June 30, 1964), and "Christmas Day (which features Al Jardine's first lead vocal for the group and which they'll finish recording on June 27, 1964)" at Western Studios in Hollywood, California for their 1964 Capitol Records album "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album"
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer", with "Rain" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1967 - The Beatles' track "All You Need is Love" is recorded during "Our World", a two hour worldwide live television broadcast, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, in London, England.
1976 – Johnny Mercer (born John Herndon Mercer), lyricist, composer, singer, radio variety show host, and co-founder of Capitol Records and The Songwriters Hall of Fame, dies at age 66 in Los Angeles, California of complications after surgery for brain cancer, which had left him paralyzed and unable to speak for months, in a guest house at his home in Bel Air, California. His body was later cremated and his ashes buried in the family plot in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. "...and the angels sing"
1988 - Hillel Slovak, guitarist for EMI America Records band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, dies of a heroin overdose at age 26 and is later interred in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California
1990 - Enigma Records releases Poison's single "Unskinny Bop" which shares the a side with "Swamp Juice (Soul-O)", with "Valley Of The Lost Souls" on the flip side, and is distributed by Capitol Records
1991 - Capitol Records releases Kirsty MacColl's fourth studio album "Electric Landlady" produced by her husband, Steve Lillywhite
2006 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Keith Urban marries fellow Australian and motion picture actress, Nicole Kidman, in Sydney, Australia
2007 - Services are held for Donna King Conkling (aka Donna King of the Capitol Records group The King Sisters) at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 14001 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks, California. She passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2007.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1960 - Tenor Saxophonist Tina Brooks records his only solo album, "True Blue", at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and released by Blue Note Records. Blue Note's catalogue is owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, and Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Music Group.
2006 - Arif Mardin, record producer and arranger for artists from The Young Rascals to Nora Jones, and labels from Atlantic Records to most recently Blue Note Records, has died at his home in New York City of pancreatic cancer. The Los Angeles Times ran a very good overview of Mardin's eventful life and career with comments by Bruce Lundvall, president of EMI Jazz & Classics.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Billboard magazine retitled its Hillbilly Music Chart "Country & Western"
1950 - The Korean War begins
1966 - Dick Van Dyke leaves his footprints in cement at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California at ceremony #132
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Jackie Lomax records the track "Sour Milk Sea" with producer George Harrison also playing guitar at the session

JUNE 24, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1942 - Bruce Johnston, songwriter (best know for "I Write The Songs"), keyboardist, drummer, bass player, singer, and member of The Beach Boys, is born Benjamin Baldwin in Peoria, Illinois and will be adopted three days later on June 27, 1942 and have his name changed to Bruce Arthur Johnston

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away)" (with "I Love You" on the flip side) is #6 up from #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Andy Russell (with orchestra conducted by Al Saks)'s Capitol Records single "Amor" (with "The Day After Forever" on the flip side) is #7 down from #5, and The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Straighten Up And Fly Right" (with "I Can't See For Lookin'" on the flip side) enters the top 10 at #9
1950 - Nat "King" Cole (with Les Baxter and His Orchestra using a Nelson Riddle arrangement)'s Capitol Records single "Mona Lisa" (the flip side of "The Greatest Inventor Of Them All") is #5 up from #9 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1957 - Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady" is #19 up from #30 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #24 down from #15
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "One For My Baby", "Blues In The Night", "What's New", and "Gone With The Wind" with producer Voyle Gilmore, and with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra, for his Capitol Records album "Only The Lonely" at The Capitol Tower Studios In Hollywood, California
1961 - Peggy Lee, with producer Dave Cavanaugh and a studio orchestra (Justin Gordon, Theodore Nash on flute; an unknown french horn section, an unknown string section using arrangements by Quincy Jones; Dennis Budimir and Al Hendrickson on guitar; Max Bennett on bass; Victor Feldman on piano and vibraphones; Stan Levey and Shelly Manne on drums; Francisco "Chino" Pozo on bongos and congos; Mike Gutierrez and Mel Zelnick on percussion), records the tracks "Say It Isn't So" and "Maybe It's Because (I Love You)" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "If You Go"
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens and Rose Maddox's single "We're The Talk Of The Town" with "Sweethearts In Heaven" on the flip side
1964 - Instrumental tracks for The Beach Boys' songs "Frosty The Snowman" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas", using a 41 piece orchestra conducted by orchestra master Benjamin Barrett and arranged by Dick Reynolds, are recorded in The Capitol Tower Studios. Vocal tracks for the songs will be recorded on June 30 at Western Studios in Hollywood, California
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "Friends"
1972 - Capitol Records releases Helen Reddy's single "I Am Woman" with "More Than You Could Take" on the flip side. The track would go on to hit #1 on Billboard's singles chart on December 9, 1972 (Capitol's first non-Beatles #1 since "Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe" peaked on August 29, 1967) and would win Reddy a Grammy for Female Pop Vocal Performance for which, at the televised ceremony, she would thank God because "...She makes everything possible".
1972 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "That's Why I Love You Like I Do", with "Still Waters Run Deep" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - George Harrison's Apple Records single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1974 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' compilation album "Endless Summer", Tennessee Ernie Ford's single "Come On Down" with "Bits And Pieces Of Life" on the flip side, and Buck Owens' single "(It's A) Monster's Holiday" with "Great Expectations" on the flip side
35 Years Ago Today In 1978 - A Taste of Honey's debut Capitol Records single, "Boogie Oogie Oogie" with "World Spin" on the flipside, enters Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart at #82 and will hit #1 in 11 weeks and stay #1 for 3 weeks. The track got it's initial release as the a side of a promotional 12" single for clubs that had Gloria Jones' "Bring on The Love (Why Can't We Be Friends Again)" on the flipside.
1987 - Jackie Gleason, composer, conductor, comedian, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records recording artist, dies of colon and liver cancer at Inverrary, Florida home at age 71 and is later interred in the Our Lady Of Mercy Cemetery, Miami Beach, Florida
1989 - Liberty Records (later to become Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks debuts on The Grand Ole Opry
1991 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's album "Red, White & Blue"
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Capitol Records releases the album "Songs For Life", whose proceeds will go to a U.S. non-profit group, The Royal Initiative to Combat AIDS, which is helping fight the epidemic in Southern Africa. The album, supervised by producer Phil Ramone, features tracks from John Lennon, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Pattie LaBelle, Carole King, Judy Collins and Lennon with Yoko Ono.
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Capitol Records releases Liz Phair's self-titled album
2004 - Stanley M. Gortikov, former president of Capitol Records (1968-1969), president and CEO of Capitol Industries (1969-1971), and president of the Recording Industry Association of America (1972-1987) dies of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles at age 85.
2005 - Capitol Records releases OK Go's 3 song EP "Do What You Want"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - The movie features of Hopalong Cassidy premiere on TV. The films are edited to thirty and sixty-minute versions and star future Capitol Records childrens' records artist William Boyd as Hopalong and Edgar Buchanan as his sidekick, Red Connors
1957 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Teenager's Romance is #8 up from #10 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Valley Of Tears" is #16 up from #22, and Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is tied for #37 (down from #27) with Pat Boone (with Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra)'s single "Bernadine". Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1904 - Phil Harris, bandleader, singer, radio, television and motion picture actor, husband of actress Alice Faye, with whom he had a popular sitcom radio show, and voice actor (Baloo in Walt Disney's "The Jungle Book") is born Wonga Philip Harris in Linton, Indiana

JUNE 23, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1921 - Jimmie Selph (aka Jimmy Selph, Jimmie Self and Jimmy Self), who recorded for Majestic, Capitol, Coin, and Coral Record as a solo artist and session player doing vocals, guitar, drums, steel guitar and accordion, is born James Coin Self in Childress, Texas.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)' Capitol Records single "Dream" is #7 up from #8 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Johnnie Johnston (with orchestra conducted by Paul Baron)'s Capitol Records single "Laura" (whose lyrics were written by  Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer) is still #9
1949 - Margaret Whiting (on vocals), with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra (members unlisted), records the tracks "It's A Most Unusual Day", the band track for "Whirlwind" and "Dime A Dozen" (with an unlisted vocal group) in Los Angeles, California.
1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young", with "That's My Girl" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #2, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill" is still #9
1952 - Mel Blanc (on vocals), with The Lou Bing Orchestra (members unlisted), records the unissued track "Buzzy Bazoo" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California.
1954 - Ella Logan (on vocals), with an orchestra (members unlisted) conducted by George Greely, "Necessity", "Old Devil Moon", "The Begat" and "If This Isn't Love" in Los Angeles, California for her Capitol Records album "Finian's Rainbow" (L-561).
1955 - Merle Travis (on vocals and guitar), with Eddie Kirk on rhythm guitar, Donald "Dusty" Rhodes on bass, and Thomas T. Mills on drums, records over dubs for the track "Beer Barrel Polka" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studio in Hollywood, California between 1 and 4 pm.
1956 - Gene Vincent and His Blue Cap's single "Be-Bop-A-Lula" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is #31 down from #18 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Standing On The Corner" is #34 down from #32, Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps' Capitol Records single "Be Bop A Lula" is #43, and Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "How Little We Know" is #53
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #6 down from #5 on Billboard's Top 100 singles chart, Nat "King' Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #8 down from #6, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Big Man" is tied for #11 with Pat Boone (with Billy Vauhgn and His Orchestra)'s single "Sugar Moon", Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #14 up from #15, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #21 down from #18
1960 - The Kingston Trio records the tracks "The White Snows Of Winter" and "Sing We Noel" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Voyle Gilmore and engineer Pete Abbot for their Capitol Records album "The Last Month Of The Year"
1961 - Peggy Lee, with producer Dave Cavanaugh and a studio orchestra (Justin Gordon, and Theodore Nash on flute; unknown french horn player; unknown string section using arrangements by Quincy Jones; Dennis Budimir, and Al Hendrickson on guitar; Max Bennett on bass; Victor Feldman on piano and vibraphones; Stan Levey and Shelly Manne on drums; Francisco "Chino" Pozo on bongos and congos; and Mike Gutierrez and Mel Zelnick on percussion), records the tracks "(I Love Your) Gypsy Heart", "If You Go", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Oh Love Hast Thou Forsaken Me" (all of which were released on Lee's Capitol Records album "If You Go", and "Farewell To Arms" (which went unreleased until it appeared on the 2000 Capitol Records CD compilation "Rare Gems And Hidden Treasures") at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1961 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Act Naturally" returns to #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1962 - The Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio perform a live concert at The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California
1969 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Break Away" (written by Murry Wilson) with "Celebrate The News" on the flip side
1970 - Ringo Starr arrives in Nashville, Tennessee, after an invitation by Pete Drake, to cut tracks for a solo album. Other musicians at the session include Drake, Jerry Reed, Charlie Daniels, and The Jordanaires. Apple Records will release the tracks on Starr's album "Beaucoups of Blues" before the end of the year with Capitol Records distributing the album in the United States.
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - George Harrison's Apple Records album "Living In The Material World", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart
1979 - The Knack's debut Capitol Records single "My Sharona", with "Let Me Out" on the flip side, enters Billboard's Hot 100 chart
1984 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records single “The Reflex“ with "New Religion" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
2000 - Singer Carnie Wilson of the SBK/Capitol Records recording group "Wilson Phillips", and daughter of Brian Wilson, marries Rob Bonfiglio

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Stuart Sutcliffe, artist and original bassist for The Beatles, is born Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sarah Sutcliffe runs a very comprehensive site about Stuart.
1954 - Singer Amos Milburn, with musical director Jesse Stone leading the studio orchestra (Harry Parr Jones on trumpet; Clifford Solomon and Claude McLin on tenor saxophone; Jewel Grant on baritone saxophone; Isaac Royal and/or Jesse Stone (probably on piano), Jack Marshall on guitar; Red Callender on bass; and Oscar Lee Bradley on drums) records the tracks "One, Two, Three, Everybody" and "That's It" which will be released together as a single by Aladdin Records (#3269), as well as "Vicious, Vicious Vodka", and "I Done Done It" which will also be released together as a single by Aladdin (#3253), at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Alladin's catalog
1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is #6 up from #8 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and its flip side, "My Blue Heaven", is #21 up from #29
1957 - Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley records the tracks "Mighty Moe And Joe", "News", "Bag's Groove", "Double Exposure" and "Falling In Love With Love" with Bill Hardman on trumpet, Curtis Porter (aka Shafi Hadi) on alto and tenor saxophone, Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums for Mobley's self titled Blue Note Records album. The session was produced by Alfred Lion and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Blue Note Records' catalog and Blue Note is now a division of Capitol Music Group.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Dave Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #4 down #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "I Wonder Why" is tied for #31 with The Aquatones' single "You" up from #42. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Liberty and Laurie Records' catalog.
1959 - Eddie Cochran records the track "Something Else" for Liberty Records at a session at Goldstar Studios in Los Angeles, California. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Liberty Records' catalog.
1962 - Dion's Laurie Records single "Lovers Who Wander" is #14 down from #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Sharing You" is #18 up from #19, and Dinah Washington's single "Where Are You" enters the top 40 at #36 up from #46. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Laurie, Liberty, and Roulette Records catalogs.
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - The JVC Jazz Festival New York presents "There'll Be Another Spring: A Tribute To Miss Peggy Lee" at Carnegie Hall in New York City

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
165 Years Ago Today In 1848 - Antoine Joseph Sax granted a patent for his invention, the saxophone
1941 - Twenty three year-old Lena Horne, future United Artists Records artist, has her first recording session where she lays down the track "St. Louis Blues" which will be released by Victor Records as a single. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the United Artist Records catalog.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Sidney Poitier leaves his foot prints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California in ceremony #134

JUNE 22, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1944 - Peter Asher, brother of television variety show host Jane Asher, record producer (most notably for Linda Rondstadt), and singer with Capitol Records duo Peter and Gordon (1964-1968), is born in London, England
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Todd Rundgren, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer of Capitol Records groups Grand Funk Railroad and The Tubes, is born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
1964 - Mike Edwards, songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the Capitol (1989) and SBK Records (1990-1993) band Jesus Jones, is born Michael James Edwards in Bradford-upon-Avon, Wiltshire, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Guitarist Hank Thompson and The Brazos Valley Boys (Merle Travis on guitar and steel guitar; Bobbie White on steel guitar; Billy Stewart on bass; Paul McGhee on drums; Amos Hedrick, Billy Peters and Curly Lewis on fiddles; Donald McDaniel on piano; and Dubert Dobson on trumpet) record the instrumental tracks "Westphalia Waltz", "Red Skin Gal", and "Don't Be That Way" with producer Ken Nelson at Capitol Records' Melrose studios in Hollywood, California
1959 - Franck Pourcell and His French Fiddlers' Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #12 down from #10 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1960 - Nelson Riddle records the tracks "Suspenseful-Ness", "Linda", "30-30", "Ebony And Ivory", "Reckless-Ness", "Dauntless-Ness", "Speakeasy Blues", Elliot Ness", Dejected-Ness", and "The Loop" for his Capitol Records television soundtrack album "The Untouchables"
1961 - Peggy Lee, with producer Dave Cavanaugh, and a studio orchestra (Justin Gordon and Theodore Nash on flute; an unknown french horn and string section; Dennis Budimir and Al Hendrickson on guitar; Max Bennett on bass; Victor Feldman on piano and vibraphone; Stan Levey and Shelly Manne on drums; Francisco "Chino" Pozo on bongos and congas; and Mike Gutierrez and Mel Zelnick on percussion), records the tracks "I Wish I Didn't Love You So", "As Time Goes By" with Benny Carter on alto saxophone, and "When I Was A Child" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. The string section is arranged by Quincy Jones. The tracks will be released by Capitol Records on the 1961 album "If You Go".
1962 - Maurice Cameron Hill (aka Cameron Hill) guitarist with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and who also recorded with Capitol Records band Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars, Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, and Merrill Moore, dies in Houston, Texas at age 43 after a long illness and is later buried at Rosewood Park Cemetery near Humble, Texas
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" (with "Anoko No Namaewa Nantenkana" on the flip side) is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, (still the only Japanese language single to do so), Nat "King" Cole's single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is still #7, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #9 down from #5, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #11 down from #10, The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A." is #16 down from #13 and its flip side "Shut Down" is #23 up from #30
1969 - Judy Garland, vaudeville performer, singer, motion picture actress, television variety show host, mother of Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, and a Capitol Records artist, dies in the Chelsea section of London, England at age 47
2006 - After appearing on the CBS-TV program "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson", Capitol Records artist Van Hunt, with special guest Nikka Costa, performs at The House of Blues at 8430 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California
2006 - Capitol Records Nashville promotes promotion department staffers Matthew Hargis and Brent Jones. Hargis, who joined the label in April, goes from promotion manager to the new position of director of promotion. Jones, who has been with the label since 1995, is upped from manager to senior manager of promotion. Both report to VP of promotion Jimmy Harnen at the label's Nashville offices.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1909 - Michael Todd, motion picture producer (including "Oklahoma!" which starred Capitol Records artist Gordon MacRae and for which Capitol Records released the original soundtrack album that was awarded the first Gold record by the R.I.A.A.), developer (with The American Optical Company) of the Todd-AO system using 65mm cine cameras at 30 fps and wide angle photgraphy [approx 150 degrees], and husband of motion picture actress Elizabeth Taylor is born Avrom Hirsch Goldbogen
1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #6 down from #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #8 down from #6, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #18 up from #19, and The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Graduation's Here" is #39 up from #44. Liberty, Laurie, Imperial and Dolton Records' catalogs are currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Chiffon's Laurie Records single "One Fine Day" is #10 up from #17 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #14 down from #11, The Essex's Roulette Records single "Easier Said Than Done" enters the top 20 at #15 from #50, Jan And Dean's Liberty Records single "Surf City also enters the top #20 at #20 up from #68. Roulette, Laurie, and Liberty Records' catalogs are currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1987 - Fred Astaire, dancer, actor, singer, and EMI recording artist, dies from pneumonia in Los Angeles, California at age 88 and is buried in the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California
15 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Sir Paul McCartney personally chose and arranges the 45,000 flowers that decorate Riverside Church in Manhattan, New York where the friends and family of Apple and Capitol Records artist Linda McCartney will gather to say a candlelit good-bye to his wife

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1961 - The Beat Brothers (aka The Beatles, with John Lennon on rhythm guitar, George Harrison on lead guitar, Paul McCartney on bass guitar, and Pete Best on drums) are in a professional recording studio for the first time when they're hired by Polydor Records to back vocalist Tony Sheridan on the tracks "My Bonnie", and "In The School Hall". At this session they will also record the tracks "Cry For A Shadow" (an original Harrison instrumental composition), and "Ain't She Sweet (with vocal by Lennon). The group will be back in the studio on on June 23, 1961 to record additional tracks with Sheridan.
2007 - The 36th Annual Jazz Bash (once known as the Ken Crawford Bash), starts today and continues to tomorrow, June 23, 2007. It is held at the Holiday Inn of South Plainfield, N.J. which is located at 4701 Stelton Road. As an extra bonus there was a showing of rare films hosted by collector Dave Weiner on Friday and Ron Hutchinson of the Vitaphone Project on Saturday evening. Both shows started at 7:30. In addition to the all-day schmoozing there were record playoffs/challenges both nights after the films hosted by collector Henry Schmidt. Mosaic's Scott Wenzel manned the booth with a cache of Mosaic sets that were discounted for the show.

JUNE 21, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1921 - Judy Holiday, Broadway and motion picture actress, singer, and Capitol Records artist (on Capitol Records' original motion picture soundtrack album "Bells Are Ringing" with co-star and Capitol Records artist Dean Martin), is born Judith Tuvim at Manhattan's Lying-in Hospital in New York
1921 - Jane Russell, motion picture and Broadway actress, Las Vegas nightclub performer, singer and Capitol Records solo artist and part of a Capitol Records gospel vocal trio with Connie Haines and Beryl Davis, is born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in Bemidji, Minnesota
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Joey Molland, guitarist with the Apple and Capitol Records group Badfinger, is born Joseph Charles Molland in Liverpool, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Johnny Mercer, with King Guion and his Orchestra (Paul Earl Geil, Charlie Griffard, Billy May, and John Enos Silva on trumpet; Bill Atkinson, Burt Johnson, Dale Nichols, and Jim Skiles on trombone; Clyde Hylton and Les Robinson on alto saxophone; King Guion, and Karl Leaf on tenor saxophone; Wes Cheever on baritone saxophone; Ted Repay on piano; Barney Kessel on guitar; Stan Fletcher on bass; and Mel Tormé on drums), records the track "Sam's Got Him" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the track as a single (Capitol 164) with "Duration Blues" on the flipside.
1947 - Reg Ingle & The Natural Seven (with vocals by Cinderella G. Stump, aka Jo Stafford who took scale for this recording)'s Capitol Records single "Temptation (Tim-Tay-Shun)" (with "For Sentimental Reasons" on the flip side) enters the top 10 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Capitol Records releases Margaret Whiting's single "A Tree In The Meadow" with "I'm Sorry, But I'm Glad" on the flipside. Whiting's vocals were dubbed in Los Angeles over an instrumental track recorded by Frank DeVol in London, getting around the second Petrillo recording ban. The track would eventually hit #1 on Billboard's singles chart on August 21, 1948.
1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s debut Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" (with "I Cried Myself To Sleep" on the flip side) is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records charts, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune" is #14 up from #18, Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Carioca" re-enters the top 20 at #18, and Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is #19 down from #16
1964 - Peter & Gordon's Capitol Records single "A World Without Love", with "If I Were You" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1966 - The Beatles record the track "She Said She Said" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England between 7 PM and 3:45 AM. The track will appear on the band's Capitol Records album "Rubber Soul".
1971 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Ruby"
1975 - Glen Campbell's single version of Larry Weiss' "Rhinestone Cowboy", with "Lovelight" on the flip side, enters Billboard's singles chart and will hit #1 on September 6, 1975
1981 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Blessed Are The Believers", with "Only Love" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1989 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens & Ringo Starr's single "Act Naturally", with "The Key's In The Mailbox" on the flip side, that was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London England with producers Jerry Crutchfield and Jim Shaw
1990 - Enigma Records, through a distribution deal with Capitol Records, releases Poison's album "Flesh And Blood"
1991 - Liberty Records, later to become Capitol Records Nashville, releases Gail Davies' compilation album "The Best of Gail Davies"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - After six years, NBC radio presents the final broadcast of "The Railroad Hour", hosted by Capitol Records artist Gordon MacRae.
1966 - Arranger Gerald Wilson (also on maracas, with Al Porcino, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Mel Moore, and Jimmy Owens on trumpet; Mike Barone, John Ewing, and Lester Robertson on trombone; Ernie Tack on bass trombone; Anthony Ortega on alto saxophone and flute; Jimmy Woods on soprano saxophone and alto saxophone; Harold Land and Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone; Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone; William Green on flute and piccalo; Roy Ayers on vibraphones: Jack Wilson on piano; Buddy Woodson on bass; Mel Lee on drums; and Max Garduno on congas) records the tracks "The Feather (from Teotihuacan Suite)" arranged by Mike Barone, and "The Serpent (from Teotihuacan  Suite)" with producer by Richard Bock and recording engineer Lanky Linstrot at TTG Studios, in Los Angeles, California for his Pacific Jazz album "The Golden Sword". Pacific Jazz's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1971 - Celebration of Light festival begins in Louisiana with Capitol Records groups Pink Floyd and The Beach Boys among those appearing on stage
1975 - Elton John and Capitol Records group The Beach Boys appear together in a concert at Wembley Stadium in England
1979 - Former Capitol Records artist Buck Owens marries Jennifer Smith
1981 - Kim Carnes' EMI America Records single "Bette Davis Eyes", with "Miss You Tonite" on the flip side, returns to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Columbia Records announces that it will be offering a new Vinylite long-playing record that can hold 23 minutes of music on each side when played at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute. One of the first LPs it will produce is the original cast album of the Broadway show, "South Pacific". Capitol Records will be the first record company to release albums on three formats of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPMs

JUNE 20, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1942 - Brian Wilson, songwriter, singer, bass player, pianist, record producer and member of Capitol Records band The Beach Boys, is born Brian Douglas Wilson at 3:45am at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, California
1945 - Anne Murray, singer and Capitol Records recording artist (1969-1991), is born Morna Anne Murray in Springhill, Nova Scotia
1960 - John Taylor, solo artist and bass player for the Capitol Records bands Duran Duran and Power Station and Maverick Records band Neurotic Outsiders, is born Nigel John Taylor in Solihull, Warwickshire, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1951 - Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, (on vocals and guitar with William Norris on piano, Maurice Cameron Hill and Eddie Kirk on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, Cliffie Stone on bass, and Muddy Berry on drums) records the tracks "Sailor's Blues", "Juke Box Boogie", "A Lie In A Beautiful Frame", and "That Last Love Letter" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California).
1952 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, The Hazel Scott Trio (Hazel Scott on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Lee Young on drums) records the as yet unissued takes of the titles "My Future Just Passed" and "The Continental", the titles "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Thou Swell", an unissued take of the title "I Cover The Waterfront", the title "I Get A Kick Out Of You", an unissued take of the title "Soothe Me", and the title "'S Wonderful" at the first session and the titles "I'll Be Around", "I'm Yours", and "The Girl Friend", an unissued take of the title "I Want To Be Happy", the title "That Old Black Magic", and unissued takes of the titles "Can't We Talk It Over?", "Have You Met Miss Jones?", "Looking For A Boy", and "If You Hadn't Gone Away" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the third, fourth, sixth, eight, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth titles on the trio's album "Late Show" (H-364).
1952 - The Voices of Walter Schumann (an unlisted chorus with unlisted instrumental accompaniment) record the titles "Romance In The Air", "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Love Is Sweeping The Country" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the group's album "Romance In The Air" (H-347) and will substitute a shorter edit of "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans" on the 78 rpm version of the album (CDF-347).
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April in Portugal" is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and its flip side "Ruby" is #11 down from #9, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)" is #10 up from #14, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #13 down from #10, and Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" is #15 up from #19
1955 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young", with "Forgive Me Dear" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1957 - Gene Vincent (on vocals) and His Blue Caps (Johnny Meeks on guitar, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, Bobby Lee Jones on bass, Dickie Harrell on drums, and with Paul Peek and Tommy Facenda as clapper boys and as the vocal chorus) record the titles "Time Will Bring You Everything", "True To You", "In My Dreams", and "Dance To The Bop" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue the first and third titles on Vincent's album "Gene Vincent Rocks And The Blue Caps Roll" (T 970), the second title as a single (Capitol F3959) with "Baby Blue" (recorded on December 6, 1957) on the flipside, and last track as a single (Capitol F3839) with "I Got It" (recorded on June 19, 1957) on the flipside.
1957 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland tenor vocals, Marvin Inabnett on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals), with Lincoln Mayorga and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Too Young For Love", "Promise Me Baby", and "Again 'N' Again" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the group's self-titled album "The Four Preps" (T 994).
1957 - Ella Mae Morse (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to His Orchestra (John Best, Charles Margulis, and Mannie Klein on trumpet, George Roberts, Tom Pederson, and Si Zentner on trombone, Harry Klee on alto saxophone and flute, Les Robinson on alto saxophone, Ted Nash on tenor saxophone and flute, Gene Cipriano on tenor saxophone, Fred Falensby on baritone saxophone, Bill Miller on piano, Lou Singer on vibraphone and xylophone, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), records the titles "Jersey Bounce", "Heart And Soul", "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street" and "I Can't Get Started" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM on June 21, 1952. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Morse's album "Morse Code" (T 898).
1961 - EMI Records, Capitol Records' parent company, moves from Blyth Road to new offices at EMI House, 20 Manchester Square, London, England W1
1962 - Carmen Dragon conducts The Hollywood Bowl Pops Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Night And Day", "Close As Pages In A Book", "One Kiss", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title on the orchestra's album "An Evening With Cole Porter" (W 1805) and the last three titles on their album "An Evening With Romberg" (W 1804).
1962 - The Joe Bucci Duo (Joe Bucci on organ and Joe Riddick on drums) record the titles "Splanky" and "Blue And Sentimental" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both tracks on the duo's album "Wild About Basie!" (T1840).
1962 - The George Shearing Trio (George Shearing on piano, Israel Crosby on bass, and Vernel Fournier on drums) record the titles "Symphony", "Gone With The Wind", "Blues In 9/4", "Like Someone In Love", "Wonder Why", and retakes of the titles "When Sunny Gets Blue" and "Heart Of Winter" at Capitol's studio in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the trio's album "Jazz Moments" (T 1827).
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Act Naturally" is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1965 - Ira Louvin (born Lonnie Ira Loudermilk), Capitol Records recording artist (solo and in a duo with his brother Charlie as the Louvin Brothers) and his fourth wife Anne Young are killed when the car they were riding in while heading home after finishing a show in Kansas City, Missouri is hit head on by a drunk driver in Williamsburg, Missouri
1965 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Before You Go", with "(I Want) No One But You" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1966 - Capitol Records officially releases The Beatles' album "Yesterday And Today" in the U.S. with the "trunk" cover art. Some copies, because of the rush to release, have the new art pasted over the original "butcher" cover art. Let the steaming begin! :)
1967 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, Glen Campbell (on vocals with an orchestra of unlisted musicians) records an overdub for the unissued take of the title "Alimony" at the first session and the titles "Bad Seed" (with an arrangement by either Al De Lory or Mort Garison), an unissued take of the instrumental title "Today", and the titles "You're Young And You'll Forget", and "Back In The Race" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue After overdubs are recorded on August 29, 1957 for "You're Young And You'll Forget" and "Back In The Race" and on October 12, 1967 for "Bad Seed" Capitol Records will issue the final versions of the three titles on Campbell's album "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (T 2851).
1967 - Teddy Neeley records the titles "New In Town" and "Slow Movin' Man" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2025) and on Neely's album "Contact" (T 2774).
1967 - Ferlin Husky (on vocals), with The Hush Puppies (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Christmas Is Holy", "Christmas Dream", "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", "Silver Bells", and "Christmas Don't Seem Like Christmas Anymore" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Husky's album "Christmas All Year Long" (T 2793).
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "The Long And Winding Road", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1972 - Buck Owens records the title "You Ain't Gonna Have Ol' Buck To Kick Around No More" at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records purchases the master, registers it on June 28, 1972, and will release the title as a single (Capitol 3429) on August 28, 1972 with "I Love You So Much It Hurts" (recorded in July 1972) on the flipside.
1972 - Jack Carone records the titles "If I Couldn't See You Anymore" and "I'm Gonna Fix It Up" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3418).
1972 - During two sessions held this day in Nashville, Tennessee, Stu Phillips (on vocals with unlisted musicians) records overdubs for the titles "I Hear Your Name" and the unissued title "When There's Love In Your Heart" at the first session and overdubs for the title "Another Way To Say Goodbye" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol 3448).
1976 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's single, "I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train", with "Baby's Home" on the flip side, his last single for the label after recording for the label for 27 years and 2 months.
1977 - Richard Torrance records the title "Cryin' For Your Love" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.
1977 - Marcia Ball records the title "You" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the title on Ball's album "Circuit Queen" (ST-11752).
1994 - Members of the Capitol Records band The Smithereens hold an online conference with fans on Compuserve
2005 - Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Dierks Bently performs “Come A Little Closer” on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America"
2005 - Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Trace Adkins voices the role of The Cowboy on The Disney Channels' CGI cartoon series "Higglytown Heroes"
2005 - An article in Billboard magazine reports that Capitol Records Nashville CFO Tom Becci has been promoted to COO for the label, where he’ll oversee Capitol Records Nashville's financial operations as well as overall label operations
2006 - Capitol Records releases Leeds, UK singer, songwriter and musician Corrine Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album in the United States
2007 - Donna King (aka Donna King Conkling, born Donna Olivia Driggs), singer, radio and television performer, wife of Capitol Records executive and founder of Warner Bros. Records Jim Conkling, and member of the Capitol Records group The King Sisters, dies of asthma and cancer at age 88 in Plano, Texas, where she had been living in recent years with her daughter, Candy Brand. Services were held Monday, June 25, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 14001 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1844 - Tom Dula, on whose life and death the song "Tom Dooley" is based, is born Thomas C. Dula in Reedy Branch, Wilkes County, North Carolina
1910 - Future Capitol Records artist Fanny Brice debuts in The Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. She would go on to become a motion picture and radio actress (best known for her character "Baby Snooks") and a Capitol Records artist (the Capitol Records children's album "Baby Snooks Learns"). Capitol Records will also release the original Broadway cast album for the musical "Funny Girl" which was based on Brice's life.
1936 - Mickie Most, songwriter (for Herman's Hermits, The Animals, as well as Lulu and Jeff Beck), record producer, founder and owner of RAK Records (whose catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company and had hits during the 1970s with Suzi Quatro, Mud, and Hot Chocolate), is born Michael Peter Hayes in Aldershot, Hampshire, England
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Tina Sinatra, producer, actress and daughter of future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra, is born Christine Diane Sinatra in Los Angeles, California
1952 - The Lou Donaldson Quartet (Lou Donaldson on alto saxophone, Horace Silver on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Art Taylor on drums) record the two takes of the title "Roccus", a take of the track "Cheek To Cheek", two takes of the track "Lou's Blues", another take of the track "Cheek To Cheek" and the titles "the Things We Did Last Summer" at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the second takes of "Roccus", "Lou's Blues", and "Cheek To Cheek" and the last title on Donaldson's self-titled album "Lou Donaldson" (BLP 5021) and all the titles on the CD "Lou Donaldson Quartet/Quintet/Sextet" (7-81537-2). Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company, EMI Music.
1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotions" is #18 down from #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Imperial Records catalog.
1979 - Kenny Rogers' United Artists Records single "She Believes In Me", with "Morgana Jones" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1939 - Future Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer finishes his gig as the Tuesday night announcer of The Camel Caravan Show
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Ed Sullivan's CBS television series "The Toast Of The Town" debuts with guests Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, who will sign with Capitol Records in exactly two months on August 20, 1948
1960 - WGN-TV Chicago's "Bozo" show debuts as a live half-hour program weekdays at noon, starring Bob Bell as Bozo (Chicago's Bozo until 1984) who performs comedy sketches and introduces cartoons

JUNE 19, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1902 - Guy Lombardo, bandleader, hydroplaner, and Capitol Records artist (1957-1958), is born Gaetano Alberto Lombardo in London, Ontario, Canada
1950 - Ann Wilson, singer, flutist, songwriter, and founding member of the Capitol Records band Heart and the band The Lovemongers, is born Ann Dustin Wilson in San Diego, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Pied Piper's Capitol Records single "My Happiness" is still #8, and The Sportsmen's a capella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True, Dear" is #11, up from #17 the previous week
1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" is still at #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In The Fontain" is #7 up from #9, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is still #11, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #13 down from #7, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs" is #14 down from #8, The Four Knight's Capitol Records single "I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)" is #18 down from #10, and Stan Freberg's Capitol Records single "Point Of Order" (with "Person To Pearson" on the flip side) enters the top 20 at #20
1954 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocal, trombone and bass; Don Barbour on vocal and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocal and drums; and Ken Errair on vocal, trumpet, mellophone, and bass) record the tracks "If I Knew Then" and "Jo Ann", which will be unissued until released as part of Mosaic Records' box set "The Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Sessions April, 1950-July, 1960", and "Malaya" which will be released by Capitol Records as single with "It Never Occured To Me" (recorded January 14, 1955 with an overdub session on January 19, 1955) on the flip side, in Chicago, Illinois
1957 - Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps record the track "Dance To The Bop" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1960 - Peggy Lee, with Billy May conducting the studio orchestra (Art Fleming, Jules Jacob, Harry Klee, Theodore Nash, and Wilbur Schwartz on saxophone; Vincent De Rosa, James Decker, and Richard Perissi on french horn; Clarence Karella on tuba; George Van Eps on guitar; Max Bennett on bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stella Castellucci on harp; Stanley Levy on drums; and Emil Richards on percussion), vocal director Jimmy Joyce leading The Jimmy Joyce Childrens Choir, and producer Dave Cavanaugh, records the tracks "I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells)", "Deck The Halls", "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", "The Christmas Riddle", and "Don't Forget To Feed The Reindeer" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "Christmas Carousel"
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart down from #18
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer", with "Rain" on the flip side, is # on Billboard's Hot 100 singles
1972 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owen's single "Looking Back To See" with "Cryin' Time", a duet with Susan Raye, on the flip side
2001 - Capitol Records releases guitarist and singer Dave Navarro's solo album "Trust No One"
2006 - The latest movers and shakers at Capitol Records: Melanie Scull is the new Senior Director of Pop Promotion at Capitol Records, Los Angeles up from National Director of AAA at Capitol; Patty Morris-Capers has added AAA duties to her Hot AC, AC and Smooth Jazz callings at Capitol; and Mark Burger, formerly National Promotions at Kirtland Records, also at Geffen, Polydor, Lava and DGC, is now Capitol Regional Director of Promotion in Dallas
2007 - Nellie Lutcher (aka Nellie Rose Lutcher Lewis), singer, pianist, bandleader, arranger, composer, Capitol, Okeh, Epic, Decca, Liberty, Imperial and Melic Records artist, and first female board member of AFM Local 47, was remembered by family (including her last surviving sibling and baby sister Margie Lutcher Levy; her son Talmadge Lewis, his wife Annie, and Lutcher's granddaughter Kira Lewis; and many nieces and nephews, some of whom hadn't seen each other for years), friends (including the son of Ms. Lutcher's drummer on her early Capitol recordings, Lee Young [Lester's brother and for whom she made her last recordings on his Melic label] who who brought his rememberance of the last time his Dad talked to "Topsy" as part of a three way call), and fans at a memorial service that went from 11AM - 1PM on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, in the Holmes Chapel at Founder's Church of Religious Science, 3281 W. 6th Street, in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Lutcher was later interred in a beautiful white coffin with gold trimming and the image of a small bouquet of pink flowers on the lining inside above her head, at Angelus Rosedale, 1831 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1936 - Shirley Goodman, singer with the Aladdin Records group Shirley and Lee, is born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Aladdin's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - The Kingston Trio's version of "Tom Dooley" is first played on air by DJ Paul Colburn at radio station KLUB in Salt Lake City, Utah and will later be re-recorded and released by Capitol Records
1960 - Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent boards a plane to leave the U.K. for home after his leg had recovered sufficiently from the April 17, 1960 auto accident which killed Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran, for Vincent to travel
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #2 down from #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and it's flip side "Hello Mary Lou" is #17 down from #15, Gene McDaniel's Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #26 down from #19, The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Tragedy" is #31 down from #20, Don Costa and His Orchestra and Chorus' United Artists Records single "Never On A Sunday" is #39 down from #37, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "It Keeps Rainin'" enters the top 40 at #40
1962 - Paula Abdul, singer, dancer, choreographer, television variety show co-judge, and Virgin Records (1987-1995) artist is born Paula Julie Abdul in San Fernando, California
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beatles record the tracks "Some Other Guy" and "Thank You Girl" for BBC Radio
1964 - Organist John Patton records the tracks "The Rock", "The Way I Feel", "Jerry", "Davene", and "Just ¾" (with Richard Williams on trumpet, Fred Jackson on tenor and baritone saxophone, Grant Green on guitar, and Ben Dixon on drums) with producer Alfred Lion and engineer Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood, New Jersey for Patton's Blue Note Records album "The Way I Feel"
2005 - JVC Jazz Festival New York presents "All For Paul: Les Paul 90th Birthday Salute" that has Les Paul performing with John Coliani,, Lou Pallo, & Nicki Parrott and features Tommy Emmanuel, José Feliciano, Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather, Pat Martino, Steve Miller, Bucky Pizzarelli, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Derek Trucks, Eumir Deodato, Neal Schon, Edgar Winter, and vocalist Madeleine Peyroux with Will Lee & Omar Hakim

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - The animated Bugs Bunny short "Devil May Hare" debuts in theaters, introducing The Tasmanian Devil
1978 - Hide your lasagna, the comic strip Garfield makes it debut