DECEMBER 26, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1921 - Steve Allen, television variety show host, motion picture actor, songwriter, pianist, and Capitol Records artist (1958 on the LP "Ray Anthony Plays Steve Allen"), is born in New York City, New York
75 Years Ago Today In 1940 - Phil Spector, director of A&R for Liberty (1962) and Apple Records (1971), record producer (who has worked with Capitol Records artists The Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, Starsailor, and The Vines), is born Harvey Phillip Spector in the Bronx, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Stan Kenton (on piano) and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, John Anderson, Russ Burgher, and Bob Lymperis on trumpet, Freddie Zito, Ray Klein, Milt Kabak on trombone, Bart Varsalona on bass trombone, Al Anthony and Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone, Vido Musso and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone, Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone, Bob Ahern on guitar, Eddie Safranski on bass, and Ralph Collier on drums) record the titles "Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy" (with vocals by June Christy and tenor sax solo by Vido Musso) and "I Been Down In Texas" (with vocals by June Christy, Gene Howard, Ray Wetzel, and Stan Kenton) at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 235).
70 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Peggy Lee (on vocals), with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (which features Dave Barbour on guitar and includes unlisted clarinet, saxophone, and rhythm section players), records the titles "I Can See It Your Way" and "I Don't Know Enough About You" at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 236).
65 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Peggy Lee (on vocals), with Dave Barbour and his Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "The Mill On The Floss", "Climb Up The Mountain", and "Pick Up Your Marbles And Go Home" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Mill On The Floss" and "Climb Up The Mountain" together as a single (Capitol 1366). "Pick Up Your Marbles And Go Home" was released on the CD "Peggy Lee: The Lost 40s & 50s Capitol Masters" by Collectors' Choice Music (WWCCM09172) in March 2008.
60 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Memories Are Made Of This", with "Change Of Heart" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Pop singles chart and Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Sixteen Tons", with " You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
1963 - Capitol Records rush releases it's first single by The Beatles, "I Want To Hold Your Hand", with "I Saw Her Standing There" on the flipside. The single will be #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 5 weeks on February 1, 1964
1963 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Love’s Gonna Live Here", with "Getting Used To Losing You" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "I Feel Fine", with "She's A Woman" on the flip side, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owen's single "Where Does The Good Times Go" with "The Way That I Love You" on the flip side
45 Years Ago Today In 1970 - George Harrison's Apple Records "My Sweet Lord", with "Isn't It A Pity" on the flipside and distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Helen Reddy's Capitol Records single "Angie Baby" with "I Think I'll Write A Song" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. It is Reddy's third and last # 1 song to date.
1981 - The Little River Band's Capitol Records single "Take It Easy On Me", with "Orbit Zero" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles and Cashbox's Top 100 Singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Baby Dodds' Jazz Four (Albert Nicholas on clarinet, Art Hodes on piano, Wellman Braud on bass, and Baby Dodds on drums) record the titles "Fealin' At Ease", "Careless Love", two takes of "High Society", "Winin' Boy Blues" and two more takes of Careless Love" at radio station WOR's studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue "Feelin' At Ease" and the second take of "High Society" together as a single (BN 519) and the first take of "Careless Love" and "Winin' Boy Blues" together as a single (BN 518). Mosaic Records will issue all the titles and takes in the box set "The Complete Art Hodes Blue Note Sessions" (MR5-114 on vinyl and MD4-114 on CD).
1967 - BBC-TV in the U.K. airs The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" for the first time
40 Years Ago Today In 1975 - Ronnie Laws (on flute and soprano and tenor saxophone) with Donald Hepburn and Michael Hepburn on electric piano, clavinet, and synthesizer, Marion The Magician on guitar, Nathaniel Phillips on electric bass, Bruce Carter on drums, and Bruce Smith on percussion, record the title "From Ronnie With Love" in the Total Experience Studio in Los Angeles, California. Blue Note Records will release the title on Laws' album "Fever" (BN-LA628-G on vinyl and 7-89541-2 on CD).

1987 - The Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield's EMI America Records single "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", with "A New Life" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company EMI Music.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1931 - George Gershwin’s musical "Of Thee I Sing" opens at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The show will become the first American musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize.