APRIL 30, 2016

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Mel Blanc is in the studio to record the track "Porky Pig In Africa" for the Capitol Records children's album "Bugs Bunny Stories For Children". The track is produced by Alan Livingston with music by Billy May and story by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster.
1949 - Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke)'s Capitol Records single "Careless Hands" is #9 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #11, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #13, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Need You" is #15, Mel Tormé's Capitol Records single "Blue Moon" is #23, Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (formerly called The Sentimentalists when they recorded with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra) with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Crusing Down The River" is tied with Gordon MacRae (with studio orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "So In Love" (from the Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me Kate") at #27, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra) is tied with herself at #29 with her Capitol Records single "Forever And Ever" and its flip side "A Wonderful Guy" (from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "South Pacific")
1953 - Nelson Riddle conducts his first recording session with Frank Sinatra (Sinatra's second session for Capitol Records) with Voyle Gilmore producing. Recorded that day at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California are the first arrangements credited to Riddle for Sinatra: "I've Got The World On A String", "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", and "I Love You". Riddle "ghost" arranges for Billy May, who is credited on the songs "South Of The Border" and "From Here To Eternity". May is on tour with his own band at the same time as this session. Not bad for a single day's work. Capitol Records will issue the first title as a single (Capitol 1669) with "Young At Heart" (recorded December 9, 1953) on the flipside, the second title as a single (Capitol 2787) with "I Could Have Told You" (also recorded on December 9, 1953) on the flipside, and the last two titles together as a single (Capitol 2638).
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Tennessee Ernie Ford with Cliffie Stone's Band's Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #8, Nat "King" Cole with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #10 and both sides of their single "A Blossom Fell" with "If I May" on the flip side debut at #27
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - After being introduced by Ernest Tubb, Capitol Records artist Ray Pillow, best known at the time for his duets with Jean Shepard, is made a member of The Grand Ol' Opry
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Caroline, No" peaks at #32 on the Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The track was recorded January 31, 1966 at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California and released March 7, 1966 as Capitol single 5610 with Brian Wilson on lead vocals.
1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Need You" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1969 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon record overdubs and sound effects for their Apple Records track "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England
1973 - George Harrison's Apple Records single, "Give Me Love", released by Capitol Records in the United States, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Merle Haggard records the track "Old Man From The Mountain" for Capitol Records
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights" is still #1 on Billboard's singles chart
1977 - Klaatu's self-titled debut album on Capitol Records peaks at #32 on the Billboard album charts and will stay there for 3 weeks
1978 - Dick Curless, bandleader and Capitol Records artist, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame
1985 - Mickey Katz, comedian, klezmer style clarinet player, member and vocalist with Spike Jones and His City Slickers, father of Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records artist Joel Grey, grandfather of motion picture and television actress Jennifer Grey, and a Capitol recording artist, dies at age 75 and is later interred in the Valley of Remembrance section of Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California
1987 - Apple Records releases The Beatles' albums "Help!", "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" on CD for the first time with there original UK track order and with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States
1995 - Capitol Records artist Roseanne Cash and record producer John Leventhal are married
2000 - Jonah Jones, trumpet player and Capitol Records solo artist, dies at age 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1870 - Franz Lehar, composer of the operettas "The Merry Widow and "Naughty Marietta" (selections from both were later recorded by Gordon MacRae and released first as separate 10" albums and later together as a single 12" LP by Capitol Records), is born in what is now Komrno, Slovakia
1928 - Ten year old Stubenville, Ohio native Dino Crocetti (aka future Capitol Records artist Dean Martin) has his first Holy Communion and takes the name Paul as his confirmation name
1933 - Willie Nelson, singer, songwriter, disc jockey, motion picture and television actor, founder of Farm Aid, and Liberty Records artist, is born Willaim Hugh Nelson in Abbott, Texas
1938 - The Warner Bros. cartoon short "Porky's Hare Hunt", debuts in movie theaters, introducing future Capitol Records "artist" Bugs Bunny.
1943 - Bobby Vee, singer and Liberty Records artist (1959-1970), is born Robert Thomas Velline in Fargo, North Dakota

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1927 - Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford become the first to put their hand and footprints in cement outside Sid Graumann's Chinese Theatre at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California
1934 - Jerry Lordon, composer of "Apache", the first big hit for the UK group The Shadows, was born in London, England
1983 - Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), Blues legend, dies in his sleep at age 68 at his home in Westmont, Illinois

APRIL 29, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1899 - Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, pianist, composer, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Washington, D.C.. Ellington would record his last popular hit "Satin Doll" for Capitol Records with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. On his 70th birthday in 1969, Ellington will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1919 - Celeste Holm, Broadway, motion picture and television actress and Capitol Records artist (original motion picture soundtrack for the movie "High Society") is born in New York City, New York
1933 - Rod McKuen, singer, poet, actor, writer, Capitol and Liberty Records artist, and composer of the song "Two-Ten, Six-Eighteen" recorded by Capitol recording artists The Kingston Trio, is born Rodney Marvin McKuen in Oakland, California.
1934 - Otis Rush, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (signed in 1970), is born near Neshoba, Mississippi
1942 - Klaus Voormann, graphic designer and illustrator (cover of The Beatles' Revolver and Anthology albums), bass player with Manfred Mann, Apple Records group Plastic Ono Band, and on various George Harrison projects including "The Concert For Bangladesh", is born in Berlin, Germany
1968 - Carnie Wilson, singer, television talk show host, daughter of Brian Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Beach Boys and Marilyn Rovell Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Honeys, and co-founder of the SBK Records group Wilson Phillips, is born in Bel Air, California
? - Rick Zaccaro, manager of sales and marketing at EMI Music, EMI Music Distribution and EMI Music Marketing in the U.S. and bass player in band The Seventh Hour, is born

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Straighten Up and Fly Right", with "I Can't See For Lookin'" on the flip side, hits #1 on the "Black" charts for the first of ten weeks, and would later cross over to the country and pop charts. The track came from the Trio's first session for Capitol Records.
1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "I Love You", with "Long Ago And Far Away" on the flipside, is #10 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Les Baxter signs with Capitol Records
1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dearie", with "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday" on the flip side, is #11 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday)", with their track "Why Do You Say Those Things?" on the flip side, debuts at #19 and was also #2 on Billboard's Country Best Selling Singles chart
1953 - Nelson Riddle signs a contract to conduct his first Sinatra session at Capitol which will be held the next day on April 30, 1953
1957 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Lonely Town" and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" with arranger Gordon Jenkins
1963 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "On The Bandstand". The album was produced by Ken Nelson during sessions that occurred between May and September 1961 in the Capitol Studios in Hollywood and featured Owen's on guitar and vocals, Don Rich on fiddle, guitar, and vocals, Jay McDonalds on steel guitar, Kenny Pierce on electric bass and vocals and Ken Presley on drums.
1974 - Wings' Apple Records album "Band On The Run", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States enters Billboard's Top 100 Albums chart
5 Years Ago Today In 2011 - David Mason, classical trumpet player who played the piccolo trumpet solo on The Beatles' single "Penny Lane" as well as playing trumpet on sessions for "A Day in the Life", "Magical Mystery Tour" and "All You Need Is Love", dies at age 85 after a brief battle with leukemia.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
85 Years Ago Today In 1931 - Lonnie Donegan, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Chrysalis Records artist, is born Anthony James Donegan in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland. Bruce Eder has written a great biography for the Memorable Music Hall of Fame on the man who invented Skiffle and influenced a generation of future British rock and blues musicians including The Beatles.
1948 - Tommy James, singer, member of the Roulette Records group Tommy James and The Shondells, is born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio
1953 - The Gerry Mulligan Quartet begin a two day recording session for Pacific Jazz that will produce "Darn That Dream", "I May Be Wrong", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", "The Nearness Of You" and "Tea For Two". The quartet includes Mulligan on saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, and Carson Smith on bass.
1992 - Virgin Records America artist Paula Abdul marries actor Emilio Estevez in Santa Monica, California. It is the first marriage for both and Paula will resume her concert tour in two days.
10 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Former Capitol Records artist Keely Smith and Trio perform live at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, California. Showtimes were at 8:30 and 10:30 PM. For more info, check out the Catalina's website. They also played the previous night. Any first hand accounts would be much appreciated!

APRIL 28, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
90 Years Ago Today In 1926 - Blossom Dearie, singer, pianist, songwriter and Capitol Records artist (1964 for one album, "May I Come In?", currently available on Blue Note Records), also on the original soundtrack to the television show "Multiplication Rock!", is born in East Durham, New York
1945 - John Wolters, record producer, singer, and drummer with the Capitol Records group Dr. Hook, is born John Christian Wolters in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Sadly, he'll die of liver cancer in San Francisco, California on June 16, 1997.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Candy" is at #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
1949 - Smiley Burnette signs with Capitol
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, they are also at #3 with their Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill", Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young" with Les Baxter conducting the orchestra using Nelson Riddle's arrangement, is at #5, and Stan Kenton and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "September Song" enters the chart at #20
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is #4, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is at #35 (in a three way tie with Bill Haley and The Comets' single "See You Later, Alligator" and George Cates and His Orchestra's single "Moonglow And Theme From 'Picnic'"), and Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Innamorata (Sweetheart)", is at #39 (in a tie with The Four Lads (with Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)'s single "Standing On The Corner")
1957 - Gene Vincent receives a gold record from Capitol during a show in Chicago for sales of over 2 million copies of the single "Be-Bop-A-Lula", which would go on to sell over 9 million copies
1958 - Twelve year-old Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #3 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, Dean Martin (with Gus Levine, His Orchestra, and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #16, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Twenty-Six Miles" is #25, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #28, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #29 (in a tie with Betty Johnson's single "Little Blue Man")
1958 - Gil Evans signs with Capitol
1965 - The Beatles receive the Grammy for "Best Vocal Performance by a Group" for "A Hard Day's Night
1973 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. It'll be #1 for only 1 week, but it will stay on Billboard's charts for 741 weeks.
1974 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Things Aren't Funny Anymore", with "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-motion" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1985 - Sleepy Willis, who worked with Dick Curless on the Capitol Records album "The Soul of Dick Curless" and later would become Curless' lead guitarist, agent and manager, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame
25 Years Ago Today In 1991 - NBC-TV airs Liberty Records (later to become Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks' network special "This Is Garth Brooks"
2013 - Lonnie Carter, songwriter and bass guitarist and vocalist in the Capitol Records group Steve Miller Band, dies at age 66 from lung cancer and complications from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at Avamere Care Center in Lebanon, Oregon.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
120 Years Ago Today In 1896 - George Ewing Lee, baritone saxophone player, singer, bandleader (George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra, which featured his sister, future Capitol Records artist Julia Lee, on vocals and piano), is born in Boonville, Missouri
1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #1 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, and Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say" is #13 with the flip side "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" at #20. Liberty and Imperial Records' catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
10 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Wanda Jackson, Capitol Records artist from 1956 to 1973, is on stage at 7:00 pm in the Jensen Concert Hall at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at the Idaho State University in Pocatello. Any first hand accounts would be appreciated!

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
2005 - The U.S. Postal Service has a ceremony in New York City, New York to celebrate the release of a postage stamp featuring E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, writer of such well known songs as "Over the Rainbow" (with Capitol Records artist Harold Arlen) from "The Wizard of Oz" and (with Jay Gorney) "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

APRIL 27, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1900 - Walter Lantz, cartoonist, studio owner, creator of Woody Woodpecker (which Capitol Records would release a childrens record featuring), Andy Panda, and Chilly Willy, is born Walter Benjamin Lantz in New Rochelle, New York. Animating for Walter Lantz Studios was one of future Capitol Records employee Fred Rice's first jobs in Hollywood. Rice would later do the artwork for Capitol's Woody Woodpecker's albums and promotion materials.
1909 - Jimmie Skinner, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (recorded 15 released singles for Capitol between 1950 and 1953, but no album was ever put together and the singles are a rare find), is born on a farm near Berea, Kentucky. There's also a reference to him being born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. If anyone knows for sure where Jimmie was born, please leave a comment. A great biography can be found on Paul Vidal's site and at the Hillbilly Music site.
1939 - Jerry Mercer, drummer with the Capitol Records group April Wine, is born in Newfoundland, Canada
1947 - Pete Ham, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of Apple Records and Capitol Records group Badfinger, is born William Peter Ham in Swansea, Wales

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1955 - Dean Martin and Line Renaud record the track "Relax-Ay-Voo" for Capitol Records
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Tommy Sand's Capitol Records single "Teenage Crush", with "Hep Dee Hootie (Cutie Wootie)" on the flip side, is #12 (tied with Steve Lawrence's single "Party Doll"), and Sonny James' single "Young Love", with "You're The Reason I'm In Love" on the flip side, is #27
1959 - Bobby Hackett (on coronet, with Stan Brauner on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor sax; Dave McKenna on piano; Bill Kahakalau on steel guitar; Billy Bauer or Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and ukulele; Bob Carter on bass; Dick Scott on drums; and Johnny Cresci on bongos) records the tracks "Orchids From Hawaii", "Ku Nei", "Soft Sands" and "Aloha Oe" for his Capitol Records album "Hawaii Swings" in New York City. The sessions may have been produced by Andy Wiswell. The complete Bobby Hackett Capitol solo sessions are available on Mosaic Records.
1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Tijuana Jail", with "Oh Cindy (from the Warner Bros. Picture “Rio Bravo”)" on the flipside, is #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Recording begins on The Beatles' track "I'm Only Sleeping" which will appear on their Capitol Records album "Revolver"
1973 - Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee appears in a concert setting on the last episode of former Capitol Records artist Bobby Darin's NBC-TV variety show "The Bobby Darin Show"
35 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Apple Records and Capitol Records artist Ringo Starr marries his second wife, motion picture actress Barbara Bach, at Marylebone Registry Office in London, England. Paul McCartney and wife Linda, George Harrison and Harry Nilsson were in attendance.
1988 - Great White’s Capitol Records album "Once Bitten" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1990 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Garth Brooks' album "No Fences"
1992 - Capitol Records releases it's limited edition promotional 50th Anniversary box set. It contains 8 CDs and a hard cover book covering the highlights of the previous 50 years of the label's history.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
125 Years Ago Today In 1791 - Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor (most notably of Morse code), painter, and grandfather of Leila Morse (who threw the switch to light the beacon on top of The Capitol Tower that spells out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D in Morse code for the first time), is born Samuel Finley Breese Morse in Charlestown, Massachusetts
1953 - Gerry Mulligan (on baritone saxophone with Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, and Carson Smith on bass), records "My Old Flame" for Pacific Jazz Records with producer Richard Bock at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California.
1959 - Sheena Easton, singer, television actress, and EMI America Records artist, is born Sheena Shirley Orr in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Lou Donaldson (on alto saxophone with Herman Foster on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Alec Dorsey on conga drums) records the tracks "Glory of Love", "Gravy Train", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", "Candy", "South Of The Border", "Twist Time", and "Avalon" for his Blue Note Records album "Gravy Train" with producer Alfred Lion. The album is released in mono in June 1961 and stereo in July, 1962.
1964 - Tollie Records release The Beatles' single "Love Me Do", with "P.S. I Love You" on the flipside, in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1932 - Casey Kasem, cartoon voice actor (best known as the voice of Shaggy in "Scooby Doo" and Robin in "Batman" and "Superfriends" cartoons), host of "American Top 40" weekly radio show and "America's Top 10" television show, is born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan

APRIL 26, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1938 - Duane Eddy, guitarist, Capitol Records artist (album "His Twangy Guitar, and The Rebels") and M-G-M motion picture star, is born in Corning, New York
1942 - Bobby Rydell, motion picture actor, singer and Capitol Records artists (after leaving Cameo Records, until 1969, when he signed with Reprise), is born Robert Ridarelli in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1960 - Roger Taylor, drummer and percussionist for the Capitol Records bands Duran Duran and Arcadia, is born in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune", with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra and "Angry" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, and Ella Mae Morse's Capitol Records single "Blacksmith Blues", with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra and originally released as the flipside of a re-issue of Freddie Slack's "Cow Cow Boogie" and then with "Love Me Or Leave Me" on the flipside, is #3
1962 - Capitol Records records a concert by Judy Garland, with Mort Lindsey conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra, at Manhattan Center in New York City New York. Judy performs the songs "Sail Away", "Something's Coming", "Why Can't I?", "Just In Time", "Do What You Do", "Get Me To The Church On Time", "The Party's Over", "Joey, Joey, Joey", "Hey Look Me Over", "Some People", and "Never Will I Marry". Capitol Records will issue all the tracks except "Why Can't I?" and "Do What You Do" on the compilation CD "Judy Live" (CDP 7-92343-2) and "Why Can't I?" on the compilation CD "Classic Judy Garland - The Capitol Years - 1955-1965" (CDP 7243-5-39282-2-3). As of yet, the incomplete recording of "Do What You Do" (Judy's hoarse voice that night only let her sing the vocals for the first verse) has not been released. There's a great first hand account of the performance on Steve Jarret's site.
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys single "Help Me Rhonda" with "Kiss Me Baby" on the flipside
1972 - Buck Owens records the track "Ain't It Amazing, Gracie" which Capitol Records will release as a single with "Good Old Days (Are Here Again)" on the flip side
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1978 - Apple and Capitol Records artist Ringo Starr stars in his first TV special in the United States - an updated version of Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1980 - Dottie West's United Artists Records single "A Lesson In Leavin'", with "Love's So Easy For Two" on the flip side, becomes her first solo single to reach #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
35 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America Records single "Morning Train (Nine To Five)", with "Calm Before The Storm" on the flipside is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1984 - Count Basie (born William James Basie), composer, pianist, organist, and bandleader, who recorded sessions for (among others) the RCA/Bluebird, Decca, Roulette Jazz, and Pablo labels, died of pancreatic cancer in Hollywood, Florida. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1987 - Cutting Crew's Virgin Records America single "(I Just) Died In Your Arms", with "For the Longest Time" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, becoming the group and the label's first #1 single in the United States
1999 - Sinead O'Connor, former Chrysalis Records artist, is ordained as the first woman priest in the Latin Tridentine Church, a Roman Catholic splinter group, as Mother Bernadette Mary. She will next appear as a performer on this day in 2005 when she makes a live on-stage appearance at the fifth annual Jammy Awards in New York City, New York with the group Burning Spear.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1977 - The Studio 54 discothèque opens in New York City, New York and will close on the same date three years later in 1980.

APRIL 25, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Ella Fitzgerald, singer, motion picture actress, and Capitol Records artist, is born Ella Jane Fitzgerald in Newport News, Virginia. Ella would be one of the first non-Capitol artists to record in Studio A in the Capitol Tower. On August 16, 1956 she, along with Louis Armstrong, would record tracks for their duet album on Verve and 5 days later she would record tracks for her "Sings The Rodgers & Hart Song Book", also on Verve. She would go on to record three albums for Capitol with producer Dave Dexter, Jr.
1958 - Derek William Dick (aka Fish), original vocalist and guitarist with the Capitol Records group Marillion and solo artist, is born in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Pappy "Gube" Beaver signs with Capitol
1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend", with orchestra conducted by arranger Nelson Riddle, is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #6, Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", conducted by Sid Feller, is #18 and Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Can't I?", also with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra is #19
65 Yeasrs Ago Today In 1951 - Pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, with the vocal group The Carr-Hops (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ballin' The Jack", "It Must Be True You Are Mine, All Mine", and "Carr's Hop" (which will be remastered and released as "Rapscallion Rag") in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Ballin' The Jack" and "It Must Be True You Are Mine, All Mine" together as a single (Capitol 1558) and "Rapscallion Rag" on Carr's album "" (Bar Room Piano" (CCN-280).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee marries her third husband, actor Dewey Martin
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Louvin Brothers sign with Capitol
1964 - According to the Ottawa Journal "Hit Parade", The Beatles hold the #1, 2 & 3 slots in Canada with, respectively, the singles "Twist and Shout", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "All My Loving"
1967 - The Beatles record the track "Magical Mystery Tour"
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Corps, Ltd. begins operations in its London offices
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
35 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Capitol Records group Wings disbands when guitarist Denny Laine quits
1983 - Capitol Records re-releases Duran Duran's self titled album "Duran Duran" in the U.S., with the addition of the track "Is There Something I Should Know? as well as new photos, where it will peak at #10
1992 - Capitol Records vocal group The Five Keys are inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame. The group does an impromptu performance which will be the last by its original members.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1973 - Former Capitol Records artist Dean Martin marries his third wife, Catherine Mae Hawn
1975 - Future Capitol Records band Sweet's Bell Records single "Little Willy" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1990 - Dexter Gordon, saxophonist, Academy Award nominated motion picture actor, and Blue Note Records artist, dies at age 67 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

APRIL 24, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1914 - Ray Leatherwood, bass player with Capitol Records artist Les Brown and His Band of Renown, also with Bob Chester's Orchestra, The Jack Teagarden Sextet, helped back Liberty Records singers Julie London, and Matt Dennis, toured with Capitol Records artist Bob Hope's troupe on 20 Christmas visits to U. S. military bases around the world for the U.S.O., and worked with Rosy McHargue's Ragtimers, but only for recording sessions, is born in Itasca, Texas
1942 - Barbra Streisand, singer, Broadway and motion picture actress, televison variety special host and guest, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy awards winner, and Capitol Records artist (the original Broadway cast album for "Funny Girl") is born Barbara Joan Streisand in Brooklyn, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Theremin player Dr. Samuel Hoffman, with Leslie (Les) Baxter conducting a vocal group and orchestra (lineups unlisted), records new takes of the titles "Celestial Nocturne", "Lunar Rhapsody", and "Lunette" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all three titles on Hoffman's album "Music Out Of The Moon" (CC-47 on 78 RPM, CCF-2000 on 45 RPM, and H-2000 on 33 1/3 RPM).
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Vocalist Ella Mae Morse and pianist Freddie Slack, with a rhythm section (Al Hendrickson on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums), record the titles "Your Conscience Tells You" and "Pig Foot Pete" at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the two titles together as a single (Capitol 278).
1948 - Peggy Lee (with then husband Dave Barbour and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Manana" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart and The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #7
1950 - Mel Blanc is back in the studio again to records tracks for the children's singles "Bugs Bunny Meets Hiawatha" and "Daffy Duck Meets Yosemite Sam" Both tracks are produced by Alan Livingston with story by Warren Foster and Michael Maltese and music by Billy May. On "Bugs Bunny Meets Hiawatha" additional uncredited vocals are provided by Arthur Q. Bryan. On "Daffy Duck Meets Yosemite Sam" Vance "Pinto" Colvig, also the voice of Bozo for Capitol and Goofy for Disney, provides additional uncredited vocals.
1954 - Frank Sinatra's Capitol Records single "Young At Heart", with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra and "Take A Chance" on the flipside, is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love", also with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra and "Why" on the flipside, is #6, Kay Starr (with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra) has a hit double sided Capitol Records single with "The Man Upstairs" at #12 and it's flip side "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" at #13, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "I Really Don't Want To Know", with "South" on the flipside, debuts at #20.
1967 - Capitol Records' subsidiary Tower Records (no relation to the much missed chain of record stores) releases the first single in the U.S. by "The Pink Floyd" - "Arnold Layne" with "Candy And A Current Bun" on the flip side (Tower 333). The track is written by Syd Barrett and features "The Light Kings of England" - Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett and Rick Wright. For more information on Pink Floyd's discography on Tower Records, read this definitive article by Vernon Fitch. For more on the discography, and life, of late Syd Barret go to Stephen Scheider's tribute site.
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-motion", with "Destitute & Losin'" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1975 - Pete Ham (born William Peter Ham), singer, songwriter, and a founder and leader of the groups The Panthers, The Iveys and Apple Records and Capitol Records group Badfinger, hangs himself in the garage of his home in London, England at age 27, three days before his 28th birthday
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Glenn Cornick, bass player with the Chrysalis Records band Jethro Tull and the band Wild Turkey is born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Chrysalis' American catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1957 - Future Imperial and Capitol Records artist Ricky Nelson's first single, "A Teenager's Romance", with "I'm Walkin'" on the flipside, is released by Verve Records and sells 60,000 copies in three days
1959 - The final episode of "Your Hit Parade", the Saturday night pop-music show that's been running on radio since April 1935, and on television since 1950, is broadcast

APRIL 23, 2016

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Mel Blanc has his first Capitol children's records session where he'll record "Bugs Bunny Meets Elmer Fudd" and "Daffy Duck Flies South" for the children's album "Bugs Bunny's Stories for Children" which was produced by Alan Livingston with stories by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster, music by Billy May and with Arthur Q. Bryan supplying additional vocals.
1949 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable", the flipside of "I Need You", debuts at #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart where it will peak the next week at #3
1949 - Mel Tormé has three Capitol Records singles in the top 20 of Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart: "Careless Hands" (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke), with "She's A Home Girl" on the flipside, is at #9, "Again" (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo) debuts at #18, and it's flipside, "Blue Moon", debuts at #20 (in a tie with Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks' single "Blue Skirt Waltz").
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Judy Garland's Sunday night concert at Carnegie Hall is recorded live by Capitol Records and rush released as a double album which will go on to win 5 Grammys and be the #1 album for 13 weeks. It will be remastered and re-released in 2001 for its 40th anniversary under the supervision of then VP of Catalog A&R Paul Atkinson
1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Need You", with "On And On" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1969 - The Beach Boys finish recording the track "Break Away", written by Murray Wilson and produced by Brian Wilson with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. The track will be released as a single, with "Celebrate The News" on the flip side, by Capitol Records on June 23, 1969 and peak at #63 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.
30 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck in Buffalo, New York), bandleader, pianist, Broadway actor, singer, composer ("Stormy Weather", "Over The Rainbow" and many others and worked with lyricists "Yip" Harburg, Capitol Records' co-founder Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler, and others) and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 81 in New York City, New York and is later interred next to his wife, Anya Taranda, in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York
1988 - Iron Maiden's Capitol Records album "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
5 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Tom King, a guitarist and founding member of the Capitol Records band The Outsiders who co-wrote the band's biggest hit, "Time Won't Let Me," died at age 68 at a nursing home in Wickliffe, Ohio, after a period of declining health.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1924 - The Gramophone Company (later to become EMI, Capitol Music Group's parent company) records His Majesty King George V's speech at the opening of the Wembley Exhibition. The recording was made by a semi-electrical process with the wireless loudspeaker connected by a short tube to the recording box.
80 Years Ago Today In 1936 - Roy Orbison, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Virgin Records America recording artist, is born Roy Kelton Orbison in Vernon, Texas
1942 - Sandra Dee, motion picture actress and future wife of Capitol Records artist Bobby Darin, is born Alexandra Zuck
1962 - Decca Records releases Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers (aka The Beatles with Pete Best on drums) single "My Bonnie", with "The Saints" (aka "When the Saints Go Marching In") on the flip side, in the United States
1994 - Pink Floyd's Columbia Records album "The Division Bell" debuts at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart where it will stay for 4 weeks. spending 4 weeks as the top album in the country. The album will be certified Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum in the US in June of 1994 and Triple Platinum in January of 1999. Pink Flyod's catalog is now distributed by Capitol Records.

APRIL 22, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
80 Years Ago Today In 1936 - Glen Campbell, guitarist, singer, motion picture actor, television variety show host, a Capitol Records session artist and solo artist, is born in Delight, Arkansas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1949 - The Miles Davis Nonet (with Davis on trumpet, Kenny Clarke on drums, J.J. Johnson on trombone, Lee Konitz on alto saxophone, John Lewis on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Bill Barber on tuba, Nelson Boyd on double bass, and Sandy Siegelstein on french horn) records the titles "Venus De Milo" (arranged by Gerry Mulligan), "Boplicity" (arranged by Gil Evans), "Israel" (arranged by Johnny Carisi), and "Rouge" (arranged by John Lewis). The session, set up by Capitol A&R man Walter Rivers (a cousin of Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer, who also signed Yma Sumac to the label) and produced by Pete Rugolo, was held at radio station WMGM's studios at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York. Capitol Records eventually released all the titles Davis' album "Birth Of The Cool".
1958 - Ethel Ennis records Harry Warren's "Serenade in Blue" for her Capitol album "Have You Forgotten" (Capitol T1078) with the orchestra conducted by Sid Feller. For more on Ethel Ennis go to this New York Times article.
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Capitol Records artist Faron Young is one of the headliners (along with Webb Pierce, Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline and Earl Scruggs) at the first annual Country Music Festival held in United States at the 13,000-seater Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida.
1963 - Gene Vincent's recording contract with Capitol Records expires. His last recording for the label is a remake of "Be-Bop-A-Lula"
1969 - John Lennon legally changes his middle name from Winston to Ono in a ceremony on the rooftop of The Beatles' Apple Building and later requires that all of his Gold Record awards bear the correct legal name, John Ono Lennon
1970 - Variety magazine runs an article entitled "Split Of Beatles Clips Capitol Industries Stocks"
1987 - Irving C. Ashby, guitarist in the Capitol Record group The King Cole Trio, dies in Perris, California at age 66
25 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Vocalist Joe Cocker, with Girls Talk (lineup unlisted) on backing vocals, T.M. Stevens on bass, Steve Holley on drums, Phil Grande on guitar, Chris Stainton, Greg Philinganes, and Rory Kaplin on keyboards, and Alex Acuna on percussion, records the title "I Can Hear The River" at A&M Studios at 1416 North La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, California with producer David Tickle. After additional tracks are laid down at Metropolis Recording Studios at 70 Chiswick High Road, in London, England, Capitol Records will release the title on Cocker's CD "Night Calls" (7-97801-2).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor", with "Don't Whistle At My Baby" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Pop Singles charts. Seville (aka Ross Bagdasarian) would use the techniques from this single to create the sound of The Chimpmunks.
1978 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artist's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" with "11:59" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' American catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group.
1990 - Sinead O' Connor's Chrysalis Records album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Chrysalis' American catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group.

APRIL 21, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Ira Louvin, singer, songwriter, guitarist, 2001 Country Music Hall Of Fame inductee, part of  the Capitol Records duo The Louvin Brothers with his brother Charlie and a solo Capitol Records artist, is born Ira Lonnie Loudermilk in Rainsville,near Section, Alabama. Ira was inducted with his brother into the Alabama Hall of Fame in 1991 with a Lifework Award for Performaning Achievement. They have a great biography of the brothers on their website.
1968 - Michael Franti, poet, songwriter, musician, singer, member of the Island Records group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and the Capitol Records group Spearhead, is born in Oakland, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Mel Blanc starts recording tracks for the Capitol Record Reader "Bugs Bunny In Storyland" and will finish the next day. The sessions are produced by Alan Livingston, with music by Billy May. The story is by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster with illustrations for the attached booklet by Robert McKimson and Richard Thomas. Also on the record, but uncredited, were Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd) and June Foray. Jack Tatay maintains a great site about all the Capitol childrens records with Warner Brothers cartoon characters, with lots of images and sound clips.
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Capitol Records releases Les Paul and Mary Ford's single "Mockin' Bird Hill", with Les Paul's "Chicken Reel" on the flipside
1953 - The Ballet Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Levine, records the track "Undertow" written by William Schuman in New York City which Capitol Records will later release on album P-8238 with a recording of "Billy The Kid" (Ballet Suite) by Aaron Copland on the flip side
1968 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" with "I Started Loving You Again" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country Singles Chart
1975 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Always Wanting You", with "I've Got A Yearning" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
2000 - Neal Matthews, singer with the Capitol Records group The Jordanaires, dies in Nashville, Tennessee at age 70

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1908 - Alfred Lion, record producer and founder of Blue Note Records, is born in Berlin, Germany. Blue Note Records is currently a division of Capitol Music Group and its catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music Group
85 Years Ago Today In 1931 - The Gramophone Company Ltd and The Columbia Gramophone Company Ltd merge and register a holding company - "Electric and Musical Industries Ltd". Alfred Clark (The Gramophone Company) becomes Chairman, and Louis Sterling (The Columbia Company) becomes Managing Director. In 1955 E.M.I., under the helm of then managing director Joseph Lockwood (later chairman Sir Joseph Lockwood), bought controlling interest in Capitol Records for $3 million dollars, and Glenn Wallichs joined the board of E.M.I.. Lockwood was criticized for paying so much but, within 4 years, Capitol would be worth an estimated $85 million. The E.M.I. Archive Trust's website has a good history section.
1955 - Capitol Records artist Bob Hope's NBC radio program airs its last segment
1963 - Future Capitol Records artists The Beatles and future Virgin Records artists The Rolling Stones meet for the first time at a Rolling Stones performance at The Crawdaddy Club, in Richmond, England

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1985 - Irving Mills, music publisher, dies in Palm Springs, California at age 91

APRIL 20, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1908 - Lionel Hampton, drummer, band leader, vibraphone player, percussionist, solo artist and with Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, is born in Louisville, Kentucky
1922 - Frank "Hylo" Brown, Jr., vocalist for Capitol Records artist Bradley Kincaid, with his own bluegrass band The Timberliners, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born in River, Johnson County, Kentucky. He would get his nickname "Hylo" from his wide vocal range. Brown would go to be lead singer for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and be inducted into the Grand Ol' Opry, the Kentucky Hall of Fame and become the 52nd member of the SPBGMA's Preservation Hall of Greats.
1948 - Craig Frost, keyboardist for the Capitol Records group Grand Funk Railroad, is born in Flint, Michigan. If anyone knows his middle name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "I Love You", with "Long Ago And Far Away" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1948 - Capitol Records releases the children's record "Sparky's Magic Piano".
1952 - Pee Wee Hunt's Capitol Records single "Oh!", with "San" on the flipside, becomes a million seller
1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hands)", with "Handed Down" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, after becoming the third single to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. on March 14, 1958
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist and trumpet player Louis Prima and vocalist Keely Smith, with tenor saxophonist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Little Red" Blount Jr. on trombone, William "Willie" McCumber on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Amado Rodrigues on bass, and Robert "Bobby" Morris on drums), record the instrumental title "Night Train" and "The Lip" with Prima and Smith on vocals at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Prima's album "the WILDEST!" (T 755). Here's a live video of "Night Train".
1960 - The Kingston Trio record the track "Bad Man's Blunder" for Capitol Records, which is the last single to feature the line up of Dave Guard, Nick Reynold and Bob Shane. This was also the first time Dave Guard recorded playing the first 12 string guitar made by Gibson Guitars, which was custom built for him.
1963 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black", with "One More Round" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1969 - The last original episode of The Beatles' King Features Syndicate cartoon show aired on ABC. Paul Frees voiced John and George and Lance Percival did Ringo and Paul.
1974 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney & Wing's Apple Records single "Band On The Run", with Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" on the flipside, in the United States
1974 - Savannah Churchill, singer, singer for Capitol Records artist Benny Carter and His Orchestra, and a Capitol Records solo artist (1943-1945 with tracks that included "Hurry, Hurry" written by Carter for her and "Just a Baby's Prayer at Twilight"), dies in Brooklyn, New York at age 54
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-Motion", with "Destitute & Losin’" on the flipside, enters the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - The Sylvers' Capitol Records single "Boogie Fever", with "Free Style" on the flipside, is certified Gold
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights", with "William Tell Overture" on the flip side, is certified Gold
1985 - Katrina and The Waves' Capitol Records single "Walking On Sunshine", with "Going Down To Liverpool" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
30 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever (You And Me)", with "I'd Fall In Love Tonight" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1953 - Miles Davis records an alternate take of "Enigma" for Blue Note Records at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. Besides Miles on trumpet, also at the session were Art Blakey (Drums), Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone), J.J. Johnson (trombone), Percy Heath (double bass), Gil Coggins (piano). The session was produced by Alfred Lion and Doug Hawkins was the recording engineer. Blue Note Records is a division of Capitol Music Group and it's catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1960 - Tommy Guard, son of Capitol Records artist Dave Guard (part of The Kingston Trio), is born
1960 - Pianist Horace Parlan, along with George Tucker on bass and Al Harewood on drums, records seven tracks, including the title song for his "Us Three" Blue Note Records album, at Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio. Blue Note Records is a division of Capitol Music Group and it's catalog is currently owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1980 - Dottie West's United Artists Records single "A Lesson In Leavin'", with "Love Is Easy" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1935 - The first episode of "Your Hit Parade", starring Kay Thompson, Charles Carlyle, Gogo DeLys and Johnny Hanser, is broadcast on NBC Radio. The show will air for the next 24 years and future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra will later be a featured vocalist on the program.

APRIL 19, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1927 - Don Barbour, singer in the Capitol Records group The Four Freshmen, is born in Greencastle, Indiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1948 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Jan Garber and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech/Fight Alabama", "Maryland, My Maryland/Hark The Sound Of Tal Heel Voices", "Washington And Lee Swing/Glory To Old Georgia", and "Maine Stein Song/Hail To Old O.S.C." at the first session and "Yale's Boola Song/The Princeton Canon Song", "The Fordham Ram/Hail To Pitt", "On, Brave Old Army Team/Anchors Aweigh", and "Lights Out (University Of California)/Strike Up The Band (UCLA)" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Garber's album "College Medleys" (H-154).
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - General Douglas MacArthur delivers a farewell address before a joint meeting of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Capitol Records will issue two highlights of the speech on the 78 RPM version (DAS-274) and six excerpts on the 10 inch 33 1/3 RPM version (H-274) of the album "General MacArthur Farewell Address".
Here's the entire speech: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four of the entire speech.
1954 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra (Harry Edison on trumpet, Tommy Pederson and Ray Sims on trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most and Skeets Herfurt on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller and Babe Russin on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Joe Koch on baritone saxophone, Frank Flynn on vibraphone, Bill Miller on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), records the titles "All Of Me", "Jeepers Creepers", "Get Happy", and "Taking A Chance On Love" for his Capitol Records album "Swing Easy" at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Sinatra's album "Swing Easy" (H-528)
1955 - It's a Tuesday, and Capitol Records album department head, Francis Scott, leaves on the first leg of a trip to London to confer with executives of Electric & Musical Industries, Ltd. on a mutual exchange of masters between the companies.
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Actress Grace Kelly, actress and Capitol Records artist (on the motion picture soundtrack to "High Society", and whose duet with Bing Crosby on the single "True Love" earned a Gold record [the last in Crosby's career]), marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California vocalist and trumpet player Louis Prima, with Keely Smith on background vocals and tenor saxophonist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Little Red" Blount Jr. on trombone, William "Willie" McCumber on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Amado Rodrigues on bass, and Robert "Bobby" Morris on drums) records the titles "Medley: Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)", the instrumental "Body And Soul", "Oh Marie", and "Buona Sera" at the first session between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM and "Jump. Jive An' Wail", "(Nothin's Too Good) For My Baby", "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You", and "Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South" at the second session between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM on April 20, 1951. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Prima's album "the Wildest!" (T 755).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Spaghetti Rag", "12th Street Rag", and "The Old Piano Roll Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Carr's album "Mister Ragtime" (T 760).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Sonny James, with Bill Simmons on piano, Paul Buskirk on electric mandolin, and possibly Paul Brawley on bass, and William Pecchi on drums, records the titles "Twenty Feet Of Muddy Water" and "All Mixed Up" at the Jim Beck Studio in Dallas, Texas. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3441).
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1962 - The Beach Boys (David Marks on guitar, Carl Wilson on guitar and vocals, Brian Wilson on bass guitar and vocals, Mike Love on vocals, and Dennis Wilson on drums and vocals) record the tracks "Surfin' Safari", "409", "Lonely Sea", and "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" at Western Recorders in Los Angeles, California with Brian Wilson producing the session. Capitol Records will issue "Surfin' Safari" and "409" as the band's first single for the label (Capitol 4777).
1964 - The Beatles pre-record the tracks "Can't Buy Me Love"; "I Wanna Be Your Man"; "Long Tall Sally"; a medley that used "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; "Roll Over Beethoven"; "Shout"; and "Twist and Shout" for an Associated Rediffusion UK TV special "Around The Beatles" that will air on May 9, 1964
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Ticket To Ride" with "Yes It Is" on the flip side
1975 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "Bad Time", with "Good And Evil" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1990 - Dave Dexter, author, Kansas City reporter for Down Beat magazine (his reviews for Count Basie and His Orchestra got the band noticed), Capitol Records publicity and A&R man (got Peggy Lee to come out of retirement, signed Nellie Lutcher and Julia Lee) and record producer (The History Of Jazz series, New American Jazz all star album, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others), VP of A&R for Capitol Records' International division (created over 500 albums for "The Capitol Of The World" series of world music), remixed the early albums by The Beatles (until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) for U.S. release, editor and writer for Billboard Magazine, dies in Sherman Oaks, California at age 74. His papers have been donated to the University of Missouri Kansas City and they have a great biography of Dave as part of their Club Kaycee website.
15 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Billy Idol and his band travel to New York City to tape his edition of "VH1 Storytellers". Ten months after the taping, on February 26, 2002, Capitol Records will release "Billy Idol's VH1 Storytellers" featuring 14 songs from the session including three tracks from his days fronting the band Generation X ("Dancing With Myself," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Ready Steady Go") to his 1983 solo hit, "White Wedding" and Idol's covers of Tommy James & The Shondell's "Mony, Mony" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman".
5 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Roy Edward "Eddie" Burris, a drummer for Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard's band The Strangers who co-wrote the 1969 song "Okie From Muskogee" with Haggard, dies at age 79 of heart-related problems at a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital.
5 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Vanguard/Capitol Records releases Kimberly Caldwell's debut album "Without Regret"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
35 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train (Nine to Five)", with "Calm Before The Storm" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.
1995 - The Georgia legislature declares April 19, 1995 to be Johnny Mercer Day in the state for Mercer's "outstanding contributions to the field of music". Johnny Mercer is a co-founder of Capitol Records.

APRIL 18, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1882 - Leopold Stokowski, conductor, band leader and Capitol Records artist as part of Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra, is born in London, England
1952 - Jim Scholten, singer and bass player for the Liberty Records, Capitol Records Nashville, and Curb Records group Sawyer Brown, is born in Midland, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Capitol Records Recording Department is established with Bill Miller (not to be confused with Frank Sinatra's accompanist, Bill Miller) as boss. Miller would, 21 years later in 1966, "prepare for release" The Beatles "Yesterday ...And Today" and "Revolver" albums. He was also an A&R man and producer. He was responsible for signing and producing Jackie Davis and producing sessions for June Christy, Benny Goodman, The Four Freshmen, Sebastian Temple, Warren Durrett and even co-produced Ted Cassidy's novelty record "The Lurch". The current manager is Paula Salvatore, who has guided the always busy Capitol Studios since 2001. Check out Capitol Studios' website for more information. There's also a great article about the Capitol Studios on the studio expresso website.
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" on the flipside, is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played by Disc Jockeys and Best Selling Pop Singles charts and #6 on the magazine's Most Played Juke Box Records chart.
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Yma Sumac's Capitol Records album "Voice Of The Xtabay" hits #1 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop Albums chart in both the album's 33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM formats.
1962 - Buck Owens records "Save The Last Dance For Me" which will be released by Capitol Records on a single with "King Of Fools" on the flipside and enter the Country single charts on May 24, 1962
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Wanda Jackson records the track "I Talk A Pretty Story" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Ken Nelson which will be released as a single by Capitol Records as the flip side of "Little Soldier Boy" in July 1968
1977 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records album "Fly Like An Eagle" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1989 - Judge Robert Takasugi bars Curb Records from releasing Donny Osmond's album and single "Soldier Of Love" in the United States. Owner Mike Curb (who had signed The Osmonds to M-G-M Records in 1970) had argued that he had a verbal agreement with Osmond to release the album previously released by Virgin Records in the UK which Osmond denied. Capitol Records will release the album in the United States on April 25, 1989
20 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Bernard Edwards, record producer with partner Nile Rodgers for Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Norma Jean Wright, and Sister Sledge; solo producer for Rod Stewart, Nona Hendryx, ABC, Starpoint, and Missing Persons; songwriter, bass player, and producer for the group Chic and the Capitol Records band Power Station, dies of pneumonia in his hotel room in Tokyo, Japan at age 43 after performing with a reformed Chic as well as with guests Simon Le Bon, Slash, Steve Winwood and Sister Sledge, at The SuperProducers tribute show for Niles Rodgers, who had been named JT SuperProducer of the Year in Japan, at the Budokan Arena

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1929 - Future Capitol Records artist Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (which includes at the time Gene Krupa and future Capitol Records artists Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden) record Glenn Miller's arrangement of "Indiana" for Brunswick Records in New York City, New York

APRIL 17, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1933 - David Axelrod, composer, arranger, record producer, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Los Angeles, California
1967 - Liz Phair, musician, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist is born in New Haven, Connecticut

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) record two takes of the title "Could 'Ja", two takes of the title "Baby, Baby All The Time", and the titles "Oh, But I Do" with a vocal ensemble (possibly just Cole, Moore, and Miller) and the instrumental "Rex Rumba" (aka "Rumba A La King") at Radio Recorders' studios on Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the second take of "Could 'Ja" on the compilation album "Campus Capers" (BD-58), the second take of "Baby, Baby All The Time" as a single (Capitol 15165) with "Money Is Honey" (recorded November 3, 1947) on the flipside, "Oh, But I Do" as a single (Capitol 274) with "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" (recorded May 1, 1946) on the flipside, and "Rex Rhumba" as a single (Capitol 15240) with "Kee-mo Ky-mo (The Magic Song)" (recorded September 26, 1948) on the flipside. Mosaic Records will issue all the titles and takes in the box set "The Complete King Cole Trio Sessions" (MR27-138 on vinyl and MD18-138 on CD).
1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1960 - Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent is seriously injured after the taxicab hired after a gig in Bristol, England, blows a tire while rounding a curve on the way back to London, England and crashes into a cement post at 70 mph on the A4 at Chippenham, Wilshire. Vincent survives with a badly injured leg that will give him a limp for the rest of his life, but Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran, who was touring with Vincent and shared the cab, is killed at age 21 and Cochran's girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, is seriously injured. Cochran is later interred in the Forest Lawn Cypress cemetery in Cypress, California.
1969 - Capitol Records group The Band make their solo stage debut at the Winterland in San Francisco, California
1970 - Apple Records releases Paul McCartney's first solo album, "McCartney", which is distributed by Capitol Records in the United States. McCartney plays all the instruments heard on the album.
1970 - The Beatles officially disband
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1973 – Tavares signs with Capitol Records
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Capitol Records single "Silly Love Songs", with "Cook Of The House" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1987 - Crowded House's Capitol Records single "Don’t Dream It’s Over", with "That's What I Call Love" on the flipside, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1998 - Linda McCartney (born Linda Eastman), photographer, activist, creator and owner of a vegetarian frozen meal company, keyboard player, singer, wife of Capitol Records artist Paul McCartney, member of the Capitol Records band Wings, and, posthumously, a Capitol Records solo artist, dies of breast cancer at age 56
2000 - Godhead signs with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Imperial Records releases Fats Domino's single "Ain't That a Shame", with "Goin' Home" on the flipside. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
1957 - Composer, arranger and conductor Johnny Richards (with Al Stewart, Charlie Shavers, Burt Collins, and Ray Copeland on trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl, and Frank Rehak on trombones; Julius Watkins on french horn; Jay McAllister on tuba; Gene Quill on alto saxophone; Seldon Powell and 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; Jimmy Campbell on drums; Joe Venuto on tympani; Sol Gubin on maracas; Pete Terrace on bongos; Umbaldo Nieto on timbales; Carlos Valdes on congas; Raymond Rodriguez on tambauri; and Al Epstein on percussion) records the self-penned tracks "La Pecadora" and "Ofo" for his Roulette Records album "The Rites Of Diablo" at Webster Hall in New York City, New York. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.
1965 - Liberty Records releases Gary Lewis and The Playboys' single "Count Me In" with "Little Miss Go-Go" on the flipside. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1924 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios is formed after a merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and The Louis B. Mayer Company.
1937 - Daffy Duck debuts in the Warner Bros.' cartoon "Porky's Duck Hunt"

APRIL 16, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Selena, singer, actress and EMI Latin Records (a division of Capitol Records) artist, is born Selena Quintanilla Perez in Lake Jackson, Texas

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The San Francisco branch of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation opens for business under the direction of Paul Featherstone with salesmen Voyle Gilmore, Ed Nielsen, and Bob Martin.
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "A Square In The Social Circle" on the flipside enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy", the flipside of "Lost April", enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
1949 - Capitol Records artist Tex Ritter is a judge at the final day of a two day music contest for country musicians sponsored by radio station WESC in Greenville, South Carolina with a $1,500 top prize. A one hour portion of the finals is aired at 11PM (CST) on the Mutual network.
1950 - Victor Blanchard is becomes a vice-president of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation.

65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Capitol Custom Division is started. This division of Capitol handled creating, producing, and distributing special promo records for outside companies and charities like Scripto, Uniroyal, Bacardi, 7-Up, Firestone, A&W Root Beer, Chevrolet, Dextol, March of Dimes, Renuzit, Salada Tea using tracks from Capitol's catalog as well as specially created material by Capitol artists.
Capitol Custom also produced demos and commercial records for independent artists like Cracker Jills, Help, Gert Benhana, Rafael Mendez, Harry Fields, The Legends, V. Attl, etc. as well as for church choirs and school bands.
Capitol Custom also handled creating promotional records for events like the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and even a single for John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign featuring Frank Sinatra singing a reworded version of his hit "High Hopes".
Probably the most desired record created by Capitol Custom is the 7" single created as a limited pressing released on June 5, 1964 to promote the Beatles for Hollywood radio station KFWB and Wallichs' Music City that had an interview on side 1 and "You Can't Do That" on the flipside. Copies of this disc have been valued for as much as $2250 with the original mailer.
Most of the physical production was done out of the Capitol pressing plant in Scranton, PA.
There were branches of Capitol Custom in Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

Capitol Custom eventually became EMI-Capitol Special Markets and Capitol and its associated label's catalog are now marketed this way as part of Universal Music Enterprises' Universal Music Special Markets division.

60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Harry Gellar conducting the orchestra and chorus (lineup unlisted), records the titles "The Searchers" and "The Wayward Wind" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3430).

60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Dick Haymes,  with Ian Bernard and his orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Then I'll Be Tired Of You", "Skylark", and "You Don't Know What Love Is" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Haymes' album "Moondreams" (T 787).
1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1973 - Paul McCartney stars in his first solo TV special, "James Paul McCartney", which features his new band, Wings
1994 - Bonnie Raitt's Capitol Records album "Longing In Their Hearts" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
20 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records releases Richard Thompson's double CD album "You? Me? Us?" (CDP 7243 8 33704 2 9) in the United States with one disc of acoustic material being dubbed "Nude" and the other disc of electric material titled "Voltage Enhanced". Capitol also releases The Jesus Lizard's label debut "Shot" after recording six albums for Touch And Go and a live album for Collision Arts.
2013 - Capitol Records releases Sky Ferreira's single "Everything Is Embarrassing" from her second EP "Ghost" in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1889 - Charlie Chaplin, actor, writer, motion picture actor, director and producer, and co-founder of United Artists Pictures, is born Charles Spencer Chaplin in Walworth, London, England. United Artists would later create United Artists Records whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group
1918 - Spike Milligan, comedian, musician, radio (most notably on BBC Radio's "The Goon Show"), television, and motion picture writer and actor, Parlophone Records recording artist as part of "The Goon Show" cast with producer George Martin, is born Terence Alan Milligan in Ahmed Nagar or Ahmadnagar, India
1929 - Edie Adams, singer, Broadway (originated the role of Daisy Mae in the Johnny Mercer musical "Li'l Abner" and won the 1956 Tony award for her perfomance), motion picture and television actress, one time wife of comedian, motion picture and television actor Ernie Kovacs, one time wife of trumpet player and Capitol Records artist Pete Candoli, is born Elizabeth Edith Enke in Kingston, Pennsylvania
1935 - "Fibber McGee and Molly" debuts on NBC Radio. Future Capitol Records music director Paul Weston will begin doing arrangements for the show in 1940 and future Capitol Records artist Martha Tilton will be on the show for about a year starting in 1941. One of Capitol Records' first album releases will be "On The Night Before Christmas" which features the cast of the show (Jim and Marion Jordan) as well as the vocal group The King's Men, with the orchestra conducted by Billy Mills and music and vocal arrangements by Ken Darby.
1947 - Gerry Rafferty, singer, guitarist, member of the groups The Humblebums and Stealers Wheel, and United Artists Records solo artist, is born in Paisley, Scotland
1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

APRIL 15, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1898 - Marian Jordan, radio and motion picture actress (best known as Molly McGee in the series "Fibber McGee and Molly") and Capitol Records artist (on the 78 rpm album "On The Night Before Christmas", is born Marian Driscoll in Peoria, Illinois
1908 - eden ahbez, songwriter (best known for Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records track "Nature Boy"), is born Alexander Aberle in Brooklyn, New York
1909 - Vern Yocum, clarinetist, alto and baritone saxophone player, vocalist, copyist, orchestrator, whose company maintained the arrangement libraries for Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Nelson Riddle, Roy Clark, and Nancy Wilson as well as for Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Lane, Trini Lopez, and Julie Andrews, and brother of Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers singer Clark Yocum, is born George Vernon Yocum in Sunbury, Pennsylvania
1933- Roy Clark, singer, guitarist, banjo player, motion picture actor, television variety show host, and Capitol Records artist, is born Roy Linwood Clark in Meherrin, Virginia
1968- Ed O'Brien, guitarist and vocalist with the Capitol Records group Radiohead, is born Edward John O'Brien in Oxford, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", with "I'm Gonna See My Baby" on the flipside, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Guitarist Alvino Rey and his orchestra (Chuck Peterson, Jake Gerheim, Russ Granger, and Frank Nelson on trumpets, Sam Levine, Bob McReynolds, and Bob Swift on trombones, Bob Walsh and Hal McKusick on alto saxophones, Herbie Steward on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Rocky Coluccio on piano and vocals, Jim Bates on bass, and Ben Weber on drums) record the titles "Bumble Boogie" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 262) with "Sepulveda" (recorded February 26, 1946) on the flipside.
70 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Tenor saxophonist Sam Donahue and his orchestra (Mitch Paul, Bill Marshall, Frank Beach, and Earl Collier on trumpets, Dick Le Fave, Tak Takvorian, Kenny Miesel, and Sid Brantley on trombones, Harry Peterson, Bill Nichol, and Paul Petrillo on alto saxophones, Max Kriseman also on tenor saxophone, George Perry on baritone saxophone, Bob Durant on piano, Louis Pop on bass, and Harold Hahn on drums) record the titles "Take Five" with vocals by Mynell Allen and the instrumental "Convoy" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Take Five" as a single (Capitol 260) with "Dinah" (recorded April 3, 1946) on the flipside and "Convoy" in the compilation album "Classics In Jazz - Sam Donahue" (T 626).
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Quincy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Bob Fowler, Conrad Gozzo, Al Porcino, and Jack Sheldon on trumpets, Vernon Friley, Lewis McCreary, and Frank Rosolino on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Benny Carter and Bill Green on alto saxophones, Plas Johnson and Bill Perkins on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Dennis Budimir and Howard Roberts on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Stan Levey on drums, and Chino Pozo on congas and percussion), records a new take of the title "Goin' To Chicago Blues" and the titles "Boston Beans", "The Grain Belt Blues" (aka "Orange Blues"), and "Basin Street Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "Blues Cross Country" (T 1671).
1972 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single, "Back Off Boogaloo", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States with "Blindman" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1978 - Sweet's Capitol Records single "Love Is Like Oxygen", with "Cover Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1989 - Donny Osmond's Capitol Records single "Soldier Of Love", with "My Secret Touch" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I met Donny in 1988 at the listening party for Ziggy Marley and The Melody Maker's first Virgin Records album "Conscious Party", which was held at Virgin's first office in Beverly Hills, California
1990 - Dan Seals' Capitol Records single "Love On Arrival", with "Those" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1991 - MC Hammer's Capitol Records album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" is certified Diamond (10 million units sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
1998 - Rose Maddox, singer, with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose, and a Capitol Records solo artist, dies in Ashland, Oregon at age 72

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1977 - Kenny Rogers United Artists Records single "Lucille" (aka Country Music's "National Anthem"), with "Till I Get It Right" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "All I Ever Need Is You", with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.
1990 - Sinead O'Connor's Chrysalis Records single "Nothing Compares 2 U", with "Jump In The River" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' U.S. catalog was merged with Capitol Records catalog by Universal Music Group in 2013 and Capitol currently distributes Chrysalis' U.S. catalog.

APRIL 14, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1924 - Shorty Rogers, trumpet player, band leader, composer, arranger, member of Capitol Records band Stan Kenton and His Orchestra and Blue Note Records artist, is born Milton M. Rajonsky in Great Barrington, Massachusettes
1925 - Rod Steiger, Broadway and motion picture actor and singer, and Capitol Records artist (1955 on the "Oklahoma!" motion picture soundtrack), is born Rodney Stephen Steiger in Westhampton, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", with "The Man Upstairs" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back", with "Do I Like It" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles record the title "Rain" at Abbey Road Studios in London, England with producer George Martin. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5651) with "Paperback Writer" (recorded April 13, 1966) on the flipside in the United States.
1969 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon finish recording the title "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. It is the first title released as a single by The Beatles not to feature George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
1975 - Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel), motion picture actor and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the album "Hark The Years"), dies at age 77 in Los Angeles, California from cancer.
1980 - The Knack's Capitol Records album "…But The Little Girl's Understand" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1983 - Tina Turner signs with Capitol Records
1990 - Heart's Capitol Records single "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You", with "Call Of The Wild" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
25 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Wilson Phillip's SBK Records (a division of Capitol Records) single "You're In Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1959 - The Fleetwood's Liberty Records single "Come Softly To Me", with "I Care So Much" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1990 - Thurston Harris, singer (best know for the track "Little Bitty Pretty One") and Aladdin Records artist,  dies of a heart attack in Pomona, California at age 58. I designed the album cover, with art director Henry Marquez, for EMI America's release of Harris' "Greatest Hits" album in 1986.

APRIL 13, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
65 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Peabo Bryson, singer, songwriter, music producer, and Capitol Records artist (1977-1983 and 1989), is born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Besame Mucho", with "You're The Dream, I'm The Dreamer" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Country singles charts
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Dick Haymes, with Ian Bernard and his orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "I Like The Likes Of You", "Isn't It A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)", and "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Haymes' album "Moondreams" (T 787).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Meg Myles, with unlisted others, records the yet to be issued titles "13 Men" and "Abracadabra" and the titles "Past The Age Of Innocence" and "My Melancholy Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the last two titles together as a single (Capitol 3437).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Ray Heindorf conducted The Warner Bros. Orchestra (lineup unlisted) and Chorus (vocalists Betty Allan, Burton Dole, William Lee, Elizabeth Mulliner, Ernest Newton, Betty Noyes, Thurl Ravenscroft, Virginia Rees, William Reeve, Max Smith, Robert Stevens, Betty Wand, and Gloria Wood) as they record the title "Fight Scene (The Yellow Rose Of Texas)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the original motion picture soundtrack album for the film "GIANT" (W 773).
60 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist John Raitt, with unlisted others, records the titles "Amapola", "Lamento Gitano (Gypsy Lament)", "Granada", and "Malaguena" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Raitt's album "Mediterranean Magic" (T 714).
55 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Vocalist and pianist Ivory Joe Hunter, with Stan Applebaum directing the studio orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes trumpet, saxophone, guitar, bass, and drum players) and a chorus, (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Because I Love You", and "I'm Hooked" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4587).
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles record the title "Paperback Writer" in Abbey Road Studios in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 6296) in the United States with "Rain" (recorded April 14, 1966) on the flipside.
1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Act Naturally", with "Over And Over Again" on the flipside, enters the U.S. Country singles charts where it will eventually become Owens' first #1
1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A.", with "Shut Down" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1965 - The Beatles win the Grammy award for Best New Artist of the Year
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalist and guitarist Roy Clark, with unlisted others, records a yet to be issued take of the titles "Steppin' Out", the title "(I'd Be) A Legend In My Time", and yet to be issued takes of the titles "A Good Woman's Love", and "Oh How I Miss You" in Nashville, Tennessee. Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "(I'd Be) A Legend In My Time" as a single (DT 5118) with "Rose Colored Glasses" (recorded October 14, 1965) on the flipside.
50 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalists Jean Shepard and Ray Pillow, with unlisted others, records the titles "Nobody's Business", "We Could", and "Willingly" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Shepard and Pillow's album "I'll Take The Dog" (T 2537).
1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - During two sessions held today in Los Angeles, California with producer Earl Ball, vocalist Merle Haggard and The Strangers (Roy Nichols on electric guitar, Norman Hamlet on steel guitar, Bobby Wayne on guitar, Dennis Hromek on bass, and Clair "Biff" Adam on drums) record the titles "The Conversion Of Ronnie Jones" and "Caroline" at the first session then just The Strangers record the titles "Honky Tonk", "Raunchy", and "Song From 'Sleep Walk'" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "The Conversion Of Ronnie Jones" on Haggard's album "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" (ST-11127), after a overdub session is held on April 30, 1971 for "Carolyn" it will release that title as a single (Capitol 3222) with "When The Feelin' Goes Away" (recorded November 9, 1970) on the flipside and on Haggard and The Strangers' album "Someday We'll Look Back" (ST-835) and all three titles from the second sessions on Merle Haggard's Strangers' album "Honky Tonkin'" (ST-796) and "Song From 'Sleep Walk'" as a single (Capitol 3144) with "Slow 'N' Easy" (recorded April 14, 1971) on the flipside.
1974 - Wings' Apple Records album "Band on the Run", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1975 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Always Wanting You", with "I've Got A Yearning" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Asleep At The Wheel (lineup unlisted) records the title "Miles And Miles Of Texas" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 4357) with "Blues For Dixie" (recorded April 1, 1966) on the flipside and on the group's album "Wheelin' And Dealin'" (ST-11546).
1977 - Natalie Cole's Capitol Records single "I've Got Love On My Mind", with "Unpredictable You" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1992 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Linda Davis' album "Linda Davis"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1923 - Don Adams, comedian, television and motion picture actor, animated cartoon voice artist, and Roulette and United Artists Records artist, is born Donald James Yarmy in New York City, New York
1980 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Call Me", with an instrumental version of the song by Georgio Moroder on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' catalog was owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's one time parent company but was sold by Universal Music Group to Warner Music Group when UMG bought EMI Music Group.
1983 - Sheena Easton and Kenny Rogers' duet Liberty Records single "We've Got Tonight", with Rogers' "You Are So Beautiful" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
25 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Queensryche's EMI America Records single "Silent Lucidity", with "The Mission (Live)" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.