FEBRUARY 20, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
80 Years Ago Today In 1937- Nancy Wilson, singer, television variety show host and actress, 1999 Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, and Capitol Records artist, is born Nancy Sue Wilson in Chillicothe, Ohio
1946 - Jerome Giles, guitarist and leader of the Capitol Records group J. Giles Band, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Carlos Molina and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the title "Palabras De Mujer" with vocalist Bobby Rivera and the as yet unissued takes of the titles "Acabaste" with vocals by Jean Colby, "Pearl Fisher", and "Siboney" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Palabras De Mujer" as a single (Capitol 307) with "Estoy Apriendo Ingles
(I'm Learning To Speak English)" (recorded June 19, 1945) on the flipside.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country charts
1952 - Billy May conducts his own compositions and arrangements to the orchestra (Conrad Gozzo and Uan Rasey on trumpet, Si Zentner and James Priddy on trombone, Wilbur Schwartz, Jules Kinsler, Jules Jacob, and Fred Falensby on saxophones, Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Meyer Rubin on bass, John Cyr on drums, Ann Mason Stockton on harp, and a string section with Ivan Eppinoff, Lou Raderman, and Mischa Russell on violin, Paul Robyn on viola, and Cy Bernard on cello) as they record the music tracks for the two parts of the title "Tweet, Tweet, Tweety" and the two parts of the title "Bugs Bunny And The Grow-Small Juice" (originally entitled "14 Carrot Rabbit") at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. After Mel Blanc and June Foray record vocal tracks for "Tweet, Tweet, Tweeety" using a script adaptation by Alan Livingston and "Bugs Bunny And The Grow-Small Juice" using a script by Ted Pierce and Warren Foster on February 28, 1952, Capitol Records will issue both parts of "Tweet, Tweet, Tweety" on the childrens' record of the same title (CAS-3118) and both parts of "Bugs Bunny And The Grow-Small Juice" on the children's record of the same title (CAS-3119).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - vocalist Chester Smith and vocalist and guitarist Del Reeves, with Red Sylva on fiddle, Jim Pierce on piano, Buck Owens on lead guitar, Grover Jackson on guitar, Skeets McDonald on bass, and Hank Stallings on drums, record the titles "One Life To Live", "There'll Be Other Times" without Reeves on vocals, "You're Not The Changing Kind" without Smith on vocals, and "Love, Love, Love" in Studio A of The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "One Life To Live" and "There'll Be Other Times" together as a single (Capitol F3692) and "You're Not The Changing Kind" and "Love, Love, Love" together as a single (Capitol F3819).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - During two session held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist Robert Mitchum, with pianist Jimmy Rowles conducting the orchestra (Tony Terran on trumpet, Morris Bercov on saxophone,Laurindo Almeida and Jack Marshall on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Eddie Aparicio, Frank Carlson, and Frank Guerrero on drums and percussion, Lou Singer on drums and vibraphones, and Carlos Mejia on bongos), records the titles "I Learn A Merengue Mama" and "From A Logical Point Of View" at the first session between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM and a new take of "From A Logical Point Of View" and the titles "They Dance All Night" and "Take Me Down To Lover's Row" at the second session between 11:30 PM and 2:30 AM on February 21, 1952. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except the first take of ""From A Logical Point Of View" which is listed as lost,  on Mitchum's album "Calypso - Is Like So..." (T 853).
1959 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records album "Hymns" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.1961 - The Derringers (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Maybe Baby" and "Pledging My Love" in Los Angeles, California with producer Nick Venet. Capitol Records will issue "Maybe Baby" as a single (Capitol 4572) with "Don't Deceive Me" (recorded March 29, 1961) on the flipside. No release information is listed for "Pledging My Love".
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - B. Phillips records the title "The Laughing Man" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962  - Vocalist Jan Howard, with unlisted others, records the titles "Tomorrw You Won't Even Know My Name", "The Belle Of The Ball", and "Please Pass The Kisses" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Tomorrow You Won't Even Know My Name" and "Please Pass The Kisses" together as a single (Capitol 4744) and "The Belle Of The Ball" on Howard's album "Sweet & Sentimental" (T 1779).
1965 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail", with "Cryin' Time" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1965 - The Beatles record the track "That Means a Lot" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios around midday
1966 - Vocalist Matt Monro, with John Barry conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes players of horns, reeds, piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and strings) records the titles "Born Free" and "Other People" in London, England. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 5623).
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - On her 30th birthday, vocalist Nancy Wilson, with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Pete Candoli, John Audino, Ray Triscari, and Bud Brisbois on trumpet, Vernon Friley, Lew McCreary, Dick Noel, and William Schaefer on trombone, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Ernest Green, Justin Gordon, Plas Johnson, and Jack Nimitz on saxophone,s Don Trenner on piano, Mike Melvoin on organ, John Collins on guitar, Charles Williams on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums, Latin percussion, and bells), records the titles "What Now, My Love", "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", "Winchester Cathedral", and "Alfie" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM with producer Dave Cavanaugh. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Wilson's album "Just For Now" (T/ST 2712) and "Alfie" also as a bonus track on the CD release of Wilson's album "Hollywood-My Way" (3-64641-2).
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - The Ted Neeley Five (lineup unlisted) record the titles "You Must Believe Me" and "Love Her" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 5781).
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - The Duncan Brothers (lineup unlisted) record the titles "It's Magic", "Warm, Soft And Good", "Theme Of Love", and "A Feelin'" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.
1970 - John Ono Lennon's Apple Records single "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)", with Yoko Lennon Ono's "Who Has Seen The Wind?" on the flipside, is released by Capitol Records in the United States just 25 days after being recorded
1985 - Clarence Nash, voice actor (best known for "Donald Duck") and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 80
1991 - Polygram, Parlophone, Vee-Jay, Swan, Capitol, Apple, Zapple, and Geffen Records artist John Lennon is posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award
25 Years Ago Today In 2007 - Capitol Records releases Luscious Jackson's compilation album "Greatest Hits"
2009 - I was interviewed for a documentary about Johnny Mercer by director/producer Bruce Ricker at the Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA in the Eastwood Sound Stage. I followed Leonard Maltin and Miles Kreuger and met Richard Carpenter on the way in.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Dave Guard And The Calypsonians, forerunners of the Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio, record an acetate demo of "Run Joe"
1961 - Johnny Burnette's Liberty Records single "Little Boy Sad", with "(I Go) Down To The River" on the flipside, enters the U.S. Country singles charts
1963 - Vee Jay Records releases The Beatles' first single in the United States, "Please Please Me" (VJ-498) with "Ask Me Why" (credited as by The Beattles) on the flipside, after it Capitol Records passed on releasing it.
45 Years Ago Today In 1972 - James C. Bracken, co-owner of Vee Jay Records, dies in Chicago, Illinois at age 62
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - Chrysalis Records artist Pat Benatar marries her guitarist, Neil Gerado, in Hawaii