JANUARY 31, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1892 - Eddie Cantor, Vaudeville, Broadway, motion picture, radio, and television actor, singer, songwriter, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Edward Israel Iskowitz in the Lower East Side of New York City, New York.
1915 - Bobby Hackett, cornet, trumpet and guitar player, member of Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (played at the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert), and Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (initially as a guitarist while his lip was healing, then on short solos such as on "String Of Pearls"), bandleader, a Capitol Records solo artist, and on Jackie Gleason's Capitol Records albums, is born Robert Leo Hackett in Providence, Rhode Island

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Erich Kleiber conducts The Brussels Radio Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the first, second, third, and fourth movements ("Adagio Molto" in three parts, "Larghetto" in 3 parts, "Sherzo Allego", and "Allegro Molto" in two parts) of Beethoven's "Symphony N° 2" in Brussels, Belgium for Telefunken Records. Capitol Records will license Telefunken's catalog for release in the United States and will issue the complete symphony on the album "BEETHOVEN - Symphony N° 2" (P-8116).
1946 - During a split session held at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California, first Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Nobody Else But Me" with vocals by Lou Dinning and "Full Moon And Empty Arms" featuring Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on piano then vocalist Martha Tilton, with Paul Weston directing the orchestra and vocal octet (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Ah Yes, There's Good Blues Tonight" and "As If I Didn't Have Enough On My Mind". Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 245) and the second two titles together as a single (Capitol 244).
1947 - Dorothy Lamour signs with Capitol Records
1947 - Vocalist Hal Derwin, with unlisted others, records the titles "It Might Have Been A Different Story" and "You Can Take My Word For It Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 377).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - It's a Saturday and on this afternoon's episode of "King Cole Trio Time", being broadcast from KYW's studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and announced by John Degan, the trio performs "Straighten Up And Fly Right", "Almost Like Being In Love", "I Feel So Smoochie", "But Beautiful", "Gonna Get A Girl", "Rhumba Azul", "Beg Your Pardon", "Wildroot Bebop (The Geek)" and a reprise of "Rhumba Azul". The Armed Forces Radio Service will issue an electronic transcription disc of the episode. (King Cole Trio 38).
1951 - Vocalist and pianist Nellie Lutcher, with an unlisted trio of other musicians, records the titles "Pa's Not Home And Ma's Upstairs", "I Really Couldn't Love You", "(I Need) Body And Fender Work", and "He Couldn't Care Less" at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles as a single (Capitol 1420). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in the CD box set "Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm" (BCD 15910).
1952 - Billy May, using his own arrangements, conducts an orchestra (Conrad Gozzo and Mannie Klein on trumpet,  Ed Kusby and William Schaefer on trombone, John Graas on French horn, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Jules Kinsler, Gordon Green, and Fred Falensby on saxophones, Lou Busch on piano, Vincent Terri on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, John Cyr on drums, Kathryn Thompson on harp, and a string section with Ben Gill, Lou Raderman, and Felix Slatkin on violin, Paul Robyn on viola, and Eleanor Slatkin on cello) as they record the titles "Bozo Has A Party: Part 1", "Bozo Has A Party: Part 2", "Bozo Has A Party: Part 3", and "Bozo Has A Party: Part 4" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. After Pinto Colvig records vocal overdubs on February 11 and 13, 1952, Capitol Records will issue all the parts on the children's album "Bozo Has A Party" (DBX-3133).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nat "King" Cole's single "Pretend", with "Don't Let Your Eyes Go Shopping" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The Gerry Mulligan Tentette (Chet Baker and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone, John Graas on French horn, Ray Siegel on tuba, Bud Shank on alto saxophone, Don Davidson on baritone saxophone, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Larry Bunker on drums), using arrangements by Gerry Mulligan, records the titles "A Ballad", "Flash", "Simbah", and "Ontet" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album ""Presenting Gerry Mulligan And His Ten-Tette"" (EAP-1/2-439 on 7" EP and H-439 on 10" LP).
1956 -  Trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden, with Van Alexander's Orchestra (Mannie Klein and Charlie Teagarden on trumpet, Francis "Joe" Howard and Ben Benson on trombone, Gus Bivona and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone, Jules Jacob on baritone saxophone, Ray Sherman on piano, Mike Rubin on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums), records the titles "Aunt Hagar's Children Blues", "After You've Gone", "A Monday Date", and "Sheik Of Araby" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Teagarden's album "This Is Teagarden" (T 721).
1957 - Pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, John Halliburton, and Jim Amlotte on trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Bill Perkins on tenor saxophone, Ralph Blaze on guitar, Curtis Counce on bass, and Larry Bunker), with vocal group The Modern Men (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Woman Usually Do" and "Opus In Chartreuse" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Both titles were rejected and have not yet been issued.
1957 - Trumpet player and vocalist Louis Prima and vocalist Keely Smith, with tenor saxophonist and vocalist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Litle 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 titles "I've Got The World On A String", "Much Too Young To Loose My Mind" featuring vocals by Sam Butera, "Don't Let A Memory" featuring vocals by Keely Smith, and "Pennies From Heaven" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between Midnight and 3:00 AM. Capitol Records will issue "I've Got The World On A String" and "Pennies From Heaven" on Prima's album "The Call Of The Wildest" (T 836). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the 8 CD box set "Louis Prima, Sam Butera & Keely Smith - Their Capitol Recordings" (BCD 15776).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Guitarist Bob Bain and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "The Rock And Roll Waltz", "Don't Let Go", "Strollin' Home", "Night Train Guitar", and "Keen Teen" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Don't Let Go" which remains unissued, on Bain's album "Rockin', Rollin', Strollin'" (T 965).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (which features Harry Edison on trumpet and an unlisted lineup of brass, reeds, strings, and rhythm instrument players), records the titles "Harlem Blues", "Joe Turner's Blues", "Memphis Blues" and "Friendless Blues" at Capitol Records' New York City studios. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Cole's album "Nat 'King" Cole Sings Songs From 'St. Louis Blues'" (EAP-1/2-993 on 7" EP and W/SW 993 on 12" LP).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Sue Raney, with Ralph Carmichael conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Some Of These Days" and "Burnt Sugar" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Raney's album "All By Myself" (T/ST 2032).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Jody Miller, with unlisted others, records the titles "All My Trials", "The Hangman", "Midnight Special", and "The Boy In The Pendleton Shirt" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all titles, except "The Boy In The Pendleton Shirt" which remains unissued, on Miller's album "Wednesday's Child Is Full Of Woe" (T/ST 1913).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beach Boys (Mike Love on saxophone and lead vocals, Brian Wilson on piano and vocals, Carl Wilson on lead guitar and vocals, David Marks on guitar and vocals, and Dennis Wilson on drums) record the titles "Lana" and "Farmer's Daughter" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Surfin' U.S.A." (T/ST 1890). Capitol Records will also assign master numbers for the masters it purchased for the group's titles "Shut Down" and "Surfin' U.S.A." which it will together as a single (Capitol F4932) and also on the album "Surfin' U.S.A." (T/ST 1890).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Al Martino, with Belford Hendricks conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Merry-Go-Round", "I Love You Because", "Please Take Me Back", and "Lonely Drifter" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Merry-Go-Round" and "I Love You Because" together as a single (Capitol 4930) and, with "Lonely Drifter", on Martino's album "T/ST 1914) and has yet to issue "Please Take Me Back".
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Sidewalk Skipper Band (Brian Ballestrieri on Hammond organ, Joe Ballestrieri on bass, Dave McDowell on guitar and vocals, Rick Novac on 12-string guitar, and Tom Jukem on drums) records the title "Mary Understanding" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Overdubs are recorded for The Lettermen's titles "Our Day Will Come", "Medley: Love Is Blue/Greensleeves", "Anyone Who Had A Heart", and Spooky" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the group's album "Goin' Out Of My Head" (ST 2865) and "Medley: Love Is Blue/Greensleeves" as a single (Capitol 2218).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Stained Glass (Bob Rominger on guitar and vocals, Jim McPherson on bass and vocals, and Dennis Carrasco on drums and vocals) and an unlisted pianist record the titles "Fahrenheit", "Soap And Turkey", and "Lady In Lace" in Los Angeles, California with producers Max Hoch and John Gross. Capitol Records will issue "Soap And Turkey" and "Lady In Lace" together as a single (Capitol 2178) and "Soap And Turkey" and "Fahrenheit" on the group's album "Crazy Horse Roads" (ST-154).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist and guitarist Merle Haggard and The Strangers (George French, Jr. on piano and possibly organ, Glen Campbell and Lewis Talley also on guitar, Billy Mize also on guitar and harmony vocals, Roy Nichols on electric guitar, Norman D. Hamlett on steel guitar, Jerry Ward aka Howard Lowe on bass, and Roy "Eddie" Burris on drums), with Bonnie Owens also on harmony vocals, record the titles "Money Tree", "A Picture From Two Sides Of Life", and "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Money Tree" and "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" on the album "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" (ST 2912), "A Picture From Two Sides Of Life" on the Spotify playlist "Sing Me Back Home/The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" in 2006, and "The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde" also as a single (Capitol 2123). 

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with an orchestra and chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "The Wayward Wind", "Bad Brahma Bull", and a new take "High Noon" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ritter's album "Tex Ritter's Wild West" (ST 2974).  Merle wrote the song, which will enter the U.S. Country charts in March 1968 and will become Haggard's fourth #1 hit.

1969 - The Beatles record tracks for the songs "The Long And Winding Road", "Let It Be", and "Two Of Us"
1970 - Glen Campbell's 17th Capitol Records single to chart, "Honey Come Back" with "Where Do You Go" on the flipside, peaks at #2 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist Connie Cato, with unlisted others, records the titles "Superskirt", "How Come You Struck The Match", and "Love Makes Big Things Small" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Superskirt" as a single (Capitol 3788) and on Cato's album "Super Connie Cato" (ST-11312) and "How Come You Struck The Match" and "Love Makes Big Things Small" together as a single (Capitol 3580).
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Mink DeVille (lineup unlisted) records the title "Just Your Friends" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Return To Magenta" (SW-11780).

35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Burning Sensations (Tim McGovern on lead vocals, guitar, and synthesizers, Rob Rio Hasick on bass, guitar, and synthesizer, Barry "The Hatchet" Wisdom on drums, Morley Bartnof on keyboards and backing vocals, Jeff Hollie on saxophones and backing vocals, and Michael Temple on handclaps, drums, timbales, and percussion) records the title "Carnival Of Souls" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's self-titled album "Burning Sensations" (MLP-15009 on 7" LP and DP-15009 on cassette).

35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Moses Tyson, with unlisted others, records the title "Keep Dancin' To The Music" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5263) and on Tyson's self-titled album "Moses Tyson" (ST-12255).

1990 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' last single for the label, "Tijuana Lady", with "Brooklyn Bridge" on the flipside

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1894 - Isham Jones, fiddler, tenor saxophonist, bandleader (whose members would include future Capitol Records artists Benny Goodman and Woody Herman), songwriter ("I'll See You In My Dreams", "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" which was covered by Capitol Records artist Nellie Lutcher and became one of her biggest hits, "It Had To Be You" which was covered by Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton, and others) is born in Coalton, Ohio
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The Gil Melle Quintet (Eddie Bert on trombone, Gil Melle on tenor saxophone, Tal Farlow on guitar, Clyde Lombardi on bass, and Joe Morello on drums) records the titles "Cyclotron", "October", "Under Capricorn", and "Venus" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on the quintet's self-titled EP "Gil Melle Quintet" (BEP203) and on the group's compilation album "New Faces - New Sounds: Gil Melle Quintet/Sextet" (BLP5020).

1956 - Johnny Rotten, the lead singer with the EMI and Virgin Records group The Sex Pistols and Virgin Records Group Public Image Ltd. (aka PIL), is born John Lydon in Finsbury Park, London, England

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Organist Jimmy Smith, with Grant Green on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums, records the titles "Hotel Happiness", "Organic Greenery (aka Blues For Little Jim)", "Cherry", "T'ain't No Use", "I'm Movin' On", "Back Talk", "Day In, Day Out", and "What Kind Of Fool Am I" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "Hotel Happiness", "Cherry", "T'Ain't No Use", "Back Talk", and "What Kind Of Fool Am I" on Smith's album "I'm Movin' On" (BLP4255) and all the titles on the CD issue of the album (8-32750-2).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Trombonist Lou Blackburn, with Freddi Hill on trumpet, Horace Tapscott on piano, John Duke on bass, and Leroy Henderson on drums, records the titles "Stella By Starlight", "Luze Bluze", "Jazz-A-Nova", "Mañha De Carnaval", "The Clan", and "Scorpio" at United Recorders in Los Angeles, California for Imperial Records. After Imperial's catalog is bought by EMI Records, Blue Note Records will issue all the titles as part of the Connoisseur Series on the CD "Lou Blackburn - The Complete Imperial Sessions" (3-58249-2).

1969 - Billy Preston signs with Apple Records

40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Guitarist Earl Klugh, with Greg Phillinganes on piano, electric piano, and synthesizer, Scott Edwards on electric bass, and Gene Dunlap on drums, using arrangments by Greg Phillinganes, records the titles "Lode Star" and, with the addition of Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, "Mayagues" in Sound Factory's studios in Los Angeles, California for United Artists Records. After EMI Records acquires United Artists' catalog, Blue Note Records will issue both titles on Klugh's CD "Magic In Your Eyes" (7-48389-2).

1981 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "The Tide Is High" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1982 - The J. Geils Band's EMI America single "Centerfold" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1876 - On a black day in the country's history, the government of the United States of America orders all Native Americans to move into reservations.
1936 - "The Green Hornet" radio show debuts on WXYZ radio in Detroit, Michigan and was created by George Trendle and Fran Striker who also created The Lone Ranger which also was broadcast from the same station. A further tie-in is that the Hornet's alter-ego, Britt Reed, is the great nephew of The Lone Ranger's young sidekick Dan Reed.
1945 - On another black day in U.S.A. history, U.S. Army Private Eddie Slovik becomes the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion
1961 - Ham the Chimp travels into outer space on an early version of NASA's Mercury rocket, performs well on some response tests and returns safely to Earth
1990 - The first McDonald's opens in Moscow, Russia
2004 - Mystery Science Theater 3000 ends its run on the Sci-Fi Channel.