FEBRUARY 15, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1905 - Harold Arlen, composer (Oscar-winning songwriter: Somewhere Over the Rainbow "Stormy Weather" and "It’s Only a Paper Moon" with Ted Koehler, "That Old Black Magic" with Ira Gershwin and Johnny Mercer, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" with "Yip" Harburg for which they won the 1939 Academy Award for Song Of The Year, score for the 1946 Broadway musical "St. Louis Woman" with Johnny Mercer which was the first Original Broadway Cast album released by Capitol Records, and many more), singer, and Capitol Records artist (1955 album "Harold Arlen and His Songs"), is born Hyman Arluck in Buffalo, New York
1941 - Brian Holland, composer (best known as part of the teams Holland, Dosier, and Holland and Dosier/Holland), record producer, and co-founder of Invictus Records which was distributed by Capitol Records, is born in Detroit, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - The King Cole Trio's "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", with "The Best Man" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart
1951 - During two session held this day at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California, vocalist Ernest "Red" Ingle and The Natural Seven (John LaMonte on trombone, Paul Sells on accordion, Ivy "Jimmy" Bryant on guitar and fiddle, Eddie Kirk on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, Frederick "Hank" Wayland on bass, and Milton "Muddy" Berry on drums) record the title "Run, Little Eva" with vocalist Mimi Laurie at the first session between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM and the titles "People Are Funny" and "Let Me In" at the second session between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Let Me In" as a single (Capitol 1431) with "Chew Tobacco Rag" (recorded February 5, 1951) on the flipside and "People Are Funny" as a single (Capitol 1599) with "Pool" (recorded March 31, 1950) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany on the CD compilation "Tim-Tay-Shun" (BCD 16115).
1952 - Billy May conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, and Uan Rasey on trumpet, Ed Kusby, Murray McEachern, James Priddy, and Si Zentner on trombone, Les Robinson and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxophone, Ted Nash and Fred Falensby on tenor saxophone, Bob Dawes on baritone saxophone, Buddy Cole on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Don Whitaker on bass, and Remo Belli on drums), records the titles "You're Driving Me Crazy", "Perfidia", "Diane", and "Tenderley" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM on February 16, 1952. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on May's album "Big Band Bash" (CCN-329).
1956 - Trumpet player Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (John Best, Conrad Gozzo, Art DePew, and John Dolny also on trumpets, Tommy Pederson, Jimmy Priddy, Ray Sims, and Ken Trimble on trombones, Med Flory and Gene Merlino on clarinets and alto saxophones, Georgie Auld and Irv Roth on tenor saxophones, Leo Anthony on baritone saxophone, Corky Hale on piano and harp, Nick Bonney on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, and Irv Kluger on drums), using an arrangement by Don Simpson, George Williams, and Dick Reynolds, record a new take of the title "Rhaposdy In Blue" (a rejected take was recorded on February 13, 1956) in Los Angles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Anthony's album "Concert" (T 406).
1956 - Les Baxter conducts his arrangements to his orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Carnival", "Taboo", "Temptation", and "Sway (Quien Sera)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Baxter's album "Caribbean Moonlight" (T 733).
1957 - The Concert Arts Orchestra (lineup unlisted) conducted by Leopold Stokowski, records Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia" and Johann Strauss, Jr.'s "On The Beautiful Blue Danube (Blue Danube Waltz)" in the Riverside Plaza Hotel, in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the album "Leopold Stokowski Conducting His Symphony Orchestra - Landmarks Of A Distinguished Career (BACH/DEBUSSY/STRAUSS/SIBELIUS)" (P/SP-8399).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Love Is The Thing" is #24 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop LPs chart. Cole's album "Just One Of Those Things" is #6 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys album chart. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Angel Smile" is #28 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and #39 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and #43 on the magazine's Top 100 Sides chart.

1962 - Vocalist Vic Damone, with Sid Feller conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "No Strings" and "Once Upon A Time" with an unlisted vocal group, "My Heart Will Tell You So", and "Come With Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "No Strings" and "Once Upon A Time" together as a single (Capitol 4718), "My Heart Will Tell You So" as a single (Capitol 4756), and has yet to issue "Come With Me".

1962 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocal group The Lettermen (Jim Pike, Tony Butala, and Bob Engemann), with unlisted others, records the titles "A Tree In The Meadow", "How Is Julie", "Lover's Beach", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams" and "Jeannie Malone" at the first session and "Summer's Come And Gone", "Michael", and "Hearts Were Young" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "A Tree In The Meadow", Summer's Come And Gone", and "Michael" on the group's album "Jim, Tony And Bob" (T/ST 1761), "How Is Julie?", "Lover's Beach", and "Polka Dots And Moonbeams" on the group's album "Once Upon A Time" (T/ST 1711), and have yet to issue "Jeannie Malone" and "Hearts Were Young".
1962 - The Manhattans (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Sing All Day" and "La La La" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4730).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - At a concert recorded by Capitol Records in the Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, The George Shearing Quintet (George Shearing on piano, Gary Burton on vibraphone, John Gray on guitar, Bill Yancey on bass, and Vernel Fournier on drums) performs the titles "Maramor Mambo", "Mambo Serenade", "All Through The Night", "I'd Be Wonderful For You", "Mam'selle", "Yours Is My Heart Alone", "I Wished On The Moon", "Evermore", "Walkin'", "Look No Further", "Love Is Just Around The Corner", "The Sweetest Sounds", "I Cover The Waterfront" with only Shearing on piano, "Love Walked In" with only Shearing, Yancey, and Fournier, "Bel Aire", and "Lee's Blues". Capitol Records will issue "Mambo Serenade", "All Through The Night", "Yours In My Heart Alone", and "I Wished On The Moon" on the quintet's album "Latin Rendezvous" (T/ST 2326) and "I Cover The Waterfront", "Love Walked In", and "Lee's Blues" on the album "Jazz Concert" (T/ST 1992) as by George Shearing, Mosaic Records will issue "The Sweetest Sounds", "I Cover The Waterfront", and "Love Walked In" in the five-CD box set "The Complete Capitol Live Recordings of George Shearing Quintet" (MQ7-157 on vinyl and MD5-157 on CD). The other titles recorded that night have yet to be issued but were performed and recorded again at another concert at the Civic Auditorium the next night on February 16, 1963, and those versions will also be issued on the album "Jazz Concert".
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Meet The Beatles" is #1 on the U.S. album charts
1964 - Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You More And More Every Day", with "I'm Living In Heaven With You" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1965 - Nat "King" Cole (born Nathaniel Adams Coles), pianist, singer, motion picture actor, television variety show host, member of the Capitol Records group The King Cole Trio, husband of Capitol Records artist Maria Ellington, father of Capitol Records artist Natalie Cole, and a Capitol Records solo artist, dies of lung cancer at age 45 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California and is later buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
1965 - Nat "King" Cole dies of complications of lung cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at 5:30 AM at age 45.
1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Eight Days A Week" with "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" on the flipside
1965 - After John Lennon passes his driving test in Weybridge, England, The Beatles record the titles "Ticket To Ride", "I Need You", and "Another Girl" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. In the United States, Capitol Records will issue "Ticket To Ride" as a single (Capitol 5407) with "Yes It Is" on the flipside, and "I Need You" and "Another Girl" on the group's soundtrack album "Help!" (MAS/SMAS-2386).
1966 - Vocalist Andy Russell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Longin'" and "Enamorado" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on February 18, 1966 and for "Longin'" on March 3, 1966, Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 5626).
1967 - Nat "King" Cole's recordings and a discussion of the late artist featuring taped interviews with Vic Damone, Andre Previn, Jerry Vale, Margaret Whiting, and Oscar Peterson was broadcast by Mike Rapchak on radio station WLS under Capitol Records' sponsorship in Chicago, Illinois.
1967 - Vocalist Lou Rawls, with H. B. Barnum conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Freddie Hill and Tony Terran on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone, Jim Horn on alto and baritone saxophone, Gerald Wiggins on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums), records the titles "Righteous Woman", "You're Takin' My Bag", "Yes, It Hurts (Doesn't It)", and "I Want A Little Girl" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rawls' album "Too Much!" (T/ST 2713).
1967 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for The Standells' title "Riot On Sunset Strip", The Mugwumps' title "Sunset Sally", The Sidewalk Sounds' title "The Sunset Theme", Debra Travis' title "Old Country", "Chocolate Watch Band's title "Don't Need Your Lovin'", Mom's Boys' title "Children Of The Night", The Sidewalk Sounds' title "Make The Music Pretty", The Standell's title "Get Away From Here", Drew's title "Like My Baby", and Chocolate Watch Band's title "Sitting There Standing" from Sidewalk Productions. Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on the soundtrack to the motion picture "Riot On Sunset Strip" (T/DT 5065).
1967 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Dana Rollin's titles "My Yellow Bird Can't Sing", "The Man I Love", "Tap Your Feet", and "Blue". Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "My Yellow Bird Can't Sing" and "The Man I Love" together as a single (Tower 316) and "Tap Your Feet" and "Blue" have yet to be issued.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968, The Band (Garth Hudson on piano, organ, and vocals, Richard Manuel on piano, organ, guitar, bass, and vocals, Jaime Robbie Robertson on guitar, and vocals, Rick Danko on bass and vocals, and Levon Helm on drums and vocals, record the title "Caledonia Mission", as well as an overdub for the title, in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Music From Big Pink" (SKAO 2955).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Elli St. James (aka Ellen Janov) records the titles "Oriol" and "Vagabond" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.
1971 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for vocalist Red Simpson's titles "Country Western Truck Drivin' Singer", "You're The First", "Truckin' On Down The Road", and "Ole Ben" and will issue all the titles on Simpson's album "The Very Real Red Simpson" (ST-11093).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - During two sessions held this day in Nashville, Tennessee, vocalist Al Martino, with unlisted others, records the titles "I'd Fight The World", "Sweet Memories", and "I Fall To Pieces" at the first session and the titles "I Have Lived" and "Crazy Arms" at the second session. After overdubs are recorded on February 27, 1973, for "I'd Fight The World" and "Sweet Memories" and on February 28, 1973, for "I Fall To Pieces", "I Have Lived", and "Crazy Arms", Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "Crazy Arms" on Martino's album "Country Style" (ST-11184) and have yet to issue any of the other titles.
1975 - Capitol Records rush releases John Lennon's "Rock and Roll" album after a version called "Roots" was marketed on late-night television. "Roots" was put together by music publisher Morris Levy from the "oldies" sessions Lennon was court-ordered to record as payment for a line ("Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly") from a Chuck Berry song, to which Levy owned the copyright, that Lennon used in the Beatles' track "Come Together".
1975 - Linda Ronstadt's Capitol Records single "You're No Good", with "I Can't Help It" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1975 - Linda Ronstadt's Capitol Records album "Heart Like a Wheel" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1977 - George Harrison's Apple Records album "The Best Of George Harrison", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States (ST-11578), is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1977 - The Section (Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Leland Sklar on bass, Craig Doerge on keyboards, Russ Kunkel on drums, and Steve Forman on percussion) records the title "L.A. Changes" at either United Western Studios or Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Fork It Over".
1977 - Chuck Crane records the titles "Over And Over" and "Whatever Happened To That Rock & Roll" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Crane's album "Crane" (ST-11742).
1982 - Missing Persons (Chuck Wild on keyboards and synthesizers, Warren Cuccurullo on guitar, and vocals, Patrick O'Hearn on bass and synthesizers, Terry Bozzio on drums, guitar, synthesizers, and vocals, and Dale Bozzio on vocals) records the titles "Destination Unknown", "I Like Boys", "Mental Hopscotch", and "Hello, I Love You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Destination Unknown", "I Like Boys", and "Mental Hopscotch" on the group's self-titled 7" EP album "Missing Persons" (DLP-15001), "Destination Unknown" on the group's album "Spring Session M" (ST-12228) and as a single (Capitol 5161), "Mental Hopscotch" as a single (Capitol 5212) and "Hello, I Love You" as a single (Capitol 5127).
1982 - Beau Williams records the titles "Another Place And Time" and "You Know Something I Don't Know" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Williams' self-titled album "Beau Williams" (ST-12213).
1982 - Vocalist Juice Newton, with unlisted others, records the title "I'm Gonna Be Strong" at Sound Castle Studio in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the title on Newton's album "Quiet Lies" (ST-12210).
1982 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for vocalist L.J. Reynolds titles "Say You Will", "Special Effects", "You And Me", "Let Me Satisfy You", and Fast Action" which were recorded in Detroit, Michigan. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Reynolds' album "Travelin'" (ST-12223).
1986 - Tanya Tucker's Capitol Records single "One Love At A Time", with "Fool Fool Heart" on the flipside, enters the Billboard Country Singles chart
2001 - George Harrison participates in his first-ever online chat via Yahoo! Chat and MSN Live to help promote the release of the re-issue of his album "All Things Must Pass". Harrison was in the ninth floor conference room of The Capitol Tower in Hollywood, California and I was in the art department on the fifth floor trying to participate in the chat. Security was tight and management asked that staff not go to the ninth floor to watch, but there was a just a kind of happiness and thrill that was felt by most just knowing he was there. The chat was flooded with participants (many of whom just made quick comments and didn't ask questions) and lasted about an hour.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - Chet Baker (on trumpet and vocals), with Russ Freeman on piano, Carson Smith on bass, and Bob Neel on drums, records the titles "But Not For Me", "I Get Along Without You Very Well" (with Freeman also on celeste), "My Funny Valentine", and "I Fall In Love To Easily" for Pacific Jazz Records at Capitol Records' studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Pacific Jazz issued all the songs on Baker's album "Chet Baker Sings" (PJLP-11). Capitol Records' parent organization, currently owns Pacific Jazz's catalog.
1960 - Mikey Craig, bass player with the Virgin Records group Culture Club, is born in Hammersmith, London, England
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Horace Parlan Sextet (Johnny Coles on trumpet, Booker Ervin on tenor saxophone, Horace Parlan on piano, Grant Green on guitar, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums) records the titles "Happy Frame Of Mind", "A Tune For Richard", "Home Is Africa", "Dexi", "Back From The Gig", "and "Kucheza Blues" without Green on guitar at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's stuido in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will initially release the titles on the album "Back From The Gig" (BN-LA488-H2) as by Booker Ervin and would release them in 1986 as by The Horace Parlan Sextet on the album "Happy Frame Of Mind" (BST84134).
50 Year Ago Today In 1968 - Trumpetist Lee Morgan, with Bennie Maupin on tenor saxophone, John Hicks on piano, George Benson on guitar, Reggie Workman on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, records the titles "Haeschen", "Avoctja One", "Durem", "Dee Lawd", "Taru, What's Wrong With You" (aka "What's Wrong?", and "Get Yourself Together" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Morgan's album "Taru" (LT-1031).
1977 - Glen Matlock, the bass player for the Virgin Records group The Sex Pistols, is fired and replaced by Sid Vicious who has a better look but has as much talent playing the bass as Stuart Sutcliffe did.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1932 - George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on future Capitol Records artist Guy Lombardo's CBS Radio show "The Guy Lombardo Show"
1966 - The ABC-TV series "Batman" debuted.