MARCH 19, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1946 - Paul Atkinson, the original guitarist with the group The Zombies and Vice President A&R Catalog for Capitol Records until 2001, is born Paul Ashley Warren Atkinson in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, England. I met with Paul several times while doing work for Capitol. He would listen to your case if you really had a passion for a project and had done your research to back it up, but he had the unenviable job of having to justify the cost of re-releasing material with predicted sales and having to say "no" when the numbers just didn't add up. I remember going to his 55th birthday party in the small 12th-floor conference room in The Capitol Tower and how he played guitar for his department's track for the annual employee Christmas album.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - During two sessions held this day at Radio Recorders' studios on Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Jack Guthrie and his Oklahomans (Charles Linville on fiddle, "Porky" Freeman on electric guitar, Red Murrell on rhythm guitar, and Allen Williams on bass), under the direction of Cliffie Stone, record the titles "The Clouds Rained Trouble Down", "You Laughed And Cried", "This Troubled Mind O' Mine", and "I'm Telling You" at the first session and "Bow Down Brother", "It's Too Late To Change Your Mind", "Look Out For The Crossing", and "Chained To A Memory" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "The Clouds Rained Trouble Down" as a single (Capitol 341) with "Oakie Oogie" (recorded October 22, 1946) on the flipside, "You Laughed And Cried" and "It's Too Late To Change Your Mind" together as a single (Capitol 406), "This Troubled Mind O' Mine" as a single (Capitol Americana 40012) with "I'm Building A Stairway To Heaven" (recorded October 25, 1944) on the flipside, "I'm Telling You" and "Chained To A Memory" together as a single (Capitol 309), "Bow Down Brother" as a single (Capitol 47-40118) with "You're Gonna Be Sorry" (recorded October 22, 1946) on the flipside, and "Look Out For The Crossing" as a single (Capitol 57-40131) with "No Need To Knock Upon My Door" (recorded October 24, 1957) on the flipside. Capitol will also release "This Troubled Mind O' Mine" and "Chained To A Memory" on Guthrie's memorial album "Oklahoma Hills" (AC-76).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for Foy Willing And His Riders Of The Purple Sage's titles "Anytime" and "I'm Waltzing With A Broken Heart" which Capitol will issue together as a single (Capitol Americana 40108).
1951 - During two split sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, the vocal group The Starlighters (Vince Degen, Tony Paris, Imogene Lynn, Jerry Duane, and Howard Hudson), with Buddy Cole and his orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the title "I Whistle A Happy Tune" then vocalist Jerry Lewis, with Dick Stabile conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the title "Never Been Kissed" at the first session. At the second session, The Starlighters, again with Buddy Cole and his orchestra, record the title "Sweet, Sweet Pauline" then vocalist Dottie O' Brien, with unlisted others, records the titles "Yak Yak Song" and "I Don't Wanna Go Home". Capitol Records will issue both of The Starlighters titles together as a single (Capitol 1481), Jerry Lewis' title as a single (Capitol 1482) with "A Hunting We Will Go" (recorded January 10, 1951) on the flipside, and both of Dottie O'Brien's titles together as a single (Capitol 1485).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The issue of Jet magazine with today's street date features a spread on pages 30 and 31 of Nat "King" Cole swimming fully clothed in the pool at The Lord Calvert Hotel in Miami, Florida after losing a bet with whiskey salesman Sinclair Rogers.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with bass player Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra (Billy Liebert on piano, Jimmy Bryant on electric guitar, Eddie Kirk on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, and Roy Harte on drums), records the titles "Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker", "Three Things (A Man Must Do)", and "Celebratin'" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker" and "Three Things (A Man Must Do)" together as a single (Capitol 2443) and "Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker" and "Celebratin'" on the compilation CD "Tennessee Ernie Ford" (7-95291-2) as part of the label's "Collectors Series".

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalist and guitarist Willis "Dub" Dickerson, with unlisted fiddle, piano, steel guitar, and bass players, records the titles "The Bells Of Monterey", "One Night Stand", "Sweet Bunch Of Bitterweeds", and "Dear Love" at Castle Studio in the Tulane Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "The Bells Of Monterey" and "Sweet Bunch Of Bitterweeds" together as a single (Capitol 2504) and "One Night Stand" and "Dear Love" together as a single (Capitol 2605).

1955 - Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Ballad Of Davy Crockett (From Walt Disney's Davy Crockett)", with "Farewell (From Walt Disney's Davy Crockett)" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts

1956 - Organist Jackie Davis, with an unidentified orchestra, records the title "We'll Be Together Again" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the sampler album "Full Dimensional Sound From The Capitol Tower" (S 9031).
1956 - Vocalist Judy Garland, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" and "April Showers". Nelson Riddle and the orchestra will also record the band tracks for the titles "I Feel A Song Comin' On" and "Maybe I'll Come Back" for which Judy will record vocal overdubs on March 27, 1956. Capitol Records will issue "Dirty Hands, Dirty Faces" and "April Showers" on Garland's album "Judy" (T 734) and "April Showers" as a single (Capitol 6126) with "The Man That Got Away" (recorded April 23, 1961) on the flipside.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Skeets McDonald, with Billy Liebert on accordion and piano, Joe Maphis and Alvin "Buck" Owens on guitars, Allen Williams on bass, and Marion "Pee Wee" Adams on drums, records the titles "Gone And Left Me Blues", "Lost Highway", "My Room Is Crowded", "You're There", "Tomorrow Never Comes", and "I'm Sorry Now" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on McDonald's album "Goin' Steady With The Blues" (T/ST 1040).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Carmen Dragon conducts The Capitol Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Gounod's "Soldier's Chorus (From 'Faust')", Puccini's "One Fine Day (From 'Madame Butterfly')", and Verdi's "La Donna E Mobile (From 'Rigoletto')" and "The Drinking Song (From 'La Traviata')" in Stage 7 of the Goldwyn Studios lot located on the corner of Formosa Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "The Orchestra Sings" (P/SP-8440) as by The
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #37 on WABC's Silver Dollar Sound Survey Survey in New York City, New York.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Billy May conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (John Audino, Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Uan Rasey, and Bud Brisbois on trumpet, Lew McCreary on bass trumpet, Ed Kusby, Milt Bernhart, Tommy Pederson, and George Roberts on trombones, Paul Horn on flute and alto saxophone, Justin Gordon on tenor saxophone and piccolo, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Joe Gibbons on guitar, Ralph Pena on bass, and Irving Cottler on drums) as they record the titels "Playboy's Theme", "Whisper Not", "Moanin'", and "The Late, Late Show" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on May's album "Bill's Bag" (T/ST 1888).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist and guitarist Buck Owens and vocalist Rose Maddox, with "Gentleman" Jim Pierce on piano, John Calvin Maddox and Don Rich on guitars, Jay McDonald on steel guitar, Kenny Pierce on bass, and Ken Presley on drums, record the titles "Sweethearts In Heaven", "We're The Talk Of The Town", "Back Street Affair", and "No Fool Like An Old Fool" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Sweethearts In Heaven" and "We're The Talk Of The Town" together as a single (Capitol 4992). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the four-CD box set "Rose Maddox - The One Rose" (BCD 15743).
1966 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Nowhere Man", with "What Goes On" on the flipside, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Tony Bruno's titles "Getting Better" and "You Can't Do That". Capitol Records has yet to issue the final mix of "Getting Better. After additional overdubs are recorded for "You Can't Do That" on March 20, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title on Bruno's album "I'm Feeling It Now" (ST 2930).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The final tracks are laid down for The Beach Boys' title "Friends" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mix of title as a single (Capitol 2160) with "Little Bird" (recorded February 29, 1968) on the flipside and on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Human Beinz (lineup unlisted) record the title "She's That Kind Of Girl" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the master it purchased for Eddie Houston's title "Simon Says". No issuing information is listed.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Gary Buck, with unlisted others, records the titles "The Chokin' Kind", "Mister Brown", "Walk On Out Of My Mind", and "Feelin' Bad" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Mister Brown" as a single (Capitol 2316) with "Winds Don't Blow That Strong" (recorded the next day on March 20, 1968) on the flipside and has yet to issue any of the other titles recorded at this session.

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the master it purchased for Buck Owens and Susan Raye's title "The Good Old Days (Are Here Again)", produced by Buck Owens Enterprises and recorded at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California earlier in 1973, and will issue the title as a single (Capitol 3601) with "When You Get To Heaven (I'll Be There)" (master registered on March 22, 1973) on the flipside and on the duo's album "The Good Old Days (Are Here Again)" (ST-11204). 

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Bang (lineup unlisted) recorded the titles "Glad You're Home", "Pearl And Her Ladies", "Little Boy Blue", "Windfair", "Exactly Who I Am", and "Don't Need Nobody" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Music" (ST-11190).

45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vne Street In Hollywood, California, overdubs are recorded for Billy May and The Time-Life Orchestra's title "The Impossible Dream" at the first session then Billy May conducts The Time-Life Orchestra as it records the titles "El Condor Pass" and "Mrs. Robinson", both featuring Ted Nash on alto saxophone, "Pretty World", and, with Sue Allen and Kathy Allen on vocals, "The Fool On The Hill" at the second session. Time-Life Records will issue the final mix of "The Impossible Dream" as part of its "As You Remember Them" series in the three-LP set "Volume 7 - Billy May" (STL 247) and after overdubs are recorded for "The Fool On The Hill" on May 3, 1973, "El Condor Pass" and the final mix of "The Fool On The Hill" also in "Volume 7 - Billy May" and "Mrs. Robinson" and "Pretty World" in the three-LP set "Volume 8 - Billy May" (STL 248).

1979 - The group America signs with Capitol Records

1996 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' Apple Records compilation "Anthology 2" in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
90 Years Ago Today In 1928 - Henry Ford Maddox, vocalist, mandolin and guitar player, with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose which featured his sister, future Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox, is born in Boaz, Alabama
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Pianist Herbie Hancock, with Donald Byrd on trumpet, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Grant Green on guitar, Chuck Israels on bass, and Anthony Williams on drums, records the titles "A Tribute To Someone" without Moncur and Green, "King Cobra" without Green, two takes of "Blind Man, Blind Man", "The Pleasure Is Mine" without Green, and "And What If I Don't" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles except the second take of "Blind Man, Blind Man" on Hancock's album "My Point Of View" (BLP4126/BST84126) and all the titles and takes on the CD release of the album (4-95569-2).

1966 - Gary Lewis & The Playboys' Liberty Records single "Sure Gonna Miss Her", with "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Pianist Chick Corea, with Miroslav Vitous on bass and Roy Haynes on drums, records the titles "Gemini", "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs", "Fragments", "Steps - What Was (Body Of Tune)", and "Now He Beats The Drum - Now He Stops (Intro) in A&R Studios in New York City, New York for Solid State Records which will issue all the titles on Corea's album "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs". After Blue Note acquires the Solid State library, it will re-issue the album on CD (7-90055-2). 

35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Thomas Dolby's Harvest Records single "She Blinded Me With Science", with "Flying North" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Harvest Records is a subsidiary of Capitol Records.

30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Natalie Cole's Manhattan Records single "Pink Cadillac", with "I Wanna Be That Woman" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #5. Manhattan Records is a division of Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1872 - Anna Held, actress, singer, one-time wife of Broadway producer Florence Ziegfeld, is born Helene Anna Held in Warsaw, Poland. The Institute of the American Musical in Los Angeles, California has a large collection of Held memorabilia, costumes and props, that was donated by her family.
90 Years Ago Today In 1928 - Patrick McGoohan, stage, motion picture and television actor ("Danger Man" [aka "Secret Agent" in the United States], "The Three Lives of Thomasina", "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" "Braveheart", "Escape from Alcatraz", "The Silver Streak", "Ice Station Zebra", "I Am a Camera", and "The Prisoner" [which he also directed and wrote episodes]) is born in in Astoria, Queens, New York
1957 - Elvis Presley purchases his home, the Graceland mansion, in Memphis, Tennessee from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore