MARCH 25, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1904 - Pete "Boss Of The Blues" Johnson, a pianist, bandleader of the Blue Note Records group The Pete Johnson Blues Trio, and a member of the Capitol Records group The Capitol Jazzmen, is born in Kansas City, Missouri.

80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Hoyt Axton, singer, songwriter, guitarist, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records artist (1971), is born Hoyt Wayne Axton in Duncan, Oklahoma

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Karl and Harty (Karl Davis & Hartford Taylor) record the tracks "The B-I-B-L-E", "That Pretty Little Face", "True Love" and the as yet unissued track "Lips That Touch Liquor (Shall Never Touch Mine)" in Los Angeles, California for The Capitol Records Transcription Service. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 415) and the third track as a single (Capitol Americana 40044) with "Pretty Thing" on the flipside.
1947 - Harold Peary (narrating as "The Great Gildersleeve"), with music by Robert Emmett Dolan who is also directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Cinderella, Part 1", "Cinderella, Part 2" and "Cinderella, Part 3" at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on the children's album "Stories For Children - The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 3" (CD-69).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalist Merle Travis records a spoken recitation for his title "Deck Of Cards" in the Capitol Lounge in Los Angeles, California between 3:00PM and 3:45PM for Capitol Records. Bear Family Records will issue the title in Germany in Travis' five-CD compilation box set "Guitar Rags And A Too Far Past" (BCD 15637).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalist Tex Ritter records the vocals for the title "Deck Of Cards" in a radio station in Montgomery, Alabama. After instrumental overdubs are recorded by organist Buddy Cole in Los Angeles, California later in 1948, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol Americana 40114) with "Rounded Up In Glory" (recorded May 1, 1945) on the flipside and on the multi-artist compilation album "All Time Favorites - Country And Hillbilly" (H-9107).
1949 - Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "A You're Adorable" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts
1957 - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Steinberg, records Elgar's "Enigma Variations, Opus 36" at the Syrian Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Capitol Records will issue the track on the orchestra's album "ELGAR - Enigma Variations, Opus 36/VAUGHAN WILLIAMS - Fantasia On A Theme By Tallis" (P-8383).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (Clifton Simmons on piano, Johnny Meeks on guitar, Grady Owen on rhythm guitar, Bobby Lee Jones on bass, Juvenal "Juvey" Gomez on drums, and Paul Peek and Tommy Facenda on handclapping and chorus vocals), records the titles "Dance In The Street" and, with the addition of Eddie Cochran to the chorus vocals, "Git It" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Dance In The Street" on the single disc EP "Hot Rod Gang (Film Soundtrack)" (EAP-1-985) and "Git It" as a single (Capitol 4051) and on the album "A Gene Vincent Record Date" (EAP-2-1059 on two disc 7" EP and T 1059 on 12" LP).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - The George Shearing Quintet (Emil Richards on vibraphone, George Shearing on piano, Jean "Toots" Thielemans on guitar, John Neves or James Bond on bass, and Ray Mosca on drums) records the titles "The Story Of Love (Historia De Un Amor)", "It's Not For Me To Say", and "Tu, Mi Delirio" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the quintet's album "Latin Lace" (EAP-1/2-1082 on 7" EP and T/ST 1082 on 12" LP).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist Rudolf Firkusny records Brahms' "Intermezzo in E Flat, Opus 118 N° 6", "Rhapsody in G Minor, Opus 79 N° 2", "Intermezzo in B Flat Minor, Opus 117 N° 2", and "Rhapsody in E Flat, Opus 119 N° 4" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Intermezzo in B Flat Minor, Opus 117 N° 2" on the album "Firkusny Plays BRAHMS" (P/SP-8485). After a new take of "Intermezzo in B Flat Minor, Opus.117 N° 2" is recorded on January 20, 1959, the new take will also be issued on the album "Firkusny Plays BRAHMS".

1962 - The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, records the as yet unissued tracks of Mozart's "Divertimento No. 2, K; 131 - Movement 1: Allegro/Menuet No. 1/Allegretto" and "Adagio No. 1/Adagio No. 2" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' second album "Surfin' U.S.A."
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Pianist Cy Coleman, with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (George Roberts on trombone, John Cave, Vincent De Rosa, James Decker, William Hinshaw on French horns, Ted Nash, Justin Gordon, Ronnie Lang, and Wilbur Schwartz on woodwinds, Ben Tucker on bass, and Bob Thomas on drums), records the titles "Autumn Nocturne", "Misty", "I Thought About You", and "It Amazes Me" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Coleman's album "The Piano Witchcraft Of Cy Coleman" (T/ST 1952).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, Randy Boone, with unlisted others, records the titles "The Wanderer" and "Young Man" at the first session and new takes of "Young Man" and "The Wanderer" and the title "Fast Freight" at the second session for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either take of "The Wanderer" or "Fast Freight". No issuing information is listed for either take of "Young Man".
1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Fun Fun Fun" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - Buck Owens and The Buckaroos play to a sold-out Carnegie Hall audience in New York, City. Capitol Records tapes the show and later releases a live album of the event.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Lou Rawls, with H. B. Barnum conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra and vocal chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "You're Good For Me" and "Soul Serenade" in Los Angeles, California with producer David Axelrod. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2172) and on Rawls' album "You're Good For Me" (ST 2927).
1972 - Capitol Records releases Merle Haggard's single "Grandma Harp" which will become his twelfth # 1 record.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters it purchased for Nitzinger's titles "Color Or Guns", "Hot Pocket", "Pretty Song", "Yellow Dog", "Happy Birthday", "Sharing Days With You", "Get Down", "Night Watchman", and "Lightning" but has yet to issue any of the titles.
1977 - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band's Capitol Records album "Night Moves" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1977 - Final mixes are done for Gary Bartz's tracks "Carnaval De L'Esprit", "Ooh Baby Baby", "Love Ballad", "Funked Up", "Swing Thing", and "Macaroni" at Sound Factory West in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Bartz's album "Music Is My Sanctuary" (ST-11647).
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Vocalist Juice Newton, with unlisted others, records the title "Go Easy" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Newton's album "Well Kept Secret" (SW-11811) and, as "Go Easy On Me", as a single (Capitol 4818) with "Sunshine" (recorded April 1, 1989) on the flipside.
1982 - Storm (Lear Stevens on guitar, Ronni Hanson on bass, Jimmy Monroe on drums, and Jeanette Chase on vocals) record the tracks "Hand In Hand" and "Settle Down" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the band's self-titled album "Storm" (ST-12259).
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Dave Edmunds, with unlisted others, records the title "Fallin' Through A Hole" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Edmunds' album "Closer To Fame" (C1-90372 on 12" LP and C2-90372-2 on CD).
15 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Capitol Records releases Rosanne Cash's album "Rules of Travel"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1934 - Johnny Burnette, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Liberty Records artist, is born in Memphis, Tennessee
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran joins Tommy Facenda and Paul Peeks (Gene Vincent's backing singers) for The Capitol Session at The Capitol Tower in Hollywood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
105 Years Ago Today In 1913 - The Palace Theatre opens its doors at 1564 Broadway (at West 47th Street) in Manhattan, New York with Ed Wynn as the first entertainer on the vaudeville bill
1939 - Billboard magazine publishes its first "Hillbilly Records" chart
1949 - Jack Kapp, co-founder of Decca Records, dies at age 47 in New York City, New York