APRIL 2, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1921 - Boomie Richman, tenor saxophone and flute player, and member of Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman's orchestra (1953-1954), is born Abraham Samuel Richman in Brockton, Massachusetts
1942 - Leon Russell, a pianist, singer, songwriter, Capitol Records session musician and solo artist is born Claude Russell Bridges in Lawton, Oklahoma,

70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Kerry Minnear, keyboard (piano, Hammond organ, mellotron, mini-MOOG, the Regal) player, lead and backing vocalist, cello player, and member of the Capitol Records group Gentle Giant, is born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. There are also references to him being born on January 2, 1948. If anyone knows for sure which date is correct, please leave a comment.

1962 - Billy Dean, singer, guitarist, songwriter, and EMI America and Capitol Records Nashville artist is born William Harold Dean, Jr. in Quincy, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Mañana (Is Soon Enough For Me", with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flipside is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Disc Jockeys, Best-Selling Popular Retail, and Most-Played Juke Box Records charts for the week ending April 2, 1948.
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #3 and its flipside, The King Cole Trio's "Lost April", is #5 on The Billboard magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockey's Pick chart and "Nature Boy" is #4 on the magazine's Record Possibilities - The Retailers Pick chart.

70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters, with unlisted others, record the titles "Baby Face" and "Heart Braker in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15078).

1952 - Billy May (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra (Tony Facciuto, Conrad Gozzo, Bob McKenzie, and Stu Williamson on trumpet, Karl De Karske, Charles Etter, Bob Raesinger, and Bob Robinson on trombone, Willie Smith and Eddie Freeman on alto saxophone, Charlie Deremoe and Joe Spang on tenor saxophone, Bob Dawes on baritone saxophone, Cliff Fishbach on piano, Ray Pohlman on guitar, Ted Hammond on bass, and Remo Belli on drums), with the vocal group The Maytimers (Willie Smith, Charles Etter, Bob McKenzie, and Ray Pohlman), record the tracks "Honest And Truly", "Gin And Tonic", "Love Is Just Around The Corner", "Easy Street" and "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 2054), the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol 2157), and the fourth track as a single (Capitol 2113) with "Mayhem" (recorded on February 8, 1952) on the flipside.

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, at his first recording session for Capitol Records, with Axel Stordahl conducting the orchestra (Heine Beau, Leonard Hartman, Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, and Theodore Nash on reeds, Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpet, Vincent De Rosa on French horn, George Van Eps on guitar, Philip Stephens on bass, Bill Miller on piano, Ann Stockton on harp, Ray Hagan on drums, Harry Bluestone, Murray Kellner, Alex Murray, Paul Nero, Irving Prager, and Mischa Russell on violins, Paul Robyn and Dave Sterkin on violas, and Cy Bernard on cello), records the titles "Lean Baby" with an arrangement by Heine Beau, and "I'm Walking Behind You", "Day In - Day Out", and "Don't Make A Beggar Of Me" using arrangments by Stordhal at radio station KHJ's studios (which is now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and The Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM, although Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant was sure that Frank, Sr. kept recording at Columbia's studios on Sunset Blvd. opposite what is now the Spaghetti Factory. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment. Capitol Records will issue "Lean Baby" and "I'm Walking Behind You" together as a single (Capitol 2450), "Don't Make A Beggar Of Me" on the compilation album "Forever Frank" (T 2602), and all the titles on the remastered 1999 CD release of Sinatra's album "Point Of No Return" (7-48334-2).

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - During a concert held at the Blue Note in Chicago, Illinois, Capitol Records artist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bob Burgess, Conte Candoli, Buddy Childers, Vinnie Dean, Don Dennis, Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Lee Konitz, Hank Levey, Stan Levey, Keith Moon, George Roberts, Glen Roberts, Frank Rosolino, Ernie Royal, Sal Salvador, Tom Shepard, Don Smith) perform "Theme (Artistry In Rhythm) And Opening Announcements", "Works (Aka Bill Holman's Work)", "Yesterdays", "Swinghouse", "Stan Kenton Speaks", "Gone With The Wind", and "There Will Never Be Another You" which are recorded and later released by Natasha Imports in 1992 on the album "23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West" (NI-4006).
1956 - Pianist Lou Busch, as Joe "Fingers" Carr", with a orchestra and chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Fingers Medley: Hot Potatoes/Two Dollar Rag/Looney Louie", "Portuguese Washerwoman", and "Lucky Pierre" (originally titled "La Saint Amour") in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title as a single (Capitol F3883) with "Dominque" (recorded August 9, 1957) on the flipside and the last two titles together as a single (Capitol 3418).
1956 - Trumpet player Ray Anthony and his orchestra (Ray Sims on trombone, Ronny Lang on alto saxophone, Med Flory on alto and tenor saxophone, Dave Pell on tenor saxophone, Marty Berman on baritone saxophone, Geoff Clarkson on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, Roy Harte on drums, and Lou Singer on percussion), using arrangements by Don Simpson, record the titles "The Sleepwalker" with a vocal group (lineup unlisted) and the as yet to be issued takes of the titles "Cornet Capers" and "Let's Make A Scene" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Sleepwalker" as a single (Capitol 3416) with "Chubasco" (recorded March 26, 1956) on the flipside.
1957 - Peggy Lee, with producer Frank Sinatra conducting the orchestra (Buddy Collette and Harry Klee on alto saxophone; Stanley "Champ" Webb and James Williamson on tenor saxophone; Tommy Pederson on trombone; James Decker and Sinclair Lott on french horn; Juan Tizol on valve trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; Nick Bonney on guitar; Max Bennett on stand up bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stella Castellucci on harp; Lou Singer on drums; Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, David Frisina, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Eudice Shapiro, and Marshall Sosson on violin; Alvin Dinkin, Maxine Johnson, and Barbara Simons on viola; and Ennio Bologinni, Victor Gottlieb, Edgar Lustgarten, and Kurt Reher on cello), records the tracks "He's My Guy", "Something Wonderful", "Please Be Kind", and "The Man I Love" for her Capitol Records album "The Man I Love" using arrangements by Nelson Riddle at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - The motion picture "The Young Lions", starring Capitol Records artist Dean Martin, as well as Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, opens and makes Martin a dramatic movie star on his own right without Jerry Lewis.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Paramount Picture's "St. Louis Blues", starring Nat "King" Cole as W.C. Handy, is previewed for the press in New York City, New York. The Billboard magazine's reviewer Charles Sinclair writes that it is "an eye-and-ear treat, and the warmest kind of tribute to a simple, great, talented composer."
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, bandleader and trumpet player Harry James and His Orchestra (Nick Buono, Ollie Mitchell, and Bob Rolfe also on trumpets, Bob Edmondson and Ray Sims on trombones, Ernie Tack on bass trombone, Herb Lorden and Willie Smith on alto saxophones, Bob Poland and Sam Firmature on tenor saxophones, Ernie Small on baritone saxophone, Jack Perciful on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Russ Phillips on bass, and Jackie Mills on drums) record the titles "Walkin'", "Raffles", "Warm Blue Stream", and "Ho, Yeah!" at the first session and the titles "Walkin' On Air", "Bells", and a new take of "Bangtail" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Walkin'", "Warm Blue Stream", "Walkin' On Air", and "Bells" on the album "The New James" (EAP-1/2/3-1037 on 7" EP set and T 1037 on 12" LP) and rejected the takes of "Raffles", "Ho, Yeah" and "Bangtail" recorded at these sessions.

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Alvino Rey conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Little White Lies", "Isn't It Romantic", "I Didn't Know About You", and "A Swingin' Fling (Nails)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rey's album "Swingin' Fling!" (T 1085).

1961 - Comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, in front of a live audience, record the titles "2000 Year Old Man", "Fabiola", "The Astronaught", "In A Coffee House: The Depressed One/The Actor/The Painter/The Folk Singer", "The Peruvian", and "The Psychiatrist" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "2000 Years With Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks" (W 1529).

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - "Best Foot Forward", an off-Broadway show starring Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, opens. Her mother, Judy Garland, will attend the show the next night so as not to draw attention away from Liza on opening night.

1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Sloop John B", with "You're So Good To Me" enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will stay for 11 weeks and peak at #3 on May 7, 1966

1967 - The Beatles finish recording tracks at EMI's Abbey Road Studios for their Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Sugar Shoppe (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Let The Truth Come Out" and "Skip-A-Long Sam" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2233) and on the group's self-titled album "The Sugar Shoppe" (ST 2959).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Nancy Wilson, with Jimmy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Buddy Collette, Bill Perkins, Bill Green, Bill Calkins, Jules Jacob, and Bob Richards on reeds, Don Trenner on piano and harpsichord, Herb Ellis and Al Hendrickson on guitars, Buster Williams on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, Larry Bunker on percussion, Ann Stockton on harp, and unlisted musicians on ten violins, three violas, two cellos, and one bass), records the titles "How Insentive (Insensatez)", "Make Me A Present Of You", "Love Is Blue", and "One Like You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Miss Wilson's album "Easy" (ST 2909)

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Anna Lee, The Healer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Guy Lombardo conducts His Royal Canadians (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Medley #6" and "Medley #8" in Las Vegas, Nevada for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

45 Years Ago Today In  1973 - Apple Records releases The Beatles compilation albums "The Beatles '62-66" (aka The Red Album) and "The Beatles '67-70" (aka The Blue Album) which will be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States.

1986 - Vocalist Tina Turner, with unlisted others, records the title "Don't Turn Around" in a unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5615) with "Typical Male" (recorded March 5, 1986) on the flipside.
1996 - Capitol Records releases Rosanne Cash's album "10 Song Demo"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1872 - Samuel Morse, inventor of Morse code and grandfather of Leila Morse (who first lit the beacon that spells out "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" on the top of The Capitol Tower), dies at age age 80 at his home at 5 West 22nd Street, New York, New York and is later buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York

1920 - Jack Webb, radio, motion picture (Capitol released the soundtrack to his movie "Pete Kelly's Blues") and television actor, director, producer, singer, and one-time husband of Liberty Records artist Julie London, is born John Randolph Webb in Los Angeles, California

1941 - Dr. Demento, radio disk jockey, syndicated radio show host, pop/novelty tune music historian, who gave Capitol Records artist Weird Al Yankovic his first on air appearance, is born Barret Eugene Hansen in Minneapolis, Minnesota
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Guitarist Kenny Burrell, with Seldon Powell on tenor saxophone, Hank Jones on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums, records the title "I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue the title in Japan in the album "Freedom" (GXF-3057) in 1979).

30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Johnny Hates Jazz's Virgin Records America single "Shattered Dreams", with "My Secret Garden" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I did the final design production on the U.S. packaging for the single, it's promotional material, and trade advertising.

1989 - Roxette's EMI America single "The Look", with "Silver Blue" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

12 Years Ago Today On Sunday, April 2, 2006 - I started my blog on the history of Capitol Records..
It's been a decade of learning and having fun communicating with those with questions or comments about the label. It's led me to making some great new friends and being able to contribute to a number of Capitol related projects. The Capitol Records Tower's official 62nd anniversary of opening is this Friday, April 6 and the label's 76th anniversary of incorporation as Capitol Records will be next Monday on April 9, 2018 (the label did start out as Liberty Records on February 7, 1942, but had to change its name due to a conflict with Liberty Music in New York City that couldn't be resolved). Here's a link to my first post. From there, you can follow the links to the posts from the first week or so when I posted a lot of information about the company and the tower.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1902 - The Electric Theatre, the first theater constructed for the purpose of showing projected motion pictures in Los Angeles, is opened by owner and manager Thomas L. Talley (later a co-founder of First National Exhibitors Circuit) on the second floor of 262 South Main Street at Third and charges a dime to see an hour’s worth of movies, including the films "The Capture Of The Biddle Brothers" and "New York In A Blizzard".

1992 - Milton Rackmil, co-founder of Decca Records, dies in Manhattan, New York at age 86