APRIL 25, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Ella Fitzgerald, singer, motion picture actress, and a Verve and a Capitol Records artist, is born Ella Jane Fitzgerald in Newport News, Virginia. Ella would be one of the first non-Capitol artists to record in Studio A in the Capitol Tower. On August 16, 1956, she, along with Louis Armstrong, would record tracks for their duet album on Verve and 5 days later she would record tracks for her "Sings The Rodgers & Hart Song Book", also on Verve. She would go on to record three albums for Capitol with producer Dave Dexter, Jr.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Derek William Dick (aka Fish), the original vocalist and guitarist with the Capitol Records group Marillion and a solo artist, is born in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland.
1994 - Maggie Rogers, singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and Capitol Records artist, is born Margaret Debay Rogers in Easton Maryland.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Pappy "Gube" Beaver signs with Capitol
1951 - Pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, with the vocal group The Carr-Hops (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ballin' The Jack", "It Must Be True You Are Mine, All Mine", and "Carr's Hop" (which will be remastered and released as "Rapscallion Rag") in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Ballin' The Jack" and "It Must Be True You Are Mine, All Mine" together as a single (Capitol 1558) and "Rapscallion Rag" on Carr's album ""Bar Room Piano" (CCN-280).
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend", with orchestra conducted by arranger Nelson Riddle, is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #6, Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", conducted by Sid Feller, is #18 and Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Can't I?", also with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra is #19

1956 - Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee marries her third husband, actor Dewey Martin
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Tommy Sands, with Bob Bain's Music (Merrill E. Moore on piano, Bob Bain on lead guitar, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, and unlisted bass and drums players), records the titles "After The Senior Prom" and "Since I Met You Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "After The Prom" as a single (Capitol F3985) with "Big Date" (recorded April 28, 1958) on the flipside and "Since I Met You Baby" on Sands' album "Sands Storm!" (EAP-2-1081 on 7" vinyl and T 1081 on 12" vinyl).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nelson Riddle conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Love Theme From 'St. Louis Blues'", "The Song From 'Kings Go Forth' (Monique)", "Una Casa Portuguesa" and "Siesta Sevilla" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Love Theme From 'St. Louis Blues'" as a single (Capitol F3980) with "The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad" (recorded April 14, 1958) on the flipside, "The Song From 'Kings Go Forth' (Monique)" and "Siesta In Sevilla" together as a single (Capitol F4005), and "Una Casa Portuguesa" as a single (Capitol F074) with "Birds Of Paradise" (recorded September 16, 1958) on the flipside.

1961 - The Louvin Brothers sign a contract with Capitol Records.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Jean Hoffman, with unlisted others, records the titles "Bye Bye Blackbird", "I Fall In Love To Easily", "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", and "I Love Little Jimmy" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist June Christy, with Al Viola on guitar and Don Bagley on bass, records the titles "Don't Explain", "Ev'ry Time", "I Get Along Without You Very Well", and "Suddenly It's Spring" in Los Angeles, California with producer Bill Miller. Capitol Records will issue "Don't Explain" and "Ev'ry Time" on Christy's album "The Intimate Miss Christy" (T/ST 1953) and has yet to issue the takes of "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "Suddenly It's Spring" recorded at this session. New takes of both titles will be recorded on May 23, 1958, and those takes will be the ones issued on the album "The Intimate Miss Christy".

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Al Martino, with Belford Hendricks conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra and vocal chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Just Call Me Lonesome", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "It's A Sin", "Losing You", and "Still" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Martino's album "I Love You Because" (T/ST 1914).

1964 - According to the Ottawa Journal "Hit Parade", The Beatles hold the #1, 2 & 3 slots in Canada with, respectively, the singles "Twist and Shout", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "All My Loving"
1967 - The Beatles record the track "Magical Mystery Tour" at Abbey Road Studios in London, England with producer George Martin.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Beatles' Apple Corps, Ltd. begins operations in its London offices at 27 Ovington Square, London, SW3 1LJ.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, overdubs are recorded for Glen Campbell's title "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" at the first session and then vocalist Glen Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "It Must Be Getting Close To Christmas" and "Fate Of Man" at the second session. After further overdubs are recorded for "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" on May 10, 1968, for "It Must Be Getting Close To Christmas" on July 24, 1968, and for "Fate Of Man" on August 28, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" and "Fate Of Man" on Campbell's album "Wichita Lineman" (ST-103), the final mix of "It Must Be Getting Close To Christmas" on Campbell's album "That Christmas Feeling" (ST 2978), and "Fate Of Man" as a single (Capitol 2302) with "Wichita Lineman" (recorded May 27, 1968) on the flipside.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Lettermen (vocalists Jim Pike, Tony Butala, and Bob Engemann) Perry Botkin, Jr. conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the title "Anyone Who Had A Heart" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 2196) with "All The Grey Haired Men" (recorded April 13, 1968) on the flipside.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Mad River (David Robinson and Rick Bockner on guitars, Lawrence Hammond on bass, keyboards, and vocals, Greg Dewey on drums, harmonica, and vocals, and Tom Manning on vocals) records the title "Amphetamine Gazelle" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 2310) with "High All The Time" (recorded May 29, 1968) on the flipside and on the group's self-titled album "Mad River" (ST 2985).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - During three sessions held this day at Century Sound Studios in New York City, New York, The Wind In The Willows (Peter Brittain on lead guitar and vocals, Deborah Harry on vocals, tambura, tambourine, and finger cymbals, Paul Klein on guitar and vocals, Steve "Marvello" DePhillips on bass and vocals, Wayne Kirby on double bass, piano, harpsichord, organ, and vibraphone, Ida Andrews on flute, bassoon, piccolo, flute, chimes and vocals, Anton Carysforth on drums, and session producer Artie Kornfeld on bongos, bass drum, drums, hairy drums) with recording engineer Brooks Arthur and a string section (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Wayne Kirby, records the titles "My Uncle Used To Love Me But She Died" and "So Sad" at the first session, the titles "Park Avenue Blues" and "She's Fantastic" at the second session, and the titles "A Quite Respectable Older Lady", and "Uptown Girl" at the third session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "A Quite Respectable Older Lady" which has yet to be issued, on the group's self-titled album "The Wind In The Willows" (SKAO 2956).

1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - An editing session is held for The Lettermen's title "Mac Arthur Park" (recorded December 15, 1972, with overdubs recorded on December 22 and 29, 1972) to create "Mac Arthur Park (Short Version)" for Capitol Records, which has yet to issue the title.
1981 - Capitol Records group Wings disbands when guitarist Denny Laine quits
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Capitol Records re-releases Duran Duran's self-titled album "Duran Duran" in the U.S., with the addition of the track "Is There Something I Should Know? as well as new photos, where it will peak at #10
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - As listed in the master files, vocalist Beau Williams, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey, records the title "Stay With Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Williams' album "Stay With Me" (ST-12286).

35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Capitol Records will register the masters for Bruce Murray's titles "Fron Now On" and "Mixed Emotion" and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 5234).

1992 - Capitol Records vocal group The Five Keys is inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame. The group does an impromptu performance which will be the last by its original members.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Coleridge Perkinson directs vocalist, pennywhistle, talking drums, and guitar player Solomon Ilori and His Afro-Drum Ensemble (Chief Bey and Montego Joe on congas, Josiah Ilori on sakara drums and cowbell, Robert Crowder on congas, chekere, and cowbell, Garvin Masseaux on congas, xylophone, and cowbell) with Hosea Taylor on alto saxophone, Jay Berliner on guitar, and Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass, as they record the titles "Yaba E (Farewell)", "Jojolo (Look At This Beautiful Girl)", "Follow Me To Africa", "Aiye Le (Troubled World)", "Tolani (African Love Song" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Solomon Ilori and His Afro-Drum Ensemble's album "African High Life" (BLP4136/BST84136 on 12" vinyl and 3-59437-2 on CD).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Former Capitol Records artist Dean Martin marries his third wife, Catherine Mae Hawn
1975 - Future Capitol Records band Sweet's Bell Records single "Little Willy" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Vocalist Sheena Easton, with unlisted others, records the title "Keep The Motor Running" at an unlisted studio for EMI America. No issuing information is listed.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Vocalist Ernestine Anderson, with Norman Simmons on piano, George Mraz on bass, and Tim Horner on drums, records the title "Someday My Prince Will Come" in the Toshiba EMI Studios in Tokyo, Japan. EMI Eastworld Records will issue the title in Japan on the multi-artist compilation LP "Three Pearls" (EWJ 90028) and Blue Note/EMI Toshiba will issue the title in Japan on the CD release of the album (TOCJ-6189).
1990 - Dexter Gordon, a saxophonist, Academy Award-nominated motion picture actor, and Blue Note Records artist, dies at age 67 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania