MAY 16, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
105 Years Ago Today In 1913 - Woody Herman, bandleader, clarinetist, and Capitol Records artist (1948-1955) is born Woodrow Charles Herman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1949 - Bill "Sputnik" Spooner, a guitarist in Capitol Records band The Tubes and then The Grateful Dead, is born William Spooner in Arizona

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Capitol Records group The King Cole Trio start a 13-week stint as a summer replacement for Bing Crosby's radio show "The Kraft Music Hall" when they sponsor their own 15-minute program, "King Cole Trio Time", the first radio program hosted and sponsored by black performing artists.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #5 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles chart, #7 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys chart and Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart, and #8 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart, and Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I Believe" is #14. Also, Cole's single "Can't I" is #24 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Lex Baxter conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Early Morning Blues", "Love Is A Fabulous Thing", "Our Kind Of Love", "Hot Summer Nights (Alone In New York)", "My Love And The Sea (Emerald Shore)", "Dawn On The City", "Afternoon Affair", "Paris Interlude: Mignonette/Femme Du Monde/Gamin", "Fashion", "Moonlight Stroll (Whistle)", "5th Avenue Affair", and "Voodoo" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Early Morning Blues", "Love Is A Fabulous Thing", "Our Kind Of Love", "Hot Summer Nights (Alone In New York)", "My Love And The Sea (Emerald Shore)", "Dawn On The City", "Afternoon Affair", "Paris Interlude: Mignonette/Femme Du Monde/Gamin", and "Moonlight Stroll (Whistle)" on Baxter's album "Les Baxter, His Music And His Orchestra - Love Is A Fabulous Thing" (T/ST 1088), "Voodoo" on the CD "Ultra Lounge Volume 1 - Mondo Exotica" (8-32563-2), and has yet to issue either "Fashion" and "5th Avenue Affair".

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, Fred Waring conducts The Pennsylvanians (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Hernando's Hideaway" and "So Long Mary" using arrangements by Harry Simeone, and "Summertime" with vocals by Patti Beams using an arrangment by Livingston Gearhart at the first session and, using arrangements by Roy Ringwald the titles "Lover Come Back To Me" with vocals by Eleanor Forgione and "Fanny" and "Tonight" using an arrangement by Hawley Ades at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Hernando's Hideaway", "Summertime", and "Fanny" on the album "Broadway Cavalcade, Volume 2" (T/ST 1390), "So Long Mary", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "Tonight" on the album "Broadway Cavalcade, Volume 1" (T/ST 1389) and all the titles in the two-album set "Broadway Cavalcade" (WBO/SWBO 1079).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Jean Shepard, with Floyd Cramer on piano, Thomas Grady Martin or Jackie Phelps on lead guitar, Ray Edenton on rhythm guitar, (listed as probably) Walter Haynes on steel guitar, Roy M "Junior" Huskey, Jr. on bass, and Murray M. "Buddy" Harman, Jr. on drums, records the titles "I'll Take The Blame", "I'll Never Be Free", "I'll Hold You In My Heart", and "I Hate Myself" at Bradley Film And Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "I'll Take The Blame" as a single (Capitol F4129) with "Have Heart, Will Love" (recorded November 18, 1958) on the flipside and the rest of the titles on Shepard's album "Lonesome Love" (EAP-1/2/3-1126 on 7" EPs and T 1126 on 12" vinyl).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist and vocalist Esquerita (Eskew Reeder, Jr.), during a three hour session with E. R. "Dutch" McMillin on tenor saxophone, Vincent Moses on guitar, Floyd T. Chance on bass, and Johnny "Richardo" Young on drums, records the title "Katie Mae" with additional vocals by The Gardenias (Calvin Arnold, Carlton Sheppard, Jr., Lloyd White, and William Dixon), "Wait A Minute Baby", and "Rocking The Joint" also with addtional vocals by The Gardenias at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Rockin' The Joint" as a single (Capitol F4058) with "Esquerita And The Voola" (recorded August 12, 1958) on the flipside and all the titles on the CD "Capitol Collectors Series - Esquerita" (7-91871-2).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two sessions held this day in Paris, France, Leopold Stokowski conducts Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française as they record portions of the second and third sections of Debussy's "Iberia" at the first session and portions of Ravel's "Alborada Del Gracioso" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the complete works on Stokowski's album "DEBUSSY - Iberia/IBERT - Escales/RAVEL - Alborada del Gracioso" (P/SP-8463). 

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist Rudolf Firkusny, with Walter Susskind conducting The Philharmonic Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records Beethoven's "Piano Concerto N° 3 In C Minor, Opus 37" in Studio N° 1 at EMI's studio on Abbey Road in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the title on Firkusny's album "BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto N° 3 In C Minor, Opus 37" (P/SP-8468).

1960 - The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Got A Girl", with "Wait Till You) Hear It From Me" on the flipside, is #32 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Ralph Carmichael conducting the vocal chorus (uncredited) and orchestra (Tommy Johnson on tuba, Milt Raskin on piano, Bobby Gibbons, Al Hendrickson and Alvino Rey on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Irving Cottler on drums, Larry Bunker on percussion and a string section with Victor Arno, Israel Baker, Harold Dicterow, Elliott Fisher, Dave Frisina, James Getzoff, Paul Shure, and Gerald Vinci on violin), records the titles "That Sunday, That Summer", "Our Old Home Town", "Don't Forget", "You Tell Me Your Dream", and "That's What They Meant" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California at an extended session between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the songs on Cole's album "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" (T 1932).
65 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Honeys (vocalists Diane Rovell, Marilyn Rovell, and Ginger Blake), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Jack Nitzsche, record the titles "Raindrops" and "From Jimmy With Tears" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "From Jimmy With Tears" as a single (Capitol 5093) with "The One You Can't Have" (recorded September 17, 1963) on the flipside and both titles on the CD "Capitol Collectors Series - The Honeys" (7-93193-2).
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "I Want To Hold Your Hand", with "This Boy" on the flipside, re-enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for 1 week after leaving the chart on April 17 after a 20-week run.
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Ticket To Ride" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Pet Sounds" is released
1966 - The last session is held for The Beatles' title "Taxman" at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
1967 - Twiggy's first and only single for Capitol Records, "When I Think Of You", with "Over And Over" on the flipside, is released in the United States. It was originally released in London on Ember Records.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist and guitarist Mary McCaslin, with unlisted others, records the titles "Please Don't Go" with David Cohen on 12-string guitar, and "Walk Out Of My Mind" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. After overdubs are recorded for "Please Don't Go", Bear Family Records will issue both titles in Germany on the CD "Mary McCaslin - Rain/The Lost Album" (BCD 16232).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Fred Neil, with unlisted others, records the title "Miss Your Water" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Nancy Wilson, with Jimmy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Benny Carter on alto saxophone, Clyde Raesinger on trumpet, John Audino, Bobby Bryant, and Harry Edison on trumpets and flugelhorns, Chuck Cooper, Ed Kusby, Tommy Pederson, Dick Nash, Lew McCreary, and Ken Shroyer on trombones, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt on alto saxophone, William Green and Plas Johnson on saxophones and clarinets, Justin Gordon on saxophone and flute, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, and bass clarinet, Don Trenner on piano, Bob Bain and Mundell Lowe on guitars, Buster Williams on bass, Shelly Manne on drums, Larry Bunker, Gene Estes, and Victor Feldman on vibraphone and percusssion) records the titles "Out Of This World", "Peace Of Mind", "Come Back To Me", and "Black Is Beautiful" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Out Of This World", "Peace Of Mind", and "Black Is Beautiful" on Miss Wilson's album "The Sound Of Nancy Wilson" (ST 2970), "Come Back To Me" on Miss Wilson's album "Hurt So Bad" (ST-353), and "Peace Of Mind" also as a single (Capitol 2283) with "This Bitter Earth" (recorded May 15, 1968) on the flipside.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Bobbie Gentry, with unlisted others, records the title "Hushabye Mountain" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 2295) with "Sweet Peony" (recorded on an unlisted date in June 1968) on the flipside.

1969 - Merle Haggard records his the track "Workin' Man Blues" which will be released by Capitol Records as a single and will peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart

1969 - Chuck Barris' Capitol Records single "Too Rich", with "I Know A Child" on the flipside, is released.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist Andra Willis, with unlisted others, records the titles "Little Old Heartbreaker You", "Living In A House Divided", "Till I Can't Take It Any More", and "Daddy Wrote The Book Of Love" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Little Old Heartbreaker You" as a single (Capitol 3747) with "He Makes Me Feel Like A Woman" (recorded October 27, 1971) on the flipside, "Till I Can't Take It Any More" as a single (Capitol 3666) with "After You" (recorded March 1, 1973) on the flipside.
1976 - Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States with "Cook Of The House" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart.
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Vocalist and guitarist Sammy Hagar, with unlisted others, records the title "I've Done Everything For You" in San Francisco, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 4596) with "Someone Out There" (recorded November 19, 1977) on the flipside.

40Years Ago Today In 1978 - Colleen Peterson, with unlisted others, records the titles "Cupid", "Goin', Goin' Gone", and "I Go To Pieces" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Cupid" and will issue "Goin', Goin Gone" and "I Go To Pieces" on Peterson's album "Takin' My Boots Off" (ST-11835).

40 Years Ago Today In 1978, Pianist and electric pianist Bobby Lyle, with Sunship on drums, tympani, and gong records the title "Apocalyse (Prelude)", with Lyle also on organ and synthesizer, Nathaniel Phillips on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, Sunship just on tympani and drums, and Joe Blocker on sythesized drums, records the titles "New Warrior", with Lyle also on lead vocals, without Sunship and Blocker and with Alexandra Brown, Angela Lisa Winbush, Martinette Jenkins, and Stephanie Spruill on background vocals the title "Good Inside", with just Lyle on piano, electrip piano, and harpsicord the title "Interlude", with Lyle on piano, electric piano, synthesizer, and lead vocals, Roland Bautista on guitar, Pillips on bass, Mason on drums, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, and Ron Banks, Gregory Matta, Augie Johnson, and Jim Gilstrap on background vocals the title "Believe", with Lyle just on synthesizer and Blocker on hand gong the title "Inner Space", with Lyle on synthesizer, clavinet, handclapping on lead vocals, David T. Walker on guitar, Pillips on bass, Mason on drums, Da Costa on percussion, Alexandra Brown on lead vocals, Wayne Henderson, Vance Tenort, Augie Johnson on background vocals and handclapping, and Harvey Mason on background vocals the title "Groove (Ain't No Doubt About It)", Lyle on piano, electric piano, organ, and synthesizer, Phillips on electric bass and synthesized bass, Mason on drums, Blocker on sythesized drums, Da Costa on percusssion, and Michel Boddicker on syenthesizer programming the title "Star Traveler", and with only Lyle on piano the title "What Is This Thing Called Love" in Los Angeles, California. AFter string tracks are recorded for unlisted titles by Nathan Kaproff, James Getzoff, Carroll Stephens, Barbara Durant, Yukiko Kamei, Irma Neumann, Kathleen Lenski, Madeline Schatz, Brent Atkins, Cynthia C. Daley, Judith Aller Talvi, and Harold Wold on violins, Raphael Kramer, Frederick Seykora, Louise Mary Zeyen, Nino Rosso, and Ann Stockton on cellos, and Luis Sevadjian on harp, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Lyle's album "New Warrior" (SW-11809) and "Apocalypse (Prelude)" and "Groove (Ain't No Doubt About It" also together as a single (Capitol 4657),

40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - During two sessions held this day in Sherman Oaks, California, vocalist Glenn Campbell, with unlisted others records the title "Stranger In The Mirror" at the first session and the titles "Never Want To Lose Your Love" and "Dog Boy Blues" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Stranger In The Mirror" on Campbell's album "Basic" (SW-11722) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1990 - Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, dancer, impressionist, vaudeville, Broadway, motion picture and television actor and performer, and a Capitol Records solo artist and, posthumously, as a member of The Rat Pack, dies of throat cancer at his home in Beverly Hills, California at age 64

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
75 Years Ago Today In 1943 - Clarinetist and bandleader George Lewis and His New Orleans Stompers (Avery "Kid" Howard on trumpet, Jim Robinson on trombone, Lawrence Marrero on banjo, Chester Zardis on bass, and Edgar Mosley on drums) record two takes of the titles "Climax Rag", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll", "Careless Love", the title "Dauphine Street Blues" two takes of the titles "Just A Little While To Stay Here", another take of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", two takes of the titles "Milenburg Joys", the titles "Fidgety Feet" and "Fidgety Feet N° 2", two takes of "Don't Go 'Way Nobody", the titles "Deep Bayou Blues" and "When You're Lonesome, Telephone Me", another take of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", and, with Avery "Kid" Howard" also on vocals, the titles "Old Man Mose" and "Your Rascal You" in New Orleans, Louisiana for Climax Rag Records. After Blue Note Records purchases the masters for all the titles, except "Old Man Mose" and "You Rascal You" whose master have been lost, it will issue the first take of "Climax Rag", the first take of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Dauphine Street Blues", the second take of "Milenburg Joys", "Fidgety Feet", and "Deep Bayou Blues" on the 10" vinyl album "Echoes Of New Orleans" (BLP 7010), the first take of "Carless Love Blues" (released as "Careless Love"), the first take of "Just A Little While To Stay Here", and "Don't Go 'Way Nobody" on the album "Echoes Of New Orleans, Volume 2" (BLP7013), and the first takes of "Climax Rag" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", "Dauphine Street Blues", the second take of "Milenburg Joys", "Fidgety Feet", "Fidgety Feet N° 2", and "Deep Bayou Blues" on the album "George Lewis And His New Orleans Stompers ‎– Volume 2" (BLP 1206). Mosaic Records will issue all the titles except "Old Man Mose" and "You Rascal You" in the box set "The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of George Lewis" (MR5-132 on five 12" LPs and MD3-132 on three CDs).
1946 - The Irving Berlin musical, "Annie Get Your Gun", opens at The Imperial Theatre in New York City, New York and will run for 1,147 performances. Capitol Records will later release the soundtrack to a televised version of the show starring Mary Martin and Capitol Records artist John Raitt.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Jimmy Witherspoon, with Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Teddy Edwards and Jimmy Allen on tenor saxophone, Henry McDode on piano, Herman Mitchell on guitar, Jimmy Hamilton on bass, and Jimmy Miller on drums, records the title "Then The Lights Go Out" at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California for Pacific Jazz Records. After Pacific Jazz's catalog is acquired by EMI, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the multi-artist compilation CD "Blue Velvet - Crooners, Swooners And Velvet Vocals" (5-21153-2).
1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotions" is #22 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Guitarist Grant Green, with Johnny Coles on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, John Patton on organ, and Ben Dixon on drums, records the titles "Am I Blue", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Sweet Slumber", an incomplete and rejected take of "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You", and the titles "I Wanna Be Loved" and "For All We Know" at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "Am I Blue", "Take These Chains From My Heart", "Sweet Slumber", "I Wanna Be Loved", and "For All We Know" on Green's album "Am I Blue" (BLP4139 in mono and BST84139 in stereo).

1964 - The Beatles' single "P.S. I Love You", the flipside of the "Love Me Do" single released on Tollie Records in the U.S., enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1966 - Janet Jackson, singer, television and motion picture actress, and a Virgin Records America artist is born Janet Damita Jo Jackson in Gary, Indiana
1981 - Kim Carnes' EMI America Records single "Bette Davis Eyes" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for the second of a five-week stay at the top

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1929 - The first Academy Awards ceremony is held at a banquet in the Blossom Room at The Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard
1937 - Yvonne Craig, motion picture ("Gidget", "Our Man Flint", and others) and television actress (best known for the role of Batgirl), is born