MAY 2, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1950 - Lou Gramm, a singer and the drummer in the Capitol Records band Black Sheep and the band Foreigner, is born Louis Grammatico, in Rochester, New York
1954 - Prescott Niles, bass player in the Capitol Records band The Knack, as well as the bands The Game and The Front, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is released
1947 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" is released
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The Notre Dame Glee Club (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Notre Dame Victory March" and "Notre Dame We Hail Thee" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles as a single (57-764) with The U.C.L.A. Glee Club's titles "Hail To California" and "Team Hear Our Song" (both recorded on June 29, 1948) on the flipside.
65 Years Ago Today in 1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #5, and Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", with Sid Feller conducting the orchestra, is #17
65 Years Ago Today in 1953 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Arthur “Skeets” Herfurt, Ted Nash, and James Williamson on reeds, Clyde Hurley and Emanuel Klein on trumpets, Milton Bernhart and James Priddy on trombones, John Cace and Vincent De Rosa on French horns, Bill Miller on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, Alton Hendrickson on guitar, Alvin Stoller on drums, Kathryn Julve on harp, and a string section with Victor Bay, Walter Edelstien, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Mischa Russell, and Gerald Vinci on violins, Alfred Barr and Paul Robyn on violas, Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the titles "Anytime, Anywhere", "My One And Only Love", "From Here To Eternity", and "I Can Read Between The Lines" at radio station KHJ's (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and The Academy Film Archive) studios at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM with producer Voyle Gilmore. Capitol Records will issue "Anytime, Anywhere" and "From Here To Eternity" together as a single (Capitol 2560), "My One And Only Love" as a single (Capitol 2505) with "I've Got The World On A String" (recorded on April 30, 1953) on the flipside, and "I Can Read Between The Lines" on the album "Songs For Young Lovers" (W 1432).
1955 - Jackie Gleason records the track "That Certain Party" for Capitol Records
1956 - The Louvin Brothers record the track "Cash On The Barrelhead" for Capitol Records.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocal overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles on Hank Thompson's titles "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" which were all recorded on April 15, 1958. Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the album "Favorite Waltzes By Hank Thompson With The Brazos Valley Boys" (T 1111).
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (Rene Favre on piano, John Collins on guitar, Charles Harris on bass, Lee Young on drums, and a string section with Victor Arno, Harry Bluestone, Sam Cytron, Kurt Dieterle, Walt Edelstein, Dave Frisina, Jacques Gasselin, Murray Kellner, Joseph Livoti, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Nick Pisani, Joe Quadri, Nathan Ross, Mischa Russell, and Marshall Sosson on violin, Bill Baffa, Lou Kievman, Ray Menhennick, and David Sterkin on viola, Armand Kaproff and Ray Kramer on cello, and Kathryn Thompson on harp), records the titles "I Wish I Knew The Way To Your Heart", "This Is All I Ask", "The More I See You", "I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)", "Making Believe You're Here", and "My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the songs on Cole's album "The Very Thought Of You" (W 1084). An edited version of "I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)" is included on a promotional record (Capitol PRO 2991/2).
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - At their first session, The Super Stocks (Gary Usher and Chuck Girard on vocals, Richie Podolor aka Richie Allen, Paul Johnson, and Glen Campbell on guitars, Wayne Edwards on percussion, Bill Cooper and Carol Kaye on bass guitars, Richard Burns on rhythm guitar, Steve Douglas on saxophone, Leon Russell on keyboards, and Hal Blaine on drums), record the titles "Four On The Floor", "Wide Track", "Street Machine", and "Cheater Slicks" in Los Angeles, California with Gary Usher also producing the session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the multi-artist compilation album "Shutdown" (T/DT 1918).

1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Second Album" hits the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart two weeks after its release, making it the first album ever to reach #1 that quickly.

1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Dust On Mother's Bible"
1967 - Capitol Records pulls the plug on Brian Wilson's "Smile" album for The Beach Boys. Thirty-eight years later in 2005, after a series of concert performances by Brian Wilson, the album, and a documentary film, will finally be released.
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Lou Rawls, with H. B. Barnum conducting his own arrangement to his orchestra (Plas Johnson and Jim Horn on tenor saxophone, Gary Coleman on vibraphone, Don Randi on piano, Les Buie, Al Casey, and Arthur Wright on guitars, Carole Kaye on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, and Stan Levey on percussion), records the titles "Ol' Man River", "Life Time", "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)", and "Life Time (Monologue)" in Los Angeles, California with producer David Axelrod. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rawls' album "You're Good For Me" (ST 2927).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Tony Bruno, with unlisted others, records the titles "Reason To Believe", "Little Green Apples", and "Rhoda Mendelbaum" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on May 3, 4, 6, and 18, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Bruno's album "I'm Feeling It Now" (ST 2930).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Pianist Rubin Mitchell, with King Curtis on tenor saxophone and unlisted trumpets, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, organ, guitar, bass, and drums players, records the titles "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Loosen Up (Yakety Sax)" with the addition of an unlisted tambourine player, and "Summer Dreams" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" and will issue "Loosen Up (Yakety Sax)" and "Summer Dreams" together as a single (Capitol 2220).
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters it purchased of Orville Couch's titles "Double Trouble", "Just Another Stranger", "Won't It Feel Good", and "Don't Laugh At The Honky Tonks". Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "Double Trouble" and "Just Another Stranger" together as a single (Tower 413) and "Won't It Feel Good" and "Don't Laugh At The Honky Tonks" together as a single (Tower 469).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - June Hutton, who replaced Jo Stafford in the Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers in June 1944 and was the wife of arranger Axel Stordahl, dies at age 53. She is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California next to her husband.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Boomer (aka Boomer Castleman), with unlisted others, records the titles "The Mississippi Mud", "Texas Dawn", "Cottonmouth", and "Let's Get The Feeling" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Mississippi Mud" and "Texas Dawn" together as a single (Capitol 3668). No issuing information is listed for the last two titles.

40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Connie Cato, with unlisted others, records the titles "Hasta Manana", "Cry Like A Baby", "Red Rubber Ball", and "I Won't Take It Lyin' Down" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I Won't Take It Lyin' Down" as a single (Capitol 4603) with "I'll Love Her Right Out Of Your Mind" (recorded October 5, 1976) on the flipside and has yet to issue the other three titles.

1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Willie Dixon, with unlisted others, records the titles "Good Advice", "Blues You Can't Loose", and "I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love" at an unlisted studio for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1992 - Capitol Records artist Bonnie Raitt receives an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music during commencement ceremonies in Boston. The principal speaker at the commencement is Capitol Records boss Joe Smith.
2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "You'll Think Of Me" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1885 - Hedda Hopper, American actress, gossip columnist, radio show host, mother of motion picture and television actor William Hopper (best known as Paul Drake on "Perry Mason"), and whose estate was an early tenant of The Capitol Tower, is born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist Gil Evans conducts his own arrangements to Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, and Ernie Royal on trumpets, Frank Rehak and Joe Bennett on trombones, Tom Mitchell on bass trombone, Julius Watkins on French horn, Bill Barber on tuba, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto saxphone, Phil Bodner on piccolo, flute, bass clarinet, and English horn, Chuck Wayne on guitar, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums, records the title "Willow Tree" at Judson Hall in New York City, New York with producer George Avaklan for World Pacific Records which will issue the title on the album "New Bottle Old Wine" (WP-1246 in Mono and STEREO-1011 in Stereo) as by Gil Evans Orchestra Featuring Cannonball Adderley in 1958. Blue Note Records will issue the title on the two-disc compilation album "Pacific Standard Time" (BN-LA461-H2) in 1975 and on the CD "Gil Evans ‎– The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions" (3-58300-2) in 2006.
1964 - The Beatles' Tollie Records single "Love Me Do" enters the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1964 - Imperial Records releases Billy J. Kramer's single "Little Children" in the United States.
50 Years Agot Today In 1968 - Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, with Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham on fluglehors, Jim Buffington on French horn, Benny Powell on bass trombone, Hank Jones on piano, Kenny Burrell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Grady Tate on drums, records the titles "A Beautiful Friendship" without Burrell on guitar, "This Guy's In Love With You", I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", "Emily", and "Cabin In The Sky" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. After a fourteen piece string section records overdubs arranged by Duke Pearson for all the titles on May 27, 1968, Blue Note Records will reject the take of "Cabin In The Sky" and will issue the final mixes of "A Beautiful Friendship", "This Guy's In Love With You", I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", and "Emily" on Turrentine's album "The Look Of Love" (BST84286) and will also issue "This Guy's In Love With You" as a single (Blue Note 45-1940) with "The Look Of Love" (recorded April 15, 1968 and had the string section overdubbed on May 27, 1968) on the flipside.
1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
30 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Jim Fifield is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of EMI Music Worldwide, based in New York City, New York. He will become President and Chief Executive Officer the following year.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1895 - Larry Hart, lyricist, writer, composer, producer and partner of Richard Rodgers, is born Lorenz Milton Hart in New York City, New York
1932 - NBC introduces a new entertainer to their network's radio audience - Jack Benny
80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Drummer Chick Webb and His Orchestra (Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, and Taft Jordan on trumpets, George Matthews, Nat Story, and Sandy Williams on trombones, Garvin Bushell on clarinet and alto saxophone, Louis Jordan on alto saxophone, Teddy McRae and Wayman Carver on tenor saxophone, Tommy Fulford on piano, Bobby Johnson on guitar, and Beverly Peer on bass), using arrangements by Van Alexander and with vocalist Ella Fitzgerald who would later record for Capitol Records, record the titles "A-Tisket A-Tasket", "Heart Of Mine", "I'm Just A Jitterbug", and the instrumental "Azure" in New York City, New York. Decca Records will issue "A-Tisket A-Tasket" as a single (Decca 1840) with "Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away)" (recorded May 3, 1938) on the flipside, "Heart Of Mine" as a single by Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and his Orchestra (Decca 2721) with "My Last Goodbye" (recorded August 18, 1939 by Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra) on the flipside, and "I'm Just A Jitterbug" and "Azure" together as a single (Decca 1899).
1984 - Bob Clampett, cartoonist, director, television host, puppeteer, and creator of Tweety Bird and Beany and Cecil, dies at age 70, six days before his 71st birthday, of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan.