MAY 29, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
115 Years Ago Today In 1903 - Bob Hope, a comedian, Broadway, motion picture, radio and television actor, and Capitol Records recording artist is born Leslie Towns Hope in Eltham, England, a suburb of London
1909 - Dick Stabile, an alto saxophonist and bandleader of the Capitol Records group Dick Stabile and His Orchestra which released solo recordings and was the studio orchestra for many Dean Martin recordings, is born in Newark, New Jersey
1941 - Roy Crewsdon, a guitarist with the Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group Freddie and The Dreamers, is born

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1945 - Carl Kress records the tracks "The Goose From Gander (Squeeze Box Swing)" and "Jazz In G" as guitar solos at the WMCA studios in New York City, New York
1945 - Cootie Williams and His Orchestra (Cootie Williams, E. V. Perry, George Treadwell, Billy Ford, and Clarence "Gene" Redd on trumpet; Ed Burke, Dan Logan, and Bob Horton on trombone; Rupert Cole and Eddie Vinson on alto saxophone; Sam Taylor and Lee Pope on tenor saxophone; George Favors on baritone saxophone; Arnold Jarvis on piano; Carl Pruitt on bass; and Sylvester Payne on drums), record the tracks "Mood For Coot", "Juice Head Baby" with vocal by Eddie Vinson, "Salt Lake City Bounce" and "Jitterbug Serenade" with an unknown vocalist, possibly Cootie Williams
1947 - The Hollywood Hucksters (Benny Goodman on clarinet; Red Norvo on xylophone; Benny Carter on alto saxophone; Charlie Shavers on trumpet; Dave Cavanaugh on tenor saxophone; Joe Koch on baritone saxophone; Jimmy Rowles on piano; Irving Ashby on guitar; Red Callendar on bass; and Lee Young on drums), with producer Dave Dexter, Jr., record the tracks "I Apologize", "Them There Eyes", and "Happy Blues" (with vocals by Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The King Cole Trio (with orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol)'s Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" (with "Lost April" on the flipside) is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Peggy Lee (with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Mañana" (with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flipside) is #10, and The Sportsmen's a capella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True, Dear" (with "Toolie Oolie Doolie" on the flipside) is #18
1951 - Fanny Brice (born Fania Borach), comedienne, Broadway, motion picture and radio actor, and Capitol Records artist (as Baby Snooks), dies at age 59 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood, California from a cerebral hemorrhage. Her ashes were interred in the Chapel Mausoleum at the Jewish Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California. A half-century later, at the time of Brice's daughter Frances's death in 1992, Fanny Brice's ashes were reinterred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, some 20 miles west of her original interment place. Today the ashes, and those of her daughter, are in an outdoor pavilion. Her life story will be turned into the Broadway musical "Funny Girl" whose original Broadway cast album will be released by Capitol Records, marking the only time Barbra Streisand would record for the label.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - During a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, Harry Kari (aka Harry Stewart) and His Six Saki Sippers (aka Jimmy Duffy and His Scandahoovians) record "The Love Bug Will Bite You (If You Don't Watch Out)" and "Nishimoto At The Bat" then Yogi Yorgesson (aka Harry Stewart again), with Johnny Duffy and His Scandahoovians (lineup unlisted) and vocalist Gege Pearson, records the titels "Come Straight Home Tonight" and "Interested In Love". Capitol Records will issue "The Love Bug Will Bite You (If You Don't Watch Out)" and "Nishimoto At The Bat" together as a single (Capitol 2516 on 10" shellac and F2516 on 7" vinyl) and "Come Straight Home Tonight" and "Interested In Love" together as a single (Capitol 2552 on 10" shellac and F2552 on 7" vinyl).
1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" (with "The Man Upstairs" on the flip side which is on the same chart at #10) is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" (with "Take A Chance" on the flip side) is #6, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" (with "Why?" on the flip side) is #11,
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Jules Chaikin, Billy Catalano, Don Fagerquist, and Phil Gilbert on trumpets, Archie Le Coque, Kent Larsen, Don Reed, and Jim Amlotte on trombones, Ken Shroyer on bass trombone, Lennie Niehaus on alto saxophone, Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophone, Bill Robinson and Steve Perlow on baritone saxophone, Red Kelly on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums) record the titles "We'll Be Together Again", "A Sunday Kind Of Love", "The Things We Did Last Summer", and "Ill Wind" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Capitol Records will reject all the takes of all the titles recorded at this session. New takes will be recorded on June 23, 1958 of which Capitol will issue "We'll Be Together Again", "A Sunday Kind Of Love", and "The Things We Did Last Summer" on Kenton's album "The Ballad Style Of Stan Kenton And His Orchestra" (T/ST 1068) and all the new takes of all the titles on the CD release of the album (8-56688-2).

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Molly Bee, with unlisted others, records the titles "What's The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You", "(I Wanng Go Where You Go) Then I'll Be Happy", "You Try Somebody Else", and "After You've Gone" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "What's The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You", "(I Wanng Go Where You Go) Then I'll Be Happy", and "You Try Somebody Else" on Bee's album "" (T 1097), has yet to issue the take of "After You've Gone" recorded at this session but will issue a new take of the title recorded on June 4, 1958 as a single (Capitol F4064) with "Five Points of A Star" (recorded October 20, 1957) on the flipside.

60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - During two session held this day at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California with producer Dave Cavanaugh, vocalist Frank Sinatra, with Felix Slatkin conducting the orchestra (Tommy Pederson and Milt Bernhart on trombones, Ken Shroyer on bass trombone, Vincent De Rosa, James Decker, and John Cave on French horns, Arthur Gleghorn and Harry Klee on flutes, Mitchell Lurie and Mahlon Clark on clarinets, Champ Webb and Arnold Koblentz on oboes, Charles Butler and Chuck Gentry on bass clarinets, Jack Marsh and Don Christlieb on bassoons, Bill Miller and Harry Sukman on pianos, Al Viola on guitar, Mike Rubin and Joe Comfort on bass, Frank Flynn and Bill Richmond on percussion, Kathryn Julye on harp, Victor Arno, Israel Baker, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Arnold Belnick, David Frisina, James Getzoff, Henry Hill, Daniel Karpilowsky, Erno Neufeld, Paul Shure, and Marshall Sosson on violins, Alvin Dinkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, and David Sterkin on violas, and James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, Kurt Reher, and Eleanor Slatkin on cellos), records the title "Monique (Song From 'Kings Go Forth')" with the addition of Dominic Frontiere on accordion and using an arrangement by Sinatra, and, with arrangements by Nelson Riddle, the titles "Ebb Tide", "Angel Eyes", and "Spring Is Here" at the first session between 2:00 and 5:00 PM then, without Harry Sukman on piano and using arrangements by Nelson Riddle, the titles "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry", "Only The Lonely", three incomplete takes of "Lush Life", and the title "Willow Weep For Me" at the second session between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Monique (Song From 'Kings Go Forth')" as a single (Capitol F4003) with "Same Old Song And Dance" (recorded March 3, 1958) on the flipside and also on the album "Sinatra Sings.. Of Love And Things" (W/SW 1729), "Ebb Tide", "Angel Eyes", "Spring Is Here", "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry", "Only The Lonely", and "Willow Weep For Me" on Sinatra's album "Only The Lonely" (W 1053). CD Archives will issue the three incomplete takes of "Lush Life" on CD (AA-202).

1959 - Capitol Records artists Peggy Lee and The George Shearing Quintet give a live performance at the Second National Disc Jockey Convention held at The Americana Hotel in Miami, Florida. The show is recorded, but problems with the audio will lead to the set being re-recorded a few days later at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California and passed for live when the tracks were released as the album "Beauty And The Beat!" by Capitol Records.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #15 on WMCA's Top Twenty-Five chart in New York City, New York.

55 Years Ago today In 1963 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, The Andrews Gospel Singers (Sylvia Lois Andrews on lead vocals, Paula Marie Andrews, Flora Daggao, Donna Daggao, and Norma J. King on harmony vocals, and Ola Jean Andrews also on lead vocals, piano and organ), with an unlisted drummer, record the titles "Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho", "Walk All Over God's Heaven", and "He Satisfies" at the first session and the titles "He's A Mighty God" and "If You Miss Me Here" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Open Your Heart" (T/ST 1959).

55 Years Ago today In 1963 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Max Bennett conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Got That Magic" and "A Doodlin' Song" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California with producer Dave Cavanaugh. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 5001), "Got That Magic" also on Lee's album "In Love Again!" (T/ST 1969), and "A Doodlin' Song" also on Lee's album "Extra Special!" (T/ST 2732).

55 Years Ago today In 1963 - Glen Gray conducts The Casa Loma Orchestra (listed as similar to Shorty Sherock, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, and Joe Graves on trumpets, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, and Ed Kusby on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most on clarinet and alto saxophone, Skeets Herfurt also on alto saxophone, Plas Johnson and Justin Gordon on tenor saxophones, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Ray Sherman on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Mike Rubin on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) as they record the titles "Desafinado (In The Style Of Stan Kenton)", "Days Of Wine And Roses (In The Style Of Les Brown)", and "Alley Cat (In The Style Of Benny Goodman's 'Stompin' At The Savoy')" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra's album "The Sounds of The Great Bands, Volume 7: Today's Best" (T/ST 1938).

1965 - The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Help Me, Rhonda", with "Kiss Me, Baby" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Capitol Records Canada releases Lyn and Graham McCarthy's album "Bitter And Sweet"
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) record the titles "The War Goes On" and "Hight All The Time" in Los Angeles, California with producer Nick Venet. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's self-titled album "Mad River" (ST 2985) and "High All The Time" also as a single (Capitol 2310) with "Amphetamin Gazelle" (recorded April 25, 1968) on the flipside.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Final overdubs are recorded for Bobbie Gentry's titles "Here, There And Everywhere", "Papa's Medicine Show", and "Eleanor Rigby". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Gentry's album "Local Gentry" (ST 2964).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Bettye Swann, with unlisted others, records a new take of the title "I'm "Lonely For You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the take from this session as a single (Capitol 2263) with ""My Heart Is Closed For The Season" (recorded May 15, 1968) on the flipside and also on Swann's album "The Soul View Now!" (ST-190).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, with Harry Edison on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto saxophone, Georgie Auld on tenor saxophone, Hank Jones on piano, John Collins on guitar, Bob West on electric bass, and Panama Francis on drums using arrangements by Benny Carter, records the titles "Medley: If I Give My Heart To You/Once In A While/Ebb Tide (instrumental)/The Lamp Is Low/Where Are You/Thinking Of You" and "Medley: My Mother's Eyes/Try A Little Tenderness/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (instrumenta)/Everything I Have Is Yours/I Never Knew/Goodbye My Love" at an extended session in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 12:00 AM on June 3, 1968 with producer Dave Dexter, Jr.

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Four King Cousins (lineup unlisted) record the titles "California Nights", "God Only Knows", and "Love So Fine" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Introducing The Four King Cousins" (ST 2990).

50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Artie Shaw directs a big band (which includes Bernie Privin and Mel Davis on trumpets, Buddy Morrow on trombones, Walt Levinsky on clarinet, Toots Mondello on alto saxophone, Al Klink and Billy Slapin on tenor saxophone, Bernie Leighton on piano, and Don Lamond on drums) as they record the titles "Back Bay Shuffle", "Nightmare", "It Had To Be You", "Zigeuner", and "Jungle Drums (Canto Karabali)" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Artie Shaw Recreates His Great '38 Band" (ST 2992).

1989 - John Cipollina, guitarist with the Capitol Records band Quicksilver Messenger Service, dies of congenital emphysema at age 45 in San Francisco, California. There's a great biographical article by William Ruhlmann that was in the November 3, 1989 issue of Goldmine magazine.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1961 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #5, Gene McDaniels' Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #8, The Fleetwoods' Dolton Records single "Tragedy" is #10, Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Hello Mary Lou" is #16, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #18, and Al Caiola and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Bonanza" is #31. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the catalogs of Imperial, Minit, Liberty, Dolton, and United Artists Records.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Sarah Vaughan, with Carmell Jones on piano, Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone, Ernie Freeman on organ, John Collins on guitar, Al McKibbon on bass, and Milt Turner on drums using arrangements by Gerald Wilson, records the titels "'Round Midnight" at United Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California for Roulette Records. After E.M.I. acquires Roulette's catalog, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the three-CD multi-artist compilation "Blue Note - A Story Of Jazz - 'Round Midnight" (7-96583-2).
45 Years Ago Today 1973 - Mike Oldfield's Virgin Records album "Tubular Bells" is released in the United States.
1975 - Melanie Brown (aka Mel B, aka Scary Spice), a singer with the Virgin Records group Spice Girls, is born Melanie Janine Brown in Leeds, England
1989 - Danielle Riley Keough, daughter of Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley, is born

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1917 - Future president John Fitzgerald Kennedy is born in Brookline, Massachusetts. Capitol Records would release a tribute soundtrack album for the documentary "Years Of Lightning, Day Of Drums" (Capitol T 2486) in 1966.
1929 - Janet Gaynor leaves her hand and footprints in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California during its 14th ceremony
1942 - Bing Crosby, with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers, records the track "White Christmas" for Decca Records after introducing it in the motion picture "Holiday Inn" and featuring it on his radio shows. The single will become the best selling record of all time.
1942 - Warner Brothers Pictures releases "Yankee Doodle Dandy".