JUNE 1, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1890 - Frank Morgan, Broadway, motion picture (best known for multiple roles in "The Wizard Of Oz") and radio actor and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the 1949 Dr. Suess children's record "Gossamer Wump"), is born Francis Phillip Wuppermann in New York City, New York
1921 - Nelson Riddle, trombonist, arranger, conductor, composer and Capitol Records artist as Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra is born Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. in Oradell, New Jersey His son, Christopher Riddle (who took over running, and touring with, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra in 1986), has written a biographical article about his father for the American Music Hall of Fame. Nelson's family also has a website. Nelson's papers and memorabilia are now part of The Nelson Riddle Collection at the University of Arizona, Tucson, that is administered by Keith Pawlak.
1926 - Andy Griffith, Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records artist, is born Andrew Samuel Griffith in Mount Airy, North Carolina
1926 - Marilyn Monroe, a motion picture actress, model, and singer who signed a contract with Capitol Records but never recorded for the label is born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles, California.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - It's a Monday and the Certificate of Amendment submitted by George G. DeSylva, John Mercer, and Glenn E. Wallichs on May 27, 1942 before Ms. Leta Niccum to change the name of the corporation from Liberty Records, Inc. to Capitol Records, Inc. is stamped as filed with the state of California, officially marking the legal beginning of Capitol Records.

Here's a remembrance about the beginning of Capitol Records from Margaret Whiting's 1987 autobiography "It Might As Well Be Spring" that she co-wrote with Will Holt which Ms. Whiting has graciously given me permission to reproduce below.
Johnny Mercer and seventeen-year-old singer Margaret Whiting were "...strolling around the Hillcrest Golf Course in 1941 with (composer) Harold Arlen and bandleader Bobby Sherwood,...Johnny said, in an offhand manner, 'I've got this idea of starting a record company. I get so tired of listening to the way everyone treats music. I keep feeling they're selling out. And I don't like the way artists are treated either. Bing Crosby isn't the only one who can make records. I don't know, I think it would be fun.'...One of (Mercer's) best friends was Glenn Wallichs, the owner of Music City, a record store across from NBC....One day Johnny went to visit Glenn, who took him in back to hear some of the new releases. Johnny shook his head, then blurted out 'How about coming in on a record company with me?' Let's try something new.' And Glenn said, 'Fine. You run the company and find the artists.' And Johnny said, 'And you run the business.'"
1942 - Tex Ritter signs with Capitol Records becoming the label's first Western artist. In ten days, on June 11, 1942, he will have his first recording session which will produce the title "Jingle Jangle Jingle".
1946 - Andy Russell (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Alvino Ray and His Orchestra (with vocal by Rocky Coluccio)'s Capitol Records single "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti)" is #9
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for vocalist Artie Wayne with Andy Phillips His Orchestra's titles "For You" and "(A Corner Table Down At) Tony's Place" in Los Angeles, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15140).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Over four sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, The Capitol Records Transcription Service dubbed sixteen unlisted commercial recordings (four at each session) by The King Cole Trio. No issuing information is listed.
1956 - Jane Powell, with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Mind If I Make Love To You", "True Love", "What Gives? What Goes?", and "Till The Next Time" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Verve Records will issue all the titles.
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's first album "The Kingston Trio", produced by Voyle Gilmore, and on the same day, Trio member Dave Guard's eldest daughter, Catherine, is born.
1959 - Franck Pourcel and His French Fiddles' Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1959 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's album "The Kingston Trio At Large" and on the same day they record the track "A Worried Man"
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Single chart, The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A." (it's flipside, "Shut Down", is #33) is #4, Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" is #10, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #16, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #19, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #23, and The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Shut Down" (the flip side of "Surfin' U.S.A") is #33. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #6 on Billboard magazine's Middle-Road Singles chart, #18 on Cash Box magazine's Top 100 Singles chart, #26 on KDWB's Top Singles chart in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and #42 on CFUN's C-Funtastic Fifty chart in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Ramblin' Rose" is #44 and his album "Dear Lonely Hearts" is #59 on Billboard magazine's Top LPs - 150 Best Sellers - Monaural chart.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beatles perform "Young Blood", "Sure To Fall (In Love With You)", "Baby It's You", and "I Got To Find My Baby" during a live in-studio appearance at the BBC. The tracks will later be released by Apple Records on The Beatles' compilation cd "Live At The B.B.C." with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Violinist Nathan Milstein, with Anatole Fistoulari conducting The Philharmonia Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records part of the first movement of Saint-Saens' "Concerto N° 3 In B Minor" at E.M.I.'s studios in London, England. Angel Records, at the time a division of Capitol Records will issue the entire piece on Milstein and the orchestra's album "SAINT-SAENS - Concerto N° 3 In B Minor/CHAUSSON - Poeme For Violin & Orchestra" (S-36005).

1966 - Billy May starts recording his album "Billy May Today!" in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood,  California

1966 - The Beatles finish work on the track "Yellow Submarine" for their album "Revolver" at Abbey Road Studios, London, England. The track would inspire the creation of their third film for United Artists, the animated feature "Yellow Submarine".
50 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Woody Allen gives a performance in front of a live audience at the nightclub Eugene's in San Francisco, California that is recorded by producer Jack Lewis and engineers Don Geis, Gene Radice, and George Horn. Capitol Records will issue the recording in two parts on Allen's album "The Third Woody Allen Album" (ST 2986).
1972 - Pink Floyd, with engineer Alan Parsons, begin work on their album "Dark Side Of The Moon"
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "A Beautiful Love Song", "Bring Back My Yesterday", and "Love Light" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "A Beautiful Love Song" and "Bring Back My Yesterday" on June 7 and 8, 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles together as a single (Capitol 3669). After overdubs are recorded on June 14, 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "Lovelight" as a single (Capitol 4095) with "Rhinestone Cowboy" (recorded February 27, 1975) on the flipside. Capitol will also issue "A Beautiful Love Song" and "Lovelight" on Campbell's album "Houston (I'm Comin' To See You)" (SW-11293).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Final mastering is done for Jim Horn's titles "We'll Get Over", "Moody", "San Camaro", "In And Out Of Sunshine", "Mandy", "Rainy Day Woman", "Lady From Louisville, "To Hurt A Poet", and "Half Moon". Shelter Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on Horn's album "Jim's Horns" (SW-8918).
1974 - Capitol Records' Grand Funk Railroad performs in concert in San Diego, California. The performance is filmed and released on videotape and laserdisc in Japan.
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - The Knack perform for the first time when they take the stage at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, in Hollywood, California
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - King Of Hearts (lineup unlisted) record the titles "There's Always Time, "How Long Does It Take", and "Something To Hide" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Close But No Guitar" (SW-11848) and "There's Always Time" as a single (Capitol 4634) with "Stay With Me" (recorded April 10, 1978) on the flipside and again as a single (Capitol 4683) with "Just Because" (also recorded on April 10, 1978) on the flipside.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Industry (lineup unlisted) record the title "Romantic Dreams" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Stranger To Stranger" (ST-12316).
2004 - EMI Capitol releases Dean Martin's compilation CD "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin" that contains 30 of Martin’s hits from both his Capitol Records (1949-1961) and Reprise Records (1960-1969) catalog.
2005 - Thomas Allen Ritter, a one-time employee of Capitol Records, dies in his home in Winchester, Virginia at age 63

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1959 - Martin Denny and His Orchestra's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #6, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #16
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Joey Dee & The Starliters' Roulette Records single "Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes (Part 1)", with "Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes (Part 2)" on the flipside, is #36 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1964 - The Joe Pass Quartet (Bill Perkins on tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute; Joe Pass on guitar; John Pisano on rhythm guitar; Frank Strazzeri on piano; and Jim Hughart on bass) record the tracks "I  Believe In You", "It's A Wonderful World", "Hello Dolly", "Summer Night", and "The Sweetest Sound" for their Pacific Jazz Records album "12-String Guitar Movie Themes" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Pacific Jazz catalog and it's distributed by Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Music Group.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1934 - Benny Goodman and his first permanent performing orchestra make their public performing debut at Billy Rose's Music Hall, 1697 Broadway at W. 53rd St., New York, NY, which started out as the Hammerstein Theatre and would become CBS' Studio 50, home of "The Ed Sullivan Show" where The Beatles made their first U.S. television appearance, and currently home to "The Late Show With David Letterman"
80 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Superman makes his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1