JANUARY 2, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1915 - Nick Fatool, the drummer on many, many of Capitol's classic sessions from the 1940s and 1950s, is born in Milbury, Massachusetts.

1925 - Larry Harmon, hired with others by Capitol Records to portray Bozo at personal appearances and who would later, with investors, purchase the licensing rights for Bozo from Alan Livingston and Capitol Records and create and license the Bozo TV show and cartoons (for which he provided the voice) to local markets, train the local performers who portrayed Bozos, and license the Bozo likeness for use on a vast range of products, is born Lawrence Weiss in Toledo, Ohio.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS

1946 - Alvino Rey records three unlisted titles in Los Angeles, California for The Capitol Records Transcription Service. If anyone knows what was recorded, please leave a comment.

75 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Stan Kenton (on piano) and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson, and Ken Hanna on trumpet, Kai Winding, Skip Layton, Milt Bernhart, and Harry Forbes on trombone, Bart Varsalona on bass trombone, Eddie Meyers and Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone, Red Dorris and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone, Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone, Bob Ahern on guitar, Eddie Safranski on bass, Shelly Manne on drums), using arrangements by Pete Rugolo record the titles "His Feet Too Big For De Bed" (with the addition of José Mangual on bongos and Pedro Allendo on maracas, with vocals by June Christy and The Pastels [Margaret Dale, Dave Lambert, Wayne Howard, Jerry Packer, and Jerry Duane] and solos by Childers and Winding) and "After You" (with vocals by The Pastels and solos by Kenton and Safranski) at RKO Pathé Studios in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 361).

1951 - Wayne Gregg (on vocals), with F. Large conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the (as of 2005) unissued titles "Faithful", "Sentimental Journey", "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight", and "Detour" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.

70 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Rufe Davis (on vocals) records the final overdubs for the titles "Hoppy's Happy Birthday", "Hopalong Cassidy And The Two-Legged Wolf", and "Hopalong Cassidy And The Story Of Topper" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final versions of the first title on the children's album "Hoppy's Happy Birthday" (CAS-3114), the second title on the children's album "Hopalong Cassidy And The Two-Legged Wolf" (CAS-3109), and the third title on the children's album "Hopalong Cassidy And The Story Of Topper" (CAS-3110).

70 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Helen O'Connell (on vocals), with Cliffie Stone's Music (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Come What May", "Baby, We're Really In Love", "Stingy", and "Just To Be There" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 1944), the third title as a single (Capitol 1976) with "There's Been A Change In Me" on the flipside, and the last title as a single (Capitol 2363) with "With All My Tears For You" on the flipside.

70 Years Ago Today In 1952 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, John Collins on guitar, and Charlie Harris on bass with Jack Costanzo on bongos) record the titles "Too Marvelous For Words", "Unforgettable" (without Costanza), "Too Young" (without Costanza), "That's My Girl", and "It's Only A Paper Moon" in New York City, New York for an M-G-M charity event. Capitol Records will purchase the masters in 1975 and issue all the titles as bonus tracks on the CD version of Cole's album "Penthouse Serenade" (4-94504-2).

1953 - Vocalist Bob Manning, with Monty Kelly conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "The Nearness Of You", "Why Should I Cry", "Gypsy Girl", and "More Than I Should" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will purchase the masters and issue "The Nearness Of You" and "Gypsy Girl" together as a single (Capitol 2383) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1954 - Andy Griffith's Capitol Records single "What It Was, Was Football" enters the top 40 of Billboards Pop singles chart

1954 - Duke Ellington (on piano) and His Orchestra (Clark Terry, Willie Cook, and Cat Anderson on trumpet, Ray Nance on trumpet, violin, and vocals, Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, and George Jean on trombone, Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Russell Procope on alto saxophone and clarinet, Rick Henderson on alto saxophone, Paul Gonsalves on tenor saxophone, Harry Carney on baritone saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Dave Black on drums) record the titles "One O'Clock Jump" and "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue "One O'Clock Jump" on Ellington's album "Ellington '55" (H 521), and "Thing's Ain't What They Used To Be" on Ellington's album "Dance To The Duke!" (T 637).

65 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Capitol Records, at the request of its new parent company EMI, takes over control of Angel Records, which under the direction of Dorle and Dario Soria since the label launched in the United States in 1953 had over 500 classical releases. The Sorias left the label due to this. Angel Records was closed down in 2006 and its catalog of classical and Broadway recordings were assigned to the EMI Classics label headed by Blue Note Records and was later sold to Warner Music Group in 2013 due to the take over of EMI Music Group by Universal Music Group which still controls the original Angel logo.

65 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Gordon MacRae (on vocals), with Van Alexander and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Endless Love", "Lonely", "I Went To The City", "When You Kiss Me", and "Till We Meet Again" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and fourth titles together as a single (Capitol F3724), the second and fifth titles together as a single (Capitol F3641), the third title on MacRae's album "A Cowboy's Lament" (T 834) and the first, fourth, and fifth titles on MacRae's album "This Is Gordon MacRae" (T 1050).

1958 - Vocalist Ferlin Husky, with guitarist Bob Bain directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ain't She Sweet", "I'm In The Mood For Love", and "Blue Skies" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Husky's album "Sittin' On A Rainbow" (T 976).

1958 - Vocal group The Andrews Sisters (La Verne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, and Patty Andrews), with Billy May and His Orchestra (with May conducting his own arrangements to John Best on trumpet, Simon "Si" Zentner, Tommy "Pullman" Perderson, and William Schaefer on trombones, Ted Nash, Buddy Collette, and Fred Falensby on saxophones, Ray Sherman on piano, Bobby Gibbons on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass and tuba, and Alvin Stoller and Ralph Hansell on drums), record the titles "Keep Your Skirts Down, Mary Ann", "Last Night On The Back Porch", "Back In Your Own Back Yard", and "A Smile Will Go A Long, Long Way" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the sisters' album "The Andrews Sisters Sing The Dancing '20s" (T 973).

1958 - During a split session in Los Angeles, California first Sammy Hagan and vocal group The Viscounts (lineup unlisted), with Jack Marshall and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Tail Light" and "Snuggle Bunny" and then Jack Marshall, conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra,  records the titles "Theme From 'The Missouri Traveler'" and "Fingerpoppin'". Capitol Records will issue "Tail Light" and "Snuggle Bunny" together as a single (Capitol F3885), has yet to issue "Theme From 'The Missouri Traveler'", and will issue "Fingerpoppin'" as a single (Capitol F3978) with "Thunder Road Chase" on the flipside.

1958 - Vocalist and tenor saxophonist Sam Butera and The Witnesses (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Put Your Mind At Ease", "It's Better Than Nothing", "Hold Out For Love", and "Good Gracious Baby" in New York City, New York. Prep Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records will issue "It's Better Than Nothing" and "Good Gracious Baby" together as a single (Prep F134). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the eight-CD box set "Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Capitol Recordings" (BCD 15776).

1958 - The Immaculate Heart Trio (lineup unlisted) records Schubert's "Trio N° 2 In E Flat Major, Opus 100, 3rd Movement" in Studio A oft The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the trio's album "SCHUBERT - Trio N° 2 In E Flat, Opus 100" (P-8442).

1959 - Keely Smith and Louie Prima (on vocals), with Sam Butera and The Witnesses (lineup unlisted), record the title "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Ol' Man River" (with Sam Butera on vocals), and "Don't Take Your Love From Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol F4140). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in the 8 CD box set "Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Capitol Recordings" (BCD 15776) in Germany.

1961 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Foolin' Around", with "High As The Mountains" on the flipside, which would become Owens' first # 1 record on Cashbox's Country chart

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Nobody's Fool But Yours" with "Mirror Mirror On The Wall" on the flipside

1963 - Jack Carson (born John Elmer Carson in Carman, Manitoba, Canada), vaudeville, motion picture, radio, television and Broadway performer, and Capitol Records artist (on the original Broadway cast album for the 1952 version of George and Ira Gershwin's musical "Of Thee I Sing") dies of stomach cancer in Encino, California at age 52 and is later entombed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with unlisted others, records the title "When My Baby Smiles At Me" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. Collectors' Choice Records will issue the title on the CD "The Unreleased Capitol Sides" (CCM 079-2).

1963 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Dick Hazard conducting the orchestra (Manny Klein on trumpet and, listed as probably, Justin Gordon on flute, Mike Melvoin piano, Al Hendrickson and/or John Pisano on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Stan Levey on drums and other unlisted musicians) records the titles "Mama's Gone, Goodbye", "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You", and "One Note Samba" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 2:30 PM and 5:30  PM with producer Dave Cavanaugh. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "I'm A Woman" (T 1857).

1964 - Pianist Onzy Matthews and His Orchestra (Bud Brisbois, Bobby Bryant, Freddy Hill, Bob Rolfe, Dalton Smith on trumpet, Lou Blackburn, Dick Hyde, Horace Tapscott on trombone, Ron Smith on bass trombone, Sid Miller and Clifford Scott on alto saxophone, Curtis Amy and Clifford Solomon on tenor saxophone, Jay Migliori on baritone saxophone, Ray Crawford on guitar, Jim Crutcher on bass, and Chiz Harris on drums), using Matthews arrangements, record the title "I Should Care", the (as of 2005) unissued track "Pensive", and the titles "Flamingo", "Blues With A Touch Of Elegance", "Feels Like I've Got The Blues", and "Blues Non-Stop" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the rest of the titles on Matthews' album "Blues With A Touch Of Elegance" (T 2099).

1965 - Capitol Records' double album "The Beatles' Story" peaks at #7 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart where it will stay for 4 weeks

1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "I Feel Fine", with "She's A Woman" (Capitol 5327) on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1968 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "It Takes People Like You To Make People Like Me" and Merle Haggard's album "Sing Me Back Home".

1968 - The Buckaroos (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Hello California" (featuring Don Rich on vocals), "Highway Man" (featuring Doyle Holly on vocals), "I Can't Stop (My Loving You)" (featuring Doyle Holly on vocals), and "Chaparral" (featuring Don Rich on vocals) in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Buck Owens & The Buckaroos - A Night On The Town" (ST 2902).

1968 - After licensing the masters from Buddha Records, Capitol Records releases Tony Bruno's album "An Original By Bruno" (T/ST-2857).

1969 - The Beatles begin filming and recording "Let It Be" at Twickenham Film Studios and will end on January 31, 1969, the day after their rooftop concert was given.

1970 - The final overdubs for Buck Owens and Susan Raye's track "We're Gonna Get Together" are recorded at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records will issue the final version of the track on the album "Stars Of The 'Hee Haw'" (ST-437).

1971 - George Harrison's Apple Records album "All Things Must Pass", distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, hits #1 on Billboard magazine's "Top LP's" chart. His double A-sided single "My Sweet Lord"/"Isn't It A Pity" is also #1 (the first of the former members of The Beatles' solo singles to do so), for the second week in a row, on the magazine's "Hot 100" singles chart.

50 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased from Buck Owens Enterprises for Kenni Huskey's titles "It's Too Late To Keep From Losing You" and "Number One Heel" which were recorded at Buck Owens Studios in Nashville, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3282).

1974 - Tex Ritter (born Woodward Maurice Ritter), singer, motion picture actor, television variety show host, Member of the Grand Ole Opry and The Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1964 inductee into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, 1971 inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame, 1998 inductee into the Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, dies of a heart attack at age 68 while visiting a jail in Nashville, Tennessee where he was arranging bail for one of his band members

1974 - The Band (Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel on keyboards and vocals, Jaime Robbie Robertson on guitar and vocals, Rick Danko on bass and vocals, and Levon Helm on drums and vocals) perform the titles "Back To Memphis", "Endless Highway", "I Shall Be Released", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", Too Wet To Work (Raindance)", "Don't Ya Tell Henry", "The Rumor", "Time To Kill", "Jam" and "Up On Cripple Creek" live in front of 600,000 attendees of Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the CD "The Band - Live At Watkins Glen" (8-31742-2).

1975 - Final overdubs are recorded for Red Steagall's track "She Worshipped Me" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the final version of the track as a single (Capitol 4042) with "April's Paintings" on the flipside.

1981 - Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section (lineup unlisted) records the (as of 2005) unissued track "Instrumental #7" in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for Capitol Records.

1985 - Capitol Records registers the masters for Katrina and The Waves (Katrina Leskanich on vocals, Alex Cooper on drums, vocals and keyboards, Vince de la Cruz on bass, guitar, vocals, and keyboards, and Kimberley Rew on guitar, vocals, and keyboards) titles "Red Wine And Whisky", "Going Down To Liverpool", "Do You Want Crying", "Que Te Queiro", "Machine Gunsmith", "Cry For Me", "Walking On Sunshine", "Mexico", "The Game Of Love", "Maniac House", and "The Sun Won't Shine Without You". Capitol Records will issue "Going Down To Liverpool" and "Walking On Sunshine" together as a single (Capitol 5466), "Do You Want Crying" and "Maniac House" together as a single (Capitol 5450) and "Que Te Quiero" as a single (Capitol 5528) with "He's A Charmer" on the flipside and all the titles except "Maniac House" on the group's eponymous CD "Katrina & The Waves" (7-46169-2).

1989 - Capitol Records registers all the tracks for Martin Stephenson and The Daintees' albums "Gladsome, Humour and Blue" and "Boat To Bolivia" but has (as of 2005) not issued any of the titles in the United States. Kitchenware issued both albums (KWLP 8 and KWLP 5 respectively) in Europe.

1995 - Writing begins for titles for I Mother Earth's Capitol Records album "Scenery And Fish" which will start being recorded in July 1995

1998 - Nik Venet (born Nikolas Kostantinos Venetoulis), songwriter, worked with Lord Buckley at World Pacific Records, talent scout, VP of A&R and record producer at Capitol Records (for The Beach Boys, Glen Campbell, Bobby Darin, Lou Rawls, and others) and United Artists Records (for Don McLean, Frank Zappa, and others), and founder of Evening Star Records, dies of complications from the treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma in Los Angeles, California at age 61 and had been in the hospital since September 9, 1997

2000 - Nat Adderley, trumpet player, bandleader, younger brother of saxophonist and Capitol Records artist Julian Adderley and gave him the nickname "Cannonball" and played in his brother's Blue Note and Capitol Records bands, and solo artist with Blue Note Records, dies at age 68

ON THIS DAY NOT200 QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, with Les McCann on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Otis Finch on drums, records the titles "Soft Pedal Blues", "We'll See Yaw'll After While, Ya Heah", "Light Blue", an alternate take of "Light Blue", "Dorene Don't Cry", "Smile, Stacey", and "Pia" at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on the CD version of Turrentine's album "That's Where It's At" (7-84096-2).

1971 - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Liberty Records single "Mr. Bojangles" (which is on both sides of the single) enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records parent company Universal Music Group.

1983 - Dick Emery, British comedian, actor, and the voice of the Lord Mayor and Nowhere Man (Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D.) in United Artists animated motion picture "The Yellow Submarine", dies at age 63

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1963 - Dick Powell, singer, dancer, motion picture, radio, and television actor, one-time husband of Joan Blondell and husband of actress June Allison, dies of lymphoma in West Los Angeles, California at age 58.

1990 - Alan Hale, Jr. (born Alan Hale Mackahan), son of actor Alan Hale, motion picture and television actor (best known for the role of Jonas Grumby [aka "Skipper"] on "Gilligan's Island"), and owner of Skipper's restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, dies at age 69 at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Los Angeles from respiratory failure due to cancer of the thymus.
Here's a photo essay of him and his parents from a 1922 issue of Motion Picture News.