Monday, March 28, 2022

 MARCH 28, 2022


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1890 - Paul Whiteman, (aka "The King of Jazz") violinist, bandleader (whose members included future Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer as a vocalist and future Capitol Records artists Bing Crosby [also as a vocalist] and Jack Teagarden on trombone), who commissioned George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" and premiered it in 1924 with Gershwin on piano, motion picture actor, radio show host, music director for the ABC Radio Network, and Capitol Records artist whose first single for the label, "I Found A New Baby" with "The General Jumped At Dawn" on the flipside, was also Capitol Records' first released single, is born in Denver, Colorado.

1930 - William Hughes, a trombonist in the Count Basie band, who worked in sessions with Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstein, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney is born in Dallas, Texas.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Jo Stafford, with Nat "King" Cole on piano, records the titles "Ridin' On The Gravy Train", "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time" (which will be released as the flipside of Cole's Capitol Records single "This Is Always"), "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?", and "Cindy" (which she co-wrote with Johnny Mercer and her future husband Paul Weston and will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "I've Never Forgotten", also with Cole on piano, on the flipside).

75 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The Benny Goodman Sextet (Benny Goodman on clarinet, Ernie Felice on accordion, Tommy Todd on piano, Dave Barbour on guitar, Harry Babasin on bass, and Tom Romersa on drums) records the titles "The Bannister Slide", "Eight, Nine and Ten" (with vocals by Peggy Lee), and "I Never Knew" (without guitar and accordion) at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the second title on Peggy Lee's CD "Rare Gems And Hidden Treasures" (5-27564-2) and the last title on the CD "The Best Of Benny Goodman" (8-21145-2). Mosaic Records will issue all three titles in Goodman's box set "The Complete Capitol Small Group Recordings of Benny Goodman" (MQ6-148).

1948 - It's a cold and clear Easter Sunday and Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole marries future Capitol Records artist Maria Ellington at The Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York with Adam Clayton Powell officiating at the service. The reception was then held at The Belmont Plaza with some 350 guests. After the reception, a party was given for the couple at the Ebony club on Broadway, after which the couple left on their honeymoon. The wedding is covered by Life magazine in a photo essay called "Life Goes To A Harlem Wedding" starting on page 146 of the April 19, 1948 issue.
Here's a photo of the couple cutting their wedding cake at the reception.
The couple will become the parents of future Capitol Records artist Natalie Cole.

1950 - Dean Martin records the titles "Choo'n Gum" and "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records.

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys chart, #4 on the magazine's Best Selling Singles chart, and #5 on its Most Played In Juke Boxes chart. It's also #10 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #20 on WMCA's Wax To Watch chart in New York City, New York.

1958 - A bandleader, clarinet, and alto saxophone player Les Brown and His Band Of Renown (Dick Collins, Wes Hensel, Conrad Gozzo, Jerry Kadowitz, and Mickey McMahan on trumpets, Dick Kenney and Roy Main on trombones, Jim Hill and Stumpy Brown on bass trombones, Matt Utal and Ralph Lapolla on flutes and also on clarinets and alto saxophones, Billy Usselton on tenor saxophone, Butch Stone also on clarinet as well as on baritone saxophone, Abe Aaron on soprano, tenor, baritone, and bass clarinets, Don Trenner on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, Lloyd Morales on drums, David Grupp on percussion and bells) record the titles "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Younger Than Springtime" using arrangements by Les Brown, "Bloody Mary" using an arrangement by Wes Hensel, and "This Nearly Was Mine" using an arrangement by Frank Comstock in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Dance To The Music Of 'South Pacific'" (EAP-1/2/3-1060 on three-disc 7" EP and T/ST 1060 on 12" LP).

1958 - The Jack Marshall Sextette (Harry Klee on flute, bass flute, and recorder, Milt Raskin on piano and cymbals, Edgar Lustgarten on cello, Jack Marshall on guitar and lute, Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), using Marshall's arrangements, records the titles "I've Told Every Little Star", "Like Someone In Love", and "I Didn't Know What Time It Is" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I've Told Every Little Star" and "Like Someone In Love" on the sextette's album "18th Century Jazz" (T 1108) and has yet to issue the take of "I Didn't Know What Time It Is" recorded at this session but will issue a take recorded on June 9, 1958 also on the album "18th Century Jazz".

1958 - Vocalist Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (Clifton Simmons on piano, Johnny Meeks on guitar, Grady Owen on rhythm guitar, Bobby Lee Jones on bass, Juvenal "Juvey" Gomez on drums, and Paul Peek and Tommy Facenda on handclapping and vocal chorus) record the titles "Look What You Gone And Done To Me", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Summertime", and "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)" at an extended session held at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "A Gene Vincent Record Date" (EAP-2/3-1059 on three-disc 7" EP set and T 1059 on 12" LP).

1958 - Carmen Dragon conducts The Capitol Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Ippolitov-Ivanov's "Procession Of The Sardar (From 'Caucasian Sketches')" and Mussorgsky's "Persian Dance (from 'Khavantchina')" on Stage 7 at the Goldwyn Studios at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Formosa in West Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Procession Of The Sardar (From 'Caucasian Sketches')" on the compilation album "Pomp And Circumstance" as by The Capitol Symphony Orchestra and The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra" (P/SP-8620) and "Persian Dance (from 'Khavantchina')" on the album "Carmen Dragon Conducting The Capitol Symphony Orchestra ‎–Footlights And Fanfares" (P/SP-8599).

1958 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the titles "Night And Day", "Love For Sale", "So In Love", and "Where Have You Been" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Where Have You Been" on Bushkin's album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter" (T/ST 1030) and have yet to issue the takes of any of the other titles recorded at this session but will issue takes of "Love For Sale" and "So In Love" recorded on April 8, 1958, and a take of "Night And Day" recorded on April 11, 1958, also on the album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter".

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Benny Carter conducting the orchestra (Conrad Gozzo, Ray Triscari, Al Porcino, and Shorty Sherock on trumpets, Tommy Shepard, Milt Bernhart, Ken Shroyer, and George Roberts on trombones, Justin Gordon on reeds, Lou Levy on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Mel Lewis on drums, Emil Richards on vibraphones and percussion, and Francisco "Chino" Pozo on percussion) using arrangements by Carter and Billy Byers, records the titles "Ain't That Love", "See See Rider", "Loads Of Love", and "I Believe In You" at The Capitol Tower Studios In Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first, second, and last titles on Lee's album "Sugar 'N' Spice" (T 1772) and "Loads Of Love" as a single (Capitol F4750) with "The Sweetest Sounds" (recorded April 4, 1962) on the flipside.

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Billy May and His Orchestra (Uan Rasey, Conrad Gozzo, John Best, and Emanuel "Mannie" Klein on trumpets, Ed Kusby, Tommy Pederson, Murray McEachern, and William Schaefer on trombones, Harry Klee, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Plas Johnson, Fred Falensby, and Chuck Gentry on saxophones, Jimmy Rowleson on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Irving Cottler and Frank Flynn on drums) record the titles "Loads Of Love", "No Strings", "Love Makes The World Go Round", "The Sweetest Sounds", and "Be My Host" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on May's album "The Sweetest Swingin' Sounds Of "No Strings" (T 1709).

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Cindy Malone (on vocals), with Jimmie Haskell directing an uncredited orchestra, records the titles "The Fool I Used To Be" and "Things That Mean The Most To Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title as a single (Capitol 5115) with "Watch What You Do With My Baby" on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for the second title.

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Nathan Milstein (on violin), with an uncredited chamber orchestra conducted by Robert Irving, records Rimsky-Korsakov's "Fantasia On Russian Themes, Opus 33" (arranged by Kreisler) aka "Russian Fantasy" in New York City, New York. Angel Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue the title on Milstein's album "Music Of Old Russia" (S-36002).

1963 - Various unlisted artists, record the titles "Waimea Bay", "Goofy-Foot Glen" using an arrangement by Jimmie Haskell, "Locked In", "End Of The World", "Quigg Rides Again" and "Come September" using arrangements by Jimmie Haskell, and "Travelin'" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Travelin'" which remains unissued, on the album "John Severson Presents Sunset Surf" (T/ST 1915).

1963 - Pianist Cy Coleman, with Billy May conducting his own arrangement to the orchestra (Conrad Gozzo, Uan Rasey, and Bud Brisbois on trumpets, Francis "Joe" Howard, Milt Bernhart, Ed Kusby, and George Roberts on trombones, Justin Gordon, Ted Nash, and Wilbur Schwartz on woodwinds, Ben Tucker on bass, and Bob Thomas, Irving Cottler, and Larry Bunker on drums), records the titles "The Best Is Yet To Come", "The Riviera", and "Brassman's Holiday" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 1:30 AM on March 29, 1963 for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the takes recorded at this session but will issue new takes of all the titles that are recorded on April 1, 1963 on the album "The Piano Witchcraft Of Cy Coleman" (T/ST 1952).

1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Can't Buy Me Love" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

55 Years Ago Today In 1967 - The Beach Boys canceled a planned session in Los Angeles, California. If anyone knows the reason(s), please leave a comment.

1968 - Hardwater (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Sanctuary" and "City Sidewalks" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's self-titled album "Hardwater" and "City Sidewalks" as a single (Capitol 2230) with "Not So Hard" (recorded March 30, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Wake The World" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded on March 30, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 2239) with "Do It Again" (recorded June 6, 1968) on the flipside and on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

50 Years Ago Today In 1972 - The Stewardesses (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Fly Me" and "Lovin' Ain't Easy" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3326).

50 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Buddy Alan's titles "I'm In Love" and "The Happiness Song" which were recorded earlier that year at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California and produced by Buck Owens Enterprises. Capitol will issue the two titles together as a single (Capitol 3346).

1973 - Brush Arbor (lineup unlisted) records the titles "We Need Rain" and "Now That It's Over" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1973 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Buck Owens Enterprises for Buddy Alan's titles "Caribbean" and "Please, Friend, Take Me Home" which were recorded in the Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3598).

1974 - The Capitol Records group The Raspberries break up.

1978 - The Pousette-Dart Band (lineup unlisted) records the title "Where Are You Going" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Pousette-Dart 3" (SW-11781).

1978 - Vocalist Alan Gordon, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Jack Nitzche, records the titles "Libertina" and "If Life Could Be" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records initially schedules "Libertina" to be released on the album "Alan Gordon - Alley & The Soul Sneekers" (SW-11845), which was not released, then issues the title on the album "Alley & The Soul Sneekers" (SW-11913) as by Alley & The Soul Sneekers.

1983 -Vocalist, pianist, synthesizer, bass, and tenor saxophone player Ronnie Laws, with Debra Laws on backing vocals, Leon Johnson on drum programming, Steve Turner on drums, Roland Bautista on guitar, and Larry Dunn also on synthesizer, records the title "Third Hour" in (listed as possibly) Lion Share Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the Laws' album "Mr. Nice Guy" (ST-12261).

2000 - Capitol Nashville releases John Berry's compilation album "Greatest Hits".


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1915 - Jay Livingston, pianist, Academy Award-winning composer (with partner Ray B. Evans) of such songs as "Buttons and Bows", "Mona Lisa", "Silver Bells", "Silver Bells", "Tammy" and the theme song for the television show "Bonanza" and many others), motion picture actor, one-time brother-in-law of Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton, and brother of former Capitol Records Vice-President, President, and Chairman Of The Board Alan Livingston, is born in McDonald, Pennsylvania. If anyone knows Jay's middle name, please leave a comment.

1920 - Actors Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Mary Pickford, two of the four founders of United Artists Pictures (the others being Charlie Chaplin and director D.W. Griffith), get married. United Artists would later start a record label, United Artists Records, whose catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company.

80 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Neil Kinnock, politician and vice president of the U.K. Gene Vincent Fan Club, is born in Tredegar, South Wales.

1948 - John Evan, the keyboard player with the Chrysalis Records group Jethro Tull, is born John Spencer Evans, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

1958 - W. C. Handy (born William Christopher Handy), composer, guitarist, cornet player, a founder of Black Swan Records (the first black-owned record company), whose life was the basis of the motion picture "St. Louis Blues" which stars Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole as Handy, dies of acute bronchial pneumonia at age 84 before the movie is released later the same year, and is later buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Jimmy Smith (with unlisted musicians) records the title "Walk On The Wild Side" for Verve Records. Blue Note Records will license the title and release it on Smith's album "The Definitive Jimmy Smith" (5-40038-2).

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Ged Grimes, a percussionist, bassist, keyboard player, and vocalist with the Virgin Records America group Meet Danny Wilson, is born Gerard Grimes. If anyone knows for sure where, please leave a comment.

1964 - Jan & Dean's Liberty Records single "Dead Man's Curve", with "The New Girl In School" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #7. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group.

1966 - Gary Lewis and The Playboys record the title "Green Grass" which will be released as a single by Liberty Records with "I Can Read Between The Lines" on the flipside.

1969 - Frank Loesser, a composer, dies in New York City, New York at age 58.

45 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Vera Lynn (on vocals with unlisted musicians on guitar, steel guitar, bass, drums, and strings) and the vocal group The Jordanaires record the titles "My Mother's Eyes", "Make The World Go Away", and "You Don't Know Me" at The Owen Bradley Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. After creating an edited version of "My Mother's Eyes" EMI will release it and the last two titles in England on Lynn's album "Vera Lynn In Nashville" (EMC 3203).

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