MARCH 31, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

110 Years Ago Today In 1908 - "Red" Norvo, a bandleader, xylophone and vibraphone player, session player, and Capitol Records artist is born Kenneth Norville in Beardstown, Illinois.

1934 - Shirley Jones, a singer, motion picture and television actress, and Capitol Records artist (on the soundtracks to the motion pictures "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel") is born Shirley Mae Jones in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", the flipside of Mercer's "I'm Gonna See My Baby", is still #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts.

1953 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Return To Paradise", "Make Her Mine", "Why Can't We Try Again?" and "I Am In Love" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Return To Paradise" as a single (Capitol 2489) with "Angel Eyes" (recorded January 14, 1953) on the flipside, "Make Her Mine" as a single (Capitol 2803) with "I Envy" (recorded August 24, 1953) on the flipside, "Why Can't We Try Again?" on the CD version of Cole's album "Ballads Of The Day" (7-99776-2), and "I Am In Love" as a single (Capitol 2459) with "My Flaming Heart" (recorded August 12, 1952) on the flipside.

1953 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Donald Robertson (listed as possibly) on piano, Margie Ann "Fiddlin' Kate" Warren on fiddle, Billy Liebert on accordion, Jack Marshall and Wesley Tuttle on guitar, and Dale Warren on bass, records the titles "One Misty, Moisty Morning", "Muskrat", and "Little Wendy Why Why" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "One Misty, Moisty Morning" and "Muskrat" on the children's album "Tex Ritter" (CAS-3167) and "Little Wendy Why Why" on the children's album also titled "Tex Ritter" (CAS-3202).

1953 - At a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first Stan Freberg and Pinto Colvig overdub vocals onto music tracks recorded by Van Alexander conducting his Orchestra (lineup unlisted) recorded on March 23, 1953 for the titles "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 3" and "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 4" then Mel Blanc overdubs vocals onto music tracks also recorded by Van Alexander conducting his orchestra on March 23, 1953 for the titles "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 1" and "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 2". After more overdubs are recorded on April 8 and 9, 1953 for the music tracks for "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 3" and "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 4", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on the children's album "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party" (DBX-3165) and will issue "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 1" and "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 2" on the children's album ""Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship" (CAS-3171).

65 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Ferlin Husky and His Hush Puppies's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

1958 - The Andrews Sisters (vocalists Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, and Patty Andrews), with unlisted others, record the titles "Torero" and "Sunshine" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol F3965).

1958 - Trumpet player Harry James and His Orchestra (Nick Buono, Ollie Mitchell, and Bob Rolfe also on trumpets, Bob Edmondson and Ray Sims on trombones, Ernie Tack on bass trombone, Herb Lorden and Willie Smith on alto saxophones, Bob Poland and Sam Firmature on tenor saxophones, Ernie Small on baritone saxophone, Jack Perciful on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Russ Phillips on bass, and Jackie Mills on drums) record the titles "Just Lucky", "Fair And Warmer", and "Bangtail" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on James' album "The New James" (EAP-1/2/3-1037 on 7" EP and T/ST 1037 on 12" LP).

1958 - Carmen Dragon conducts The Capitol Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Flotow's "M'Appari (From 'Martha')", Leoncavallo's "Vesti La Giubba (From "Pagliacci')", and Puccini's "Musetta's Waltz Song (From 'La Bohème')" on Stage 7 in The Goldwyn Studios at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Formosa in West Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "The Orchestra Sings" (P/SP-8440) as by The Capitol Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carmen Dragon.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, violinist Nathan Milstein and pianist Leon Pommers record Mozart's "Sonata In C Major, K. 296, Part 1" at the first session and "Sonata In C Major, K. 296, Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue both parts on Milstein's and Pommers' album "MOZART Sonatas For Violin & Piano" (P-8452).

1963 - The Journeymen (John Phillips and Scott McKenzie on vocals and guitars and Dick Weissman on guitar and banjo) possibly record the titles "Country Blues", "Ben And Me", and "Virgin Mary" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Country Blues" and "Ben And Me" on the group's album "New Directions In Folk Music" (T/ST 1951) and "Virgin Mary" on the CD "Capitol Collectors Series -The Journeymen" (7-98536-2). The master files show the session held on May 31, 1963, but the date given in the CD "Capitol Collectors Series -The Journeymen" was March 31, 1963.

1964 - The Beatles become the first musical act to hold the top 5 positions ("Can't Buy Me Love" at #1, "Twist and Shout" at #2, "She Loves You" at #3, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" at #4, and "Please Please Me" at #5) on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1968 - Skeets McDonald (born Enos William McDonald), singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, dies in California at age 52 after suffering a massive heart attack.

1968 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone", with "Everybody Needs Somebody" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1968 - Overdubs are recorded for The Beach Boys' title "Be Here In The Morning" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

1974 - Blue Swede's Capitol Records single "Hooked On A Feeling", with "Gotta Have Your Love" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1978 - Vocalist and pianist Alan Gordon, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Jack Nitzsche, records the titles "How Can I Leave Her", "Over The Airwaves", and "I'm Comin' Down With A Thrill" in Los Angeles, California. No issuing information is listed for "How Can I Leave Her". Capitol Records initially schedules "Over The Airwaves" and "I'm Comin' Down With A Thrill" to be released on the album "Alan Gordon - Alley & The Soul Sneekers" (SW-11845) which was not released then issues just "I'm Comin' Down With A Thrill" on the album "Alley & The Soul Sneekers" (SW-11913) as by Alan Gordon and has yet to issue "Over The Airwaves".

1983 - Bob Seger, on acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, vocals, and The Silver Bullet Band (Chris Campbell on bass, Alto Reed on tenor and baritone saxophones, John "J.R." Robinson on drums, Craig Frost on organ, synthesizer, piano, and keyboards, and Bill Payne also on synthesizer, piano, keyboards) perform the title "Fortunate Son" at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan during a live performance that was recorded. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5532) with "American Storm" (unlisted recording date) on the flipside and as a bonus track on the CD release of the group's album "Like A Rock" (7-46195-2).

1988 - Vocalist Johnny Rodriguez, with unlisted others, records the titles 'You Might Want To Use Me Again", "I Wanta Wake Up With You", and "Someday I'm Gonna Finish Leaving You" at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "You Might Want To Use Me Again" as a single (Capitol 44245) with "She Loves Austin" (recorded April 26, 1988) on the flipside and after remixing "I Wanta Wake Up With You" will issue the new version of the title and "Someday I'm Gonna Finish Leaving You" together as a single (Capitol 44204).

1991 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Two Of A Kind Workin' On A Full House", with "Unanswered Prayers" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1943 - "Oklahoma!" (originally titled "Away We Go") opens on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City, New York with stars Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts, Celeste Holm, and Howard DeSilva. Later made into a motion picture, Capitol Records will release its soundtrack which will become the first album to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

60 Years Ago Today In 1962 - EMI withdraws all 78 rpm records in their catalogue.

1980 - EMI Records, Capitol Records parent company, reports a twelve months trading loss of £2,800,000.

1995 - Selena (born Selena Quintanilla Perez), singer and EMI Latin artist, is shot by the president of her fan club and dies at age 24.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1949 - To compete with Columbia's new 33 rpm LP, RCA Victor debuts it 45 rpm (78-33=45) system when it releases 76 albums (3 or 4 discs in a boxed set) and 104 singles on 7-inch large-hole 45-rpm records. The first 45 rpm disc,"Texarkana Baby" by Eddy Arnold, was issued by RCA in the US on March 31, 1949. It was made of green vinyl, as part of an early attempt to color-code singles according to the genre of music they featured. Others included red for classical music and yellow for children's songs. Capitol Records will be the first label to release its product in all three formats.