APRIL 11, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1921 - Dorothy Shay (aka "The Park Avenue Hillbilly"), singer, comedian, actress, and Capitol Records artist, is born Dorothy Nell Sims in Jacksonville, Florida.

1932 - Joel Grey, a singer, dancer, a Broadway, motion picture, and television performer, son of comedian and Capitol Records artist Mickey Katz, father of motion picture and television actress Jennifer Grey and chef James Grey, and a Capitol Records artist, is born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, Ohio.

1970 - Dylan Keefe, bass player and background vocalist in the Capitol Records group Marcy Playground is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles and Most Played By Jockeys charts and #4 on the magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart. Also, "Pretend" is #6, Nat "King" Cole with Billy May and His Orchestra's single "Can't I" is #17, and its flipside, "Blue Gardenia", is #28 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1953 - Vocalist Jimmy Wakely, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "I Just Can't Take It Anymore", "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", "You Are An Angel", and "This Orchid Means Goodbye" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind" and "This Orchid Means Goodbye" together as a single (Capitol 2484) and has yet to issue "I Just Can't Take It Anymore" and "You Are An Angel".

1955 - Jean Shepard records the titles "Satisfied Mind", which Capitol Records will release as a single with "Take Possession" on the flipside in May 1955, and "Beautiful Lies", which Capitol will release with "I Thought Of You" on the flipside in September 1955, at Capitol Records' Melrose studios in Hollywood, California with producer Ken Nelson.

1956 - Keely Smith and Louis Prima sign a contract with Capitol Records. I had the unexpected joy of meeting Keely late one night in The Capitol Tower Studios. I was heading down the hall towards the parking lot on my way home and she was coming out of the hallway from the studios. I recognized her at once and was just blown away. I mean, who could imagine bumping into Keely Smith at the Tower in 1999? Overcoming my tongue-tied shyness when meeting legends, I introduced myself, told her what a pleasure it was to meet her, and asked what brought her back to Capitol. She said she was working on a new album which turned out to be "Swing, Swing, Swing" released by Concord in 2000. She was very gracious and seemed tickled that someone, besides those working in the studios, recognized her and appreciated the significance of her return.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #19 on WMCA's Wax To Watch chart in New York City, New York.

1958 - Freddy Martin conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "We Live For Love Tonight (Theme From Rachmaninoff's 'Concerto #2')", "Donna Diane", "Cornish Rhapsody", "Moonlight Sonata", and "Till The End Of Time" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Martin and his orchestra's album "Concerto!" (W/SW 1066).

1958 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the titles "Get Out Of Town", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", and a new take of "Night And Day" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Bushkin's album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter" (T/ST 1030).

1958 - During two sessions held this day at City Auditorium in Houston, Texas, Leopold Stokowski conducts The Houston Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record parts of Shostakovich's "Symphony N° 11" at the first session and parts of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the parts of "Symphony N° 11" on the album "SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony N° 11, Opus 103" (PBR/SPBR-8448) and all the parts of "Carmina Burana" on the album "ORFF - Carmina Burana" (PAR/SPAR-8470).

1963 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Ralph Carmichael conducting the orchestra (Jimmy Rowles on piano, Laurindo Almeida, Bobby Gibbons, and Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Frank Carlson on drums, Larry Bunker on percussion and a string section with Emil Briano, Arthur Brown, Harold Dicterow, Elliott Fisher, Lou Klass, Sarah Kreindler, William Kurash, Alfred Lustgarten, Emanuel Moss, Alex Murray, Lou Raderman, Isadore Roman, and Nathan Ross on violin, Cecil Figelski, Allan Harshman, and Gary Nuttycombe on viola, and Alex Borisoff, Jesse Ehrlich, Hyman Gold, and William Vandenburg on cello), records the titles "In The Cool Of The Day" then, with a vocal chorus (lineup unlisted) "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer", two takes of "Felicia" and "You'll See", finishing with "Mr. Wishing Well" at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "In The Cool Of The Day" and "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer" together as a single (Capitol 4965), "In The Cool Of The Day" also on the album "Cat Ballou" (T/ST 2340), "Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer" also on the album "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" (T/ST 1932) and, with a reprised ending added, as a single (still Capitol 4965) still with "In The Cool Of The Day" on the flipside and also on the album "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" (T/ST 1932), "Felicia", after a rhythm track is overdubbed, on the album "The Beautiful Ballads" (T/ST 2820) in 1967, "You'll See" as a single (Capitol 5486) with "Wanderlust" (recorded June 3, 1964) on the flipside and, after a rhythm track is overdubbed, also on the album "The Beautiful Ballads, and "Mr. Wishing Well" as a single (Capitol 5027) with "That Sunday, That Summer" (recorded May 16, 1963) on the flipside and, after a rhythm track is overdubbed, on the album "Thank You, Pretty Baby" (T/ST 2759). Bear Family Records will issue all the songs and all the takes in the CD box set "Nat 'King' Cole - The Complete Capitol Recordings (1960-1964)" (BCD 16717).

1963 - The Journeymen (John Phillips and Scott McKenzie on vocals and guitars and Dick Weissman on guitar and banjo) record the titles "San Francisco Bay Blues", "Bay Of Mexico", and "Someday Baby" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "New Directions In Folk Music" (T/ST 1951).

1963 - Bandleader and trumpet player Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (Lewis McCreary on trombone, Bob Hardaway on tenor saxophone, Leo Anthony on baritone saxophone, Kellie Green on piano, Don Simpson on bass, and Nick Ceroli on drums), with a vocal chorus (lineup unlisted) and using arrangments by Don Simpson, records the titles "On Broadway" using an arrangement by Don Simpson, "Mexican Market Day" and "Heartaches" using arrangements by Jimmy Haskell, "You're The Reason I'm Livin'", End Of The World", "Days Of Wine And Roses", "I Wanna Be Around" and "I'm Just A Country Boy" using arrangements by Don Simpson in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "On Broadway", "You're The Reason I'm Livin'", "End Of The World", "Days Of Wine And Roses","I Wanna Be Around", and "I'm Just A Country Boy" on Anthony and his orchestra's album "Smash Hits Of '63" (T/ST 1917) and "Mexican Market Day" and "Heartaches" together as a single (Capitol 4972).

1963 - Narrator Stan Kenton, with Ralph Charmichael conducting his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Rubin Decker, Allan Harshman, and Gary Nuttycombe on violins, Cecil Figelski on violas, Alexander Borisoff, William Vandenburg, Jesse Ehrlich, and Hyman Gold on cellos, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Bobby Gibbons on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Frank Carlson on drums) and Choir (lineup unlisted), records the title "What Is A Santa Claus? (Silent Night) in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 4:30 PM and 5:45 PM. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5085) with "O Tannenbaum" (recorded March 14, 1961) on the flipside.

1964 - The Beatles occupy a record-breaking fourteen positions on US Hot 100 chart - "Can't Buy Me Love" (1), "Twist and Shout" (2), "She Loves You" (4), "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (7), "Please Please Me" (9), "Do You Want To Know A Secret" (14), "I Saw Her Standing There" (38), "You Can't Do That" (48), "All My Loving" (50), "From Me To You" (52), "Thank You Girl (61), "There's A Place" (74), "Roll Over Beethoven" (78), and "Love Me Do" (81).

55 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Capitol Records artist Judy Garland divorces her husband Mark Herron.

1968 - During three sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalists Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, record the titles "My Elusive Dreams" and "Let It Be Me" at the first session, the titles "Little Green Apples", "Gentle On My Mind" and "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" at the second session, and the titles "Peaceful", "Dangling Conversation", "Heart To Heart Talk", "Imagination", and, with Gentry on vocals, "Words" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "My Elusive Dreams" and "Let It Be Me" also on April 11, 1968, "Words" on May 10, 1968, "Let It Be Me" and "Little Green Apples" on May 28, 1968, "My Elusive Dream", "Gentle On My Mind", and "Heart To Heart Talk" on August 2, 1968, and "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and "Dangling Conversation" on August 6, 1968, Capitol Records will issue "My Elusive Dreams", "Let It Be Me", "Little Green Apples", "Gentle On My Mind", "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", "Heart To Heart Talk", and Imagination" on the album "Bobbie Gentry And Glen Campbell" (ST 2928), has yet to issue "Peaceful" and "Dangling Conversation", and will issue "Words" on Campbell's album "Wichita Lineman" (SU/ST/SM-103).

1968 - Stained Glass (lineup unlisted) records the title "Thank You" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Busy Doing Nothing" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

1968 - Vocalist Willie Hightower, with unlisted trumpet, trombone, tenor and baritone saxophone, piano, guitar, electric bass, and drums players and a choir (lineup unlisted), records the title "It's A Miracle", "He Had A Dream", "Time Waits For No One", and "Nobody But You" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "It's A Miracle" and "Nobody But You" together as a single (Capitol 2226) and has yet to issue either "He Had A Dream" or "Time Waits For No One".

1968 - The Geezinslaw Brothers (vocalists Sam Allred and Raymond Dewayne Smith), with unlisted others, record the titles "Sugar" and "Boney And Claude" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2184).

1969 - Apple Records, with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States, releases The Beatles' single "Get Back", with "Don't Let Me Down" on the flipside.

1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Let it Be", with "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1973 - Final overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Al Martino's title If I Give My Heart To You". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 3604) with "Hey Mama" (recorded April 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10, 1973) on the flipside.

1978 - Vocalist Cheryl Ladd, with unlisted others, records the titles "Good, Good Lovin'" and Here Is A Song" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Ladd's self-titled album "Cheryl Ladd" (SW-11808), "Good, Good Lovin'" also as a single (Capitol 4650) with "Skinny Dippin'" (recorded April 10, 1978) on the flipside, and "Here Is A Song" also as a single (Capitol 4599) with "Think It Over" (also recorded on April 10, 1978) on the flipside.

1981 - A Taste Of Honey's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki", with "Don't You Lead Me On" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "Mixed Emotions" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328) and also as a single (Capitol 5302) with "Sever The Ties" (recorded April 13, 1983) on the flipside.

35 Years Ago Today In 1987 - Poison's Capitol Records single "Talk Dirty To Me", with "Look What The Cat Dragged In" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1988 - Boogie Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "KMO Step Off" at an unlisted studio for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1998 - Capitol Records artist Merle Travis is named a charter inductee in the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame.

2006 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' compilation box set "The Beatles: The Capitol Albums Vol. 2".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Future Capitol Records artist Dean Martin and his wife Elizabeth welcome their second daughter, Barbara Gail Martin, into the world.

1963 - Pianist Horace Silver, with Blue Mitchell and Kenny Dorham on trumpets, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Julius Watkins on French horn, Junior Cook and Jimmy Heath on tenor saxophones, Charles Davis on baritone saxophone, Gene Taylor on bass, and Roy Brooks on drums, records the titles "Silver's Serenade, "Sweet Sweetie Dee", "Nineteen Bars", and "Nest Time I Fall In Love" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for Blue Note Records which will reject all the takes of all the titles.

1968 - The 3 Sounds (Gene Harris on piano, Andrew Simpkins on bass, and Donald Bailey on drums), with Melvin Moore, Buddy Childers, Bobby Bryant, and Freddy Hill on trumpets, Lou Blackburn, Pete Myers, and Billy Byers on trombones, Ernie Tack on bass trombone, Anthony Ortega and Frank Strozier on alto saxophones, Jay Migliori on tenor saxophone, Bill Green on baritone saxophone, Ken Watson on percussion, and Lou Singer on tympani and percussion using arrangements by Oliver Nelson, record the titles "My Romance", "Lonely Bottles", "Do Do Do (What Now Is Next)", "Coldwater Flat", and "Last Train To Clarksville" at Liberty Studios in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Coldwater Flat" (BST84285).

2001 - Sir Harry Secombe (born Harry Donald Secombe), singer, comedian, motion picture ("Down Among The Z-Men", "Oliver!"), television and radio performer (most notably as Neddy Seagoon on "The Goon Show") and Parlophone Records artist (whose "Goon Show" recordings were produced by George Martin), dies from prostate cancer at his home in Shamley Green, Guildford, Surrey, England at age 79.