AUGUST 1, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1922 - Maria Cole, singer, wife of Tuskegee Airman Spurgeon Ellington who was killed in a plane crash in 1945, second wife and widow of Nat "King" Cole, mother of Natalie, Casey and Timolin Cole, and adoptive mother of Carole Cole and Nat Kelly Cole, is born Marie Antoinette Hawkins in Boston, Massachusetts.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1947 - Trumpet player Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra (Archie Johnson, Jack Stametz, and Bobby Peck also on trumpets, Keith Butterfield and Ken Schrudder on trombones, Earl Pearson on alto saxophone, Bill Stegmeyer on clarinet and alto saxophone, Bill Cervantes and Bob Levine on tenor saxophones, Norman Elvin on baritone saxophone, Mickey Crane on piano, Bob Haggart on bass, and Pete Vuolo on drums) record the titles "Pic-A-Nic-In (In The Park) with vocals by Patricia O'Connor, "My Silent Love" with vocals by  Tommy Taylor, "Begin The Beguine", and "Bugle Call Rag" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Pic-A-Nic-In (In The Park)" and "My Silent Love" together as a single (Capitol 457) and have yet to issue the takes of "Begin The Beguine" and "Bugle Call Rag" which will be re-recorded at later dates.

1952 - Vocalist Frances Faye, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Night And Day", "Tweet, Tweet, Tweetheart", and "On A Raft (In The Middle Of The Ocean)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Night And Day" and "Tweet, Tweet, Tweetheart" together as a single (Capitol 2224) and "On A Raft (In The Middle Of The Ocean)" as a single (Capitol 2347) with "My Last Affair" (recorded September 2, 1952) on the flipside.

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Return To Paradise" is #27, his single "Pretend" is #39, and his single "I Am In Love" is #43 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1957 - Gene Vincent's Capitol Records single "Lotta Lovin'" peaks at #13 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1957 - The Jazz Giants of '58 (Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Stan Getz on tenor saxophone, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and Louis Bellson on drums) record the tracks "Chocolate Sundae, Parts 1 and 2", "When Your Lover Has Gone", "Candy", Woody 'N You" and "Ballad Medley: It Never Entered My Mind/Lush Life/Lullaby of the Leaves/Makin' Whoopee" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for the Verve album "Jazz Giants '58" (21215-1).

65 Years Ago Today In 1960 - Ella Fitzgerald is in The Capitol Tower Studios recording the titles "Hooray For Love", "I've Got The World On A String", "Let's Take A Walk Around The Block", "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive", "When The Sun Comes Out", "As Long As I Live", "It's Only A Paper Moon" and "The Man That Got Away" for her Verve Records album "Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Harold Arlen Song Book" with Billy May  conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra which included Don Fagerquist on trumpet; Ted Nash on alto saxophone; Plas Johnson on tenor saxophone; Paul Smith on piano; John Collins or possibly Al Hendrickson on guitar; Joe Mondragon on bass; and Alvin Stoller on drums.

1963 - John P. Davis, who earned a Masters of Science degree from CalTech in 1948, was on the technical staff of the air defense department of Hughes Aviation, had a commercial pilot's license, was a member of the SkyRoamers Club, and had been director of Capitol Records' electronics division since 1960, is killed when his glider crashes near Apple Valley, California after being caught in a downdraft. An article on functional design for commercial recording studios that Davis had written for "The Journal Of The Audio Engineering Society" is published posthumously in its October 1963 issue. If anyone has any more information on Mr. Davis, please leave a comment.

1964 - Judy Garland, at her last recording session for Capitol Records, records the tracks "It's Yourself", "The Land Of Promise", "Maggie, Maggie May", and "There's Only One Union". The recording would not be released in the United States, but would be released in the U.K on the EP "Judy Sings Maggie May".

1968 - Capitol Records changes the swing line on the labels of its 45rpm singles to reflect corporate restructuring which made it a subsidiary of Capitol Records Industries, Inc. U.S.A. It also was the debut of 45s made with retooled pressing machines at it's Scranton, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles plants which produce the "non-slip" disc, which has a ring of 360 notches around the label to either interlock to other records when stacked or, because the notches are raised, grip the smooth surface of records without the serrations. In addition, the size of the labels is reduced from 3.625" TO 3.3125" to accommodate the notched ring. This type of disc is produced for one year. The Fab4Collectibles website has images of various types of 45 rpm labels that were produced.

1978 - Dr. Hook (Ray Sawyer on lead vocals, Dennis Locorriere on harmonica, guitar, bass and lead vocals, Bob "Willard" Henke on vocals, guitar, and keyboards, Rik Elswit on vocals and guitar, Jance Garfat on bass, Billy Francis on keyboards and vocals, John Wolters on vocals, drums, and percussion), with unlisted female harmony singers and producer Ron Haffkine, records the title "Sharing The Night Together" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 4621) with "You Make My Pants Want To Get Up And Dance" (recorded July 18, 1978) on the flipside and also on the group's album "Pleasure & Pain" (SW-11859).

1998 - Alan Livingston, former Capitol Records president, receives the Lifetime of Laughter Achievement Award for his creation of Bozo the Capitol Records Clown at the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

2007 - At 12:15 pm, 45 minutes before its final extension deadline, Terra Firma Capital Partners succeeds in acquiring 90.27% approval from the stockholders of EMI Group PLC (parent company of EMI Music Group, the then parent company of Capitol Music Group) to purchase the company for £2.4 billion (US$4.89 billion).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - James Petrillo, president of The American Federation of Musicians, declares a strike, banning all musicians in the union from recording. Capitol Records has stockpiled recordings and also comes up with a few novel ways around the ban until they become one of the first majors to settle with the union in June of 1943.

65 Years Ago Today In 1960 - The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, West Germany, with Stu Sutcliffe on bass guitar and Pete Best on drums.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1981 - MTV debuts when it airs The Buggles "Video Killed The Radio Star".

JULY 31, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1946 - Bob Welch, singer, guitarist, member of the bands Fleetwood Mac, Paris, Touch, and Avenue M as well as being a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Robert Welch in Los Angeles, California.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Capitol Records' sixteenth ever recording session is held at C. P. MacGregor Studios at 729 South Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Pianist Freddie Slack and His Orchestra (Clyde Hurley, Emanuel "Mannie" Klein, and George Wendt on trumpet, William Anthens and Ed Kusby on trombone, Al Harding, Joe Knechtel, and Henry Evans on reeds, Louis Gonzales on guitar, Fred Whiting on bass, and John Cyr on drums) record the titles "That Old Black Magic" with vocals by Margaret Whiting, "Old Rob Roy" with vocals by Ella Mae Morse, "Hit The Road To Dreamland" with vocals by Margaret Whiting, Johnny Mercer, and the vocal group The Mellowaires (lineup unlisted), and "Get On Board, Little Chillun" again with vocals by Ella Mae Morse and The Mellowaieres between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Later that day Slack and His Orchestra (with the addition of Don Anderson and Bert Harry and minus George Wendt on trumpet, minus Henry Evans on reeds, and the addition of Hubert "Bumps" Meyers on tenor saxophone) are back at C. P. MacGregor studios and record the titles "Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail", "The Wreck Of The Old 97", and "I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City" all with vocals by Johnny Mercer, and "Mr. Anthony Blues" with vocals by Johnny Mercer, Ella Mae Morse, and Freddie Slack. This will be Capitol's last recording session until October 15, 1943, due to the AFM recording strike which starts the next day on August 1, 1942. Capitol Records will issue "That Old Black Magic" and "Hit The Road To Dreamland" together as a single (Capitol 126), "Old Rob Roy" and "Get On Board, Little Chillun" together as a single (Capitol 133), "Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail" as a single (Capitol 137) with "That Old Music Master" (recorded June 12, 1942) on the flipside, and "The Wreck Of The Old 97" and "I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City" together as a single (Capitol 122). Mosaic Select will issue all the titles in the 3 CD box set "Freddie Slack" (MS-018).

1947 - Vocalists Freddie Stewart and The Dream Lady (identity unlisted), with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "I'll Be There" and "Back In Your Own Backyard" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 459).

1952 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Sweet William", "Because Your Mine", "Sleeping Beauty", and "I'm Never Satisfied" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Sweet William" and "Sleeping Beauty" on a promo record (4303) and "Because You're Mine" and "I'm Never Satisfied" together as a single (Capitol 2212).

1952 - Vocalist June Christy, with Pete Rugolo directing his own arrangements to the orchestra (Mannie Klein, Ollie Mitchell, Carlton McBeath, and Pete Candoli on trumpet, Francis Howard, Ed Kusby, Paul Tanner, and Si Zentner on trombone, Bob Cooper and Maxwell Davis on tenor saxophone, Bob Lawson on baritone saxophone, Buddy Cole on piano, John Collins on guitar, Charles Harris on bass, Lee Young and Alvin Stoller on drums and percussion, Jack Costanzo on congas, Mischa Russell, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hill, Harry Bluestone, Erno Neufeld, and Jacques Gasselin on violin, Stanley Harris and David Sterkin on cello, and Ann Mason Stockton on harp), records the titles "Some Folks Do And Some Folks Don't" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 2199) with "Bie Mir Bist Du Schoen" (recorded June 30, 1952) on the flipside.

1957 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Leonard Mach, Vito Mangano, Pete Candoli, and Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, William Schaefer, Murray McEachern, and Lloyd Ulyate on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Red Callender on tuba, Willie Smith and Willie Schwartz on alto saxophones, Buddy Collette and Jules Jacob on tenor saxophones, Fred Falensby on baritone saxophone, Jimmy Rowles on piano, John Collins on guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, Lee Young on drums, Frank Flynn on percussion, and Helen Bliss Hutchison on harp), records the titles "Just One Of Those Things", "I Should Care", "The Party's Over" and a remake of the title "Just For The Fun Of It" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:25PM and 5:15 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Cole's album "Just One Of Those Things" (W/SW 903).

1957 - Vocalist Dakota Staton and pianist George Shearing, with Jean "Toots" Thielemans on guitar, Al McKibbon on bass, and Percy Brice on drums and using arrangements by Shearing, record the titles "Confessin' The Blues", an instrumental version of "The Late, Late Show", and "I'd Love To Make Love To You" in New York City, New York between 12:00 PM and 3:30PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "The George Shearing Quintet With Dakota Staton - In The Night" (T/DT 1003).

1957 - Jerry Shard directs an orchestra and chorus (lineups unlisted) as they record the titles "Trombone Rock", "You're The Most", "Fantail", and "Put Your Little Foot" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1957 - Don Carroll, with unlisted others, records the titles "At Your Front Door" and "The Gods Were Angry With Me" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol F3838).

1962 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Walter Rain conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records a remake of the title "The Sermon Of Samson" and the titles "Work Song", "Why Don't You Swing Down", and "Long Time Man" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Sermon Of Samson", "Work Song" and "Why Don't You Swing Down" on Darin's album "Earthy!" (T/ST 1826) and have yet to issue the take of "Long Time Man" recorded at this session.

1967 - Dave Cavanaugh and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "There Goes My Everything", "The World We Know", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", "Spanish Eyes", and "The Happening" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Cavanaugh's album "Hits On Hits" (T/ST 2834).

1967 - Vocalist Ray Pennington, with unlisted others, records the titles "Big Operator", "Who's Gonna Walk The Dog", "Everything Except Our Love (Seems To Be Alright)", and "You Be My Woman (I'll Be Your Man)" and overdubs for the titles "Someday You'll Fall Back To Me" and "You Turned the Lights On" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Who's Gonna Walk The Dog" and "You Turned The Lights On" together as a single (Capitol 2006), "Someday You'll Fall Back To Me" as a single (Capitol 2118) with "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" (recorded January 23, 1968) on the flipside, and has yet to issue "Big Operator, "Everything Except Our Love (Seems To Be Alright)", and "You Be My Woman (I'll Be Your Man)".

1968 - The Beatles, with orchestral accompaniment, record the released master track for their song "Hey Jude" using the eight-track recording machine at Trident Studios in London, England.

1972 - Alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, with Nat Adderley on cornet, George Duke on piano, Walter Booker on bass, Roy McCurdy on drums, Airto Moreira on percussion and vocals, King Errison Mayuto Correa, and Octavio on percussion, and vocalists Flora Purim and Olga James, records the titles, "The Happy People", "Maria Tres Filhos", "Ela", and, with David T. Walker and Chuck Rainey on electric basses and without Mayuto Correa and Octavio on percussion, "Savior" in Studio A in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Cannonball Adderley's album "The Happy People" (ST-11121).

1976 - Natalie Cole, singer and Capitol Records artist, marries Marvin Yancy, a songwriter and a producer.

35 Years Ago Today In 1990 - Capitol Records Nashville calls the R.I.A.A. to request that Garth Brooks' self-titled debut album be certified Gold
1994 - Ramblin' Jimmie Dolan, singer, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (1949-1955) dies at age 78.

2004 - Capitol Records releases the compilation CD "Cocktails With Cole Porter".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Gary Lewis, singer, drummer, bandleader of Liberty Records recording artists Gary Lewis and The Playboys, and son of future Capitol Records artist Jerry Lewis, is born Gary Harold Lee Lewis in Los Angeles, California. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

30 Years Ago Today In 1995 - Pink Floyd's 2-CD live album "P*U*L*S*E", released by EMI in the U.K. and Columbia in the U.S. is certified Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum by the R.I.A.A.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1931 - "The Shadow", the mystery-adventure series based on the pulp magazine stories, makes its radio debut.

1951 - Ray Charles marries his first wife, Eileen Williams. After having one child, they will divorce in 1952.

1951 - Peggy Lee records the track "San Souci" with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra for Decca Records.

60 Years Ago Today In 1965 - J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, is born Joanne Kathleen Rowling in the General Hospital at Chipping Sodbury, near her parents' home in Yate, Gloucestershire, England.

1967 - Judy Garland's variety revue titled, "Judy Garland; At Home at the Palace" opens on Broadway at the Palace Theatre. Joining her onstage to perform were her children, Lorna and Joey Luft. The show ran for 32 performances.

1971 - The first lunar rover is driven on the surface of the moon by astronauts as part of the Apollo 15 mission

JULY 30, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1936 - John W. Anderson (aka KaSandra), songwriter, Stax/Respect and Capitol Records artist, and father of pianist, guitarist, singer, and inventor Yul Anderson is born. If anyone has any further information about John W. Anderson, or KaSandra, please post a response or contact me via email.

1992 - Zoë Gillespie, Vice President - Brand Partnership + Strategic Marketing for Capitol Records, is born.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - During a three-way split session, which is Capitol Records fifteenth session, held this day in Los Angeles, California with Gordon Jenkins conducting His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), first Six Hits And A Miss (vocalists Marvin Bailey, Lee Gotch, Tony Parisis aka Tony Paris, Mack MacLean, William Seckler, and Vincent Degen, with featured vocalist Pauline Byrnes) record the titles "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Two On A Bike", then just Jenkins and the orchestra with featured vocalist Bob Carroll record the titles "White Christmas", "Heaven For Two", "There'll Never Be Another You" and "Daybreak", then Six Hits And A Miss are back to record "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "Would You Rather Be A Colonel With An Eagle On Your Shoulder, Or A Private With A Chicken On Your Knee". Capitol Records will issue "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "Two On A Bike" together as a single (Capitol 135), "White Christmas" and "Heaven For Two" together as a single (Capitol 124), "There'll Never Be Another You" and "Daybreak" together as a single (Capitol 119) and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "Would You Rather Be A Colonel With An Eagle On Your Shoulder, Or A Private With A Chicken On Your Knee" together as a single (Capitol 127).

1948 - The King Cole Trio's booking at Ciro's in Los Angeles, California of two shows a night, which started on July 16, ends. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #7 on The Billboard magazine's England's Top Twenty chart, #10 on the magazine's Canada's Top Tunes chart, and #12 on the magazine's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart.

1963 - The Beatles record the titles "It Won't Be Long", "Money (That's What I Want)", and "Please Mr. Postman" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Yesterday And Today" hits #1 on Billboard's album chart.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1958 - Kate Bush, singer, songwriter and EMI America recording artist, is born Catherine Bush in Bexleyheath, Kent, England. Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns EMI America's catalog.

1962 - Liberty Records releases Johnny Burnette's last single for the label "Damn The Defiant" (also the first A side of his singles that he wrote himself) with "Lonesome Waters" on the flipside. Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Liberty's catalog.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

70 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Johnny Cash records the titles "Folsom Prison Blues", "Mean Eyed Cat," "Luther's Boogie" and "So Doggone Lonesome" for Sun Records.

JULY 29, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

75 Years Ago Today In 1950 - Jimmy Robinson, musician, record producer, and recording engineer who will work with various Capitol Records artist is born James Kelly Robinson II in Washington, D.C. 

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Peggy Lee, with arranger and conductor Frank Devol and His Orchestra (Uan Rasey and Lenny Mach on trumpet; Paul Wiegand on trombone; Dick Perissi on french horn; Skeets Herfurt, Julius Kinsler, Lou Palange, and Paul McLarand on reeds; Henry Sugar, Joe Livoti, Victor Arno, Joe Quadri, Walter Edelstein, and Ted Rosen on violin; Paul Lowenkron and Elizabeth Sugar on viola; Julius Tannenbaum on cello; June Weiland on harp; Dave Barbour on guitar; Buddy Cole on piano; Fred Whiting on bass; John Cyr on drums) records the titles "The Best Man", "If You Were The Only Boy", "Love Doesn't Grow On Trees", "I Guess I'll Get The Papers And Go Home", and "My Sugar Is So Refined" to be released by Capitol Records on transcription discs for radio at Radio Recorders studios in Los Angeles, California.

1949 - Sammy Davis, Jr. supplies vocals and tap sounds for his tracks "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile", "Dedicated To You", "Azure", and "Inka Dinka Doo" for Capitol Records at Capitol Records' Melrose Studios in Hollywood California with arranger, conductor and tenor saxophonist Dave Cavanaugh, Mickey Mangano on trumpet, Gus Bivona on alto saxophone, Art Hulette on baritone saxophone, Mike Rubin on bass, and Don Lamond on drums.

70 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Same Old Saturday Night" "You Forgot All The Words", and "Fairy Tale" with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle and Mahlon Clark, Justin Gordon, Jerome Kasper, Babe Russin, and Wilbur Schwartz on reeds;, Frank Beach, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Clarence "Shorty" Sherock, and Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpets; Raymond Klein, Jim Priddy, and Si Zentner on trombones; George Roberts on bass trombone; Jack Marshall on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; Bill Miller on piano; Frank Flynn on vibraphone; Kathryn Julye on harp; Max Albright on drums; Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Henry Hill, Erno Neufeld, Nathan Ross, Mischa Russell, Eudice Shapiro, and Marshall Sosson on violins; Stanley Spiegelman and Dave Sterkin on viola; Armond Kaproff, Ray Kramer, and Edgar Lustgarten on cellos at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM.

1956 - Capitol Records artist Merle Travis attends a ceremony in his boyhood home town, Ebeneezer, Kentucky, to unveil a granite monument the town built to recognize his accomplishments. In 1991, Travis' ashes were buried under the monument.

1959 - Dean Martin records the track "Things We Did Last Summer" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with Gus Levene conducting the orchestra.

1984 - Fred Waring, band leader, music publisher, co-founder of the National Association of Performing Artists, inventor of the Waring blender, and Capitol Records artist, suffers a massive stroke at age 84 and dies in State College, Pennsylvania.

1994 - The Beastie Boys' Capitol Records album "Ill Communication" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.

1994 - Capitol Records releases the CD version of Red Rider's 1980 album "Don't Fight It".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1953 - The Chet Baker Quartet (Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, Russ Freeman on piano, and Carson Smith on bass), starts a recording sessions that ends early the next morning waxing two takes of the title "Russ Job", then the title "Imagination", two takes of "Long Ago And Far Away", and then the titles "Carson City Stage", "Easy To Love",  and "Batter Up (Lang's Lou)" with producer Richard Bock in Los Angeles, California for Pacific Jazz Records. Pacific Jazz's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company and distributed by Blue Note Records.

60 Years Ago Today On July 29, 1965 - United Artists premieres The Beatles' second movie "Help!" in London, England. The film will premiere in the United States on August 9, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois.

35 Years Ago Today In 1990 - Dan Seals' EMI America Records single "Good Times" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1974 - "Mama" Cass Elliot, motion picture actress, singer as a solo artist and with the group The Mamas And The Papas, dies in bed in Harry Nilsson's apartment in London, England from heart failure at age 32. Four years later, Keith Moon, drummer for The Who, would die in the same bed in the same room.

1983 - Raymond Massey, actor ("Things To Come", "Arsenic And Old Lace", "East Of Eden", etc.), dies at age 86 of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California.

1983 - David Niven, actor ("The Bachelor Mother", "Around The World In 80 Days", "The Pink Panther", "Casino Royale", "Murder By Death", etc.), dies at age 73 of ALS at his chalet at Chateau d'Oex in Switzerland.

1998 - Jerome Robbins, Broadway choreographer and director ("On The Town", "The King And I", "West Side Story", "High Button Shoes", "Wonderful Town", "Bells Are Ringing", "Fiddler on the Roof", the ballet "Fancy Free", etc.) dies of a stroke at age 79 in New York City.

JULY 28, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1901 - Rudy Vallée, singer, radio, motion picture, and television actor, leader of the Coast Guard band during the second World War, and a Capitol Records artist, was born Hubert Prior Vallée.

80 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Rick Wright, composer, vocalist, and keyboardist with the EMI Columbia, Harvest, Tower, Capitol, and Columbia Records group Pink Floyd, is born Richard William Wright in Hatch End, Middlesex, England.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Jack McLean and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), featuring Don Gilbert, records the titles "I Wanna Go Back To West Virginia" with vocals by Wayne Gregg, "You Can't Take Away My Dreams", "Full Moon And Empty Arms", and "I See It Your Eyes" with vocals by Don Gilbert" in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "I Wanna Go Back To West Virginia" and "I See It In Your Eyes" together as a single (Capitol 121) and have yet to issue the other two titles.

80 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Sante Fe", with "Conversations While Dancing" (with Jo Stafford sharing vocals) on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Best Sellers in Stores chart.

1956 - Capitol Records group Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps appears on "The Perry Como Show".

1958 - Capitol Records releases Nat "King" Cole's album "Cole Español" (W/DW 1031). Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me" is #24 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.

1963 -  - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #41 on WDRC 1360 AM's "The Big D" Swinging 60 Survey in Hartford, Connecticut.

1971 - Capitol Records releases George Harrison's Apple Records single "Bangla Desh" with "Deep Blue" on the flipside in the United States.

1973 - Capitol Records group The Band, following the Grateful Dead and before the Allman Brothers Band, perform before a crowd of over 600.000 Rock fans at the Watkins Glen Summer Jam held at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway outside Watkins Glen, New York.

2003 - Capitol Records releases The Dandy Warhols' two-disc CD single. On the first disc are the tracks "You Were The Last High" with a remix of "We Used To Be Friends" by Brian Coates and Clark Stiles, and Tony Lash's remix of "Every Day Should Be A Holiday". The second disc contains another version of "We Used To Be Friends", along with the tracks "Jim" and a live version of "Good Morning" recorded at the KCRW studios in Santa Monica, California. Capitol also releases a 7" vinyl single of "You Were The Last High" with a version of "We Used To Be Friends", remixed by Kenn Richards, on the flipside.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1936 - Future Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole makes his recording debut at age 17 playing piano as part of his older brother's band, Eddie Cole's Solid Swingers (Kenneth Roane on trumpet, Tommy Thompson on alto and tenor saxophone, Bill Wright on tenor saxophone, Eddie Cole on bass, and Jimmy Adams on drums), recording "Honey Hush" with vocals by Eddie Cole, "Stompin' At The Panama (Skoller's Shuffle)", "Bedtime (Sleepy Moan)" and "Thunder" for Decca Records in Chicago, Illinois using Nat's arrangements. Decca will release "Thunder" and "Honey Hush" together as a single (Decca 7210) and "Bedtime (Sleepy Moan)" and "Stompin' At The Panama (Skoller's Shuffle)" together as a single (Decca 7215).

1938 - George Cummings, composer, lead guitarist and steel guitarist as a solo artist and for the bands The Chocolate Papers and future Capitol Records artists Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (whom he named and co-founded in Union City, New Jersey in 1968 but left in 1975 right before the band signed with Capitol with the shortened name Dr. Hook), is born George H. Cummings in Meridian, Mississippi. If anyone knows his middle name, please leave a comment or contact me.

1941 - At age 19, future Capitol Records artist Judy Garland marries her first husband, composer and orchestra leader David Rose, whom she would divorce three years later in 1944.

1967 - The motion picture "The Family Way", with music by Paul McCartney (at the time part of the Capitol Records band The Beatles) and arranged by George Martin, released in the U.K. on December 18, 1966, premieres in New York City, New York.

1999 - Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde, singer and Earthworks Records recording artist dies. Earthworks was distributed by Virgin Records America in the United States. Virgin is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company. My wife and I went to one of his concerts when he and his band appeared at UCLA's Royce Hall and had the nicest, and most fun, time. Everyone in the audience got along and by the end were all up and dancing to the mighty roar of the Lion of Sowetto.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1957 - Jerry Lee Lewis appears on national television for the first time when he appears on "The Steve Allen Show" on NBC-TV.

JULY 27, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1933 - Nick Reynolds, singer and guitarist in the Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio, is born Nicholas Wells Reynolds in San Diego, California.

1944 - Bobbie Gentry, singer, songwriter and Capitol Records artist, is born Roberta Streeter in Chickasaw County, Mississippi.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #23 on KDWB's Fabulous Forty Survey in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota and #42 on Cash Box magazine's Top 100 Singles chart.

1968 - Capitol Records releases Merle Haggard's single "Mama Tried" with "You'll Never Love Me Now" on the flipside.

1968 - Capitol Records subsidiary Tower Records releases The Pink Floyd's album "A Saucerful of Secrets".

1969 - Capitol Records releases The Pink Floyd's soundtrack album for Barbet Schroeder's movie "More". This would be the the band's first album without Syd Barrett and the last album where the band was called The Pink Floyd.

55 Years Ago Today In 1970 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "The Great White Horse" with "Your Tender Loving Care", a duet with Susan Raye, on the flipside.

2004 - Capitol Records reissues Megadeth's albums, "Countdown to Extinction", "Cryptic Writings", "Peace  Sells ..But Who's Buying?", "Risk; Rust in Peace", "So Far, So Good..So What?!", and "Youthanasia", on CD.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - In her first recording session, future Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee supplies the vocal for future Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's track "Why Don't You Do Right", which would become her first big hit.

1976 - John Lennon's application for permanent residency in the United States is approved and he is granted his U.S. green card (A17-597-321).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1972 - "The Bobby Darin Amusement Company" debuts for a seven-week run on NBC-TV

JULY 26, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1922 - Jim Foglesong, singer, producer, 2004 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and president of Capitol Records Nashville from 1984-1989, is born in Lundale, West Virginia. The CMHF site has a good biographical article about Jim.

85 Years Ago Today In 1940 - Dobie Gray, singer, songwriter and Capitol Records artist (mid-1980s), is born either Leonard Victor Ainsworth or Laurence Darrow Brown in either Brookshire or Simonton, Texas.

1949 - Roger Taylor, drummer with the former Capitol Records group Queen, is born Roger Meddows Taylor in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson, and Ken Hanna on trumpets; Kai Winding, Harry Forbes, and Miff Sines on trombone; Bart Varsalona on bass trombone; Al Anthony and Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone; Vido Musso and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone; Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone; Kenton on piano; Bob Ahern on guitar; Eddie Safranski on bass; and Shelly Manne on drums) record the instrumental tracks (arranged by Kenton) "Fantasy" (arranged by Kenton, with solos by Kenton on piano, Safranski on bass, Musso on tenor saxophone, and Mussulli on alto saxophone), "Concerto To End All Concertos - Part 2" (with solos by the trombone section led by Winding, the saxophone section led by Anthony, the trumpet trio (Childers, Wetzel, Alvarez), Safranski on bass, and Manne on drums), and "Concerto To End All Concertos - Part 1" (with solos by Kenton on piano, Musso on tenor saxophone, Wetzel on trumpet, and Mussulli on alto saxophone) at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California with producer Lee Gillette.

75 Years Ago Today In 1950 - Armund Hug's Lousianans/New Orleans Jazzmen (George Girard on trumpet, Santo Pecora on trombone, Bujie Centobie on clarinet, Hug on piano, John Senac on bass, and Fred King on drums) record the titles "Dustin' Off The Ivory", "Sweetheart Of All My Dreams", "That Old Gang Of Mine", "A Dixie Jam Session" (an alternated take unissued until Mosaic records released it as part of its "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions" box set in 1997), and the released version of "A Dixie Jam Session", with producer Dave Dexter, Jr., for Capitol Records at WDSU studio in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me (Acercate Mas)" is #26 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty Survey in Los Angles, California and #45 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. The single's flipside "Nothing In The World" debuts at #51 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #38 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty Survey in Los Angeles, California.

1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "A Hard Day's Night" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

60 Years Ago Today In 1965 - Capitol Records simultaneously releases two albums by Buck Owens - "Before You Go/No One But You" and "The Instrumental Hits Of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos".

1969 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Johnny B. Goode" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1989 - Capitol Records Releases the compilation CDs "Johnny Mercer" and "Frank Sinatra" as part of its Capitol Collectors Series.

1998 - Garth Brook's Capitol Records Nashville single "To Make You Feel My Love" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

20 Years Ago Today In 2005 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Dierks Bentley is invited to join the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame while performing in Los Angeles at the House of Blues.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1939 - Future Capitol Records artist and just seventeen-year-old singer Kay Starr, at her first-ever recording session, waxed "Love With A Capital YOU" and "Baby Me", with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Harold Tennyson on clarinet, alto saxophone and baritone saxophone, Wilbur Schwartz on clarinet and alto saxophone, Hal McIntyre on alto saxophone, Al Klink and Tex Beneke on tenor saxophone, Al Mastren, Glenn Miller, and Paul Tanner on trombone, Clyde Hurley, Dale McMickie, and Legh Knowles on trumpet, Chummy McGregor on piano, Rowland Bundcock on bass, and Maurice Purtill on drums). They recorded the titles with producer Alan Dell at Victor Studios in New York City, New York for the Bluebird label during Starr's two week stint filling in for an ailing Marion Hutton (sister of future Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton).
Here's "Love With A Capital YOU"
Here's "Baby Me".

1943 - Mick Jagger, singer, songwriter, motion picture actor, solo artist, and member of the Virgin Records group The Rolling Stones, is born.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1973 - Ringo Starr starts a new music publishing company, Wobble Music Ltd.

JULY 25, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

70 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Scott Mathews, producer, Tiki artist, drummer, member of the Capitol Records production and recording duo The Durocs, and who also set up Capitol Records' first video department, is born in Sacramento, California. You can check out what Scott Mathews is currently up to at his own website.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson, and Ken Hanna on trumpets; Kai Winding, Harry Forbes, and Miff Sines on trombone; Bart Varsalona on bass trombone; Al Anthony and Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone; Vido Musso and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone; Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone; Kenton on piano; Bob Ahern on guitar; Eddie Safranski on bass; and Shelly Manne on drums) with vocalist June Christy record the Pete Rugulo arranged tracks "It's A Pity To Say Goodnight" (vocal by Christy and solo by Kenton), "Willow Weep For Me" (vocal by Christy and solos by Kenton, Safranski and Winding), and a version of "Fantasy" that was rejected, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California with producer Lee Gillette.

1961 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Under The Influence Of Love".

1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Carnegie Hall Concert".

1967 - The Shag (Ray McCall lead singer, fuzz guitarist and composer of the song, Paul "Green" Greenwald on drums, flute, congas, and vocals, Mike Lamers on guitar, congas, autoharp, percussion, and vocals, and Don Luther on bass guitar, percussion, and vocals) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin record the title "Stop And Listen" in Los Angeles, California with producer Alexis de Azevedo. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5995) with "Melissa" (recorded on July 24, 1967) on the flipside and will be the group's only release on the label.

1967 - Tommy Duncan, singer, songwriter, original member of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and Capitol Records artist (1949 as bandleader of Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars), dies at age 56 in San Diego, California of a heart attack after finishing a performance at Imperial Beach.

1989 - Capitol Records releases The Beastie Boys' album "Paul's Boutique".

2006 - Capitol Records releases original Destiny's Child member LaToya Luckett's self-titled album.

2006 - Capitol Records was supposed to release a limited edition version of Grand Funk Railroad's compilation album “Grand Funk Railroad: Greatest Hits” as an expanded CD/DVD set to go with the remastered CD that was released earlier this year. I still haven't seen it in stores.

25 Years Ago Today In 2010 - From 11:00 AM until 5:30 PM, you can go on a tour of The Capitol Records Tower as part of the 50th anniversary of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Nori Muster has posted the original tour script from when The Tower first opened on April 6, 1956.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1894 - Walter Brennan, television and three-time Oscar-winning motion picture actor, singer, and Liberty Records artist, is born Walter Andrew Brennan in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1946 - Future Capitol Records duo Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis did their first show as a team when they performed at The 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

1964 - The Beatles' United Artists soundtrack album "A Hard Day's Night" hits #1 on Billboard's album chart and will stay there for 14 weeks. Capitol Records currently owns the United Artists catalog.

1986 - Vincente Minnelli, Broadway and motion picture director, one-time husband of Capitol Records artist Judy Garland and father of Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, dies in Los Angeles, California at age 83 of Alzheimer's disease and is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

60 Years Ago Today In 1965 - Dylan goes electric!

JULY 24, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1973 - Jennifer Lopez, dancer, singer, actress, television and motion picture producer, and a Capitol Records artist (2014) is born Jennifer Lynn Lopez in The Bronx, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1946 - Tex Williams (on vocals and guitar with Cactus Soldi and Harry Simms on fiddle, Ossie Godson on piano, Pedro De Paul on accordion, Smokey Rogers on guitar and banjo, Spike Featherstone on harp, Deuce Spriggens on bass, and Muddy Berry on drums) records the unreleased track "I Got Texas In My Soul" and "Big Bass Polka" at Capitol Records' studios in Los Angeles, California. Capitol will on release "Big Bass Polka" on Williams' album "Polka!" (Capitol AD-56).

75 Years Ago Today In 1950 - Joshua Johnson (on piano and vocals with Baby Lovett on drums) records the titles "Battlin' The Boogie", "Ramblin' Woman", "Pile Driver" and "Days When You Feel So Lonely" in Kansas City, Kansas. Capitol Records will release the first and third titles together as a single (Capitol 1180) and the second and fourth titles together as a single (Capitol 1396).

1956 - Capitol Records artists Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis make their last appearance as a team with a performance at The Copacabana in New York City, New York.

65 Years Ago Today In 1960 - Exactly on the day of my birth, vocalist Peggy Lee, with Joe Harnell's Music (Harnell conducting his own arrangements to unlisted musicians and male background singers) and producer Dave Cavanaugh, records the titles "Just Squeeze Me (Don't Tease Me)", "Non-Dimenticar", "Olé", and "By Myself" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "Olé A La Lee!" (T/ST 1475).

1961 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Under The Influence Of Love" with "Bad Bad Dream" on the flipside.

60 Years Ago Today In 1965 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "California Girls", with "Let Him Run Wild" on the flipside, debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1967 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "Heroes And Villains" with "You're Welcome" on the flipside.

1967 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "All You Need Is Love" with "Baby You're A Rich Man" on the flipside.

1967 - Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases Pink Floyd's single "See Emily Play" with "The Scarecrow" on the flipside.

30 Yeas Ago Today In 1995 - A three-night celebration of Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday begins at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York.

1998 - Tanya Tucker files a $300,000 lawsuit against Capitol Records Nashville, charging that the label has willfully neglected her career.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1939 - Future Capitol Records artist Kay Starr begins a brief stint with Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with a radio broadcast at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. During that week that Starr, with Miller, has her first recording session, waxing the tunes "Baby Me" (which she sang on the radio broadcast) and "Love With A Capital YOU" (from the picture "$1000 A Touchdown") which are released as a single on Bluebird Records (#10383).

1959 - Sam Cooke records the tracks "Just For You" and "Made For Me" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for his own label, SAR Records. The single released using the two tracks will be the only one that Cooke releases on his own label with his name on it and has become one of the rarest of Cooke's vinyl releases to find.

1978 - The motion picture version of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" opens. I saw it when it opened and it wasn't that bad for a family film. It was kind of fun trying to spot the celebrity cameos and hearing the songs performed by other artists. Hey, it was the late '70s so they could have done a lot worse things to the material (imagine a disco version instead of the mashup of "A Star Is Born", "The Jazz Singer" and "The Music Man").

1988 - Steve Winwood's Virgin Records America single "Roll With It" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I worked on the design of the single's packaging, promotional materials and ads.

1994 - Les Baxter, Capitol Records artist, gives his last live performance. It was part of the Los Angeles County Art Museum's Bing Theater's "Sunday’s At Four " series with the Los Angeles Composers Guild Chamber Orchestra. Les performed two original compositions, "Movement" and "Poem." "Poem" was actually Les Baxter’s original song "Rio" from Baxter's Capitol Records album "Tamboo!". Jeff Chenault has an interview with David Goodman, who was the musical director for the evening, about that show on Chenault's Exoteque Music site.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1938 - Artie Shaw and His Orchestra record "Begin The Beguine".

OBTW
Once again (thankfully), it's my birthday. It's number 65. :)

JULY 23, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

85 Years Ago Today In 1933 - Bert Convy, singer, Broadway and television actor, television game show host, and a Capitol Records artist as part of the group The Cheers (best known for the title "Black Leather Jacket and Motorcycle Boots") is born Bernard Whalen Convy in St. Louis, Missouri.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #10 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys and Most-Played Juke Box Race Records charts, #13 on the magazine's Most-Played Juke Box Records chart, #15 on the magazine's Best Selling Retail Race Records chart, and #19 on the magazine's Best-Selling Popular Retail Records chart. Also, The King Cole Trio's single "Don't Blame Me" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockeys Pick chart.

70 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues", with "If I Had Three Wishes" on the flipside, peaks at #2 on The Billboard magazine's singles chart. It's kept out of the #1 spot by Bill Haley and The Comets' Decca Records single "Rock Around The Clock".

1957 - Vocalist Skeets McDonald, with unlisted others, records the titles "Fingertips", "I'm Hurtin'", "Bless Your Little Ol' Heart (You're Mine)", and "Love Wind" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Fingertips" and "Bless Your Little Ol' Heart" together as a single (F3778) and "I'm Hurtin'" and "Love Wind" together as a single (Capitol F3833).

1957 - Harpist Marcel Grandjany records Rameau's "Egyptienne (From 'Pièces de Clavecin')" and Prokofiev's "Prelude In C Major, Op. 12 N° 7 (From Suite For Piano, Op. 12)" and "Divertissement" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue Egyptienne (From 'Pièces de Clavecin')" on Grandjany's album "Pour La Harpe" (P-8401) and "Prelude In C Major, Op. 12 N° 7 (From Suite For Piano, Op. 12)" and "Divertissement" on Grandjany's album "Music For The Harp" (PAO-8420).

1962 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jimmie Haskell conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "A True, True Love", "If A Man Answers", and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "A True, True Love" and "If A Man Answers" together as a single (Capitol 4837), "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" as a single (Capitol 5126) with "As Long As I'm Singing" (recorded July 25, 1962) on the flipside, and all the titles on the CD "Capitol Collectors Series - Bobby Darin" (7-91625-2).

1963 - At his first session for Capitol Records, vocalist Johnny Burnette, with Jimmie Haskell directing his own arrangements to the orchestra (Anthony Terran on trumpet, Harold Diner on trombone, Donald Robertson on piano, Jerry Cole and Bill Pitman on guitar, Red Callender on bass, Frank Capp on mallets, Earl Palmer, Jr. on drums, Bob Barene, John Peter De Voogt, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaefer, Sidney Sharp, Johnny Vidor, Dorothy Wade, and Tibor Zelig on violins, and Jesse Ehrlich and Irving Lipschultz on cellos), records the titles "I'll Give You Three Guesses, "(Wish It Were Saturday Night) All Week Long", "It Isn't There", and two takes of "Congratulations, You've Hurt Me Again" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM with producers Jim Economides and Jimmie Haskell. Capitol Records will issue "(Wish It Were Saturday Night) All Week Long" and "It Isn't There" together as a single (Capitol 5023). Rockstar Records will issue all the titles and takes in England on the CD "Johnny Burnette - That's The Way I Feel" (RSRCD 006) and Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the nine-CD box set "Johnny Burnette - The Complete Recordings 1955-1964" (BCD 16438).

1963 - Judy Garland records a live version of the song "Maybe I'll Come Back" for her CBS television series that is later included on her Capitol Records album "Just For Openers".

1974 - Helen Reddy is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame just outside The Capitol Tower.

1986 - Capitol Records re-releases The Beatles' single "Twist And Shout", with "There's A Place" on the flipside, after the song is used in the motion picture "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" when Matthew Broderick lip syncs to John Lennon's vocals during the parade sequence.

1987 - Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley proclaims it "Capitol Tower Day", characterizing the building as "one of Los Angeles' most distinguishable landmarks" which has become "almost as recognizable as the Hollywood sign itself". Ella Mae Morse, whose 1942 recording of "Cow Cow Boogie" was Capitol Records' first hit single, is presented with a plaque commemorating the accomplishment during an evening celebration marking the renovation of the Capitol Records Tower. The 31-year-old building was recently repainted and the beacon on top of the 13-story structure has been wired so it once again will blink out the word Hollywood in Morse Code. Joe Smith, vice chairman and chief executive of Capitol, will host the reception that will also honor such other past and present Capitol artists as Peggy Lee, Yma Sumac, Martha Davis of the Motels and members of the band Duran Duran.

1987 - Megadeth (lineup unlisted) records the title "Mary Jane" for their Capitol Records album "So Far, So Good, So What" (7-48148-2).

1996 - Capitol Records releases "Organs In Orbit", volume 11 of its compilation Ultra-Lounge series.

1996 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Suzy Bogguss' first single for the label (after its name had been changed from Liberty Records) "Give Me Some Wheels" with "Far And Away" on the flipside.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1898 - Fred Gaisberg, a young recording engineer and talent scout, who previously worked for Emile Berliner, leaves New York for London to join The Gramophone Company (which would later become EMI, Capitol Record's owner) as its first recording engineer.

1951 - Pianist Thelonius Monk (with Art Blakey on drums, Milt Jackson on vibraphone, Sahib Shihab on alto saxophone, and Al McKibbon on bass) records the title "Criss Cross" with producer Alfred Lion, recording engineer Doug Hawkins, and master engineer Rudy Van Gelder at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. The track would be released on the Blue Note Records album "Thelonius Monk: Genius Of Modern Music: Volume 2 (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition). Blue Note Records' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.

1989 - Capitol Records artist Anne Murray helps christen the new Anne Murray Center, which displays memorabilia of her career, in her hometown of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1999 - The 30th anniversary Woodstock concert begins the first of 3 days of concerts at Griffiss Air Base, in Rome, New York.

JULY 22, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1917 - Lou McGarity, a trombonist, with Capitol Records group Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1946), leader of The Lou McGarity Big Eight, and session musician, is born in Athens, Georgia.

1924 - Margaret Whiting, a singer, daughter of composer Richard Whiting, niece of vaudeville and Broadway performer Margaret Young, goddaughter of singer and actress Sophie Tucker, former wife of Capitol Records executive Lou Busch (aka Capitol Records artist Joe "Fingers" Carr), motion picture, television, and Broadway actress, president of The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and a Capitol Records artist, is born in Detroit, Michigan.

85 Years Ago Today In 1940 - George Clinton, a singer, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist (1982-1989) is born in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1945 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "On The Atchison, Topeka, And The Santa Fe" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart.

1952 - Vocalist Rufe Davis, with unlisted others and using a script written by Warren Foster, records the title "The Little Engine That Could" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood. California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the children's album "Rufe Davis" (CAS-3142) with "The Old Sow Song" (recorded July 17, 1952) on the flipside.

70 Years Ago Today In 1955 - Yma Sumac, a five-octave singer and Capitol Records artist, becomes a citizen of the United States.

1963 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "Surfer Girl".

1963 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's album "Sunny Side".

1971 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono direct and star in the documentary film "Imagine".

35 Years Ago Today In 1990 - Capitol Records releases a promo only CD of Buck Owens' song "Forever Yours".

2001 - Bob Ferguson, a songwriter (best known for Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records track "Wings of A Dove") and record producer, dies in Jackson, Mississippi at age 73.

2003 - Capitol Records releases Jane's Addiction's album "Stray" which had the working title "Hypersonic".

2003 - Capitol Records releases Yellowcard's debut album "Ocean Avenue" as an enhanced CD that includes a video entitled "The Making of "Ocean Avenue" and a previously unreleased video of the song "Powder".

20 Years Ago Today In 2005 - Capitol Records Nashville artists Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand make their Grand Ole Opry debut.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

65 Years Ago Today In 1960 - Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson (with Horace Parlan on piano, George Tucker on bass, Al Harewood on drums and Ray Barretto on congas) records the tracks "The Squirrel", "Si Si Safronia", "Dog Walk", "Exactly Like You", "Avalon", "Midnight Sun" (the only track without Barretto on congas), and "Candy" with producer Alfred Lion and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder. The tracks would not be released for 20 years until they appeared on the Blue Note Records album "Midnight Sun" which was released in 1980.

1963 - VeeJay Records releases The Beatles' first U.S. album - "Introducing The Beatles".

20 Years Ago Today In 2005 - Eugene Record, a singer, a founding member of the "Chi-Lites", songwriter ("Have You Seen Her" which MC Hammer covered on his Capitol Records album "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em"), dies of cancer at age 64.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1932 - Florence Ziegfeld, Broadway producer and at the time husband to motion picture actress Billie Burke, dies at age 65 and is later buried at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, West Chester County, New York

JULY 21, 2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1922 - Kay Starr, singer and multi-million selling Capitol Records artist, is born Katherine LaVerne Starks in Dougherty, Oklahoma.

1931 - Plas Johnson, tenor saxophonist, Capitol Records solo artist and session player (on recordings by Peggy Lee, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and many others), Imperial Records session player (on recordings by Rick Nelson), and motion picture studio session artist (best known for his solo on the soundtrack of the title song for "The Pink Panther), is born John Johnson, Jr. in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - At Capitol Records' chronologically 15th session, trumpet player Billy Butterfield and His Orchestra (listed as probably Ed Bailey, Bob Thorne, and Gerald Brooks on trumpets, Nick DiMaio, Si Zentner, and Les Jenkins on trombones, Steve Madrick and Abe Most on clarinets and alto saxophones, Wolfe Tannenbaum on tenor saxophone, Eddie Scherr on soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophone, Butch Stone on clarinet and alto and baritone saxophone, Bill Rowland on piano, Joe Tetrow on guitar, Arnold Fishkin on bass, and Nat Polen on drums), with vocals by Johnny Mercer's god-daughter Margaret Whiting making her debut as a vocalist for Capitol Records, records the titles "Without Love" and "My Ideal" (a song written by Whiting's father, Richard A. Whiting with Leo Robin and Newell Chase) in the C. P. MacGregor studios at 729 South Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California with producer Johnny Mercer. Capitol Records will issue "Without Love" and "My Ideal" together as a single (Capitol 134).

1952 - Vocalist and guitarist Gene O'Quin, with Harold Glenn Hensley on fiddle, Les Taylor on piano, Jimmy Bryant and Billy Strange on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, and Paul Toenniges on bass, records the titles "I'm Gettin' Rid Of You", "I Don't Want You Kisses (If I Can't Have Your Heart)", "Close Your Eyes (And I'll Be There)", and "My Tennessee Talkin' Doll" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "I'm Gettin' Rid Of You" as a single (Capitol 2843) with "Tired" (recorded January 27, 1953) on the flipside, "I Don't Want You Kisses (If I Can't Have Your Heart)" as a single (Capitol 2490) with "I'll Stop Loving You" (also recorded on January 27, 1953) on the flipside, "Close Your Eyes (And I'll Be There)" as a single (Capitol 2344) with "I'm Gonna Take My Baby Dancin'" (recorded June 11, 1952) on the flipside, and "My Tennessee Talkin' Doll" as a single (Capitol 2210) with "You're Gonna Be Sorry" (recorded January 30, 1952) on the flipside.

1956 - Capitol Records releases Wynn Stewart's first single "Waltz Of The Angels" with "Love's Gonna Happen To Me" on the flipside. "Waltz" was recorded February 8, 1956 with producer Ken Nelson and with session musician Lewis Talley and Joe Maphis on guitar, Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Pee Wee Adams on drums and Bud Dooley on bass. The title would peak at #14 for one week on the Country Music charts.

1956 - Capitol Records releases Wanda Jackson's first single for the label "I Gotta Know" with "Half As Good A Girl" on the flipside.

1958 - Capitol Records releases Nat "King" Cole's album "Cole Espñaol" (W 1031). Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me (Acercate Mas)" is #29 and his single "Looking Back" is #36 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.

1969 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Tall Dark Stranger" with "Sing That Kind Of A Song" on the flipside.

1987 - Megadeth records the title "Set The World Afire" for their Capitol Records album "So Far, So Good, So What" (7-48148-2).

1987 - Capitol Records releases on CD the soundtrack to The Beatles' motion picture "HELP!" with its original UK track line up versus the US album version released in 1965 that contained instrumental tracks. The U.S. version would be released on April 11, 2006 as part of the "The Beatles The Capitol Albums Volume 2" CD box set.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1924 - Don Knotts, comedian, motion picture and Emmy Award-winning television actor, and United Records artist (the 1961 album "An Evening With Me"), is born Jesse Donald Knotts in Morgantown, West Virginia.

1971 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono film driving and rowing sequences for the “Jealous Guy” sequence of their “Imagine” film.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1931 - Ted Husing is master of ceremonies for the very first CBS-TV program, a gala show featuring singer Kate Smith, composer George Gershwin, and New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker.

1956 - Johnny Cash's Sun Records single "I Walk The Line", with "Get Rhythm" on the flipside, becomes his first #1 on the Country Records chart and would peak at #17 on the Pop charts.