JUNE 12, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
85 Years Ago Today In 1928 - Vic Damone, singer, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records artist (1961-1965), is born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York
75 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Jim Conner, songwriter ("Grandma's Feather Bed"), guitarist, banjoist, harmonica player and vocalist with Capitol Records duo Richard and Jim (1962-1965) and member of The New Kingston Trio (1968-1974) in born in Gadsen, Alabama
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Meredith Brooks, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, is born Meredith Ann Brooks in Oregon City, Oregon

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Conductor Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (Monty Kelly, Larry Neil, and Don Waddilove on trumpet; Skip Layton and Murray McEachern on trombone; Alvy West, Danny d'Andrea, Lenny Hartman, King Guion, and Tommy Mace on saxophone; Harry Azen, Sol Blumenthal, and David Newman on strings; Buddy Weed on piano; Mike Pingitore on guitar; Art Shapiro on bass; and Willie  Rodriguez on drums) using arrangements by Jimmy Mundy, record the titles "Travlin' Light" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer, music by Jimmy Mundy and Trummy Young) with vocals by Lady Day (Billie Holiday, who was under contract to Decca, thus the alias), "The Old Music Master" (lyrics by Mercer, music by Hoagy Carmichael, which will be included in Paramount Picture's motion picture "True To Life", released December 24, 1943, and sung by Dick Powell) with vocals by Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden, "I'm Old Fashioned" (lyrics by Mercer, music by Jerome Kern, which will be used in the 1942 Columbia Pictures motion picture "You Were Never Lovelier", released November 19, 1942, where it is sung by Nan Wynn who dubbed for Rita Hayworth) with vocals by Martha Tilton, and "You Were Never Lovelier" (also by Mercer and Kern for the motion picture of the same name and where it will be sung by Fred Astaire) with vocals by Larry Neil, at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California with Mercer producing all the titles. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol 116), the second title as a  single (Capitol 137) with "Waitin' For The Evenin' Mail" (recorded July 31, 1942) on the flipside, and the third title on the CD "Paul Whiteman - The Complete Capitol Recordings" (8-30103-2).
1944 - "Hi, ever'body, hope you feel tip-top; welcome to the Chesterfield Music Shop". Johnny Mercer's "Chesterfield Music Shop" airs it's first 15 minute episode live at 5PM for the east coast and again live at 8PM for the west coast. The series will broadcast from NBC's studio at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood twice daily, Mondays through Thursdays and on Fridays from various military camps and hospitals around Southern California until December 8, 1944 with many of it's episodes recorded for the Armed Forces Radio Services. The show features Mercer, Jo Stafford, Paul Weston and His Orchestra, The Pied Pipers, whose version of Mercer's "Dream" is the show's closing theme song. The show would help the careers of all including songwriters Ray Evans and Jay Livingston as well as one of the show's arrangers, Gil Evans.
1947 - Sonny Terry (on vocals and harmonica, with Walter "Brownie" McGhee on guitar and Melvin "Daddy" Merritt on piano) records the tracks "Harmonica Rag" (which will be released by Capitol as a single with "Early Morning Blues" on the flip side), "Screamin' And Cryin' Blues" (which will be released as a single on the Capitol Americana label with "Riff And Harmonica Jump" on the flip side), "Beer Garden Blues" (which will be released as a single on the Capitol American label with "Riff And Harmonica Jump" on the flip side), and "Worried Man Blues" (which will be released as a single on the Capitol American label with "Leavin' Blues" on the flip side) with producer David Edwin Dexter, Jr. in New York City, New York on a Thursday.
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "My Happiness" is #8, The Sportsmen's a capella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True, Dear" is #17, Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Mañana" is #19, and The Sportsmen's Capitol Records single "Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)" enters the top 20 at #20
1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me) is # 6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records charts, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #7, Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs (the flip side of "If You Love Me" and also with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney) is #8, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In A Fountain" is #9, The Four Knights' Capitol Records single "I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)" (with "I Couln't Stay Away From You" on the flip side) is #10, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #11
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Ann Richards (aka Mrs. Stan Kenton, on vocals), with Brian Farnon conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Warren Barker, records a re-recoding of "Nightingale" and the tracks "Will You Still Be Mine?", "Lullaby Of Broadway", and "Deep Night", with producer Lee Gillette in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Richards' Capitol Records debut solo album "I'm Shooting High" (T 1087).
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beach Boys record the track "Surfer Girl" at Western Studios in Los Angeles, California. This is the first recording where Brian Wilson gets official credit as producer.
1966 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Take Good Care Of Her", with "On The Fingers Of One Hand" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1972 - Apple Records releases John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band with Elephant's Memory's album "Sometime In New York City", produced by Phil Spector, with Capitol Records distributing the album in the United States
1976 - Ringo Starr is in the Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, California recording the tracks "A Dose Of Rock 'n' Roll" and "Cookin' (In The Kitchen Of Love)" for his Capitol Records album "Ringo's Rotogravure". John Lennon (who wrote "Cookin'...") plays piano on the two tracks and will stay out of recording studios for the next 4 years until he begins work on his and Yoko's album "Double Fanatsy" in 1980.
1995 - The Capitol Records/Nettwerk band Skinny Puppy split up
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Billboard Magazine reports that Grammy winner Shelby Lynne has signed with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Rocky Burnette, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and son of Liberty Records artist Johnny Burnette, is born Jonathan Burnette in Memphis, Tennessee
1957 - Jimmy Dorsey (born James Dorsey), clarinetist, alto saxophonist, motion picutre actor, televison variety show host with his brother Tommy Dorsey, and big band leader (one of his girl singers included 14 year old future Capitol Records artist Ella Mae Morse, whom he let go when he found out her true age, and his band included future Capitol Records artist and pianist Freddie Slack, who would remember Morse and suggest her as the vocalist for his Capitol Records single "Cow Cow Boogie"), dies of cancer at age 53 in New York City, New York
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and it's flip side "Hello Mary Lou" is #15, Gene McDaniels' Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #19, The Fleetwood's Dolton Records (distributed by Liberty Records) single "Tragedy" is #20, Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #22, and Don Costa and His Orchestra and Chorus' United Artists Records single "Never On A Sunday" is #37. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Imperial, Liberty, Dolton, Minit and United Artists Records catalogs
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Sarah Vaughan begins sessions for her Roulette Records album "The Lonely Hours" when she records, with arranger Benny Carter conducting the studio orchestra (Vince De Rosa, Dick Perissi, Jack Cave, and Bill Hinshaw on french horn; Red Callender on tuba; Jimmy Rowles on piano; Barney Kessel on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; and Alvin Stoller on drums), the tracks "If I Had You", "What'll I Do", "You're Driving Me  Crazy", and "Always On My Mind" at United Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California
1964 - The Beatles fly from Sydney, Australia to perform two sets at Centennial Hall, in Adelaide, Australia with Sounds Incorporated, Johnny Devlin, Johnny Chester and The Phantoms, and have a private party in their hotel suite after the show
1965 - George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Richard Starkey (aka Ringo Starr) are appointed Members of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II
1965 - Capitol Records artist Tex Ritter joins The Grand Ole Opry
1976 - The King Biscuit Flour Hour broadcasts Capitol Records group The Steve Miller Band in concert at The Beacon Theater in New York City for broadcast. The performance is at the beginning of the "Fly Like An Eagle" tour and will later show up on the CD "The King Biscuit Flour Hour Presents The Steve Miller Band", released in 2003.
1987 - Dan Seals' EMI America single "I Will Be There", with "It's Gonna Be Easy Now" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1909 - Archie Bleyer, arranger, band leader (1934 - whose vocalists would include Johnny Mercer), musical director for Arthur Godfrey, record producer, and founder of Cadence Records (1952 - whose roster included Julias LaRosa, The Chordettes, Andy Williams and the Everly brothers), is born in the Corona section of Queens, New York
1936 - At her first commercial recording session, fourteen year-old future Capitol Records artist Judy Garland, with Bob Crosby and His Orchestra (who would also later record for Capitol Records), records the tracks "Stompin' At The Savoy" and "Swing Mr. Charlie" for Decca Records in New York City
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Chet Baker (trumpet) and Stan Getz (tenor sax) perform together with Carson Smith (bass) and Larry Bunker (drums) live at The Haig in Los Angeles, California. This is one of the few times the two would perform together. The show was recorded by engineer Dick Bock and released by Pacific Jazz Records on the album "West Coast Live". Blue Note Records currently re-releases albums from Pacific Jazz's catalog.
1962 - Frank Sinatra begins the first of a three day (actually night) series of recording sessions arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon at CTS Bayswater studios in London, England for the album "Great Songs From Great Britain" by recording the track "If I Had You". According to Mark Blackburn's review of the track when it appeared on the later album "Everything Happens To Me", the first take was ruined when there was a problem with Bill Miller's piano so that the second take had to be done with Miller playing a celeste.
2001 - The final episode of Bozo The Clown is taped in Chicago, Illinois and will be aired on WGN-TV on July 14, 2001

JUNE 11, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1952 - Donnie Van Zandt, vocalist, guitarist and founder of the Capitol (single "Teacher Teacher" and on the soundtrack album for the motion picture "Teacher") and Charisma Records (a subsidiary of Virgin Records) group 38 Special and with his brother Johnny Van Zant in the group The Van Zants, is born in Jacksonville, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - At their first session for Capitol Records Tex Ritter (on vocals) and His Texans (Charles Linville on fiddle, Paul Sells on accordion, Johnny Bond on guitar, and Clifford Snyder [as "Cliffie Stone"] on bass), record the titles "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle", "Someone" (with Frankie Marvin on steel guitar), "Goodbye, My Little Cherokee", and "I've Done The Best I Could" (with Frankie Marvin on steel guitar) in Los Angeles, California (possibly at C.P. MacGregor Studios). Capitol Records will issue the first and third titles together as Capitol's first Country single (Capitol 110) and the second and fourth tracks together as a single (Capitol 132).
1946 - Peggy Lee is back at Radio Recorders studios in Los Angeles, California with The Four Of A Kind (Dave Barbour on guitar; Buddy Cole on piano, organ and celeste; Phil Stephens on bass; and Tom Romersa on drums) to record for radio transcription the tracks "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"
1947 - Julia Lee (on piano and vocals) and Her Boy Friends (Ernie Royal on trumpet, Dave Cavanaugh on tenor saxophone, Jack Marshall on guitar, Harry Babasin on bass, and Sam "Baby" Lovett on drums) record the titles "There Goes My Heart", "Snatch And Grab It", and "If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Woundn't Be Where I Am)" and then Julia (alone on vocals and piano) records the title "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol 1009), the second title as a single (Capitol Americana 40028) with "I Was Wrong" (recorded June 18, 1947) on the flipside, and the third title as a single (Capitol 1798) with "Scream In The Night" (recorded on July 22, 1950) on the flipside.
1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Whiting and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #9, and Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #16.
60 Years Ago Today In 1952 - At a split session held in Los Angeles, California first Lex Baxter conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" and "Padam...Padam" (with an uncredited chorus) then Helen O'Connell, with The Les Baxter Orchestra and Chorus, records the titles "One, For The Wonder (Of Your Kisses)" and "Long Ago Last Night". Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 2143) and the last two titles as a single (Capitol 2149).
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole's double sided Capitol Records hit "A Blossom Fell" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) and "If I May" (with The Four Knights on backing vocals and Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is #4, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is #9, Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #11, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #22
1956 - Bing Crosby with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra record the album "Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings" in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1966 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Paperback Writer" with "Rain" on the flip side. Rain would be the first popular single to use tape run backwards as part of the song. "Paperback Writer will peak at #1 and "Rain" at #23 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1980 – Paul McCartney & Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records album "Heart Over Mind" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1985 - Neil Finn, with Nick Seymour, drummer Paul Hester, and Craig Hooper of The Reels, give their first peformance as The Mullanes (Mullane is Neil's middle name) in Melbourne, Australia. When the group, minus Seymour, relocate to Los Angeles, they change the name of the band to Crowded House (named after their living conditions in L.A.).
1996 - Capitol Records released the 2 CD compilation album "Dean Martin - The Capitol Years" with 40 tracks including previously unreleased material and studio chatter.
2006 - According to a news item on their website, Capitol Records group Queensryche is arrested at the Amsterdam airport for smuggling illegal firearms

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Joey Dee, actor and lead singer of the Roulette Records group Joey Dee and The Starlighters (best known for the single "Peppermint Twist" and not to be confused with The Starlighters who recorded for Capitol in the 1940's), is born Joseph DiNicola in Passaic, New Jersey. Nick & Renee DiNicola have put together a great site for Joey who still tours as Joey Dee and The Starlighters. Roulette Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Liberty Records releases Eddie Cochran's single "Summertime Blues" with "Love Again" on the flipside. Liberty Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - At ceremony #57, Barbara Stanwick and Robert Taylor leave their hand and footprints at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California

JUNE 10, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1922 - Judy Garland, motion picture actress, television variety show host, Capitol Records artist and mother of Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, whose on and off long term affair with Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer was the inspiration for Mercer writing the song "I'll Remember You", is born Francis Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Scott Brogan's website, The Judy Room, is where you need to go to find out more about the life and works of Miss Garland.
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Faith Evans, singer and Capitol Records artist (2003 to present), is born Faith Rene Evans in Lakeland, Florida

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away) enters the top 10 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart at #7, Andy Russell (with orchestra conducted by Al Sack)'s Capitol Records single "Amor" enters at #8, and Ella Mae Morse (with orchestra conducted by Dick Walters)'s Capitol Records single "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet" enters at #10
1946 - Peggy Lee (with the Four Of A Kind [Dave Barbour on guitar; Buddy Cole on piano; Phil Stephens on bass; and Tom Romerosa on drums] records the tracks "Wherever There's Me There's You", "All The Cats Join In", "A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues" and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" for transcription for radio with arranger Frank DeVol conducting his orchestra (Uan Rasey, Abe Benike, and Irv Shulkin on trumpet; Si Zentner and George Faye on trombone; Dick Perissi on french horn; Skeets Herfurt, Julius Kinsler, Ron Perry, Ted Romersa, and Jerry Kasper on reeds; Henry Sugar, Joe Livoti, Victor Arno, Joe Quadri on violin; Jacob Kaz and Paul Lowenkron on viola; Julius Tannenbaum, Joe Saxton, and Fred Goerner on cello; June Weiland on harp), at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California with engineer John Palladino
1950 - Nat King Cole's Capitol Records single "Mona Lisa", initially the flip side of "The Greatest Inventor Of Them All" (which is unavailable on any current Capitol Records CD release, but can be found on the French company Classic Jazz's CD "Nat "King" Cole 1949-1950"), is #14 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol)'s Capitol Records single "Hoop-De-Doo" enters the chart at #16, and Joe "Fingers" Carr and His Orchestra (with vocals by The Carr-Hops)'s Capitol Records single "Sam's Song" enters the chart at #20
1955 - Lee Gillette produces a session at Capitol Records's Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California that lays down an instrumental track of "But Not For Me" for Nat "King" Cole to use on his television show, but Cole does not record vocals for a commercial release. Nat can be seen perfoming the song on video recordings of the show.
1955 - Jimmy Giuffre (with Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Ralph Pena on bass, and Artie Anton on drums), records the tracks ""Scintilla III" and "The Leprechaun" with Giuffre on clarinet, "Rhetoric" with Guiffre on tenor saxophone, and "Finger Snapper" with Giuffre on bariton saxophone at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release "Scintilla III" on Giuffre's album "Jimmy Giuffre: Tangents In Jazz" and the rest will be released by Mosaic Records on the 1997 box set "The Complete Capitol & Atlantic Recordings of Jimmy Giuffre"
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is tied for #10 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart with The Del Vikings single "Come Go With Me", Tommy Sand's Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady" is #26, and The Four Lad's Capitol Records single "I Just Don't Know" is #28
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #1 on the Country singles charts
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Beatles VI" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1965 - Carl Kress, banjoist, guitarist, band leader, and Capitol Records artist, dies in Reno, Nevada at age 57 of a heart attack
1966 - According to Bruce Spitzer's book "The Beatles’ Story on Capitol Records, Part Two: The Albums", this is the day that the recall notice went out to Capitol's distributors for The Beatles' "Yesterday And Today" "Butcher Cover"
1967 - Peggy Lee (with Toots Thielemans on guitar, and an unknown reed, bass, string and drum section) records the tracks "I Can Hear The Music", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "Sing A Rainbow" with producer Dave Cavanaugh for her Capitol Records album "Somethin' Groovy"
1976 - Capitol Records group Paul McCartney and Wings set a new world's record for attendance when 67,100 fans gather for an indoor concert at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington
1977 - The Steve Miller Band's album "Book Of Dreams" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1991 - Capitol Records releaseds Skip Ewing's album "Naturally"
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Capitol Records release Radiohead's album "Hail To The Thief" and The Beach Boys' compilation album "Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys"
2003 - EMI/Capitol Records releases albums in their "Classic Masters" series by Crowded House, J Geils Band, Gordon Lightfoot, Najee, and The O'Jays
2009 - Jack Nimitz, baritone saxophonist who played in the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton big bands and in the Capitol Records group Supersax as well as being a popular Hollywood studio musician, died at age 79 of complications from emphysema at his home in Studio City, California.
2009 - Barry Beckett, keyboardist with the Fame Studio house band and record producer of sessions with various artists including Capitol Records artist Bob Seger, died at age 66 of complications from a stroke at his home in Henderson, Tennessee according to his son Matthew.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1925 - Don Costa, composer, arranger, and United Artists Records artist, is born in Boston, Massachusettes
1957 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Teenager's Romance" is #13 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and his Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #17, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Valley Of Tears" is #22. Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Sarah Vaughn (with arranger Gerald Wilson conductin Carmell Jones on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone, Ernie Freeman on organ, John Collins on guitar, Al McKibbon on bass, and Milt Turner on drums) records the tracks"Sermonette", "Gravy Waltz", and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" with producer Teddy Reig at United Recorders studios in Los Angeles, California for her Roulette Records album "Sarah Sings Soulfully". EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company, currently owns the Roulette catalog
1961 - Maxi Priest, Virgin Records America artist, is born Max Alfred Elliott in Lewisham, London, England. I designed and did the production for cover of the U.S. version of his self-titled debut album with Jeff Ayeroff art directing.
1964 - Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer with the Virgin Records America group Smashing Pumpkins is born
35 Years Ago Today In 1978 - United Artists Records group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band celebrates its 20th anniversary at a performance in Rocks, Colorado

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Saxophonist Gerry Mulligan records the tracks "Get Happy", "'S Wonderful" and "Godchild" with Red Mitchell on bass on and Chico Hamilton on drums at his first session for the Pacific Jazz label, held at Phil Turetsky's home studio, in Los Angeles, California. Jimmy Bowles was supposed to be on piano but he didn't show up for the session, so Mulligan playing the piano during the bass solos.

JUNE 9, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1891 - Cole Porter, lyricist and composer, is born Cole Albert Porter in Peru, Indiana. Capitol Records will release the original Broadway cast album to Porter's musical "Can-Can" as well as soundtrack when it was turned into a movie. Capitol also released the soundtrack to Porter's "High Society" and the single from that album, "True Love", would earn Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly a gold record (Crosby's last).
1900 - Fred Waring, band leader, choir master, motion picture and radio performer, television variety show host, inventor (the Waring blender), and leader of the Capitol Records group Fred Waring and The Pennsylvanians, is born Fredrick Malcolm Waring in Tyrone, Pennsylvania
1915 - Les Paul, Capitol Records legend, guitarist, producer, early innovator of multi-track recording and the modern electric guitar, is born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Johnnie Johnston (with orchestra conducted by Paul Baron)'s Capitol Records single "Laura" is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dream" is #6
1950 - Capitol Records releases Joe "Fingers" Carr's single "Sam's Song" and Kay Starr's single Bonaparte's Retreat"
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with orchestra conducted by Les Baxter to a Nelson Riddle arrangement)'s Capitol Records single "Too Young" is #2, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin'bird Hill" is #10
1952 - Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "The Wild Side Of Life", with "Crying In The Deep Blue Sea" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is #13 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Standing On The Corner" is #30, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is #35, and The Four Freshmen's Capitol Records single "Graduation Day" enters the top 40 at #38
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Harry James and His Orchestra (with James, Nick Buono, Bob Rolfe,Ollie Mitchell on trumpet; Bob Edmondson and Ray Sims on trombone; Ernie Tack on bass trombone; Willie Smith and Herb Lorden on alto saxophone; Bob Poland and Sam Firmature on tenor saxophone; Ernie Small on baritone saxophone; Jack Perciful on piano; Dennis Budimir on guitar; Russ Phillips on bass; and Jackie Mills on drums), record the tracks "Blues For Sale" and "Just For Fun" using arrangements by Ernie Wilkins with producer Bill Miller in Los Angeles, California. "Blues For Sale" would appear on James' Capitol Records album "Harry's Choice" and "Just For Fun" would remain unreleased until it appeared on Mosaic Records' 1999 box set "The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Gene Krupa and Harry James Orchestras"
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Big Man" is #7, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #9, Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #14, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #20
1960 - Judy Garland, with an orchestra conducted by Jack Marshall, records the tracks "Down With Love",  "Puttin' On The Ritz" and "Who Cares (As Long As You Care For Me)" for her album "Judy/That's Entertainment"
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Act Naturally", with "Over And Over Again" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1965 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Help Me Rhonda" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - Peggy Lee (with guitarist Toots Thielemans and an unknown reed, bass, string and drum section) records the tracks "Something Stupid", "Two For The Road", "Makin' Whoopee", and "(Our) Love Is Here To Stay" for her Capitol Records album "Somethin' Groovy" at The Capitol Tower  Studios in Hollywood California with producer Dave Cavanaugh
1975 - Capitol Records Canada releases Sylvia Tyson's album "Woman's World"
1980 - Capitol Records releases The Motel's second album, "Careful"
1980 - Capitol Records recording artists Klaatu, whose members' identities had been kept from the public since their 1976 debut album, are finally announced to be John Woloschuk (vocals, keyboards, rhythm and bass guitar), Dee Long (vocals, lead guitarist, synthesizers), and Terry Draper (vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards, rhythm guitar). All three are natives of Toronto, Canada, Earth (not 4 lads from Liverpool, as a few had hoped, or anywhere else in the universe).
1990 - Wilson Phillips' SBK Records (at the time a division of Capitol Records) single "Hold On" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is #12 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Domino's Imperial Records single "My Blue Heaven" is #31. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Imperial Records' catalog
1957 - Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra, with Nelson Riddle's Orchestra, gives a concert in Seattle, Washington that is recorded and finally released in 1999 on the album "Sinatra '57" by the Artanis (spell it backwards) Entertainment Group
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmont's Laurie Records single "I Wonder Why" is #33, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Sick And Tired" is tied for #40 with Kathy Linden's single "Billy". Liberty, Laurie and Imperial Records' catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1962 - Dion's Laurie Records single "Lovers Who Wander" is #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Jay and The American's United Artists Records single "She Cried" is #16, Walter Brennan's Liberty Records single "She Cried" is #17, Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Sharing You" is #31, and Dick and DeeDee's Liberty Records single "Tell Me" is #40. Laurie, United Artists, and Liberty Record's catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Bobby Goldsboro's United Artists Records single "Honey" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1991 - Paula Abdul's Virgin Records America single "Rush Rush" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Virgin Records is a division of Capitol Music Group.
2004 - Barbara Whiting Smith, radio, movie and television actress, daughter of composer Richard Whiting, and sister of Capitol Records artist Margaret Whiting dies of cancer at age 73 in Pontiac, Michigan and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Michigan.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1934 - Donald Duck makes his debut in the Silly Symphonies cartoon "The Wise Little Hen"
1957 - Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson (with Herman Foster on piano, Peck Morrison on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Ray Barretto on congas) records the tracks "Herman's Mambo", "Peck Time" a mono and a stero version of ""There'll Never Be Another You", "Groove Junction", "Dorothy", "Grits And Gravy" and ""I Won't Cry Anymore" for his Blue Note Records album "Swing And Soul". The session was produced by Alfred Lion with recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gleder's studio at his home in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

JUNE 8, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
95 Years Ago Today In 1918 - Robert Preston, Broadway and motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist (original Broadway cast album "The Music Man"), is born Robert Preston Meservey in Newton, Massachusetts
1936 - Odessa Harris who, with producers Earl Wainwright and Bill Wyler, recorded the tracks "You're What I Need" and "Since I Fell For You", "The Color Of His Love Is Blue" and "Driving Wheels", which were released in 1967 as two singles for the Uptown Records label (a subsidiary of Tower Records, itself a subsidiary of Capitol Records), is born in West Helena, Arkansas
1936 - James Darrin, motion picture and television actor and singer, who would record his first album, "Album No. 1", for ColPix Records in Studio A of The Capitol Tower Studios in 1959 and return 42 years later in 2001 to record his album "Because Of You" for Concord Jazz Records, is born James William Ercolani in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Jeff Rich, drummer with the Capitol Records group Status Quo is born
1962 - Nick Rhodes, keyboardist for the Capitol Records bands Duran Duran and Arcadia as well as The Devils, is born Nicholas James Bates in Moseley, West Midlands, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1931 - Future Capitol Records cofounder Johnny Mercer marries Ginger Meehan (born Elizabeth Meltzer), in New York City. Ginger would suggest the name Capitol Records over dinner at Chasen's restaurant in Beverly Hills after the company couldn't retain the rights to the name Liberty Records.
1946 - The King Cole Trio’s recording of “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” enters the U.S. R&B charts, where it will peak at #3
1946 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Alvino Ray and His Orchestra (with vocals by Rocky Coluccio)'s Capitol Records single "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti) is #9
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Hank Thompson, with producer Ken Nelson, records the tracks "Wakeup Irene" (which will be released by Capitol Records as a single with "Go Cry Your Heart Out" on the flipside in November 1953) and "Breakin' The Rules" (which will be released by Capitol as a single with "Fooler A Faker" on the flip side in March 1954) at Capitol's Melrose Studios in Hollywood, California
1955 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Live Fast Love Hard Die Young", with "Forgive Me Dear" on the flip side, becomes Young's first #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1959 - Franck Pourcell and His French Fiddlers' Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1960 - John Stewart, member of the Capitol Records group The Kingston Trio marries Julie Koehler, whom he met in high school
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #4, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #9, The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A." is #10, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #11, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #26, and The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Shut Down' (the flip side of "Surfin' U.S.A.") is #32
1967 - Wynn Stewart's Capitol Records single "It's Such A Pretty World Today", with "Ol' What's Her Name" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Beach Boys record the track "Sail Plane Song" (aka "Glide Plane Song"), that will become the song "Loop De Loop", at Brian Wilson's home studio with Carl Wilson on bass, Alan Jardine on guitar, Brian Wilson on piano, Bruce Johnston on organ and Dennis Wilson on drums
1969 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Running Bear", with "Midnight Mood" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1974 - Paul McCartney & Wings' album "Band On The Run" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1975 - Linda Ronstadt's Capitol Records single "When Will I Be Loved", with "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1999 - Capitol Records releases the album "Mrs. Miller: Wild, Cool & Swingin'" as part of their UltraLounge Series
2005 - Capitol Records group The Shout Out Louds make their late night television debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman"
2005 - Nick Ulleseit, Jonathan Gelber, Jayinee Basu, Dan Kent and Taylor Baxley, Los Gatos, California students, flew to Los Angeles for the day to visit Capitol Records, getting tips about how to make themselves more marketable and successful, and a got a chance to promote their own music.
2007 - Nellie Lutcher, arranger, songwriter, pianist, singer, bandleader (Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm), sister of Capitol Records artist Joe Lutcher, and a Capitol Records artist who was signed to the label in 1947 by Dave Dexter, Jr. after hearing her on a live benefit show (which she was booked to play by deejay Frank Bull) on Los Angeles radio station KFWB, dies at age 94 of of complications of old age old in a nursing home in Los Angeles, California. There was a memorial service on Tuesday, June 19, at 11AM at Founder's Church of Religious Science, 3281 W. 6th Street, in Los Angeles, California. I attended and it turned out to be an open casket service. Her family and friends filled the lower chapel and listened to rememberences and recordings of her music. She was laid to rest in an ivory white coffin with golden brass fittings.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Nancy Sinatra, singer, motion picture actress, and daughter of future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra, is born Nancy Sandra Sinatra, Jr. in Jersey City, New Jersey
1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmont's Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #6, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #16. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Liberty, Laurie, and Imperial Records' catalogs.
50 Years Ago Today In - Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and The Chiffons' Laurie Records single "One Fine Day" is #36. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Roulette and Laurie Records' catalogs.
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Paul McCartney was the best man at his brother Michael's wedding to hair stylist Angela Fishwick, held at St. Bridget's Parish Church in Carrog, Merioneth, North Wales (the same church where Paul and Mike's father Jim married his second wife in 1966). The other Beatles sent congratulatory telegrams (George and Ringo visited folksinger Joan Baez at her home in Carmel, California). The reception was held at Jim McCartney's home in Gayton, Cheshire, and featured a family sing-song, led by Paul at the piano.
1969 - Brian Jones, founding member and guitarist of future Virgin Records group The Rolling Stones, is fired from the band by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
1977 - Kanye West is born Kanye Omari West in Atlanta, Georgia and, in 2002, was this close to being signed to Capitol
1981 - Duran Duran's self titled first album is released by Parlophone Records in the UK
15 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr appear together in public for the first time since 1969 at a memorial service for Linda McCartney, which is also attended by among others Sting, Pete Townshend and Sir Elton John, at a private service at St. Martins-in-the-Fields church in London, England
2004 - Publisher Bill Lowery, who started Lowery Music Company (eventually becoming Lowery Music Group) because of a suggestion by Capitol A&R VP Ken Nelson and who's first million seller was "Be-Bop-A-Lula", dies of cancer at age 79 in Atlanta, Georgia

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1867 - Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and founder of the Taliesin School of Architecture, is born in Richland Center, Wisconsin
1912 - Carl Laemmle incorporates Universal Pictures.
1941 - Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, vocalist for the bands The Parliaments and Funkadelic, is born in Elkhorn, West Virginia

JUNE 7, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1906 - Glen Gray, alto saxophone player, band leader, and Capitol Records artist as Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra, is born Glen Gray Knoblauch in Roanoke, Illinois
1917 - Dean Martin, singer, radio and motion picture actor, television variety show co-host and host, and Capitol Records artist, first as part of the team Martin and Lewis with Jerry Lewis and then as a solo act, is born Dino Paul Crocetti at 319 South Sixth Street, Stubenville, Ohio at 11:55 pm
1924 - Dolores Gray, Broadway and Motion Picture actress and singer, and a Capitol Records artist (the 1959 album "Warm Brandy"), is born in Chicago, Illinois
1934 - Wynn Stewart, Capitol Records artist (1956-1958 and 1965-1972) and major influence on the "Bakersfield Sound" of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, is born Winford Lindsey Stewart in Morrisville, Missouri
1967 - Dave Navarro, author, television game show host, Capitol Records solo artist, and guitarist for the bands Jane's Addiction, Deconstruction, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and Camp Freddy, is born David Michael Navarro in Santa Monica, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (same lineup as at session on June 4, 1946) record, for transcription at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, the tracks: "Who's Got A Tent For Rent" with vocal and trumpet solo by Ray Wetzel; "I Got The Sun In The Morning" with vocal by June Christy and solos by Stan Kenton (piano), Eddie Safranski (bass), and Vido Musso (tenor saxophone); "Peg O' My Heart" with solos by Kenton, Safranski, Musso, Chico Alvarez (trumpet), Kai Winding (trombone), and Al Anthony (alto saxophone); "Come Rain Or Come Shine" with vocal by Christy and solos by Kenton and Safranski; "They Say It's Wonderful" with vocal by Gene Howard and solo by Musso; "I Don't Know Why, I Just Do" with vocal by Howard and solos by Kenton and Anthony; "He's Funny That Way" with vocal by Christy; "Lover" with solos by Kenton, Safranski, Musso and Winding
1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune" is #8, Ella Mae Morse (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Blacksmith Blues" is #18, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is #17, and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Carioca" is #18
1955 - Woody Herman and His Orchestra (with the same line up as the sessions on June 6, 1955 but without Glow and Travis on trumpet) records the tracks "You're Here My Love" (arranged by Ralph Burns), "The Girl Upstairs" (arranged by George Williams), "House Of Bamboo" (arranged by Burns), "Buttercup" (probably arranged by Nat Pierce), "Sentimental Journey" (arranged by Nat Pierce), "Skinned Again" (arranged by Williams), and "Where Or When (arranged by Bill Holman with Ted Sommer on bells, an unknown harpist, and an unidentified vocal chorus), in New York City. "You're Here My Love", "House Of Bamboo", and "Skinned Again" appeared on Capitol Record singles, "Sentimental Journey" and "Where And When" appeared on the Capitol Records album "Road Band!", and "The Girl Upstairs" on the Capitol Records album "The Hits Of Woody Herman". "Buttercup" which went unissued until it appeared on Mosaic Records' 2000 box set "The Complete Capitol Recordings of Woody Herman".
1955 - Jimmy Giuffre, clarinet, tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone player, with (cl-1, ts-2, bari-3) with Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Ralph Pena on bass, and Artie Anton on drums, records the tracks "Finger Snapper" (with Giuffre on baritone saxophone), "Scintilla I" (with Giuffre on baritone saxophone), "Rhetoric" (with Giuffre on tenor saxophone), "Lazy Tones" (with Giuffre on clarinet), and "Scintilla IV" (with Giuffre on baritone saxophone) in Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California for the album "Jimmy Giuffre: Tangents In Jazz". The takes of "Finger Sanpper" and "Rhetoric" were rejected by Capitol and were re-recorded on June 10, 1955. The first takes were finally released by Mosaic Records in 1997 on the box set "The Complete Capitol & Atlantic Recordings of Jimmy Giuffre"
1965 - Judy Holliday, singer and actress who appears on Capitol Record's soundtrack of "Bells Are Ringing" with Dean Martin, dies of breast cancer at age 43 at 5:00 AM at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Two days later a funeral service is held at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City, NY. Algernon Black of the Ethical Cultural Society delivers the eulogy. Among the mourners Gerry Mulligan, Yetta Cohn, David Oppenheim, Sydney Chaplin, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne, Abe Burrows and Howard Teichmann. After the service, Judy will be laid to rest at Westchester Hills Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY with a private service conducted at the grave site in Hebrew.
1969 - Apple and Capitol Records artists John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on David Frost's TV show
1970 - The Beatles' last #1 single as a band "The Long And Winding Road", with "For You Blue" on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboards' Hot 100 Singles chart
1976 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' compilation album "Rock 'n' Roll Music" in the U.S.
1976 - Bobby Hackett (born Robert Leo Hackett), coronet, trumpet and guitar player, member of Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (played at the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert), and Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (initially as a guitarist while his lip was healing, then on short solos such as on "String Of Pearls"), band leader, a Capitol Records solo artist, and on Jackie Gleason's Capitol Records albums, dies in Chatham, Massachusetts of a heart attack at age 61
1982 - Capitol Records rushes Duran Duran's single "Hungry Like A Wolf" to radio stations, and MTV puts the video for the track into heavy rotation
15 Years Ago Today In 1993 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases John Berry's album "John Berry"
1997 - The second Tibetian Freedom concerts, a two day event held at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island, New York City, features Capitol Records artists The Foo Fighters, The Beastie Boys and Radiohead along with many others
2005 - Simon Waronker, violinist, orchestra contractor and, in 1955, founder of Liberty Records (I guess the NYC store had closed since Capitol had wanted to use the name in 1942) and the basis for one of The Chipmunks' names, dies at his home in Beverly Hill, California at age 90
2005 - Released today by Capitol Records in the U.S. are Coldplay's album "X&Y" (which will go on to sell 737,294 copies its first week becoming the biggest 1st week for any album of new material in Capitol Records' history), Les Paul with Mary Ford's album "The Best Of The Capitol Masters - 90th Birthday Edition", a reissue of june christy's 1959 album "ballads for night people" (the type on the cover of the album is all lower case, at least 25 years before k. d. lang got the idea), and a reissue of Bob Seger's 1972 album "Smokin' O.P.'s"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Singer Tom Jones is born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales
1944 - Judy Garland files for divorce from David Rose
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Prince is born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota

JUNE 6, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Lisa Brokop, Capitol Records Nashville/Liberty Records artist (1992-1996), is born Lisa Ann Brokop in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1942 - Future Capitol Records artist Yma Sumac marries bandleader and composer Moisés Vivanco in Lima, Peru
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Pretend" is 10, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby" (the flip side of "April In Portugal" is #15, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I Believe" is #16, and Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" (with "Allez-Vous-En" on the flip side) enters the top 20 at #18
1955 - Over two sessions on the same day, Woody Herman and His Orchestra (Dick Collins, Bernie Glow, Jerry Kail, Gerry LaFurn, Reuben McFall, and Charlie Walp on trumpet; on Cy Touff on bass trumpet, Dick Kenney, Keith Moon on trombone; Woody Herman on clarinet, alto saxophone and vocals; Richie Kamuca, Dick Hafer, and Art Pirie on tenor saxophone; Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone; Nat Pierce on piano; Billy Bauer on guitar; John Beal on bass; and Chuck Flores on drums) record the tracks "Opus De Funk" (arranged by Nat Pierce), "Cool Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" (arranged by Ralph Burns), "Pimlico" (arranged by Burns) during the first session with Glow on trumpet, then Travis replaces Glow for the second session when the band records the tracks "Captain Ahab" (arranged by Manny Albam), "I Remember Duke" (arranged by Burns); "Skinned" (arranged by George Williams), and "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" (arranged by Burns), in New York City, New York for their Capitol Records album "Road Band!"
1955 - Jimmy Giuffre (on clarinet on the first track and tenor saxophone on the second and third, with Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Ralph Pena on bass, and Artie Anton on drums for all three tracks) records the tracks "Chirpin' Time", "Scintilla II", and "This Is My Beloved" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios. "Chirpin' Time" will be included on Giuffre's Capitol Records album "Jimmy Giuffre: Tangents In Jazz" and the other two will be released on Mosaic Records' 1997 compilation box set "The Complete Capitol & Atlantic Recordings of Jimmy Giuffre".
1960 - Capitol Records releases Kay Starr's album "Movin' On Broadway" which was produced by Dave Cavanaugh with arrangements by Van Alexander who also conducts the orchestra
1962 - The Beatles, with Pete Best on drums and George Martin producing, record  the track "Love Me Do" as part of their first session for Parlophone Records
1964 - Capitol Records original Broadway cast album "Funny Girl" is #2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Meet The Beatles" slips to #4 after 5 weeks at #1.
1966 - Capitol Records Canada releases The Hollies' album "Look Through Any Window", The Swinging Blue Jeans' album "Don't Make Me Over", The Newman Centre Troubadors' album "The Canticle Of The Gift" on the Rainbow label, The Dave Clark Five's album "At The Scene", The Merrymen (featuring Emile Straker)'s album "Caribeat With The Merrymen", Cliff Richard's album "Blue Turns To Grey", and Manfred Mann's album "Mann Made"
1966 - Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) releases Dick Curless' album "Travelin' Man" and Dick Curless and Kay Adams' album "A Devil Like Me"
1976 - Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", released by Capitol Records in the United States, returns to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1991 - Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetzky), tenor saxophone player, band leader, member of the Capitol Records bands Woody Herman and His Orchestra and The Metronome All Stars, and who as a solo artist on the Verve label would record in Capitol's Studios on Melrose Avenue and in The Capitol Tower until 1957, dies at age 64 of liver cancer in Malibu, California
2000 - Capitol Records releases Nancy Wilson's 2 CD compilation "Anthology"
2000 - The first three volumes of Capitol Records' "From The Vaults" series, "Birth Of A Label", "Capitol Jumps" and "Vine Street Divas" are released. The series is compiled and produced by Billy Vera, who also wrote the series' extensive and informative liner notes. The look of the series' packaging is based on samples of packaging and advertisements from Capitol's early days that I pulled from my collection when I was working as a full time freelancer in Capitol's art department.
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Roger G. Hall, promoter for Capitol Records subsidiary Angel Records (1956-1959), manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1959-1963) and head of artists and repertoire for RCA's classical-music label, Red Seal (1963-1970), dies at age 79 from complications of Parkinson's disease at his home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
2006 - Capitol Records releases "The Very Best Of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another" with liner notes by Billy Vera that'll tear your heart out.
2006 - Capitol Records releases Sound Team's first full-length album "Movie Monster"
2006 - Billy Preston, singer, keyboardist for both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and solo Apple Records artist, dies in Shea Scottsdale Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona at age 59 from complications of an acute respiratory arrest, due to improper treatement for pericarditas, that put him into a coma on November 21, 2005
2007 - I got my copy of Johnny Mercer's 3 CD compilation "Mosaic Selects johnny mercer" that I had pre-ordered. It has a great note from Margaret Whiting and superb liner notes written by Billy Vera. There was a bit of confusion when I went to play disc 1 using iTunes as it gave the track listing for disc 3 and some unhappy reviewers comments next to each track. Playing the disc, the tracks that played were the one's listed for disc 1 on the packaging. I emailed Blue Note to let them know about the problem which the wrote back that they would look into it.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1939 - Gary U.S. Bonds, singer and EMI artist, is born Gary Anderson in Jacksonville, Florida
1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotions" is #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Singer Sarah Vaughn (with Carmell Jones on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone, Jack Wilson on organ, John Collins on guitar, Al McKibbon on bass, and Earl Palmer drums) records the tracks "What Kind Of Fool Am I" and "The Good Life" (without Jones and Edwards) with producer Teddy Reig at United Recorders in Los Angeles, California for her Roulette Records album "Sarah Sings Soulfully". EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Roulette's catalog.
1972 - Jethro Tull's Chrysalis Records album "Thick As A Brick" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1976 - Crystal Gayle's United Artists Records single "I'll Get Over You", with "High Time" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
2006 - Rhino Records releases Frank Sinatra, Jr.'s first album in a decade, "That Face!" (recorded in The Capitol Tower Studios). Rhino didn't put their logo on this package, instead they used the Reprise ":r" logo. The album was recorded in The Capitol Tower Studios, features arrangements by Billy May, Nelson Riddle and Torrie Zito, and features Frank Sr.'s longtime pianist Bill Miller, who will go on tour with Frank Jr. starting in July in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1944 - D-Day occurs on the beaches and coast of Normandy, France
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy dies at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California of the three gunshot wounds he sustained in a pantry a little after midnight the day before while leaving the ballroom of The Ambassador Hotel after winning the California Democratic primary. Rosemary Clooney, a friend and supporter of Kennedy, was performing at the hotel and suffers a nervous breakdown after hearing the news.
1971 - The last episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show" is broadcast on CBS. The episode is a repeat (the last original episode aired on March 28, 1971) of the episode that aired on February 7, 1971 that featured Melanie singing "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma," "Ruby Tuesday" and "Alexander Beetle"; Joanna Simon (mezzo-soprano) singing "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice"; impressionist David Frye; Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass; singers Tony Sandler & Ralph Young; comedian Norman Wisdom; sleight-of-hand artist Vic Perry; comedian Tony Fane and comedian Lennie Schultz. The next week the show is replaced by Sunday Night Movies which, after 35 years, will itself end at the end of CBS' 2005-2006 season.

JUNE 5, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1895 - William Boyd, (aka Hopalong Cassidy) television and movie actor and Capitol Children's Records artist, is born William Lawrence Boyd in Hendrysburg, Ohio. Dinobil has created a great fan site with images and letters sent him by Boyd and his fans as well as links to many other Hopalong Cassidy fan sites.
1947 - Tom Evans, bass player and vocalist in the Capitol Records band Badfinger, is born in Liverpool, England
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nico McBrain, drummer for the Capitol Records group Iron Maiden, is born Michael Henry McBain in Hackeny, London, England. McBrain keeps a tour diary on Iron Maiden's Official Website.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - With Johnny Mercer producing, Paul Whitman and His Orchestra (Monty Kelly, Larry Neil, Billy Butterfield, and Don Waddilove on trumpet; Skip Layton and Murray McEachern on trombone; Alvy West, Danny d'Andrea, Lenny Hartman, King Guion, and Tommy Mace on saxophone;, Buddy Weed on piano; Mike Pingitore on guitar; Art Shapiro on bass; Lou Paino on drums) back Martha Tilton on the track "Serenade in Blue" at Radio Recorders' studios in Los Angeles. Then, using arrangements by Jimmy Mundy, the band record the tracks "I Found A New Baby", "The General Jumped At Dawn" (the A and B sides respectively of Capitol 101 - the label's first single release) and, with vocals by The Mellowaires, "I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo". The Red Hot Jazz site has an informative page on Whiteman as well as links to audio files of the Whiteman tracks recorded this day.
65 Years Ago Today In 1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "My Happiness" enters the top 20 at #9, The Sportsmen's a cappella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True, Dear" is #15, Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Mañana" is #18, and Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters' Capitol Records single "Baby Face" is #19
1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single 'If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #7, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #8, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs" is #10, and Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In A Fountain" enters the top 20 at #16
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" (written by Willie Nelson) is #12 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Wanda Jackson records the tracks "Slippin'" and "Violet And A Rose" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Ken Nelson for her Capitol Records album "Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs"
1964 - A limited pressing of a 45 rpm single used to promote The Beatles for Hollywood radio station KFWB and Wallichs' Music City is released by Capitol Records. It has an interview on side 1 and "You Can't Do That" on the flip side. Copies of this disc have been valued for as much as $2250 with the original mailer.
1964 - Capitol Records releases The Applejacks single "Like Dreamers Do" (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) with "Everybody Fall Down" on the flip side
1966 - The promotional film for The Beatles Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer" gets its first showing when it's played on CBS-TV's "The Ed Sullivan Show"
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The Beatles record the track "Don't Pass Me By" at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, England for their Apple Records album "The Beatles" which will be distributed in the United States by Capitol Records
1971 - John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention are recorded live at a performance at the Fillmore East on this night and the next, some of which will appear on the Plastic Ono Band's album "Sometime In New York City" and on Zappa's album "Fillmore East, June 1971"
1976 - Capitol Records releases Mel McDaniel's first single "Have A Dream On Me" with "Gotta Lotta Love" on the flip side
30 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records album "Rio" peaks at #5 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums charts
1989 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney's album "Flowers In The Dirt"
1999 - Mel Tormé, singer, songwriter, drummer, motion picture and television actor, and Capitol Records artist is pronounced dead at 1:45AM at UCLA Medical Center, Westwood, California where he had been rushed after having breathing problems at his home in Beverly Hills, California
2001 - Capitol Records releases Radiohead's fifth album "Amnesiac"
5 Years Ago Today In 2007 - Capitol Records releases Poison's album "Poison'd"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Gene McDaniels' Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #8, The Fleetwoods' Dolton Records (distributed by Liberty Records) single "Tragedy" is #11, Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Hello Mary Lou" (written by Gene Pitney and the flip side of "Travelin' Man") is #14, Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #19, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #30, and Don Costa and His Orchestra and Chorus' United Artists Records single "Never On A Sunday" is #38. Imperial, Liberty, Dolton, Minit, and United Artists Records' catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1954 - The 160th and final live broadcast of "Your Show Of Shows" airs on NBC-TV.

JUNE 4, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1945 - Gordon Waller, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and part of the Capitol Records duo Peter and Gordon, is born Gordon Trueman Riviere Waller in Braemar, Scotland
60 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Jimmy McCulloch, lead guitarist with the band Wings and member of bands including Thunderclap Newman and Stone The Crows, is born in Glasgow, Scotland. He would die in London, England on September 27, 1979 at age 26 of a heart failure due to overuse of heroin, morphine, alcohol and marijuana. Miguel Terol has a tribute page to Jimmy on The Musicians' Olympus website.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - With it's name officially changed from Liberty Records, Capitol Records starts business in a small 15’x50’ second floor office with no air conditioning at 1483 Vine Street, just south of Sunset Boulevard, above Sy Devore’s Tailor Shop and next to photographer Gene Lester's studio. Also on this day Capitol Records will become the first record company to give free copies of its records to D.J.s when co-founder Glenn Wallichs personally brings disc jockey Peter Potter, creator of “The Juke Box Jury” radio show, a copy of “Cow-Cow Boogie” (which, along with Mercer's "Strip Polka" will become one of Capitol’s first big sellers). After seeing Potter's reaction, Wallichs decides, for the first time in the history of the American music industry, to give free copies of releases to disc jockeys and reviewers to promote Capitol Records' acts and the sound quality of its recordings. The records are personalized with labels bearing each recipient's name (which would often lead to Capitol's few employees having to stay up to 3 in the morning to fill them out). This quickly makes Capitol Records a favorite of disc jockeys across the country and forces the rest of the industry to follow Capitol. The first female employee was Auriel MacFie who operated the small switchboard and was also the company's receptionist and typist who, according to Dave Dexter, Jr.'s autobiography "Playback", was blonde, smiling, attractive and would, by 1976, become a  prominent editor for a major Californian book publisher. The site of Capitol's first office is currently the entrance to the Bank of America parking structure.
1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson, Ken Hanna on trumpet; Kai Winding, Miff Sines, Milt Kabak on trombone; Bart Varsalona on bass trombone; Al Anthony, Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone; Vido Musso, Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone; Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone; Stan Kenton on piano; Bob Ahern on guitar; Eddie Safranski on bass; Shelly Manne on drums; June Christy, Gene Howard, Ray Wetzel on vocals), record the Pete Rugolo compositions "Rika Jika Jack" (with vocals by Christy and the band and trombone solo by Kai Winding), "Artistry in Boogie" (with piano solos by Kenton and Pete Rugolo, bass solo by Eddie Safranski, tenor saxophone solo by Vido Musso, trumpet solo by Chico Alvarez, and trombone solo by Kai Winding), "Come Back To Sorrento" (with trumpet solo by Vido Musso) and an incomplete take of "Collaboration" (piano solo by Pete Rugolo) at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California
1949 - Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is #11, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #12, and Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Careless Hands" is #16
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra and Chorus' Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s single "A Blossom Fell" and its flip side "If I May" which also includes The Four Knights is #6, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is #10, Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" is #11, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #18
1956 - Capitol Records releases Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps' Capitol Records single "Woman Love", with "Be-Bop-A-Lula" on the flip side and the group, with Vincent on vocals, Cliff Gallup and William Williams on guitar, Jack Neil on bass, and Dickie Harrell on drums, play their first-ever gig at Myrtle Beach.
1962 - The Beatles' sign their first contract with Parlophone Records
1962 - Capitol Records, as part of Capitol Single Release 841, releases singles by Dinah Shore ("Just A Brief Encounter" with orchestra conducted by Van Alexander), Tex Williams ("You Gotta Have A License" and "Ghost Of A Honky Tonk Slave" with orchestra conducted by Billy Liebert), The Beach Boys ("Surfin' Safari" and "409"), and Art and Dottie Todd ("Sweet Someone" and "Ring-A-Ding")
1969 - The Beatles' single "The Ballad Of John and Yoko", with "Old Brown Shoe" on the flip side, is released by Capitol Records in the U.S.
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Murry Gage Wilson, father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson (and uncle to Mike Love) of The Beach Boys, dies of a heart attack at his home in Hawthorne, California at age 56. Murry was at one time co-producer of The Beach Boys, ran the band's publishing company Sea of Tunes, had his own album on Capitol ("The Many Moods Of Murry Wilson), and was manager and producer of the Tower Records band The Sunrays, and their website has a photos of them with Murry.
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records Canada releases Edward Bear's album "Close Your Eyes" and Rolf Harris' album "You Name It"
1990 - Members of the International Sawyer Brown Fan Club hold their first meeting at a breakfast with the Capitol Nashville band the day before the Fan Fair 1990 opens in Nashville, Tennessee. Members of the band go to each table to chat and give autographs, and that afternoon there's an auction of Sawyer Brown memorabilia. There's a write up on the fan club's website about the breakfast and the fan fair.
1998 at 9:00 AM eastern - A news item appears announcing that Gary Gersh, president & CEO, Capitol Records, and Glen Ballard, president, Java Records, have signed Lisa Marie Presley to an exclusive recording agreement with Java Records. Java Records was the joint venture between Capitol Records and writer/producer Ballard.
2001 - Diana Krall finished recording her album "The Look Of Love" in The Capitol Tower Studios
2001 - John Hartford, banjo player, triple Grammy Award winner, and composer (best remembered for Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Gentle On My Mind") dies at age 63 in a Nashville hospital after a lengthy battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Lisa Marie Presley performs during half-time of the first game of the 2003 NBA finals
2005 - Capitol Records artists hold the top 3 spots on Billboard's Country charts with Keith Urban's "Making Memories of Us" at #1, Trace Adkins' "Songs About Me" at #2, and Dierks Bentley's "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" coming in at #3
2006 -The Rice Brothers (Wayne, Jim and Joe) with guitarist Dale Cooper, bassist Steve Lawrence, and fiddler Tom Cunningham perform during the evening service at Shadow Mountain Community Church (2100 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, California) at 6:00 p.m. These former members of the band Brush Arbor will be playing and singing together for the first time since their Capitol Records days thirty years ago [1972-1974]. Wayne Rice has put up a homepage for Brush Arbor with a great discography and history.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Michelle Phillips, motion picture and television actress, singer with the group The Mamas And The Papas, and mother of SBK Records artist (as part of the group Wilson Phillips) Chynna Phillips, is born vocals Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach, California
1960 - Pianist Randy Weston (with Cecil Payne on baritone saxophone, Ron Carter on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums) records the tracks "Portrait Of Patsy J", "Uncle Nemo", "Cry Me Not", "Honk Honk", "Saucer Eyes", "204", and "C.B. Blues" (all written by Weston), with producer Teddy Reig in New York City, New York for Roulette Records who will only release the track "Saucer Eyes" as part of "The Roulette Jazz CD Sampler" and will all finally be released in 2003 by Mosaic Records on the CD compilation "Mosaic Select: Randy Weston"
1964 - Chris Kavanagh, drummer with the EMI America Records group Sigue Sigue Sputnik as well as Big Audio Dynamite II, is born in England

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1965 - The Rolling Stones' single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", with "The Under-Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" on the filp side, enters Billboard's singles chart where it will peak at #1, the band's first in the U.S.
1984 - Frank Sinatra begins a 13 night stand at Carnegie Hall with a black tie benefit for the hall which is reviewed by Jon Pareles for The New York Times
1992 - Harrison Ford leaves his hand and footprints during ceremony #155 at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California

JUNE 3, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1929 - Chuck Barris, television producer, game show creator and host, songwriter, novelist, admitted assassin for the C.I.A., basis of the movie "Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind", and a Capitol Records artist (1969), is born born Charles Hirsch Barris in Oakland, New Jersey
1932 - Dakota Staton (aka Aliyah Rabia), singer, dancer, sister of saxophonist Fred Staton, and a Capitol Records and United Artists Records artist, is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was "discovered" by Capitol Records A&R man and producer Dave Cavanaugh while she was performing at The Baby Grand Club in Harlem, New York.
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Jamie O'Neal, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records Nashville artist, is born Jamie Murphy in Syndey, Australia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra re-record the track "Eight, Nine And Ten" for Capitol Records with producer Lee Gillette, with Goodman handling the vocals instead of Peggy Lee, who recorded the first version of this song with the band on March 28, 1947
1949 - Peggy Lee records the tracks "The Christmas Spell", "Goodbye, John", "Neon Signs", "Song At Midnight" and "Through A Long And Sleepless Night" for Capitol Records.
1950 - Nat "King" Cole (with Les Baxter and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Mona Lisa", the flip side of "The Greatest Inventor Of Them All", enters the top 20 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart at #15
1951 - Capitol Records country artist Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley Boys (Billy Gray on guitar; Curly Chalker, Lefty Nason on steel guitar; Cliffie Stone, Billy Stewart on bass; Bill Foster on drums; Red Hayes on fiddle; Gil Baca on piano; Buddy Woody on accordion) record the track "Love Thief" at Sellers Company in Dallas, Texas. The track will be released by Capitol Records as a single with "How Do You Feel?" on the flip side.
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #8 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady" is tied for #21 with Jim Lowe (with Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra)'s single "Four Walls"
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Capitol Records Canada releases Cliff Richards and The Shadows album "On Your Mark...Get Set...Let's Go!" and their soundtrack album "Summer Holliday" is #1 on the CHUM LP chart. The label also releases Mrs. Mills' album "Summer Party.
1964 - Ringo Starr, drummer for The Beatles, collapses from tonsillitis and pharyngitis. Jimmy Nicol becomes substitute drummer when Ringo enters a London hospital for his throat problem and the band would rehearse with him in Abbey Road Studios the same day. Nicol would stay with the band for concerts in Holland, Amsterday, Hong Kong and Australia until Ringo rejoins the band in Melbourne, Australia on June 14, 1964
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' album "Friends"
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) releases Pink Floyd's single "It Would Be So Nice", with "Julia Dream" on the flip side, Eternity's Children's self-titled album, The Love Exchange's self-titled album, and Them's album "Now And Them"
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Sidewalk Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases The Smoke's self-titled album
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - The last session is held for Ella Fitzgerald's last album for Capitol Records, "30 By Ella", produced by Dave Dexter, Jr. with accompaniment by Benny Carter's Magnificent Seven
45 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Capitol Records Canada releases Frank Ifield's album "The Singer And The Song"
1990 - MC Hammer's Capitol Records album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1990 - Wilson Phillips' SBK Records (distributed by Capitol Records) single "Hold On" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1991 - Morrisey records the tracks "There's A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends", "My Love Life", and "Sing Your Life" live to two track DAT tape with no overdubs especially for KROQ-FM radio, with Boz Boorer and Alain White on guitars, Gary Day on bass, Spencer Cobrin on drums, and Morrissey on vocals, at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California at an overnight session which Warner Bros. Records will release as a CD single entitled "Morrisey at KROQ"
1991 - Capitol Records announces that Los Angeles based hard rock band XYZ (guitarist Marc Diglio, bassist Patt Fontaine, vocalist Terry Ilous and drummer Paul Monroe), formerly with Enigma Records, has signed with the label and that they are finishing up work on their debut album "Hungry" with producer George Tutko
1994 - Wally Fowler (born John Wallace Fowler), Capitol Records artist (1945 as Wally Fowler and The Georgia Clodhoppers and later as Wally Fowler and The Oakridge Quartet), dies at age 77 after drowining in Dale Hollow Lake, northeast of Nashville, where he had been fishing
1997 - Capitol Records releases Peabo Bryson's album "I'm So Into You:The Passion of Peabo Bryson" and "Bossa Novaville", the 14th release in their UltraLounge series
2001 - Diana Krall begins recording her album "The Look Of Love" in The Capitol Tower Studios
2002 - Janet H. Shifflett (born Janet Henry), a machinist for Capitol Records for 15 years and for Audiopak for seven years, dies at her home in Winchester, Virginia at age 62
10 Years Ago Today In 2003 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Trace Adkins' compilation album "Greatest Hits Collection, Vol.1"
2005 - Capitol Records Nashville announces that Garth Brooks has ended his relationship with the label and that EMI Music will no longer distribute his catalog

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Teenager's Romance" is tied for #13 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart with The Coasters' single "Searchin'", and Nelson's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #19, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Valley Of Tears" is #24 and Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #33. EMI Music Group, parent company of Capitol Music Group, currently owns the Imperial Records catalog.
1964 - Former Capitol Records artist Dean Martin hosts ABC-TV's variey show "The Hollywood Palace" which this night features future Virgin Records artists The Rolling Stones making their first U.S. television appearance during their first U.S. concert tour
1964 - The Stanley Turrentine Sextet (Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone), Herbie Hancock piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Otis Candy Finch on drums) records the tracks "Fried Pies" and "In Memory Of" with Mickey Roker on congo and "Sunday In New York", "Make Someone Happy", "Jodie's Cha Cha", and "Niger Mambo" at The Van Gelder Studio in Englewood, New Jersey with producer Alfred Lion and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder and will be released in 1980 by Blue Note Records on the album "In Memory Of"
1969 - Arranger Gerald Wilson (with Larry McGuire, Jay Daversa, and Paul Hubinon on trumpet; Lester Robinson, Frank Strong, and Thurman Green on trombone; Alexander Thomas on bass trombone; Arthur Maebe on french horn; Henry DeVega and Anthony Ortega on alto saxophone; William Green on flute and piccolo; Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone, flute and piccolo; Hadley Caliman and Harold Land on tenor saxophone; Richard Aplanalp on baritone saxophone; Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone; Richard Holmes on organ; George Duke on piano; Bob West on electric bass; and Carl Lott on drums) records the track "Pisces" (which will be released on the World Pacific Records album "Eternal Equinox"), as well as the tracks "You, Me and Now", "Bluesnee", and (with vocal by William Marshall) "Baby, Baby Don't You Cry" with producer Richard Bock and engineer Lanky Linstrot at Liberty Studios on Third Street, near Robertson Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California
1975 - Ozzie Nelson (born Oswald George Nelson), band leader, producer, director, radio and television actor, husband to Harriet Hilliard Nelson and father of David Nelson and Imperial and Capitol Records artist Eric "Ricky" Nelson, dies of cancer at age 69 and is later in Hollywood's Forest Lawn Cemetery
1979 - Kenny Rogers' Liberty Records single "She Believes In Me", with "Morgana Jones" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1964 - Peter Sellers leaves his hand and foot prints in cement during ceremony #127 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California
1969 - The last original episode of "Star Trek" airs at 10:00 PM on a Friday on NBC-TV

JUNE 2, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1924 - Carl Butler, singer, songwriter, Capitol Records country artist (1951-1953) and part of the recording duo Carl & Pearl Butler, is born Carl Roberts Butler in Knoxville, Tennessee

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)' Capitol Records single "Dream" (with "Tabby The Cat" on the flip side) is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Johnnie Johnston (with Orchestra conducted by Paul Baron)'s Capitol Records single "Laura" (with "There Must Be A Way" on the flip side) is #6, and Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)' Capitol Records single "Candy" (with Johnny Mercer's "I'm Gonna See My Baby" on the flip side) is #7
1956 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "I've Got Five Dollars" is #5 and Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "Blackboard Of My Heart" is #8 on Billboard's Country Singles chart.
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back", with "Do I Like It?" on the flip side, is #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, The Four Preps' Capitol Records single "Big Man" is #6 and Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #9
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's debut album "The Kingston Trio"
1959 - The Kingston Trio (Dave Guard on vocals, banjo and guitar, Nick Reynolds on vocals and congas, Robert "Bob Shane" Schoen on vocals and guitar and Morris "Buck" Wheat on bass) record the unissued and possibly lost track "Green Grasses", Molly Dee (John Stewart's first commercial songwriting success) and "E Inu Tatou" in the Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 2:00 & 5:00 PM and 5:00 & 6:30 PM
1966 - The Beatles begin sessions for the track "I Want To Tell You" in Abbey Road Studios, in London, England. The track will appear on their album Capitol Records album "Revolver"
1966 - Carl Wilson and session musicians (Diane Rovell [leader], Hal Blaine, Charles Britz, William Pitman, Don Randi, Lyle Ritzare) record tracks for the song "Inspiration" for The Beach Boys' album "Smile" at Western Recorders in Los Angeles. The album will never be released by Capitol Records.
1967 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in the United States of America.
1969 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Buck Owens In London"
1969 - Capitol Records Canada releases Mike and Brian's album "Warm On The Inside" and Johnny Thorson's album "The Johnny Thorson Banjo Album" and the original motion picture soundtrack albums for the movies "The Devil's 8" and "Hell's Belles"
40 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Apple Records single "My Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.
1974 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Apple Records single "Band On The Run", with "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" on the flip side and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1990 - Jack Guilford (born Jacob Aaron Gellman), Broadway, motion picture and television actor (probably best remembered for his 10 year run of pantomime performances in Cracker Jacks commercials), singer, and Capitol Records artist (on the original Broadway cast album for the musical "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"), dies of stomach cancer at his home in Greenwich Village, New York at age 81.
15 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Suzy Bogguss' single "Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt" with "When I Run" on the flipside
2006 - Vince Welnick, keyboard player for the Capitol Records group The Tubes and later The Grateful Dead, committed suicide at age 55 on a hillside behind his Forestville home
2009 - Capitol Records/EMI, in conjunction with Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE), release a brand-new companion collection, "Classic Sinatra II"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts is born Charles Robert Watts in Islington (a suburb of London), England
1942 - Future Capitol Records artist Betty Hutton appears on "Command Performance" singing "Murder, He Says" with the Billy Artzt Orchestra.
1952 - Judy Garland marries Sid Luft who, at the time, was her manager
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and Jimmie Rodgers' Roulette single "Secretly", with "Mack Me A Miracle" on the flip side is #8
1960 - The Silver Beetles give their first professional performance at a concert at Neston Institute (now Neston Civic Hall) in Neston, Cheshire County, England (and today is also Ladies Day in Neston, a unique marching day that has links to the Neston Female Friendly Society during the Napoleonic War)
1964 - The Beatles record the tracks "Any Time At All", "When I Get Home", and "Things We Said Today" in Studio Two at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, in London England which will be released by United Artists Records as part of the soundtrack album for their UA movie "A Hard Day's Night". Capitol Records will later acquire U.S. Distribution rights to the album when EMI buys United Artists Records catalog.
1964 - The Rolling Stones make their American television debut on WABC's The Les Crane Show.
1965 - Director Dick Lester (who directed The Beatles film "A Hard Day's Night" the year before)'s film "The Knack (And How To Get It)" premieres at the London Pavillion Cinema with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr among the celebrities in attendance. The film's title will later become the inspiration for the Capitol Records band The Knack.
1967 - Future EMI artist David Bowie's first album "David Bowie" is released on Deram Records, a subsidiary of Decca Records.
1969 - Arranger Gerald Wilson and His Orchestra (Larry McGuire, Jay Daversa, Paul Hubinon on trumpet; Lester Robinson, Frank Strong, Thurman Green on trombone; Alexander Thomas on bass trombone; Arthur Maebe on french horn; Henry DeVega, Anthony Ortega on alto saxophone; William Green on flute and piccolo; Ernie Watts on tenor saxophone, flute and piccolo; Hadley Caliman, Harold Land on tenor saxophone; Richard Aplanalp on baritone saxophone; Bobby Hutcherson on vibes; Richard Holmes on organ; George Duke on piano; Bob West on electric bass; and Carl Lott on drums), with producer Richard Bock and engineer Lanky Linstrot, record the tracks "Equinox", "Aquarius", and "Celestial Soul" for the Pacific Jazz Records label at Liberty Studios on Third Street near Robertson Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono's bed-in, which started May 26 at The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, ends

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1896 - Guglielmo Marconi is granted a patent for his electro-magnetic wave communication system (aka Radio)
1904 - Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer and actor (MGM's Tarzan series) Johnny Weissmuller is born János Weißmüller in Freidorf, Austro-Hungary (present-day Timişoara)
1950 - Desi Arnaz and his wife Lucille Ball start a week of shows as a duo at The Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois and starting June 9th will start a week of shows at The Roxy Theatre in New York City, New York
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Alan Freed kicks off his new Rock 'n' Roll radio show on WABC in New York, which will run from 7:15 PM to 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday
1990 - Actor Rex Harrison (born Reginald Carey Harrison) dies of pancreatic cancer in New York City, New York at age 82

JUNE 1, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1890 - Frank Morgan, Broadway, motion picture (best known for multiple roles in "The Wizard Of Oz") and radio actor and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the 1949 Dr. Suess childrens records "Gossamer Wump"), is born Francis Phillip Wuppermann in New York City, New York
1921 - Nelson Riddle, trombonist, arranger, conductor, composer and Capitol Records artist as Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra is born Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. in Oradell, New Jersey His son, Christopher Riddle (who took over running, and touring with, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra in 1986), has written a biographical article about his father for the American Music Hall of Fame. Nelson's family also has a website and Nelson's papers and memorabilia are now part of The Nelson Riddle Collection at the University of Arizona, Tucson, that is administered by Keith Pawlak.
1926 - Andy Griffith, Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records artist, is born Andrew Samuel Griffith in Mount Airy, North Carolina

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - The Certificate of Amendment submitted by George G. DeSylva, John Mercer, and Glenn E. Wallichs on May 27, 1942 before Ms. Leta Niccum to change the name of the corporation from Liberty Records, Inc. to Capitol Records, Inc. is stamped as filed with the state of California, officially marking the beginning of Capitol Records.
Here's a rememberance about the beginning of Capitol Records from Margaret Whiting's 1987 autobiography "It Might As Well Be Spring" that she co-wrote with Will Holt which Ms. Whiting has graciously given me permission to reproduce.
Johnny Mercer and seventeen year-old singer Margaret Whiting were "...strolling around the Hillcrest Golf Course in 1941 with (composer) Harold Arlen and bandleader Bobby Sherwood,...Johnny said, in an offhand manner, 'I've got this idea of starting a record company. I get so tired of listening to the way everyone treats music. I keep feeling they're selling out. And I don't like the way artists are treated either. Bing Crosby isn't the only one who can make records. I don't know, I think it would be fun.'...One of (Mercer's) best friends was Glenn Wallichs, the owner of Music City, a record store across from NBC....One day Johnny went to visit Glenn, who took him in back to hear some of the new releases. Johnny shook his head, then blurted out 'How about coming in on a record company with me?' Let's try something new.' And Glenn said, 'Fine. You run the company and find the artists.' And Johnny said, 'And you run the business.'"
1942 - Tex Ritter signs with Capitol Records becoming the label's first Country Music artist. In 10 days, he will have his first recording session which will produce the track "Jingle Jangle Jingle".
1946 - Andy Russell (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retal Records chart and Alvino Ray and His Orchestra (with vocal by Rocky Coluccio)'s Capitol Records single "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti)" is #9
1956 - Jane Powell, with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra, records the tracks "Mind If I Fall In Love With You", "True Love", "What Gives? What Goes?", "Till The Next Time" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
55 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's first album "The Kingston Trio", produced by Voyle Gilmore, and on the same day, Trio member Dave Guard's eldest daughter, Catherine, is born
1959 - Franck Pourcel and His French Fiddles' Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1959 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's album "The Kingston Trio At Large" and on the same day they record the track "A Worried Man"
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Single chart, The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' U.S.A." (it's flip side, "Shut Down", is #33) is #4, Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" is #10, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #16, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #19, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #23, and The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Shut Down" (the flip side of "Surfin' U.S.A") is #33
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beatles perform "Young Blood", "Sure To Fall (In Love With You)", "Baby It's You", and "I Got To Find My Baby" during a live in studio appearance at the BBC. The tracks will later be released by Apple Records on The Beatles' compilation cd "Live At The B.B.C." with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States
1966 - Billy May starts recording his album "Billy May Today!" in The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood,  California
1966 - The Beatles finish work on the track "Yellow Submarine" for their album "Revolver" at Abbey Road Studios, London, England. The track would inspire the creation of their third film for United Artists, the animated feature "Yellow Submarine"
1967 - The Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is released in the U.S.
1972 - Pink Floyd, with engineer Alan Parsons, begin work on their album "Dark Side Of The Moon"
1974 - Capitol Records' Grand Funk Railroad performs in concert in San Diego, California. The performance is filmed and released on video tape and laserdisc in Japan.
35 Years Ago Today In 1978 - The Knack perform for the first time when they hit the stage at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, in Hollywood, California
2004 - EMI Capitol releases Dean Martin's compilation CD "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin" that contains 30 of Martin’s hits from both his Capitol Records (1949-1961) and Reprise Records (1960-1969) catalog
2005 - Thomas Allen Ritter, one time employee of Capitol Records, dies in his home in Winchester, Virginia at age 63

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1959 - Martin Denny and His Orchestra's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #6, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #16
50 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Joey Dee & The Starliters' Roulette Records single "Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes (Part 1)", with "Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes (Part 2)" on the flip side, is #36 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1964 - The Joe Pass Quartet (Bill Perkins on tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute; Joe Pass on guitar; John Pisano on rhythm guitar; Frank Strazzeri on piano; and Jim Hughart on bass) record the tracks "I  Believe In You", "It's A Wonderful World", "Hello Dolly", "Summer Night", and "The Sweetest Sound" for their Pacific Jazz Records album "12-String Guitar Movie Themes" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Pacific Jazz catalog and it's distributed by Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Music Group.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1934 - Benny Goodman and his first permanent performing orchestra make their public performing debut at Billy Rose's Music Hall, 1697 Broadway at W. 53rd St., New York, NY, which started out as the Hammerstein Theatre and would become CBS' Studio 50, home of "The Ed Sullivan Show" where The Beatles made their first U.S. television appearance, and currently home to "The Late Show With David Letterman"
75 Years Ago Today In 1938 - Superman makes his first appearance on the cover of Action Comics #1