AUGUST 20, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1905 - Jack Teagarden, a trombonist, bandleader, singer and Capitol Records recording artist, is born Weldon John Teagarden in Vernon, Texas.

1952 - John Hiatt, a singer, musician, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (1995-1997), is born John Robert Hiatt in Indianapolis, Indiana.

1952 - Doug Fieger, an actor, guitarist, and lead singer of the Capitol Records band The Knack, is born Douglas Lars Fieger in Detroit, Michigan.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1947 - Johnny Mercer and The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) record the titles "We'll Save The Bones For Henry Jones" (after starting a new take after Johnny Mercer got 20 seconds into the first take but stopped it saying he had a frog in his throat), "My Baby Likes to Be-Bop", "Harmony" (with Cole on nickelodeon), and "You Can't Make Money Dreamin'" at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "We'll Save The Bones For Henry Jones" and "Harmony" together as a single (Capitol 15000) and "My Baby Likes To Be-Bop" and "You Can't Make Money Dreamin'" together as a single (Capitol 15026).

1947 - Using a script by Alan Livingston, voice actors Henry Blair (as "Sparky"), Marvin Miller (as the narrator), June Foray (as a friend of Sparky), Billy Bletcher (as Sparky's daddy), and unlisted voice actors as Sparky's mother, another child-friend, the train conductor, and the train, with Billy May conducting his own music to the orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the first three parts of "Sparky And The Talking Train" in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the parts on the children's album "Sparky And The Talking Train" (BC-66).

1947 - Pianist Buddy Cole, with unlisted others, records four unlisted titles for The Capitol Records Transcription Service, probably at "The Chateau" on De Longpre near Vine Street in Hollywood, California. No issuing information is listed.

1948 - The comedy team Martin and Lewis (Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis) sign with Capitol Records. Martin had already signed a personal singing contract with Capitol on August 12, 1948. On September 13, 1948, Martin and Lewis will have their first session for the label, recording vocals for "The Money Song" and "That Certain Party" over band tracks recorded on September 9, 1948, in Mexico by the Mario Ruiz Armengol Orchestra.

1948 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist Nick Lucas, with unlisted others, records the title "Side By Side" at the first session and the titles "Tip Toe Through The Tulips", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Here I Am, Broken", "Painting The Clouds With Sunshine", "Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue?", "It's All Over Now", and "I Miss You Most Of All" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Side By Side" and "Tip Toe Through The Tulips" together as a single (Capitol 15242) and on the multi-artist compilation album "24 Great Songs Of The Turbulent Twenties" (TBO 1572) and has yet to issue any of the other titles recorded at this session.

1949 - Gordon MacRae and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Whispering Hope" debuts on the singles chart where it will peak at #4.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford’s Capitol Records single “The World Is Waiting For The Sunshine” sells its first millionth copy.

1952 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Somewhere Along The Way" is #8 and his single "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" is # 19 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop Singles Chart, "Walkin' My"Walkin' My Baby Back Home is #9 and "Somewhere Along The Way" is #10 on the magazine's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, and "Somewhere Along The Way" is #18 on the magazine's Most Played Juke Box Records chart.

1952 - At two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, pianist Leonard Pennario records Chopin's "Waltz #13 In D Flat Major, Opus 70 N° 3", "Waltz #14 In E Minor", "Waltz #7 In C Sharp Minor, Opus 64, N° 2", and "Waltz #3 In A Minor, Opus 34 N° 2" at the first session and Chopin's "Waltz #9 In A Flat Major, Opus 69 N° 1", "Waltz #11 In G Flat", and "Waltz #12 In F Minor, Opus 70 N°2 " at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Pennario's album "CHOPIN - Waltzes" (P-8172).

1952 - Jack Stern and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "The Way You Look Tonight", "That Old Black Magic", "It Had To Be You", and "Beer Barrel Polka" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Way You Look Tonight" on Stern's album "Background Music - Show Tunes" (H-378), "That Old Black Magic" on Stern's album "Background Music,Volume 3 - Light And Lively" (H-375), and "It Had To Be You" and "Beer Barrel Polka" on Stern's album "Background Music - Bright And Bouncy" (H-377).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Bing Crosby's and Grace Kelly‘s Capitol Records single “True Love”, from the Capitol Records soundtrack album for the MGM motion picture "High Society", sells its first millionth copy.

Capitol Records co-founder, chairman, and president Glenn Wallichs presents a gold record to Bing Crosby to honor "True Love" selling a million copies.

1957 - Legend has it that The Kingston Trio learn the song "Tom Dooley" from an unknown artist at a talent audition at The Purple Onion located at 140 Columbus, San Francisco, California. They will re-arrange the song and add a spoken intro when they record it for their demo disc, which is given to producer and A&R executive Voyle Gilmore at Capitol Records, who signed them to the label. The group's version of the song appears on their self-titled Capitol Records debut album, "The Kingston Trio".

1957 - Vibraphonist Johnny Otis and His Orchestra (Don Johnson and Paul Lopez on trumpet, George Washington on trombone, Jack Kelso on alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, Fred Harmon on tenor and baritone saxophones, Ernie Freeman on piano, Joe Nolen on guitar, Curtis Counce on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums) record the titles "It's Too Soon To Know" with vocals by The Moonbeams (lineup unlisted), "Tell Me So" with vocals by Mel Williams, "Star Of Love" with vocals by Jeannie Sterling, and "A Story Untold" with vocals by The Moonbeams in Los Angeles, California. After applauses overdubs are recorded for "A Story Untold" on November 4, 1957 and for "It's Too Soon To Know" on November 6, 1957, Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except for "Star Of Love" on the album "The Johnny Otis Show" (T 940) and "Star Of Love" as a single (Capitol F3802) with "It's Too Soon To Know" on the flipside. All the above titles are studio recordings with dubbed applause, although they were issued as recorded live at Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

1962 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Ramblin' Rose" is #6 on WHK 1420 AM's Official Fabulous 50 Tunedex in Cleveland, Ohio.

1962 - Cliff Parman, with unlisted others, records the titles "Revelation", "Soul Of Souls", "Fare Thee Well", and "Ramble" in (listed as possibly) Nashville, Tennessee for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1969 - All four Beatles are in the recording studio (EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, England) at the same time for the last time. They'll mix part of the "Abbey Road" album, decide the running order of the songs, and decide where to clip the end of the track "I Want You (She's So Heavy)".

1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for The Gentry's titles "Rock & Roll Queen", "Changin'", "Let Me Put This Ring Upon Your Finger", and "R.C. & Moonpie", will issue "Changin'" and "Let Me Put This Ring Upon Your Finger" together as a single (Capitol 3459), and have yet to issue the other two titles.

1973 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's single "Colorado Country Morning" with "Daddy Usta Say" on the flipside.

1982 - Storm (Lear Stevens on guitar, Ronni Hanson on bass, Jimmy Monroe on drums, and Jeanette Chase on vocals) record the title "PEZ" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's self-titled album "Storm" (ST-12259).

1982 - Ronnie Laws, with unlisted others, records the title "Big Stars" at an unlisted location. Capitol Records will issue the title on the album "Mr. Nice Guy" ST-12261).

1987 - Capitol Records registers the masters for Flesh For Lulu's titles "Lucky Day", "Postcards From Paradise", "Hammer Of Love", "Siamese Twist", "Sooner Or Later", "Sleeping Dogs", "Good For You", "Crash", "Way To Go", "Dream On Cowboy", "I Go Crazy", "Dumbest Things (Live In Your Living Room)", and "Spaceball Ricochet". Capitol Records will issue "Postcards From Paradise" and "The Dumbest Things (Live In Your Living Room)" together as a single (Capitol 44074) and "Siamese Twist" and "I Go Crazy" together as a single (Capitol 44165). Beggers Banquet will issue all the titles, except "The Dumbest Things (Live In Your Bedroom)" and "Spaceball Ricochet", in England on the group's album "Long Live The New Flesh" (BBL 82 on vinyl, BBL 82CD on CD).

15 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Ross Barbour, a founding member of the Capitol Records vocal group The Four Freshmen, dies of lung cancer at his home in Simi Valley, California at age 82.

2017 - Jerry Lewis, comedian, motion picture actor, television variety show host, and Capitol Records artist (as part of Martin and Lewis and a solo act), dies at age 91 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, sixty nine years to the day from when he signed his first contract with Capitol Records as part of the duo Martin and Lewis.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1959 - Ella Fitzgerald finishes recording tracks for her Verve Records album "Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle and producer Norman Granz.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1919 - The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, giving women the right to vote.

1942 - Isaac Hayes, singer, songwriter, and cartoon voice artist, is born Isaac Lee Hayes in Covington, Tennessee.

1950 - Jerome Brailey (aka "Bigfoot" Brailey), drummer with various bands including P-Funk, Parliament, Funkadelic, and Mutiny is born. If anyone knows his middle name, or where he was born, please leave a comment.

1965 - KRS-One, singer, songwriter, and producer, is born Lawrence Krisna Parker in Brooklyn, New York.

1972 - 112,000 people gather at the Los Angeles Coliseum for an all-day concert called Wattstax. Isaac Hayes, Albert King, The Staples Stingers, Rufus & Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, and others performed. Stax Records president Al Bell had the concert filmed and the footage has been shown as part of a documentary on PBS.


BTW - Today is my step-daughter Maureen Johnson's 47th birthday!

AUGUST 19, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1972 - Sammi Cheng, actress, singer (Cantonese, Mandarin, and English) and Capitol Records Hong Kong recording artist (until a contractual dispute in 1996 led to her signing with Warner Bros. HK), is born Cheng Sau Man.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, Johnny Miller on bass, and William Jack "The Bear" Parker on drums), with an unidentified string section and producers Carl Kress and Walter Rivers, record the title "The Best Man", a new take of Mel Tormé's and Robert Wells' "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (after an initial take by just Cole, Moore, and Miller on June 14, 1946) this time using a string arrangement by Charlie Grean, and the title "You Should Have Told Me" in the WMCA Studios in New York City, New York. Cole was able to convince Capitol execs to invest more money to re-record "The Christmas Song" because he felt that the song would work better with a string section. In all there are at least six version of the song using Cole's vocals from 4 different sessions. Wikipedia has a good article describing all the versions, how to identify them, and where to find them.  Capitol Records will initially issue "The Best Man" as a single (Capitol 304) with "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" (recorded on August 22, 1946) on the flipside, "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" as a single (Capitol 311) with the instrumental "In The Cool Of The Evening" (recorded on September 6, 1946) on the flipside, and "You Should Have Told Me" as a single (Capitol 356) with "I Want To Thank Your Folks" (recorded on December 18, 1946) on the flipside.

1947 - During two sessions held this day in Studio B at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, vocalist and pianist Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Ulysses Livingstone on guitar, Billy Hadnott on bass and possibly Sidney "Sid" Catlett on drums) record the titles "Pig Latin Song", "Do You Or Don't You Love Me", "Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago", and "Lovable" at the first session between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM and the titles "Fine And Mellow", "There's Another Mule In Your Stall", "I Thought About You", and "Kinda Blue And Low" at the second session between 4:30PM and 7:45PM. Capitol Records will issue "Pig Latin Song" as a single (Capitol 15032) with "Fine Brown Frame" (recorded December 27, 1947) on the flipside, "Do You Or Don't You Love Me" as a single (Capitol Americana 40063) with "The Song Has Ended"  (recorded August 28, 1957) and on Lutcher's album "Real Gone" (CCF-232), "Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago" and "There's Another Mule In Your Stall" on Lutcher's album "Nellie Lutcher & Her Rhythm" (CC-70), "Lovable" and "Kinda Blue And Low" together as a single (Captol 1026), "Fine And Mellow" as a single (Capitol 57-70026) with "Princess Poo-Poo-Ly Has Plenty Papayas" (recorded December 28, 1947) on the flipside, and "I Thought About You" as a single (Capitol 15112) with "Imagine You Having Eyes For Me" (also recorded December 27, 1947) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the four-CD box set "Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm" (BCD 15910).

1952 - In a three-way split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first vocalist Kay Starr, with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the title "Comes A-Long A-Love", then vocalist Dick Beavers, still with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra, records the title "My Thrill", and finally vocalist Margaret Whiting, now with Lou Busch conducting the orchestra, records the titles "Am I Wrong", "Outside Of Heaven", and "Alone Together". Capitol Records will issue "Comes A-Long A-Love" as a single (Capitol 2213) with "Three Letters"  (recorded July 3, 1952) on the flipside, "My Thrill" as a single (Capitol 2220) with "Ride, Cowboy, Ride" (recorded December 3, 1951) on the flipside, has yet to issue "Am I Wrong, and issues "Outside Of Heaven" and "Alone Together" as a single (Capitol 2217).

1953 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra (Larry Tice on clarinet, Billy Liebert on piano, Jimmy Bryant on electric guitar, Eddie Kirk on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, Cliffie Stone on bass, and Roy Harte on drums), records the titles "Kiss Me Big" and "Catfish Boogie" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2602 on 10" shellac and F2602 on 7" vinyl).

1957 - Gene Vincent's Capitol Records single "Lotta Lovin'", with "Wear My Ring" on the flipside, enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will peak at #13.

1957 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist and vibraphonist Johnny Otis and His Orchestra (Don Johnson and Paul Lopez on trumpet, George Washington on trombone, Jack Kelso on alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, Fred Harmon on tenor and baritone saxphones, Ernie Freeman on piano, Joe Nolen on guitar, Curtis Counce on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums), with The Three Tons of Joy (vocalists Marie Adams, Francine MacKinley, and Sadie MacKinley) record the titles "Can't You Hear Me Callin'" with vocals by Johnny Otis, "Ma (He's Makin' Eyes At Me)", "Loop De Loop", and, with the addition of a string section (lineup unlisted) "Romance In The Dark" with vocals by Marie Adams at the first session and "Hum Ding A Ling" with vocals by Johnny Otis, "Stay With Me" and "Lonely River" with the string section and vocals by Mel Williams, and "Good Golly" with vocals by Johnny Otis at the second session. After Johnny Otis records vocal overdubs for "Good Golly on October 21, 1957, Otis annoucement and applauses also for "Good Golly" are recorded on October 24, 1957, overdubs of applauses are recorded for "Can't You Hear Me Callin'", "Loop De Loop", "Romance In The Dark", and "Lonely River" on November 4, 1957, and more overdubs of applauses are recorded for "Ma (He's Makin' Eyes At Me)", "Hum Ding A Ling", "Stay With Me", and "Good Golly" on November 6, 1957, Capitol Records will issue all the titles as if they were performed live at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Otis' album "The Johnny Otis Show" (T 940).

1957 - The King Sisters (vocalists Yvonne, Luise, Marilyn & Alyce King), with Alvino Rey conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Take The 'A' Train", "Deep Purple" and "Sweet And Slow" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Take The 'A' Train" and "Deep Purple" on the group's album "Imagination" (T 919) and have yet to issue the take of "Sweet And Slow" recorded at this session but re-recorded it on October 7, 1957 and included that version on the same album.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole starts three days of shows at the Colorado State Fair.

1958 - Vocalist Dan Grissom, with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to Willie Smith, Wilbur Schwartz, Justin Gordon, Jules Jacob, and Chuck Gentry on reeds, Jules Kinsler on flute, Arnold Ross on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, Alvin Stoller and Lou Singer on drums, and Verlye Mills on harp, records the titles "I'm Like A Ship At Sea", "Call Me Darling", "Never Doubt Me", and "I Love You" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California during an extended session between 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Never Doubt Me" and "I Love You" together as a single (Capitol F4061) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1958 - Les Baxter conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Elephant Trail" and "Lost City" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Baxter's album "Les Baxter's African Jazz" (T/ST 1117).

1958 - Pianist Leonard Pennario records Franz Liszt's "Transcendental Etude #10 In F Minor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Pennario's album "Piano Portraits" (P/SP-8541).

1958 - Jackie Gleason and His Orchestra record the titles "September In The Rain", "My Baby Just Cares For Me", and "I Double Dare You" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1958 - The vocal group The Jordanaires (Hugh Gordon Stoker, Hoyt H. Hawkins, Neal Matthews, Jr., and Hugh Jarrett), with unlisted others, record the titles "Go Down Moses", "Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door", "Where No One Stands Alone", and "Walk In Jerusalem" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Gloryland" (T/ST 1167).

1958 - Vocalist Ferlin Husky and His Hush Puppies (lineup unlisted) record the titles "King Of A Lonely Castle", "No One Will Ever Know", "Afraid", "Too Soon To Know", "Each Time You Leave", and "Blues In My Heart" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Husky's album "Born To Lose" (T 1204).

1963 - Buddy Cagle, with unlisted others, records the titles "Love Inside My Door", "Sing A Sad Song", and "The Gold Cup" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Love Inside My Door" and "Singa A Sad Song" together as a single (Capitol 5043) and "The Gold Cup" as a single (Capitol 5154) with "Afraid To Go" (recorded December 12, 1962) on the flipside.

1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "All You Need Is Love", with "Baby You're A Rich Man" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

1968 - Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) releases Pink Floyd's single "Let There Be More Light" with "Remember A Day" on the flipside.

1969 - The last session where original music is recorded for The Beatles' last album recorded as a group, "Abbey Road", occurs in Studio 2 at Abbey Road Studios in London with George Harrison recording of the MOOG part for the track "Here Comes The Sun" with producer George Martin, engineers Geoff Emerick and Phil McDonald and second engineer Alan Parsons. All further sessions for the album are held for for only mixing, remixing, and mastering purposes.

1977 - After rehearsal sessions on August 16 and 17, 1977 at a concert given at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, vocalist Natalie Cole, with Gene Barge directing and Linda Williams conducting the orichestra (Oscar Brashear, Gene Coe, and possibly Bobby Sims on trumpets, George Bohanon and Garnett Brown on trombones, Charles Owens on woodwinds, Delbert Hill and Donald Williams on saxophones, Michael Wycoff on organ, Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bobby Eaton on bass, Theodore Sparks on drums, Wayne Habersham on percussion, and a string section with concertmaster Wilbert Nuttycombe, Jay Rosen, Gordon Marron, Brian Leonard, Mari Tsumura, Jerome Reisler, Janice Gower, Irving Katz, Ronald Clark, Isabelle Daskoff, Shari Zippert, and Daniel Anderson on violins, Marilyn Baker, Herschel Wise, and Dan Neufeld on violas, and Ronald Cooper and Jacqueline Lustgarten on cellos), performs the titles "Sophisticated Lady" without the strings, "Que Sera Sera (What Ever Will Be, Will Be)", "I'm Catching Hell (Living Here Alone)", "Peaceful Living", "Inseparable", "No Plans For The Future", "Mr. Melody", "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)", "Party Lights", "I've Got Love On My Mind", "I Can't Say No", and "Can We Get Together Again" which are recorded. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Peaceful Living" and "No Plans For The Future", which it has yet to issue, in the two LP set "Natalie Live!" (SKBL-11709).

1979 - Dorsey Burnette, songwriter, singer and guitarist, who recorded with his brother Johnny as the Burnette Brothers for Imperial and Liberty Records (whose catalog is now owned by Capitol Records) and as a solo artist for Liberty and Capitol Records, dies of a heart attack at age 46 in Canoga Park, California.

2003 - Capitol Records releases The Dandy Warhols' album "Welcome To The Monkey House".

2003 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Dierk Bentley's self-titled debut album as an enhanced CD.

15 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Jay Ranellucci (born Julio (Jay) Francis Ranellucci on March 16, 1933), recording engineer for Capitol Records from 1957 to 2007, passes away peacefully at age 78. He started his career in Korea with Armed Forces Radio as a radio broadcast specialist. On leaving the service in 1955, he worked at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles until he started at Capitol Records in 1957 where he worked as a recording engineer until his retirement in 2007 - a remarkable 50- year career working with such music/entertainment greats as Nat Cole, Julie London, Peggy Lee, the Kingston Trio, the Beach Boys, Stan Kenton, Stan Freberg, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hoyt Axton, Jo Stafford, Bobby Darin, Bing Crosby, Nancy Wilson, Merle Haggard, The Band, and many others. He was also a lifelong fan of old-time radio, both drama and comedy, and had a tremendous memory for actors names and associated time periods, as well as the associated trivia of the genre. His sense of humor was well-known and stories were fascinating. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, a stepdaughter, two granddaughters, and a great-grandson.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1943 - Billy J. Kramer, a singer and frontman for the Parlophone Records (a subsidiary of EMI) recording artists Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, whose manager was Brian Epstein, whose recording sessions were produced by George Martin, and whose first three hits were songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney that weren't used by The Beatles, is born William Howard Ashton in Bootle, Liverpool, England.

1948 - Deana (Dina) Martin, a singer and the daughter of Capitol Records recording artist Dean Martin and his wife Elizabeth, is born in Manhattan, New York.

1967 - Jason Starkey, a drummer, road manager, photographer, and the son of Capitol and Apple Records artist Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen, is born in Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, United Kingdom

45 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, who will form the EMI Records recording duo The Pet Shop Boys, meet for the first time by chance at an electronics shop on the Kings Road in Chelsea, England. EMI currently owns Capitol Records. The Pet Shop Boys were released in the U.S. by EMI America whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.

1982 - At two sessions held this day in an unlisted location, Marty Balin, with unlisted others, records the title "Born To Be A Winner" at the first session and "Virginia" at the second session for EMI America, at the time distributed by Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1977 - Groucho Marx (born Julius Henry Marx), comedian, Broadway, motion picture, and television actor, radio and television game show host ("You Bet Your Life"), and part of the comedy team The Marx Brothers, dies of pneumonia at age 86. He will later be cremated, and the ashes will be interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California

AUGUST 18, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1920 - Shelley Winters, a motion picture and television actress, is born Shirley Schrift in St. Louis, Missouri. Winters appeared in the movie "Pete's Dragon" whose soundtrack was released by Capitol Records. If anyone knows if she has a middle name, please leave a comment.

1939 - Molly Bee, singer ("Tennesse Tango", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", etc.), radio and television performer, who was 13 when she signed with Capitol Records, is born Molly Gene Beechwood in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Margaret O'Brien, with Marissa O'Brien and Harold Peary, records wild tracks for a yet to be issued take of the title "Let's Go To Mexico" in Los Angeles, California.

1947 - Cliffie Stone and His Barn Dance Band (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Red, White And Blue", "B-One Baby", "Don't Do It Darlin'", and "Watch It, Neighbor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Red, White And Blue" and "Watch It, Neighbor" together as a single (Capitol Americana 40064) and "B-One Baby" and "Don't Do It Darlin'" together as a single (Capitol Americana 40041).

1952 - Vocalist Mickey Katz and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Patcha-Me (Botch-A-Me)", "Shleppin' My Baby Back Home (Walkin' My Baby Back Home)", "Mendel's Song", and "Grandma's Dreidel" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Patcha-Me (Botch-A-Me)" and "Shleppin' My Baby Back Home (Walkin' My Baby Back Home)"  together as a single (Capitol 2229) and "Mendel's Song" and "Grandma's Dreidel" on Katz's album "Mickey Katz Plays Music For Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs & Brisses" (T 1021).

1953 - Nat "King" Cole, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to an uncredited orchestra, records the titles "The Little Boy Santa Claus Forgot", an unissued take of "You're Wrong, All Wrong", and "Mrs. Santa Claus" at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Little Boy Santa Claus Forgot" and "Mrs. Claus" together as a single (Capitol 2616), and after editing and re-titling "Mrs. Claus" to "Mr. & Mrs. Claus" will issue it on Cole's album "The Christmas Song" (T 9026). Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "I Am In Love" is #32, his single "Return To Paradise" is #34, and his single "Pretend" is #43 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole (on vocals), with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Hunt Burdick and Dick Perissi on French horn, ohn Hacker on bassoon,  Jimmy Rowles on piano, John Collins on guitar, Jack Rose on mandolin, Joe Comfort on bass, Lee Young on drums, and a string section with Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Lou Klass, Alfred Lustgarten, Lisa Minghetti, Erno Neufeld, Nathan Ross, Paul Shure, and Felix Slatkin on violin, Alvin Dinkin, Stanley Harris, Ralph Lane, and David Sterkin on viola, and Kurt Reher and Eleanor Aller Slatkin on cello), records (with an unidentifed harp and vocal chorus) the titles "Give Me Your Love", "Cu Cu RRu Cu Cu Paloma", and "Non Dimenticar (Don't Forget)", then (with an unidentifed female chorus) records the titles "Bend A Little My Way", then (again with an unidentifed harp player and vocal chorus) the title "This Morning It Was Summer", and then the title "A Thousand Thoughts Of You" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California at an extended session between 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Give Me Your Love" as a single (Capitol F4125) with "Madrid" (recorded July 2, 1958) on the flipside, "Cu Cu RRu Cu Cu Paloma" on Cole's EP "Midnight Flyer" (EAP-1-1317), "Non Dimenticar (Don't Forget)" and "Bend A Little My Way" together as a single (Capitol F4056), and "This Morning It Was Summer" and "A Thousand Thoughts Of You" on Cole's album "To Whom It May Concern" (W 1990). After a rhythm track was overdubbed on "Bend A Little My Way", Capitol would issue that version on Cole's album "Beautiful Ballads" (T 2820). Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me (Acercate Mas)" is #24 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.

1958 - Pianist Leonard Pennario records Johannes Brahms' "Rhapsody In G Minor Opus 79 N° 2", Franz Liszt's "Un Sospiro (Etude In D Flat)", Domineco Scarlatti's "Sonata For Piano In E Major, L. 23", and Edward MacDowell's "To A Wild Rose (Opus 51)" and "To A Water Lily (Opus 51) (From 'Woodland Sketches')" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Pennario's album "Piano Portraits" (P/SP-8541).

1963 - In Watseka, Illinois (on a bill with Ray Price), Capitol Records recording artists The Louvin Brothers perform for the last time together. Both Ira and Charles would go on to record for Capitol as solo artists.

1964 - Nat "King" Cole overdubs vocals on to previously recorded band tracks by Ralph Carmichael conducting an uncredited orchestra for the titles "Je Ne Repartirai Pas (L-O-V-E French Version)", "Amor (L-O-V-E Spanish Version)", "L-O-V-E (Italian Version)", "L-O-V-E (German Version)", "L-O-V-E (Japanese Version)", and "Muetterlein (Answer Me - German Version)" in Las Vegas, Nevada between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Je Ne Repartirai Pas (L-O-V-E French Version)" in France on Cole's EP "Nat King Cole" (Capitol EAP-1-20633), "Amor (L-O-V-E Spanish Version)" as a single (Capitol 5333) with "Tu Eres Tan Amable (Autumn Leaves Spanish Version)" (recorded August 27, 1964) on the flipside, "L-O-V-E (Italian Version)" as a single (Capitol 5331) with "Tu Sei Cosi Amabile (Autumn Leaves Italian Version)" (also recorded on August 27, 1964) on the flipside, "L-O-V-E (German Version)" and "Muetterlein (Answer Me - German Version)" together as a single (Capitol 5332), and "L-O-V-E (Japanese Version)" as a single (Capitol 5330) with "Kareha (Autumn Leaves - Japanese Version)" (also recorded on August 27, 1964) on the flipside.

1967 - Eddie Downs, with unlisted others, records the titles "I Couldn't See You For My Tears", "Helplessly, Hopelessly In Love With You", "An Occasional Wife", and "Funny Man" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on August 31, 1967, Capitol Records will issue "I Couldn't See You For My Tears" and "An Occasional Wife" together as a single (Capitol 2049) and "Helplessly, Hopelessly In Love With You" and "Funny Man" together as a single (Capitol 2199).

1967 - Harry Middlebrooks, Bull Justis conducting an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "If I'm A Fool For Loving You", "Funny How Time Slips Away", "and "Love Can Move Mountains" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Middlebrooks album "Funny How Time Slips Away" (T/ST 2850).

1967 - The Geezinslaw Brothers (vocalists Sam Allred and Raymond Dewayne Smith), with unlisted others, record the titles "I Couldn't Spell YUUK", "Chubby (Please Take Your Love To Town)", and "We Split The Blanket" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the duo's album "Chubby" (ST 2885), "I Couldn't Spell YUUK" and "We Split The Blanket" together as a single (Capitol 2086), and "Chubby (Please Take Your Love To Town) as a single (Capitol 2002) with "Tender-Hearted Me" (recorded April 5, 1967) on the flipside.

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Al De Lory, conducting his arrangement to the orchestra, records "Jesus Christo" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will later release the track as a single (Capitol 3196).

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Joyous Noise (Lee Montgomery on vocals, Lance Wakely on guitar and vocals, Marc McClure on guitar, keyboards, percussion, and vocals, Dennis Dragon on drums, and Happy Smith on bass), with Ricardo Rincorn on congas and percussion, the Joyous Noise Chorus (lineup unlisted) on vocals, and producer John Palladino, record the title "If People Could Just Get Along". Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's self-titled album "Joyous Noise" (SMAS-844).

50 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Richard Torrance records the tracks "Circle Of Confusion" and "Moonlight Trippin'" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release both tracks on Torrance's album "Bareback" (SW-11610).

1978 - Peabo Bryson's Capitol Records album "Reaching For The Sky" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1979 - The Knack's Capitol Records debut single "My Sharona", with "Let Me Out" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

40 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Vocalist Freddie Jackson, with Jenny Peters on backing vocals, James McKinney on keyboards, Mike "Dino" Campbell on guitar, Timmy Allen on bass, engineers Rowe Shamir and Ron Banks, and producer Gene McFadden, records the title "Janay". Capitol Records will issue the title on Jackson's album "Just Like The First Time" (ST-12495).

1987 - Chapter 8 (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Give Me A Chance", "Forever", "So In Love", and "Long Time To Love" at an unlisted location. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Forever" (7-46947-1 on vinyl and 7-467947-2 on CD).

1987 - Suave (lineup unlisted) record the title "Band Of The Heart" at an unlisted location for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1990 - Poison's Capitol Records album "Flesh & Blood" peaks at #2 on Billboard's album chart.

2010 - Kenny Edwards, guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of Capitol Records group The Stone Poneys, dies at age 64 of complications of the blood disorder thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and prostate cancer at a hospital near his home in Santa Barbara, California. Read more at The Los Angeles Times.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Sarah Dash, a singer with the group Labelle and a solo EMI Manhattan recording artist (1988-1989), is born in Trenton, New Jersey. EMI Manhattan's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company Universal Music Group. If anyone knows Ms. Dash's middle name, please leave a comment.

1957 - Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass, and Art Taylor on drums, records the tracks "My Reverie", "Curtain Call", "On The Bright Side", "The Mobe", "Don't Get Too Hip", and "Deep In A Dream (without Dorham on trumpet), for Blue Note Records with producer Al Lion and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note sold its catalog to Liberty Records, which was acquired by United Artists Records, which was bought by EMI which was bought by Universal Music Group and is currently under the leadership of its president Don Was.

1962 - Ringo Starr makes his on stage debut as The Beatles drummer when they perform at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Fair ends mid-morning

AUGUST 17, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1893 - Mae West, Broadway, radio, and motion picture actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) artist (on her album "Way Out West") is born in Mary Jane West in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.

1954 - Eric Johnson, guitarist, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (1987 -1996), is born in Austin, Texas. If anyone knows his middle name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Capitol Records' fourth-ever release contains Jack McLean and His Orchestra's "Take Me" with vocals by Wayne Gregg and chorus with "St-St-St-Stella" with vocals by Ted Tubb and a male vocal trio on the flipside (Capitol 112), Freddie Slack and His Orchestra's "He's My Guy" with vocals by Ella Mae Morse with the instrumental "Doll Dance" on the flipside (Capitol 113) and Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra's "At Last" with "Be Careful, It's My Heart" on the flipside (Capitol 114) with vocals on both by Connie Haines.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records album "King Cole Trio, Volume 2" is #1 on The Billboard Magazine's Best-Selling Popular Record Albums chart.

1948 - During a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first the vocal group The Pied Pipers (lineup unlisted), with an orchestra (lineup also unlisted), record the title "Rendezvous With A Rose", then vocalists Jo Stafford, Gordon MacRae, and The Starlighters (lineup unlisted), also with an orchestra (lineup also unlisted) record the titles "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" and "Bluebird Of Happiness".  Capitol Records will issue "Rendezvous With A Rose" as a single (Capitol 15216) with "Mind If I Love You" (recorded September 27, 1944) on the flipside and "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" and "Bluebird Of Happiness" together as a single (Capitol 15207).

1948 - Vocalist Jack Smith, with unlisted others, records the titles "Two Unusual Men", "Songs About The Sea", "Animal Songs", "Calendar Songs", "Holidays", "Four Funny People", "Ten Little Injuns", and "The Giggely Pig" in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Two Unusual Men" and "Songs About The Sea" together as a single (Capitol 0-30004), "Animal Songs" and "Calendar Songs" together as a single (Capitol 0-30005), "Holidays" and "Four Funny People" together as a single (Capitol 0-30006), "Ten Little Injuns" and "The Giggely Pig" together as a single (Capitol 0-30007). Toyland Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "Songs About The Sea" and "Holidays" together as a single (J-17) and "Four Funny People" as a single (J-22) with The Three Pixies' (aka The King Sisters) "Three Old Men" (recorded August 30, 1948) on the flipside.

1948 - Vocalist and guitarist Eugene "Smokey" Rogers, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the title "Hair Of Gold" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 15217) with "Ball Of Fire" (recorded October 30, 1947) on the flipside.

1948 - The King Cole Trio start a week of gigs at The Coona Club in El Cerrito, California. It is taken as being Joe Comfort's first official night as part of  The King Cole Trio, replacing bass player Johnny Miller, who had played with the trio for the past nine years. There is a photo of Joe Comfort laughing in the club on page 2 in the September 8, 1948 issue of Down Beat magazine.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - At their first session together, Nat "King" Cole records the titles "Unforgettable", "My First And My Last Love", and "Lovelight", with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), at Capitol's studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Unforgettable" and "My First And My Last Love" together as a single (Capitol 1808) and "Lovelight" on Cole's album "10th Anniversary" (W 514). Cole would re-record the "Unforgettable" in stereo on March 30, 1961. That take would later be used for the duet recording with his daughter Natalie.

1957 - Vocalist and guitarist Johnny Duncan, with The Blue Grass Boys (Danny Levan on fiddle, Denny Wright on lead guitar, Jack Fallon on bass, and Lennie Hastings on drums), records the title "Jig Along Home" at the IBC Studio in London, England for Columbia Records UK which was distributed by EMI in England. Capitol Records will issue "Jig Along Home" in the United States as a single (Capitol 3814) with "Last Train To San Fernando"  (recorded May 20, 1957) on the flipside.

1957 - Leopold Stokowski conducts His Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Bach's "Mein Jesu, Was Für Seelenweh Befällt Dich In Gethsemane, S. 487" and Gluck's "Suite (Lento, from Iphigenie In Auslis)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the album "Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra - Music For Strings" (PAO/SPAO-8415).

1958 - Tenor vocalist and guitarist Hylo Brown and The Timberliners (Clarence "Tater" Tate on fiddle, Jim Smoak on banjo, "Red" Rector on mandolin, "Flap Jack" Phillips on bass), record the titles "It's All Over Now But The Crying", "Thunder Clouds Of Love", "Just Any Old Love", and "How Could You Forget So Soon?" at Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "It's All Over Now But The Crying" and "How Could You Forget Me So Soon" together as a single (Capitol F4434), "Thunder Clouds Of Love" as a single (Capitol F4210) with "You Can't Relive The Past" (recorded August 16, 1958) on the flipside, and "Just Any Old Love" as a single (Capitol F4380) with "I Waited As Long As I Can" (also recorded August 16, 1958).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Kingston Trio record the track "Take Her Out Of Pity" for their Capitol Records album "Close Up" with John Stewart, who had recently replaced Dave Guard, on lead vocal.

1962 - Roger Wagner conducts The Roger Wagner Chorale and The Sinfonia Of London (lineups unlisted) as they record the titles "Little Drummer Boy", "Sweet Little Jesus" featuring tenor vocals by Richard Levitt, "Wassail Song" using an arrangement by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "The Roger Wagner Chorale & The Sinfonia Of London - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" (W/SW 1760).

1962 - Vocalist and guitarist Mitchell Torok, with unlisted others, records the titles "The Rio Grande" and "A Fool's Disguise" at the Bradley Film and Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4846).

1964 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" with "She Knows Me Too Well" on the flipside.

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Of Summer" is #9 in Hong Kong according to Billboard magazine's Hits Of The World charts.

1967 - Vocalist and guitarist Glen Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Hey Little One" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Hey Little One", after overdubs are recorded on August 29, 1967, and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", after overdubs are recorded August 29 and 31, 1967, on Campbell's album "By The Time I Get To Phoenix (T/ST 2851) and together as a single (Capitol 6113).

1968 - Final overdubs are recorded for Linda Ronstadt and The Stone Poneys' title "The Long Way Around" (basic tracks laid down on July 29, 1968 and earlier overdubs recorded on August 9, 14, 15, 1968) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 2438) with "The Dolphins" (recorded November 20, 1968) on the flipside and on Ronstadt's debut solo album "Hand Sown...Home Grown" (ST-208).

1970 - Capitol Records releases The Band's album "Stage Fright".

1972 - Vocalist and guitarist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "All My Tomorrows" and "The Last Thing On My Mind" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on August 28 and 29, 1972, for "The Last Thing On My Mind" on August 31, 1972, and for "All My Tomorrows" on September 14, 1972, Capitol Records will issue both titles on Campbell's album "Glen Travis Campbell" (ST-11117).

1973 - The Lettermen (vocalists Jim Pike, Tony Butala, and Gary Pike), with unlisted others, record the titles "Erase The Lines", "Goin' Home", "The You Part Of Me", and "Happy Together" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles later on August 17, 1973 and for "Erase The Lines" and "Happy Together" on August 18 and 22, 1973, Capitol Records has yet to issue "Happy Together" and the final mixes of "Erase The Lines" and "Going Home" on the trio's album "The Time Is Right" (SW-11470) and "The You Part Of Me" on the trio's album "Make A Time For Lovin'" (SW-11424) and as a single (Capitol 3810) with "Goodbye" (recorded January 30, 1973) on the flipside.

1977 - The Sylvers (lineup unlisted) record the title "You Make Me Wanna Rock" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

1978 - Kenny Dale, with unlisted others, records the titles "Let's Build That Fire", "Music, Red Wine And Honky Tonk Angels", "Girl, I Don't Really Want To Go", and "The Last Of It All" in Nashville, Tennessee for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1980 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' soundtrack album to "A Hard Day's Night" on the Capitol Records label for the first time after parent company EMI buys the United Artists catalog.

1982 - Gary O'Connor, with unlisted others, records the title "Pretty Boy" in an unlisted location for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

1982 - Mel McDaniel, with unlisted others, records the titles "The Gathering" and "Just Because It Feels Good" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue both titles on McDaniel's album "Naturally Country" (ST-12265).

1987 - Lorelei, with unlisted others, records the title "Hot Spot" in an unlisted location for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1988 - Capitol Records registers the masters it acquired from Beggars Banquet Records for The Go-Betweens' titles "Love Goes On!", "Quiet Heart", "Love Is A Sign", "You Can't Say No Forever", "The Devil's Eye", "The Streets Of Your Town", "Clouds", "What There Anything I Could Do", "I'm Alright", and "Dive For Your Memory" and will issue all the titles in the United States on the band's album "16 Lovers Lane" (C1-91230).

1990 - Pearl Bailey, a singer, Broadway, motion picture, and television actress, and a Capitol Records artist (on Capitol Records' first original Broadway cast album "St. Louis Woman"), and who had co-starred with Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole in the motion picture "St. Louis Blues" and also had appeared on his television show, dies at age 72 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1992 - Capitol Records releases the compilation CD "Puttin' on the Ritz: Capitol Sings Irving Berlin" as part of their "Capitol Sings" series.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1964 - Colin James, blues guitarist, actor, and Virgin Records recording artist, is born Colin James Munn in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Capitol Records currently owns Virgin's catalog. I worked on the final design for his debut album on Virgin, talked with him at the office, and saw him open for Stevie Ray Vaughn at the Wiltern theater in Los Angeles, California.

1977 - Future Capitol Records Nashville (1998-2000) artist Steve Wariner has his first recording session as a solo artist. It's at RCA's Studio B, in Nashville, Tennessee, with Chet Atkins (in whose band Wariner had played bass) producing.

1982 - At two sessions held this day in an unlisted location, Marty Balin, with unlisted others, records the title "What Love Is" at the first session and "Camilia" at the second session. EMI-America Records, distributed by Capitol Records, will issue "What Love Is" as a single (EMI-America 8153). No issuing information is listed for "Camilia".

AUGUST 16, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1940 - T. S. Bonniwell (aka Sean Bonniwell), a singer, guitarist, songwriter, founding member of the group The Music Machine, and a Capitol Records solo recording artist (the 1969 album "Close"), is born Thomas Harvey Bonniwell in San Jose, California.

1949 - Bill "Sputnik" Spooner, a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, and founder of the Capitol Records recording group The Tubes, is born William Spooner in Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks, Mel for the update on which city in Arizona is Bill's birthplace.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Johnny Mercer, with Freddie Slack and His Orchestra (Slack on piano; Ray Linn, Jack Mootz, and Ernie Figueroa on trumpets; Kenny Wygal and Roger Ingram on trombone (an email from Kenny Wygal's daughter Tricia reads that her father played trumpet for Freddie Slack not trombone); Jack Ordean and Jimmie Rudge on alto saxophone; Don Brassfield and Everett McLaughlin on tenor saxophone; Sam Sachelle on baritone saxophone; Al Hendirckson on electric guitar; Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell on guitar; Harry Babason on bass; and Dave Coleman on drums) record the tracks "The H.C. Potter's Ball" with Mercer and Don Raye on vocals, and "The Necessary Evil Blues" with just Mercer on vocals. After recording Mercer's tracks, Freddie Slack and His Orchestra (same lineup as above), record the tracks "Half After" "Cocktail Repartee", and "What Is This Thing Called Rebop? All the tracks were recorded in Los Angeles, California and remained unissued until 2005 when they appeared on Mosaic Records' 3 CD compilation "Mosaic Select: Freddie Slack".

1947 - Tex Williams' Capitol Records single "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Red Ingle and The Natural Seven (with vocals by Cinderella G. Stump aka Jo Stafford)'s Capitol Records single "Tim-Tay-Shun" peaks at #2 up from #3.

1947 - It's a Saturday and The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) record the titles "Straighten Up And Fly Right", "Midnight Masquerade", "I Miss You", "He's A Real Gone Guy with Nellie Lutcher replacing Cole on piano and vocals, then Cole returns as they record "I'm In The Mood For Love" and "Naughty Angeline" as an electronic transcription for The Armed Forces Radio Service at The Bocage in Hollywood, California. The AFRS will issue all the tracks on the transcription disc "King Cole Trio 22".

1950 - Nat "King" Cole (on vocal and piano), with Irving Ashby on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Jack Costanzo on bongos, and The Stan Kenton Orchestra (including Maynard Ferguson, Jim Salko, Buddy Childers, Chico Alvarez, and Shorty Rogers on trumpet; Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Johnny Halliburton, and Herbie Harper on trombone; Bud Shank and Art Pepper on alto saxophone; Bob Cooper and Bert Calderal on tenor saxophone; and Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone), records the titles "Orange Colored Sky" (arranged by Pete Rugalo) and "Jam-Bo" (arranged by Shorty Rogers) with producer Lee Gillette at Capitol Records' Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California.

1952 - Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Somewhere Along The Way" (with Billy May and His Orchestra) is #12 up from #13 and its flipside "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" with Billy May and His Orchestra is #14 up from #19on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart. "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" is tied with Johnnie Ray's Columbia Records version of the song at #6 and "Somewhere Along The Way" is #17 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1953 - Vocalist Hoagy Carmichael, with Dave Cavanaugh conducting the orchestra and vocal chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Love Will Soon Be Here" and "When Love Goes Wrong" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2593 on 10" shellac and F2563 on 7" vinyl) and "When Love Goes Wrong" also on the compilation CD "Capitol Records From The Vaults: Capitol Goes To The Movies" (5-28295-2).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Louis Armstrong, with Buddy Rich on drums and the Oscar Peterson Trio, records the track "April in Paris" for Verve Records album "Ella and Louis" in The Capitol Tower Studios, in Hollywood California.

1957 - Freddy Martin conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Ca C'est L'Amour" with vocals by Johnny Cochran, "Donna Diane", "Cuernavaca" with vocals by Johnny Cochran and The Martin Men (unlisted male vocalists), and "Sweet Affection" with vocals by Ralph Anthony and ensemble (lineup unlisted) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Ca C'est L'Amour" and "Sweet Affection" together as a single (Capitol F3795) and have yet to issue "Donna Diane" which was later re-recorded and "Cuernavaca".

1957 - Leopold Stokowski conducts His Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Bach's "Preludio From Violin Partita N°3 in E Minor, S. 1006", Paganini's "Moto Perpetuo, Opus 11", and Gluck's "Musette From 'Armide' (Reigen Seliger Geister)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Stokowski and the orchestra's album "Music For Strings" (PAO/SPAO-8415).

1958 - The Kingston Trio (Donald "Dave" Guard on vocals, banjo, and guitar, Robert "Bob Shane" Schoen on vocals and guitar, and Nicholas "Nick" Reynolds on vocals, guitar, bongos, and conga drums), with (listed as possibly) Morris "Buck" Wheat on bass, perform "Tic, Tic, Tic (The Lost Watch)", "Gue Gue", "Dorie", "South Coast", "Zombie Jamboree", "Wimoweh", "New York Girls", "They Call The Wind Maria", "The Merry Minuet", "Medley: Shady Grove/Lonesome Traveler", and "When The Saints Go Marching In" at the Hungry i in San Francisco, California during a series of sets that go from August 15 to August 16, 1958. Capitol Records records the shows and will issue all the titles on the trio's album "... from the Hungry i" (T 1107).

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me (Acercate Mas)" is #13 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty Survey in Los Angeles, California and #25 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, pianist Moura Lympany records Frédéric Chopin's "Waltz N° 9, Opus 69 N° 1", "Waltz N° 10, Opus 69 N° 2", Waltz N° 5, Opus 42", and "Waltz N° 12, Op.70 N° 2" at the first session and "Waltz N° 8, Op. 64 N° 3", "Waltz N° 6, Opus 64 N° 1 (Minute Waltz)", "Waltz N° 7, Opus 64 N° 2", "Waltz N° 11, Opus 70 N° 1", and "Waltz N° 14 (Posthumus)" at the second session. Angel Records, at the time a subsidiary of Capitol Records, will issue "Waltz N° 6, Opus 64 N° 1 (Minute Waltz)" on the multi-artist compilation album "Melodies Of The Masters, Volume 4 - Portrait Of The Waltz" (A/SA-8566). No issuing information is listed for the other titles.

1958 - Vocalist and guitarist Hylo Brown and The Timberliners (Clarence "Tater" Tate on fiddle, Jim Smoak on banjo, "Red" Rector on mandolin, "Flap Jack" Phillips on bass), records the titles "The Shuffle Of My Feet", "Your Crazy Heart", "You Can't Relive The Past", and two takes of "I Waited As Long As I Can" with the second take including a vocal overdub by The Jordanaires (Neal Matthews Jr. on lead vocals, Hugh Gordon Stoker on tenor vocals, Hoyt H. Hawkins on baritone vocals, and  Hugh T. Jarrett on bass vocals) at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will reject the first take of "I Waited As Long As I Can" and will issue "The Shuffle Of My Feet" and "Your Crazy Heart" together as a single (Capitol F4132), "You Can't Relive The Past" as a single (Capitol F4210) with "Thunderclouds Of Love" (recorded August 17, 1958) on the flipside, and the second take of "I Waited As Long As I Can" as a single (Capitol F4380) with "Just Any Old Love" (also recorded August 17, 1958) on the flipside.

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - The Kingston Trio records the track "Oh Sail Away" for their Capitol Records album "Close-Up".

1962 - During two sessions held this day in EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London England, Roger Wagner conducts The Roger Wagner Chorale and The Sinfonia Of London (lineups unlisted) as they record the titles "Jingle Bells", "We Three Kings", "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", "Good King Wenceslas", and "O Tannenbaum" at the first session and the titles "Gesu Bambino", "What Child Is This?", "The Virgin's Slumber Song", and "Silent Night" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "The Roger Wagner Chorale & The Sinfonia Of London - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" (W/SW 1760).

1967 - Guitarist Laurindo Almeida, with Lex De Azevedo conducting an orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes woodwinds, rhythm and strings sections) using arrangements by Claire Fischer, Lex De Azevedo, and Dick Grove, records the titles "Simplicidad", "My Own True Love", "Windy", and "Don't Sleep In The Subway" in Los Angeles, California. After an overdub for "Windy" is recorded on August 29, 1967, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Almeida's album "The Look Of Love And The Sounds Of Laurindo Almeida" (T/ST 2866).

1972 - Vocalist and guitarist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Just For What I Am", "Someone To Give My Love To", and "My Cricket" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on August 28 and 29, 1972, for "Someone To Give My Love To" on August 31, 1972, "My Cricket" on September 7, 1972, and for "Just For What I Am" on September 14, 1972, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Campbell's album "Glen Travis Campbell" (SW-11117).

1977 - Vocalist Al Martino, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes celeste, piano, synthesizer, reeds, guitar, and drums players) using arrangements by Harold Wheeler, records the titles "After The Lovin'", "Can't Get Over You", "Only A Dream Away", and "The Leaving Game" at Media Sound Studios in New York City, New York with producer Joel Diamond for Silver Blue Productions and engineer Bob Clearmountain. After vocal overdubs by a chorus (lineup unlisted) are recorded for all titles and vocals by Kathy Keates are added on "Only A Dream Away" on September 7, 1977, and additional overdubs for all titles are recorded on September 16 and 17, 1977, Capitol Records will issue "After The Lovin'" as a single (Capitol 4508) with "The Next Hundred Years" (recorded September 13, 1977) on the flipside, "Only A Dream Away" as a single (Capitol 4798) with "I Think About You" (recorded September 20, 1979), and all the titles on Martino's album "The Next Hundred Years" (ST-11741).

1977 - At two sessions held this day in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California, The Sylvers (lineup unlisted) records the title "Charisma" at the first session and "This One's For Us" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Charisma" as a single (Capitol 4532) and on the group's album "New Horizons" (ST-11705). No issuing information is listed for "This One's For Us".

1982 - Rene & Angela (vocalists Rene Moore and Angela Winbush), with unlisted others, record the title "Going For The Throat" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

30 Years Ago Today In 1996 - The Figgs' Capitol Records debut album "Banda Macho" hits #10 on CMJ's Radio Top 200 records chart.

2005 - Capitol Records releases Bob Seger's album "Back In '72" on CD for the first time.

2005 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Chris LeDoux's compilation album "Anthology Volume 1".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1929 - Bill Evans, pianist and Blue Note Records recording artist, is born William John Evans in Plainfield, New Jersey. Capitol Records currently owns Blue Note Records catalog..

1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s  BBS Records single "Here In My Heart" is #7 down from #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records.

1952 - The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Bob Whitlock on bass and Chico Hamilton on drums) records for the first together in the afternoon at the Laurel Canyon bungalow of recording engineer Phil Turetsky. Using Turetsky's early model Ampex tape recorder, they record the tracks "Bernie's Tune" and "Lullaby Of The Leaves which are released as a single by Pacific Jazz. The single will become the label's first big success. Pacific Jazz's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.

1962 - Brian Epstein fires The Beatles' drummer Pete Best and hires Ringo Starr to replace him.

1968 - Arranger Gerald Wilson (with Ollie Mitchell, Dalton Smith, Alex Rodrigues, Tony Rusch on trumpet; Frank Strong, Lester Robertson, and Thurman Green on trombone; Mike Wimberly on bass trombone; Jim McGee and George Hyde on french horn; Anthony Ortega on alto saxophone, flute, and piccolo; Ramon Borjorquez on alto saxophone; Hadley Caliman and Harold Land on tenor saxophone; Richard Aplanalp on baritone saxophone; Henry DeVega, Pete Terry, and Bill Perkins on reeds; Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphones; Mike Wofford and Jimmy Rowles on piano, organ, and electric harpsichord; Mike Anthony on guitar; Wilton Felder on electric bass guitar; Carl Lott on drums; and Hugh Anderson and Joe Porcaro on percussion) records the tracks "California Soul", "Yesterlove", and "Lullaby From Rosemary's Baby" with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Lanky Linstrot at Liberty Records' studios on Third Street in Los Angeles (near Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills), California for his World Pacific Records album "California Soul".

1977 - Elvis Presley, father of Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley, is pronounced dead of heart failure at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee at age 42.

30 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Thorn EMI shareholders voted in favor of demerger proposals. The resulting media company is now known as EMI Group PLC

2007 - It is announced that EMI has hired Saatchi & Saatchi to the handle marketing of its back catalog.

BTW - It's my daughter Alys' 27th birthday! She was born at 1:37 AM PDT at Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

AUGUST 15, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1898 - Charles Tobias, composer of Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" as well as "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree", "We Did It Before And We Can Do It Again", and many others, is born in New York City, New York.

1923 - Rose Marie, a singer, radio, motion picture and television actress, child star as Baby Rose Marie, and Capitol Records artist (the original Broadway cast album for "Top Banana"), is born Rose Marie Mazetta in New York City, New York.

1925 - Rose Maddox, a singer, a member of the group The Maddox Brothers and Rose, and a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Roselea Arbana Maddox in Boaz, Alabama.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1947 - The Dinning Sisters (vocalists Ginger Dinning, Jayne Bundesen, and Jean Dinning), with The Art Van Damme Quintet (Art Van Damme on accordion and unlisted vibraphone, guitar, bass, and drums players), record the titles "And Mimi" and "Fun And Fancy Free" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 466).

1947 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) records the titles "I Wanna Be A Friend Of Yours" (with the celeste part played either by Nat Cole or Buddy Cole), "Kee-Mo, Ky-Mo (The Magic Song)", and "Three Blind Mice" at Radio Recorder's studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the 10" version of Cole's album "Nat King Cole For Kids" (DC-89) and will release a version of "Kee-Mo, Ky-Mo" without the spoken intro on the album "Nat King Cole And His Trio - Harvest Of Hits" (EBF-213).

1947 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (Ann, Lillian, Peggy, and Jean Harriette Clark), with Frank De Vol and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Don't You Love Me Anymore?, "Civilization", and "A Carnival In Venice" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Don't You Love Me Anymore?" and "Civilization" together as a single (Capitol 465) and "A Carnival In Venice" as a single (Capitol 15185) with "In The Market Place Of Old Monterey" (recorded December 19, 1947) on the flipside.

1955 - Frank Sinatra records the titles "Look To Your Heart", "Love And Marriage", "The Impatient Years" and "Our Town" with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Harry Klee, Ted Nash, Joseph Palange, Willie Schwartz, and Warren Webb on reeds; Francis Howard on trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; John Cave, James Decker and Vincent De Rosa on french horns; Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harry Bluestone, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Nick Pisani, Nathan Ross, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, and Gerald Vinci on violin; Alvin Dinkin, Stanley Speigelman, and David Sterkin on viola; Armand Kaproff and Edgar Gilbert on cello; Max Albright on drums; Alton Hendrickson on guitar; Frank Flynn on vibraphone; Kathryn Julye on harp) and chorus (Sweet Blair, Vince Degen, Jack Gruberman, John Gustavson, Ray Linn Jr., Gil Mershon, Robert Namlin, Charles Parlato, William Reeve, Robert Wacker, Allan Wattson, and Norma Zimmer) at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM with producer Voyle Gilmore. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the soundtrack EP for the television special "Our Town" (EAP-1-673).

1957 - Leopold Stokowski conducts His Symphony Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Gluck's "Sicilienne (from 'Armide')", "Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise Opus 34 N° 14", and Borodin's "Notturno From String Quartet N° 2 In D Major" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra - Music For Strings" (PAO/SPAO-8415).

1958 - Over the next two days, live performances at the hungry i in San Francisco, California are recorded for The Kingston Trio's album "...from the hungry i".

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Come Closer To Me" is #25 on WINZ 940 AM's Bob Green's Top 40 Hits chart in Miami, Florida.

1963 - Liza Minnelli, with Mort Garson conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra, records the titles "Day Dreaming", "His Woman", "My Little Corner Of The World", and "We'll All Be Together" with producer Si Rady in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Day Dreaming" and "His Woman" together as Minnelli's second single for the label (Capitol 5103) and the DRG label will issue all the songs on the 2 CD set "Liza! Liza!: Complete Capitol Collection".

1965 - The Beatles perform at Shea Stadium in New York City before 55,600 fans. For all you time travelers, there are still some unused tickets that show up for sale online, but then there's the paradox - if you use the ticket, how will you buy it in the future?

1967 - Vocalist Willie Hightower, with unlisted others, records the titles "It's No Secret (What God Can Do)" and "Happy Go Lucky Fella" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1967 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "The Journey", "Cloudy Followed By Tears", and "Misfortune's Child" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "The Journey" and "Misfortune's Child" on James' album "World Of Our Own" (ST-2884) and "Cloudy Followed By Tears" on James' album "Born To Be With You" (ST-111).

1969 - The Beach Boys re-record the track "Cotton Fields" with Orville "Red" Rhodes on steel pedal guitar at Sunset Sound's studios in Hollywood, California with band member Al Jardine handling lead vocals as well as producing chores. Capitol Records will release the track as "Cottonfields" on the group's last single for the label, and last mono release, on April 20, 1970, with "The Nearest Faraway Place" on the flipside. It will be the band's only single not to enter Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

1972 - Vocalist and guitarist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Running Scared", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", and "She Still Thinks I Care" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on August 28 and 29, 1972, for "Running Scared" and "She Still Thinks I Care" on August 31, 1972, and for "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" on September 14, 1972, Capitol Records will issue "Running Scared" and "She Still Thinks I Care" on Campbell's album "Glen Travis Campbell" (SW-11117) and have yet to issue "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".

1972 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased from Buck Owens Enterprises for vocalist and guitarist Mayf Nutter's title "Another Cup Of Memories" and vocalist Buddy Alan's title "Move It On Over" and will issue "Another Cup Of Memories" as a single (Capitol 3447) with "Party Doll" (registered April 4, 1972) on the flipside and "Move It On Over" as a single (Capitol 3485) with "Magic Man" (registered October 13, 1972) on the flipside.

1995 - Capitol Records releases Blind Melon's second album "Soup".

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Trace Adkins' album "Dangerous Man".

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records releases Bonnie Raitt's DVD/CD "Bonnie Raitt And Friends" which was recorded live at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 30, 2005, for the live concert series "VH1 Classic Decades Rock Live!"

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records releases The Panic Channel's debut album “(ONe)”

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Keith Urban's single "Once In A Lifetime". No word yet on if there's a flipside or if it will only be a digital release.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Peggy Lee, at her first recording session, supplies the vocals for Benny Goodman and His Orchestra when they record the title "Elmer's Tune". Both Lee and Goodman will later record for Capitol Records.

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 -  Eddie Gale, trumpeter and Blue Note session and solo recording artist is born in Brooklyn, New York.

1964 - Dean Martin's Reprise Records single "Everybody Loves Somebody", with "Return To Me" on the flipside, knocks The Beatles' Capitol Records single "A Hard Day's Night" out of the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1969 - The Woodstock Music And Art Fair begins at 5:07 PM EDT. One of the festival's main organizers is Artie Kornfeld who, at the time, was a VP of A&R and producer at Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1935 - Will Rogers (Vaudeville, Broadway and Motion picture actor as well as a newspaper columnist, age 55, born William Penn Adair Rogers) and pilot Wiley Post (record-setting aviator, developer of one of the first pressure suits for high altitude flying, age 36, born Wiley Hardeman Post) are killed when Post's plane crashes when trying to take off from a lagoon south of Point Barrow, Alaska where they had landed to ask directions.

AUGUST 14, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1909 - Stuff Smith, a Jazz violinist and vocalist, who performed at some recording sessions with Nat "King" Cole" in 1956, is born Hezekiah Le Roy Gordon Smith in Portsmouth, Ohio.

110 Years Ago Today In 1916 - Alyce King, a singer with the Capitol Records recording group The King Sisters, is born Alyce Golda Driggs in Payson, Utah.

 1998 -  Doechii, rapper, singer, songwriter,  actress, and Top Dawg and Capitol Records artist is born Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon in Tampa, Florida.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Freddie Slack and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Cow Cow Boogie", with vocals by Ella Mae Morse, becomes Capitol Records' first single to enter Billboard's National Best Selling Retail Records chart when it debuts at #9 for the week ending on August 14, 1942. The flipside is Freddie Slack and His Orchestra's "Here You Are" with vocals by David Street, a member of The Mellowaires.

1947 - At a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) first vocalist Margaret Whiting records the titles "So Far" and "Lazy Countryside" then vocalist Peggy Lee records the titles "There'll Be Some Changes Made". Capitol Records will issue "So Far" and "Lazy Countryside" together as a single (Capitol 461) and "There'll Be Some Changes Made" as a single (Capitol 15001) with "A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues" (recorded July 15, 1946) on the flipside.

1947 - Vocalist Gordon MacRae, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "A Fellow Needs A Girl", "Body And Soul", "I Understand", and "I Still Get Jealous" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "A Fellow Needs A Girl" and "Body And Soul" together as a single (Capitol 463), and "I Understand" and "I Still Get Jealous" together as a single (Capitol 15002).

1962 - Vocalist Hunani, with Webley Edwards' Hawaiians (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Love Song From 'Mutiny On The Bounty' (Follow Me)" and "Pearly Shells" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4839).

1962 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (Ray Sherman on piano, Allan Reuss on guitar, Jack Ryan on bass, Leon Petties on drums, and a string section with Victor Arno, Israel Baker, Harry Bluestone, Walt Edelstein, Dave Frisina, Jacques Gasselin, Murray Kellner, Joseph Livoti, Dan Lube, Erno Neufeld, Joseph Quadri, Lou Raderman, Mischa Russell, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, and Marshall Sosson on violin, Alvin Dinkin, Lou Kievman, Ray Menhennick, Alexander Neiman, Paul Robyn, and Sandy Schonbach on viola, Armand Kaproff and Ray Kramer on cello, and Kathryn Thompson on harp), records a new take on the title "Laughing On The Outside" and the titles "I Keep Going Back To Joe's", "The End Of A Love Affair", "That's All There Is", "Someone To Tell It To", "If Love Ain't There", and "Where Did Everyone Go?" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:45 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the songs on Cole's album "Where Did Everyone Go?" (W 1859). Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Ramblin' Rose" is #25 on WABC's Silver Dollar Sound Survey in New York City, New York.

1962 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for vocalist Alfred Apaka's titles "Here (In This Enchanted Place)", "Blue Hawaii", "Ponai Kealoha", "I Want To Learn To Speak Hawaiian", "I'll Weave A Lei Of Stars For You", "Taire O Tahiti", "Hawaiian Paradise", "Honolulu Eyes", "There's No Place Like Hawaii", "Paoakalani (The Queen's Song)", and "Farewell (For Just Awhile" and will issue all the titles on Apaka's album "Alfred Apaka Presented By Webley Edwards - The Golden Voice Of The Islands" (T/DT 1882).

1962 - Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians (lineup unlisted), with a large choir of 1200 volunteer singers (lineup unlised) directed by Waring, perform the titles "Holy, Holy, Holy/Sholom Alechem/Panis Angelicus/Onward Christian Soliders", "Doxology/Pledge Of Allegiance/God Of Our Fathers", "Come, Thou Almighty King/Salve Regina/Sanctus/Blest Be The Tie That Binds/Work For The Night Is Coming/O God, Our Help In Ages Past/Come, Come Ye Saints/Feed My Sheep/Hospodi Pomilui/The Old Rugged Cross/Song Of Galilee/A Might Fortress Is Our God", "I Am A Poor Wayfaring Stranger/I Wonder As I Wander/Boundless Mercy/Deep River", "The Creation (God's Trombones)", "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", "Set Down Servant", "Holiday Montage", "O Brother Man", "America - Our Heritage", "God Bless America", and "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" at a concert in Omaha, Nebraska. Capitol Records will issue all the titles except "Holiday Montage" and "America-Our Heritage" on Waring's album "Fred Waring Presents Festival Of Faith" (T/ST 1848) and have yet to release those two titles.

1964 - The Beatles record a cover version of Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten Alone" at EMI Studios in London which will, after appearing on many bootlegs, finally be released officially by Capitol Records as a track on The Beatles' "Anthology 1" in 1995.

1964 - Johnny Burnette, songwriter, guitarist, singer, Coral Records recording artist with his brother Dorsey Burnette and Paul Burlison as The Rock 'n Roll Trio, Imperial Records recording artist with his brother Dorsey Burnette as The Burnette Brothers, solo artist on Freedom Records (a subsidiary of Liberty Records), Liberty Records, and Capitol Records, drowns after his small fishing boat is hit by a cabin cruiser on Clear Lake in California. He's later interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

1967 - The Seeker's Capitol Records single "Georgy Girl", with "When The Stars Begin To Fall" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1967 - Vocalist and guitarist Glen Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (line up unlisted), record the titles "A Place In The Sun", "Lonely Afternoon Of Summer Longin'", "Visions Of Sugarplums", and "The Lillies Grow High" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "A Place In The Sun" on Campbell's album "A New Place In The Sun" (ST 2097)  and have yet to issue any of the other titles recorded this day but Campbell did remake "Visions Of Sugarplums" (Capitol 2015) on February 20, 1968, which was released.

1972 - Tim McIntire, with unlisted others, records the titles "Interlude" and "Sweet Americana" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1972 - Billy May conducts The Time-Life Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "It Could Happen To You", "Love-Wise", "Swingin' Sweethearts", "Easy To Love", and "Swedish Rhapsody" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Time-Life Records will issue all the titles as part of "As You Remember Them" series in the 3 LP set "Volume 3 - Billy May" (STL 243).

1978 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles single "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" with "With A Little Help From My Friends"/"A Day In The Life" on the flipside.

1993 - Capitol Records releases Poison's fifth album "Native Tongue".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Eddie Cochran is filmed performing the song "Twenty Flight Rock" on a 20th Century Fox sound stage in Los Angeles, California for the film that at the time was called "Do Re Mi" which became "The Girl Can't Help It". A digitally remastered version of the movie was released on August 8, 2006, as part of "The Jayne Mansfield Collection", a three-movie box set released by Fox. The song will be released by Liberty Records, whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company Universal Music Group.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Bertolt Brecht, dramatist, stage director, poet, and lyricist (original German lyrics for "Mack The Knife" from "The Three Penny Opera") dies of a heart attack in Berlin, Germany at age 58 and is buried in the Dorotheenfriedhof in Berlin. "Mack The Knife" has been recorded by various Capitol Records artists including Peggy Lee, Bobby Darin, Les Baxter, and Frank Sinatra.