Wednesday, May 27, 2026

MAY 27, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

115 Years Ago Today In 1911 - Vincent Price, Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records recording artist (his "Witchcraft and Magic: An Adventure In Demonology" album had a gatefold cover and accompanying booklet, and I have a 16mm copy of a scenes from a publicity event Capitol held at The Magic Castle to promote the album), is born Vincent Leonard Price Jr. in St. Louis, Missouri. The soundtrack to his movie "Dr. Goldfoot & The Girl Bombs" was released by Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.

1927 - Ralph R. Carmichael, and arranger who worked with Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole is born in Quincy, Florida.

1927 - Mac Wiseman, a singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, disc jockey and Capitol Records artist (1962), is born Malcolm B. Wiseman in Crimora (near Waynesboro), Virginia.

1939 - Don Williams, a singer and Capitol Records artist (1986-1989), is born Donald Ray Williams in Floydada, Texas.

1943 - Cilla Black, a singer, and Capitol Records artist, is born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool, England.

1958 - Neil Finn, a singer and songwriter with the Capitol Records band Crowded House, as well as the band Split Enz, is born Neil Mullane Finn in Te Awamutu, New Zealand.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - It's a Wednesday and George G. DeSylva, John Mercer, and Glenn E. Wallichs appear before Los Angeles County and California state Notary Public Leta Niccum again to apply for a Certificate of Amendment to change the name of the corporation from Liberty Records to Capitol Records, Inc. The amendment will be filed with the state of California on the following Monday, June 1, 1942.

1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away)" is #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Andy Russell (with orchestra conducted by Al Sack)'s Capitol Records single "Amor" is tied for #10 with Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "I Love You".

1948 - During three sessions held in Los Angeles, California for The Capitol Records Transcription Service, Barclay Allen, with unlisted others, records four unlisted titles at each session. No issuing information is listed for any of the titles.

1950 - Future Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra makes his TV debut when he appears on NBC-TV’s "Star-Spangled Review" with Capitol Records artist Bob Hope.

1950 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol)'s Capitol Records single "Hoop-Dee-Doo" debuts at #14 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart.

1953 - Electric guitarist "Ivy" Jimmy Bryant and steel guitarist Wesley "Speedy" West, with Billy Liebert on piano and accordion, Billy Strange on rhythm guitar, Cliffie Stone on bass, and Roy Harte on drums, record the titles "Opus I", "Whistle Stop", "Speedin' West", and "Hometown Polka" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Whistle Stop" and "Hometown Polka" on Jimmy Bryant's album "Jimmy Bryant - Country Cabin Jazz" (T 1314) and "Speedin' West" on Speedy West's album "Steel Guitar" (T/ST 1341), "Speedin' West" also as a single (Capitol 2519 on 10" shellac and F2519 on 7" single) with "Skiddle-Dee-Boo" (recorded November 25, 1952) on the flipside and "Hometown Polka" also as a single (Capitol 2762 on 10" shellac and F2762 on 7" single) with "Jammin' With Jimmy" (recorded September 4, 1953) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles from this session in the four-CD box set "Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant - Flamin' Guitars" (BCD 15956).

1957 - Nat "King" Cole's album "Love Is The Thing", arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins, hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart where it will stay for 8 weeks.

1957 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocals, trombone, and bass; Don Barbour on vocals and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocals and drums; and Ken Albers on vocals trumpet, mellophone and bass) with arranger Pete Rugolo conducting the accompanists (Gus Bivona on soprano saxophone and alto saxophone; Bud Shank on alto saxophone; Dave Pell and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone; Chuck Gentry on baritone and bass saxophone; Al Hendrickson on guitar; Geoff Clarkson on piano; Joe Comfort on bass; and Frank Carlson on drums record the tracks "I May Be Wrong", "Liza", "East Of The Sun", and "This Can't Be Love" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California and will all be released on their Capitol Records album "The Four Freshmen and Five Saxes".

1958 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Jack Marshall and His Orchestra (Marshall conducting possibly Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, and Mannie Klein on trumpet, Milt Bernhardt on trombone, Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone, Justin Gordon and George Smith on reeds, Joe Harnell on piano, Howard Roberts on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), records the titles "I Look For Love", "Jealous Heart", and "Burning Sand" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I Look For Love" as a single (Capitol F4043) with The History Song" (recorded August 16,1956) on the flipside and "Jealous Heart" and "Burning Sand" together as a single (Capitol F4006).

1958 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Jack Marshall conducting the orchestra (Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, and Mannie Klein on trumpet, Milt Bernhardt on trombone, Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone, Justin Gordon and George Smith on reeds, Joe Harnell on piano, Howard Roberts on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), records the titles "It's A Good, Good Night", "You're Mine, You", and "Life Is For Livin'" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California with producer Dave Cavanaugh. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "Things Are Swingin'" (T/ST 1049).

1958 - Erich Leinsdorf conducts The Philharmonia Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the third and fifth movements of Kodaly's "Hary Janos Suite", the sixth movement of Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite", the prelude of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg", and Verdi's "La Forza Del Destino Overture" in Studio N° 1 of E.M.I.'s studios on Abbey Road in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the "Hary Janos Suite" and the "Lieutenant Kije Suite" in their entirety on the orchestra's album "PROKOFIEV - Lieutenant Kije Suite/KODALY-Hary Janos Suite" (P/SP-8508) and the prelude of "Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg" and "La Forza Del Destino Overture" on the orchestra's album "Opera Overtures" (G/SG-8465).

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Day Of Summer" debuts at #40 on WMOC 1450 AM's Official Sountific Tiger Survey in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1963 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley Boys (James Edward "Jimmy" Belken, Harold Glenn Hensley, and Julian Franklin "Curly" Lewis on fiddles, Jimmy Pruett on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis on guitars, Harold "Curly" Chalker on pedal steel guitar, Lawrence "Red" Wooten on bass, and Hubert "Hugo" Chambers on drums), records the titles "Twice As Much" and "Just To Ease The Pain" at the first session which was extended and would run from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM and the titles "Reachin For The Moon" and "Stirring Up the Ashes" at the second session which was also extended and would go from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Twice As Much", "Just To Ease The Pain", and "Stiring Up The Ashes" on Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys' album "Luckiest Heartache In Town" (T/ST 2342). "Twice As Much" and "Reaching For The Moon" also together as a single (Capitol F5071), and "Just To Ease The Pain" and "Stirring Up The Ashes" also together as a single (Capitol F123).

1963 - Glen Gray conducts The Casa Loma Orchestra (listed as similar to Shorty Sherock, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, and Joe Graves on trumpets, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, and Ed Kusby on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most on clarinet and alto saxophone, Skeets Herfurt also on alto saxophone, Plas Johnson and Justin Gordon on tenor saxophones, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Ray Sherman on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Mike Rubin on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) as they record the titles "The Good Life (In The Style Of The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra)", "What Kind Of Fool Am I? (In The Style Of 'April In Paris' By The Count Basie Orchestra), and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco (In The Style Of The Harry James Orchestra) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra's album "The Sounds of The Great Bands, Volume 7: Today's Best" (T/ST 1938).

1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jack Nitzsche conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "From A Jack To A King", "Can't Get Used To Losing You", "Ruby Baby", and "Rhythm Of The Rain" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Darin's album "18 Yellow Roses & 11 Other Hits" (T/ST 1942).

1963 - Belford Hendricks and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "'Crazy 'Bout My Baby", "High Society", and "On! Berlin" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "'Crazy 'Bout My Baby" and "High Society" together as a single (Capitol 5021) and has yet to issue "On! Berlin".

1963 - Vocalist Liza Minnelli, with unlisted others, records the titles "How Much Do I Love You" and "One Some Love" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4994).

1967 - Buck Owens's Capitol Records single "Sam's Place" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.

1968 - Final overdubs are recorded for Tony Sandler and Ralph Young's titles "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Oh Holy Night", "Mister Santa", "Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)", and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Sandler and Young's album "Christmas World" (ST 2967).

1968 - Final overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for John Stewart and Buffy Ford's title "Lincoln's Train". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title on Stewart and Ford's album "Signals Through The Glass" (ST 2975).

1968 - John Stewart, with unlisted others, records the title "Jody And The Woman" and a new take of "Lincoln's Train" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title recorded at this session.

1968 - Brothers Make Two (lineup unlisted) record the titles "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight", "What You Gonna Do", and "Just As I Am" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue "Just As I Am". No issuing information is listed for the first two titles.

1968 - Vocalist Buck Owens and His Buckaroos (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Let The World Keep On Turnin'" and "I'll Love You Forever And Ever", both will additional vocals by Buddy Alan, and the title "A Very Merry Christmas" at The Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records will issue "Let The World Keep On A Turnin'" and "I'll Love You Forever And Ever" together as a single (Capitol 2237) on August 7, 1968 and also on Owens' and The Buckaroos' album "I've Got You On My Mind Again" (ST-131) and "A Very Merry Christmas" on Owens' album "Christmas Shopping" (ST 2977).

1968 - Vocalist Glenn Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ann" and "Wichita Lineman" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on August 14, 1968, Capitol Records will issue both titles on Campbell's album "Wichita Lineman" (ST-103) and "Wichita Lineman" also as a single (Capitol 2302) with "Fate Of Man" (recorded April 25, 1968 with overdubs recorded on August 28, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - During three sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, Joyful Noise (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Long Time" and "Arms Against The Sea" at the first session, the titles "Happy Hozey" and "All The Rage In London" at the second session, and the title "Flowers" at the third session for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1968 - Instrumental tracks are recorded for The Beach Boys' title "We're Together Again" in Los Angeles, California. Even after vocals overdubs are recorded on May 28, 1968, and further overdubs are recorded on May 31, 1968, Capitol Records has yet to issue the title.

1968 - Vocalist Dobie Gray, with unlisted others, records the titles "We The People", "I Never Saw A Girl", and "I Just Can't Take It" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "We The People" as a single (Capitol 2241) with "Funky & Groovy" (recorded June 26, 1968) on the flipside and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1968 - The Four King Cousins (lineup unlisted) record the titles "I Fell", "It's All The Same", "Here, There And Everywhere", and "Walk On By" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Introducing The Four King Cousins" (ST 2990).

1968 - The Koala (Jose Mala on vocals, Louis Caine, aka Louis Bambara, on lead guitar, Joey Guido on guitar, Anthony Wesley on bass, Joe Alexander on drums and percussion, and possibly "Hammond Henry" Gendus on keyboards) record the titles "Strange Feelings" and "Look At The Way She Comes" at Regent Sound Studios in New York City, New York with their managers Bob Wyld and Art Polliemus producing the session. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's self-titled album "The Koala" (SKAO-176).

1973 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Apple Records single "My Love", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Industry (lineup unlisted) records the title "State Of The Nation" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5268) with "Communication" (recorded May 30, 1983) on the flipside and also as another single (Capitol 5341) with "What Have I Got To Lose" (recorded June 17, 1983) on the flipside.

1989 - Paul McCartney's Capitol Records single "My Brave Face" debuts at #72 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1993 - It's announced that EMI Music fired Capitol Records president Hale Milgrim and his #2 man, executive VP Art Jaeger.

1993 - Patti Ouderkirk takes Crowded House band member Tim Finn's photo at a shoot at Capitol Records' New York City office


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1933 - Disney releases the cartoon "The Three Little Pigs" with its hit song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?". Capitol Records will later release a children's record of the song.

1962 - Frank Ifield, with Norrie Paramor conducting the orchestra, records the title "I Remember You" (words by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer with music by Victor Schertzinger) for EMI Records in the U.K.

1963 - Vee-Jay Records releases The Beatles' single "From Me To You", with "Thank You Girl" on the flipside.

1963 - Tenor saxophonist Harold Vick, with Blue Mitchell on trumpet, John Patton on organ, Grant Green on guitar, and Ben Dixon on drums, records the titles "Trimmed In Blue", "Vicksville", "Steppin' Out", two takes of "Our Miss Brooks", "Dotty's Dream", and "Laura" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles, except the second take of "Our Miss Brooks" which is a shorter version of the title recorded in mono only, on Vick's album "Steppin' Out" (BLP4138 in mono, BST84138 in stereo, and 8-52433-2 on CD) and will issue "Vicksville" and the shorter mono version of "Our Miss Brooks" together as a single (Blue Note 45-1897).

1963 - Ken McIntyre, with Bob Cummingham on bass, Edgar Bateman on drums, and an unidentified string section directed by Selwart Clarke, records the titles "Kajee" with McIntyre on oboe, "Reflections" with McIntyre on alto saxophone, "Miss Ann" with McIntyre on flute, "Lois Marie" with McIntyre again on oboe, "Permanentity" with McIntyre again on alto saxophone, "Tip Top" with McIntyre again on flute, and "Chitlin's And Cavyah" with McIntyre again on alto saxophone in Regent Sound's studio in New York City, New York for the United Artists label. After E.M.I. acquires United Artists' catalog, Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on McIntyre's compilation CD "The Complete United Artists Sessions" (8-57200-2).

1964 - Gerry and The Pacemakers record the track "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey".

1968 - An unidentified fourteen piece string section records overdubs at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for Stanley Turrentine's titles "Blues For Stan" and "Smile" using arrangements by Thad Jones and the titles "The Look Of Love", "A Beautiful Friendship", "This Guy's In Love With You", "I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco", "Emily", two takes of "Cabin In The Sky", "Here, There And Everywhere", and "MacArthur Park" using arrangements by Duke Pearson. Blue Note Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles, except the first take of "Cabin In The Sky" which was rejected, on Turrentine's album "The Look Of Love" (BST84286).

1977 - Virgin Records releases The Sex Pistols' single "God Save the Queen" in the U.K.


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1924 - The Music Corporation of America (MCA) is founded.

1932 - Junior Walker, singer, songwriter, and musician, is born Herman Parker, Jr. in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His song "Mystery Train" will be covered by The Band on their sixth Capitol Records album "Moondog Matinee".

1977 - Members of the band KISS will add small quantities of their blood at Borden Chemical Company in Depew, New York to the red ink used for the band's pseudo-autobiographical Marvel Comics comic book. Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee will also be there, to observe.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

MAY 26, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1914 - Ziggy Elman, trumpet player, bandleader, songwriter (best known for "And The Angels Sing" which he co-wrote with Capitol Records' co-founder Johnny Mercer and was sung by future Capitol Records artist Martha Tilton), part of Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and Mickey Katz and His Orchestra as well as a Capitol Records session musician (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra, and others), is born Harry Aaron Finkelman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1920 - Peggy Lee, songwriter, cartoon voice artist, vocalist with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, and a solo artist on Capitol and Decca Records is born Norma Delores Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota.

100 Years Ago Today In 1926 - Miles Davis, trumpet player, composer, bandleader, film scorer, actor, and Capitol Records artist (1948) was born Miles Dewey Davis III in Alton, Illinois.

1942 - Levon Helm, drummer, mandolin player and singer with the Capitol Records recording group The Band, as well as Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, The Canadian Squires, and The Hawks, is born Mark Levon Helm in Marvell, Arkansas.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Candy" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records charts, The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)' Capitol Records single "Dream" is #5, and Johnny Johnston (with orchestra conducted by Paul Baron)'s Capitol Records single "Laura" enters the chart at #9.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Johnny Mercer, with The Pied Pipers (June Hutton, Clarke Yocum, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry) on the first three tracks and Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Bruce Hudson, Charlie Griffard, Ray Woods, and Ray Linn on trumpet; Allan Thompson, Bill Schaefer, and Elmer Smithers on trombone; Hap Lawson, Matty Matlock, Fred Stulce, Lenny Hartman, Eddie Miller, and Artie Quenzer on reeds; Charles LaVere on piano; Dave Barbour on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums) on all titles, records "My Sugar Is So Refined", "Baby I'm True To You", "Sugar Blues" (this version features a rare vocal by drummer Nick Fatool who's identified by name by Mercer and the version released by Capitol will be recorded on July 1, 1947) and "Mindin' My Business" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "My Sugar Is So Refined" as a single (Capitol 268) with "Ugly Chile (You're Some Pretty Doll)" (recorded May 23, 1946) on the flipside and "Mindin' My Business" on Mercer's album "Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers With Paul Weston Orchestra" (CD-36). Mosaic Records will issue all the titles on the compilation CD set "Mosaic Select - Johnny Mercer" (MS-028).

1949 - Woody Herman and His Orchestra (Stan Fishelson, Al Porcino, Ernie Royal, Charlie Walp, and Shorty Rogers on trumpet; Bill Harris, Earl Swope, and Ollie Wilson on trombone; Bart Varsalona on bass trombone; Herman on clarinet, alto saxophone, and vocals; Sam Marowitz on alto saxophone; Gene Ammons, Buddy Savitt, and Jimmy Giuffre on tenor saxophone; Serge Chaloff on baritone saxophone; Terry Gibbs on vibraphone; Lou Levy on piano; Oscar Pettiford on bass; Shelly Manne on drums; and Mary Ann McCall on vocals) record the tracks "The Crickets" arranged by Ralph Burns with Herman and McCall on vocals and "More Moon" arranged by Shorty Rogers, in Chicago, Illinois for Capitol Records.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with orchestra conducted by Les Baxter)'s Capitol Records single "Too Young" is #2, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill" is #7.

1953 - Vocalists Skeets McDonald and Helen O'Connell, with Dave Cavanaugh directing the orchestra (Charles Butler and Jules Jacob on saxophones, Donald Robertson on piano, Eddie Kirk on guitar, Meyer Rubin on bass, Milton "Muddy" Berry on drums, and James "Dick" Philips and John Schmidt on unlisted instruments) record the titles "Hi Diddle Diddle (My My)" and "Worried Mind" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM with producer Ken Nelson. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2573 on 10" shellac and F2573 on 7" vinyl).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is tied at #3 with Morris Stoloff and His Orchestra's single "Moonglow and Theme From 'Picnic'" on Billboard's Best Selling Retailing Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antiqua" is #17, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is #32, and Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra with Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Standing On The Corner" is # 39.

1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" is tied for #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart with Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back", Dean Martin (with Gus Levene and His Orchestra and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #7, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Big Man" is #10, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #15. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is also #21 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.

1958 - During two session held this day in Los Angeles, California with producer Dave Cavanaugh, The Frank Moore Four (Frank Moore on accordion with unlisted tenor saxophone, bass, and drums players) records the titles "How About You", "Night Train", "Manhattan", "Take The 'A' Train", and I'll Never Smile Again" at the first session and the titles "Midnight Sun", "Four Brothers, "I'm Beginning To See The Light", and "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Midnight Sun" and "Four Brothers" which it has yet to issue, on the group's self-titled album "The Frank Moore Four" (T 1127).

1958 - Vocalist Judy Garland, with Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", "More Than You Know", "I'm Confessin'", and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" in Los Angeles, California with producer Voyle Gilmore. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Garland's album "Judy In Love" (EAP-1/2/3-1036 on 7" EPs and T/ST 1036 on mono and stereo 12" LPs).

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles begin recording tracks for the title "Yellow Submarine" at Abbey Road Studios and would finish the title at another session on June 1, 1966.

1968 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "I Wanna Live" returns to the #1 spot on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Walk On By" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title as a bonus track on the two-album CD "Friends/20-20" (7-93697-2).

1969 - Capitol Records releases John Lennon and Yoko Ono's second album, "Unfinished Music No. 2 - Life with the Lions" in the U.S. and the couple begin their second "bed-in" for peace in a 29th-floor room at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada.

1970 - The Beatles' last album "Let It Be", released by Capitol Records in the United States, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1973 - The Beatles' Apple Records compilation double album "The Beatles 1967-1970" (aka "The Blue Album") hits #1 on Billboard magazine's Top 200 Albums chart.


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Ray Ennis, a guitarist and a singer with the Capitol Records Canada group The Swinging Blue Jeans, is born in Liverpool, England.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is #19 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, and Domino's Imperial Records single "My Blue Heaven is #38.

1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say" is tied for #31 with it's flipside "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Sick And Tired is #34, and Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "I Wonder Why" is tied at #35 with Andy Williams (with Archie Blyer and His Orchestra)' single "I Wonder Why".

1958 - Pianist Gil Evans, using his own arrangements, conducts Johnny Coles, Louis Mucci, and Clyde Raesinger on trumpets, Frank Rehak and Joe Bennett on trombones, Tom Mitchell on bass trombone, Julius Watkins on French horn, Bill Barber on tuba, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on alto saxophone, Phil Bodner on piccolo, flute, bass clarinet, and English horn, Chuck Wayne on guitar, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drums as they record the titles "Manteca" and "Bird Feathers" in New York City, New York for the Pacific Jazz label. After EMI acquires Pacific Jazz's catalog, it will issue both titles on the two-LP compilation set "Pacific Standard Time" (BN-LA461-H2).

1958 - Pianist and bandleader Count Basie and His Orchestra (Wendell Culley, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, and Joe Newman on trumpets, Henry Coker, Al Grey, and Benny Powell on trombones, Frank Wess on alto saxophone and flute, Marshall Royal also on alto saxophone, Frank Foster and Billy Mitchell on tenor saxophones, Charles Fowlkes on baritone saxophone, Freddie Green on guitar, Eddie Jones on bass, and Sonny Payne on drums), with Joe Williams, Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross on vocals, record the title "Goin' To Chicago" at Capitol Records' studios in New York City, New York for the Roulette Records label. After EMI acquires Roulette's catalog, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the compilation CD "The Best Of Joe Williams" (8-21146-2).

1962 - Walter Brennan's Liberty Records single "Old Rivers" is #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Jay and The Americans' United Artists Records single "She Cried" is #7, Dion's Laurie Records single "Lovers Who Wander" is #10, Joey Dee and The Starlighters' Roulette Records single "Shout (Part 1)" is #19, and Dick and DeeDee's Liberty Records single "Tell Me" is #26. Universal Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group, currently owns the catalogs of Liberty, United Artists, Laurie and Roulette Records.

1964 - Lenny Kravitz, Virgin Records America artist, is born Leonard Albert Kravitz in New York City, New York.

1982 - Bobby Darin's star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame is unveiled
1994 - Future Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley secretly marries Michael Jackson in the Dominican Republic.


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

140 Years Ago Today In 1886 - Al Jolson, singer, Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion picture actor (best known as the star of the first popular talking film "The Jazz Singer"), and first popular music superstar of the 20th century, is born Asa Yoelson in Seredzius, Lithuania. For just about everything you might want to know about Jolson, check out Dr. Marc I Leavy's massive tribute website.

1932 - My grandparents, Martin and Marie Nielsen, set sail from Hamburg, Germany on the S.S. New York, bound for Ellis Island and eventually to 4741 Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

1942 - Joan Fontaine, actress, puts her handprints in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.

1948 - Stevie Nicks, a songwriter, solo artist, and a vocalist with the bands Fritz, Buckingham Nicks, and Fleetwood Mac is born Stephanie Lynn Nicks in Phoenix, Arizona.

Monday, May 25, 2026

MAY 25, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1915 - Van Alexander, arranger, composer (arranged and co-wrote "A-Tisket A-Tasket" with Ella Fitzgerald for Chick Webb and His Orchestra), film scorer, bandleader and Capitol Records artist as Van Alexander and His Orchestra, is born Al Feldman in New York City, New York.

1922 - Kitty Kalen, singer, vocalist for Artie Shaw and His Orchestra, Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra, Capitol Records artist Bobby Shorewood and His Orchestra (best known on the 1942 track "Moonlight Becomes You"), Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and Harry James and His Orchestra, and a solo artist, is born Genevieve Agostinello in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

100 Years Ago Today In 1926 - Milt Bernhart, trombonist, member of Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, and Nelson Riddle's Capitol Records bands, session musician on some of Frank Sinatra's Capitol Records sessions (including "I've Got You Under My Skin"), movie studio session musician (including lead trombonist on the theme songs for "Johnny Quest" and "The Jetsons"), bandleader of the RCA Victor group Milt Bernhart Brass Ensemble, and founder of The Big Band Academy Of America, is born in Valparaiso, Indiana.

1947 - Jessi Colter, singer and Capitol Records artist (1975-1976, 1978, 1981),  is born Mirriam Johnson in Phoenix Arizona. She would first marry Duane Eddy (1961-1968) with whom she had daughter Jennifer Eddy and then Waylon Jennings (1969) with whom she had sons Buddy and Scooter Jennings.

1953 - Rich "Dude" Alves, a guitarist for the Capitol Records group Pirates of the Mississipi (1990-1991), is born in Pleasanton, California.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Guitarist Carl Kress (with guitarist Tony Mattola and a clarinetist, bass player, and drummer), records the titles "Swan Of Tonnelle Avenue", "Sarong", "Blond On The Loose", and "Walking Behind Miss Lucy" at WMCA studios in New York City for Capitol Records, but all would be rejected and would be released in 1997 on Mosaic Records' box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions".

1947 - The St. Paul Church Choir Of Los Angeles (large mixed vocal choir - lineup unlisted) with Eric Gladney on lead vocals, a unlisted pianist, and conducted by J. Earle Hines, records the titles "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me", "God Be With You", "We Sure Do Need Him Now", and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me" as a single (Capitol 867) with "Yield Not To Temptation" (recorded June 12, 1947) on the flipside and as a single (Capitol Americana 40018) with "God Be With You" on the flipside, "We Sure Do Need Him Now" as a single (Capitol Americana 40033) also with "Yield Not To Temptation" on the flipside, and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" as a single (Capitol Americana 40076) with "Walking With My Jesus" (also recorded on June 12, 1947) on the flipside . Capitol will also re-issue "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me", "God Be With You", and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" in 1953 on the group's album "On Revival Day!" (T 791).

1948 - Vocalist Margaret Whiting overdubs vocals at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Boulevard in Hollywood, California onto a band track recorded by Frank De Vol and His Orchestra in London, England (getting around the second Petrillo/AFM recording ban) for the title "A Tree In The Meadow". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 15122) with "I'm Sorry But I'm Glad" (recorded December 26, 1947) on the flipside on June 21, 1948, and also on Whiting's album "Love Songs By Margaret Whiting" (EAP-1-410 on 7" EP and T 410 on 12" LP). "A Tree In The Meadow" will eventually hit #1 on Billboard's singles chart on August 21, 1948.

1948 - Vocalist Andy Russell overdubs vocals at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Boulevard in Hollywood, California onto a band track recorded by Frank De Vol and His Orchestra in London, England for the title "I Kiss Your Hand Madame". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 15135) with "Just For Now" (recorded November 28, 1947) on the flipside.

1952 - The original Broadway cast of the revival of George and Ira Gershwin's "Of The I Sing" featuring vocalists Jack Carson, Paul Hartman, Jack Whiting, Lenore Lonergan, Betty Oakes, Florenz Ames, Jonathan Lucas, Howard Freeman, J. Pat O'Malley, Donald Foster, Robert F. Simon, Loring Smith, and Mort Marshall, with Maurice Levine conducting the cast chorus and orchestra (lineups unlisted), during five sessions (4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM, 11:30 PM to 12:00 AM on May 26, 1952, 12:00 AM to 3:20 AM, and 3:20 AM to 3:50 AM) as they record the titles "Part 1: Prelude (instrumental)/Wintergreen For President (chorus)/Who Is The Lucky Girl To Be? (girls chorus)/The Dimple On My Knee - Because, Because", "Part 2: Never Was There A Girl So Fair/Some Girls Can Bake A Pie", "Part 3" Love Is Sweeping The Country/Finaletto/The Supreme Court Judges", "Part 4: I Was The Most Beautiful Blossom/Some Girls Can Bake A Pie (Reprise)/Finaletto", "Part 5: Hello, Good Morning/Mine/Who Cares", "Part 6: Garçon, S'il Vous Plait/Illegitimate Daughter/Because, Because (reprise)", "Part 7: Who Cares (Reprise)/The Senate Roll Call - Impeachment/Jilted", and "Part 8: I'm About To Be A Mother/Trumpeter, Blow Your Horn/Finale" in studios at 207 East 50th Street in New York City, New York. After remastering in Los Angeles on June 4, 1952, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Of The I Sing" (S 350).

1953 - Universal-International Pictures releases the first 3-dimensional musical short subject film to go with the studio's release of the 3D feature film "It Came From Outer Space". Nat "King" Cole is the main star, singing "Pretend", in this 18 minute featurette directed by Will Cowan and filmed in "scientifically perfected eye-resting full-sepia mono-color". The featurette also includes Joan Elms singing "Blue Moon" with Russ Morgan and His Orchestra as well as Charles Drake, Joseph Sawyer, and The Gene Louis Dancers.

1953 - Robert McDonald conducts The Los Angeles City College Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Don't Blame Me", "Cream Puff", "September In The Rain", and "Fugue In G Minor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Cream Puf" and "September In The Rain" together as a single (Capitol 2356 on 10" shellac and F2536 on 7" vinyl) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1953 - Pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ernie Royal, Conte Candoli, Don Dennis, and Don Smith on trumpets, Bob Burgess, Frank Rosolino, Tom Shepard, and Keith Moon on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Lee Konitz and Vinnie Dean on alto saxophone, Bill Holman and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophones, Henry Levy on baritone saxophone, Sal Salvador on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, and Stan Levey on drums), with vocals by Chris Connor, record the titles "All About Ronnie" and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue "All About Ronnie" as a single (Capitol 2511 on 10" shellac and F2511 on 7" vinyl) with "Baia" (recorded April 8, 1953) on the flipside and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" on the multi-artist compilation CD "Capitol Sings Cole Porter - Anything Goes" (7-96361-2).

1953 - Ray Block conducts Jackie Gleason's Orchestra (a string orchestra with an unlisted lineup) as they record the titles "Crazy Rhythm" featuring an unlisted alto saxophonist, "The President's Lady" featuring an unlisted French horn player, "A Little Love, A Little Kiss" featuring an unlisted trumpet player, and "Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight')" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "The President's Lady" as a single (Capitol 2515 on 10" shellac and F2515 on 7" vinyl) with "White House Serenade" (recorded December 19, 1952) on the flipside and "Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight')" as a single (Capitol 2507 on 10" shellac and F2507 on 7" vinyl) with "Peg O' My Heart" (recorded January 12, 1953) on the flipside. Collectors' Choice Music will issue all titles on the compilation CD "Two Classic Albums From Jackie Gleason - Lover's Rhapsody/And Awaaay We Go" (CCM 192-2).

1955 - The Louvin Brothers record the title "When I Stopped Dreaming" which Capitol Records will release as a single with "Pitfall" on the flipside in July, 1955.

1955 - Wardell Gray, tenor saxophonist with the Capitol Records group Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1948-1949) and then with Count Basie's band (1950-1955), is found dead in the desert outside Las Vegas with a broken neck. The Jazzitude website has a great article by Marshall Bowden about the life and mysterious death of Gray.

1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart.

1958 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Jack Marshall's Music (Jack Marshall conducting Conrad Gozzo, Don Fagerquist, and Mannie Klein on trumpets, Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone, Milt Bernhart on trombone, Justin Gordon and George Smith on reeds, Joe Harnell on piano, Howard Roberts on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), records the titles "You Don't Know", "Ridin' High", "Alright, Okay, You Win", and "It's Been A Long, Long Time" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "You Don't Know" as a single (Capitol F3998) with "Fever" (recorded May 19, 1958) on the flipside and also on Lee's EP "Fever" (EAP-1-1052) and her album "All Aglow Again" (T 1366), "Ridin' High", "Alright, Okay, You Win", and "It's Been A Long, Long Time" on Lee's album "Things Are Swingin'" (T/ST 1049), and "Alright, Okay, You Win" also as a single (Capitol F4115) with "My Man" (recorded October 17, 1958) on the flipside.

1959 - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddlers' Capitol Records single "Only You", with "Rainy Night In Paris" on the flipside, is #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls", with "Congratulations" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' USA" hits #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart becoming the group's first top 10 single, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #5, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #14, Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki", with "Anoko No Namaewa Nantenkana" on the flipside, is #20 (and #2 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty survey), Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #25, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #34, and The Beach Boys' single "Shutdown" (the flipside of "Surfin' USA") is #38. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is also #27 on KFXM 590 AM's Fabulous 59 survey in San Bernadino, California, #28 on Cash Box magazines Top 100 Singles chart, #30 on KDWB's Top 40 survey in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota, and debuts at #44 on C-FUN's C-Funtastic Fifty chart in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Where Did Everyone Go?" is #9 also on KFXM's Spotlight Albums chart in San Bernadino, California.

1963 - Pipe organist Eddie Dunstedter, with unlisted others, records the titles "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Beautiful Savior", and "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Dunstedter's album "The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again" (T/ST 1968).

1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jack Nitzsche conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Reverend Mr. Black", "Walk Right In", and "The End Of The World" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Darin's album "18 Yellow Roses & 11 Other Hits" (T/ST 1942).

1973 - Pianist Peter Duchin, with unlisted others, records the titles "Day Of The Jackal", "Alfredo, Alfredo", "Classical Gas", and "A Little Night Music" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "A Little Night Music" as a single (Capitol 3658) with "Fa-La" (recorded November 16, 1972) on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for the other three titles.

1973 - Final mastering is done for Jimmy Rogers' self-titled album "Jimmy Rogers" (SW-8921) that will be issued by Shelter Records, which at the time was distributed by Capitol Records.

50 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Sweet's Capitol Records album "Desolation Boulevard" is certified gold by the R.I.A.A.

1978 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the title "Never Tell You No Lies" in Studio City's studio in Sherman Oaks, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

1983 - During two sessions held this day in Audio Media Recorders' studio in Nashville, Tennessee, vocalist Anne Murray, with unlisted others records the title "Just Another Woman In Love" at the first session and the title "I Guess I Just Missed You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Just Another Woman In Love" as a single (Capitol 5344) with "Heart Stealer" (recorded July 14, 1983) on the flipside and on Murray's album "ST-12301" (ST-12301) and has yet to issue "I Guess I Just Missed You".

1995 - Dick Curless, (aka The Baron of Country Music and born Richard William Curless), singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) artist (1965-1969) and Capitol Records artist (1970-1974), dies of stomach cancer at age 63 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Togus, Maine

2005 - Domenic Troiano, singer, songwriter, guitarist and solo artist with Capitol Records (1977-1979) and member of the bands Mandala, Bush, James Gang, The Guess Who, and Black Market, dies of cancer at age 59 at his home in Toronto, Canada


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #14 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Rick Nelson's Imperial Records version of the same is song is tied for #27 with Mitchell Torok's single "Pledge Of Love". UMG Music Group, Capitol Records parent company, currently owns Imperial's catalog.

1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #4 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 #17. UMG Music Group, Capitol Records parent company, currently owns the Liberty, Laurie, and Imperial catalogs.

1963 - Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, The Chiffons' Laurie Records single "He's So Fine" is #28, and Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Charms" is #35. UMG Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the  Roulette, Laurie and Liberty Records catalogs.

1964 - Capitol Records Canada releases The Swinging Blue Jean's single "Hippy Hippy Shake".

1967 - John Lennon's Rolls Royce gets a psychedelic paint job from Dutch team of gypsy artists group The Fool who were commissioned by J. P. Fallon Ltd. John Whelan has a pretty comprehensive article about the vehicle, and the paint job, on the Ottawa Beatles Site.

1973 - Virgin Records releases its first album, Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells".

1983 - Vocalist Shenna Easton, with unlisted others, records the titles "With Her Radio" and "Don't Leave Me This Way" in an unlisted studio. EMI Americal will issue both titles on Easton's album "Best Kept Secret" (ST-17101).


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

180 Years Ago Today In 1846 - Patty Smith Hill, composer (best known for "Happy Birthday To You" which was still under copyright until 2016 even though Miss Hill died in 1924), is born in Bath, Kentucky

1942 - It's a Monday and at 11:00 AM, trade showings for exhibitors are held by RKO Radio Pictures of Walt Disney's "Bambi" through out the country.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

MAY 24, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Tony Valentino, a guitarist with the Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group The Standells and owner of Bellisimo's (an Italian restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, California), is born Emilio Bellissimo in Los Angeles, California.

1942 - Derek Quinn, a guitarist with the first group released on Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) Freddie and The Dreamers, is born in Manchester, England.

1944 - Patti LaBelle, a singer, founding member of the group LaBelle, solo artist and Capitol Records artist (on the track "Bewitched" as a duet with Frank Sinatra), is born Patricia Louise Holt in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1955 - Roseanne Cash, a singer, guitarist, songwriter, daughter of Johnny Cash and Vivian Dorraine Libreto Cash, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Memphis, Tennessee.

1963 - Vivian Trimble (aka Dusty Trails), the keyboardist and a backing vocals singer with the Capitol Records group Luscious Jackson, is born in New York City, New York.

1982 - Steve Silvas, a graphic designer who worked at Capitol Records until 2009, is born in Vallejo, California.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY

1948 - Barclay Allen, with unlisted others records four unlisted titles in Los Angeles, California for The Capitol Records Transcription Service. No issuing information is listed.

1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune" is #4, Ella Mae Morse (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Blacksmith Blues" is #10, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is #16, Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Carioca" is #19, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)" is #20.

1957 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocals, trombone and bass; Don Barbour on vocal and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocal and drums; and Ken Albers on vocal, trumpet, mellophone, and bass), with arranger Dick Reynolds conducting the accompanists (Skeets Herfurt and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxophone; Ted Nash and Georgie Auld on tenor saxophone; Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone; Al Hendrickson on guitar; Geoff Clarkson on piano; Don Simpson on bass; and Frank Carlson on drums) record the tracks "This Love Of Mine" "Sometimes I'm Happy", "For All We Know", "I Get Along Without You Very Well", and "Lullaby In Rhythm" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for their Capitol Records album "The Four Freshmen And Five Saxes".

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's R&B Best Sellers In Stores chart, #5 (along with its flipside, "Do I Like It") on the magazine's Best Selling Pop Singles In Stores chart, #6 on the magazine's Top 100 Sides chart, #8 on the magazine's Most Played R&B By Jockeys chart, #10 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart, #13 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys chart, and #34 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty Survey in Los Angeles, California. "Looking Back"'s flipside, "Do I Like It", is also #94 on The Billboard magazine's Top 100 sides chart. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "St. Louis Blues" is #21 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop LPs chart.

1958 - Erich Leinsdorf conducts The Philharmonia Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record parts of Brahms' "Symphony N° 3 In F Major" and Beethoven's "Leonore N° 3 Overture" in EMI's Abbey Road Studio N° 1 in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the complete "Symphony N° 3 In F Major" on the orchestra's album "BRAHMS - Symphony N°3 In F Major/Variations On A Theme By HAYDN" (G/SG-8483) and "Leonore N° 3 Overture" on the orchestra's album "Opera Overtures" (G/SG-8465).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Buck Owens records the titles "Under The Influence Of Love" and "Nobody's Fool But Yours" which Capitol Records will release together as a single.

1963 - Nat 'King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #32 on WLS' Silver Dollar Survey in Chicago, Illinois.

1963 - Pipe organist Eddie Dunstedter, with unlisted others, records the titles "Happy Holiday" and "In The Clock Store" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Dunstedter's album "The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again" (T/ST 1968).

1963 - Glen Gray conducts The Casa Loma Orchestra (listed as similar to Shorty Sherock, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, and Joe Graves on trumpets, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, and Ed Kusby on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most on clarinet and alto saxophone, Skeets Herfurt also on alto saxophone, Plas Johnson and Justin Gordon on tenor saxophones, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Ray Sherman on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Mike Rubin on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) as they records the titels "Fly Me To The Moon (in the style of theme of the Casa Loma orchestra), "Stranger On The Shore (in the style of theme of Take The A Train by the Duke Ellington orchestra), and "I Will Follow You (in the style of theme of the Glenn Miller orchestra)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gray and the orchestra's album "The Sounds of The Great Bands, Volume 7: Today's Best" (T/ST 1938).

1963 - Tenor saxophonist King Curtis, with Julius Held conducting Fred Zito on trombone, Tate Houston on baritone saxophone, George Stubbs on piano, Eric Gale and Cornell Dupree on guitars, Jimmy Lewis on bass, Ray Lucas on drums, and unlisted background vocalists, records the titles "Do The Monkey" and "Feel All Right" in (listed as possibly) Capitol Records' studio in New York City. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4998).

1964 - The Beatles' single "Love Me Do" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles charts.

1968 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Tony Sandler's and Ralph Young's titles "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "I Sing Noel", and "Susa-Ninna/Silent Night". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Sandler and Young's album "Christmas World" (ST 2967) and the final mix of "I Sing Noel" with "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (recorded April 29, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - Norma Tanega, with unlisted others, records the titles "Everything Between Changes" and "A Snowflake Dies" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue "Everything Between Changes". No issuing information is listed for "A Snowflake Dies".

1969 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Get Back", with "Don't Let Me Down" on the flipside and distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, hits #1 on Billboard's singles chart where it will stay for 5 weeks.

1973 - Guitarist Howard Roberts, with unlisted other, records the titles "Where Is The Love", "Love Them From A Sensitive Movie (Indulge Me)", "H. R.'s Blues", and "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Where Is The Love" and "Love Them From A Sensitive Movie (Indulge Me)" on Roberts' album "Sounds" (ST-11247) and has yet to issue "H. R.'s Blues" and the take fo "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" recorded at this session but will issue a new take recorded on August 13, 1973, also on the album "Sounds".

1973 - Alex Harvey, with unlisted others, records the titles "Making Music For Money", "The Liberation (Of Lady Jane)", "Too Late, My Love", "Right On", "You Don't Need A Reason", "The Song Just Kept On Playing (Summer Days)", "I Like To Hear The Rain", "Goodbye Miss Carolina", and "The Sweeter It Grows" in Los Angeles, California. After an overdub is recorded at the same session for "The Song Just Keeps on Playing (Summer Days)", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Harvey's album "True Love" (ST-11188).

1974 - Duke Ellington (born Edward Kennedy Ellington), Capitol Records artist (1953-1955), composer, pianist and bandleader, dies of cancer at age 75 in New York City and is later interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

1975 - Jessi Colter's Capitol Records single "I'm Not Lisa", with "For The First Time" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

1978 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Ain't Nobody Laughin'", and "Suffer Little Children" at the Studio City studios in Sherman Oaks, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1983 - Vocalist Anne Murray, with unlisted others, records the title "Come On Love" at Audio Media Recorders' studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the title on Murray's album "A Little Good News" (ST-12301).

35 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Gene Clark (born Howard Eugene Clark), songwriter, guitarist and vocalist as a solo artist and with the Capitol Records band McGuinn, Clark & Hillman, as well as the bands Dillard and Clark, The Byrds, and The New Christy Minstrels, is found unconscious at his home in Sherman Oaks, California and dies at age 46 from a heart attack brought on by complications of a bleeding ulcer. Clark is later buried in his hometown of Tipton, Missouri.

1992 - Capitol Records releases Wildside's debut album "Under The Influence".

1994 - Capitol Records and Grand Royal Record releases Beastie Boys' album "Ill Communication".

2005 - Capitol Records releases Swedish band Shout Out Louds' debut full-length album, "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff".

2005 - Mike Krinik joins Capitol Records Nashville as regional director promotion, West Coast. Based in San Diego, Krinik works as a liaison between the label and country radio stations.

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - It's announced that Mae, Virginia-based emo-rock band, signed with Capitol Records.


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1958 - Pianist Bud Powell, with Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums, records the two takes of the titles "John's Abbey" and "Sub City" and the titles "Buster Rides Again", "Dry Soul", "Marmalade", "Monopoly", and "Time Waits" at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in his parents' home in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles, except the first take of "John's Abbey" on Powell's album "Time Waits" (BLP1598 in mono and BST81598 in stereo) and all the titles and all the takes in the four-CD set "Bud Powell ‎– The Complete Blue Note And Roost Recordings" (8-30083-2).

1958 - Baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, with Art Farmer on trumpet, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Bud Shank on alto saxophone, Pete Jolly on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums, records the title "Black Nightgown" in Los Angeles, California for the United Artists label. After EMI acquires United Artists' catalog, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the multi=artist compilation CD "California Cool: Presenting The Hip Jazz Sounds Of The West Coast" (7-80707-2).

1963 - Vocalist Dinah Washington, with Fred Norman conducting his own arrangement to the orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the title "I Wanna Be Around" in Chicago, Illinois for the Roulette label. After EMI acquires Roulette's catalog, Blue Note Records will issue the title on the multi-artist compilation CD "Blue Vocals Vol. 2" (7-96583-2).

1968 - Tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, with Woody Shaw on trumpet, Kenny Barron on piano, Jan Arnett on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums, records the titles "In A Capricornian Way", "Den Tex", "Lynn's Tune", "204", and "Gichi" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Ervin's album "Tex Book Tenor" (BN-LA488-H2 on 12" vinyl and 3-11439-2 on CD).

1982 - "The Cooler", an eleven-minute film featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, is shown at Cannes Film Festival. Ringo plays a prisoner in a jail policed entirely by women, two of whom are played by Linda McCartney and Barbara Bach (Ringo's wife).

1983 - Vocalist Sheena Easton, with unlisted others, records the titles "Best Kept Man" and "Devil In A Fast Car" at an unlisted studio. EMI Americal will issue both titles on Easton's album "Best Kept Secret" (ST-17101) and an edited version of "Devil In A Fast Car" as a single (EMI America 8201) with "Sweet Talk" (recorded April 12, 1983) on the flipside.

40 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Future Capitol Records artist Garth Brooks marries Sandy Mahl


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Bob Dylan, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and motion picture actor, is born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, actress, mother of Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley, grandmother of Danielle Riley Keough and Benjamin Storm Keough, and first wife of Elvis Presley, is born Priscilla Ann Wagner in Brooklyn, New York.

1968 - Future Virgin Records band The Rolling Stones' single "Jumping Jack Flash", with "Child Of The Moon" on the flipside, is released on London Records.

1974 - "The Dean Martin Show" ends its nine-year run on NBC-TV.

2002 - "Brian Wilson Presents Smile" is released as a 2 disc DVD.

2005 - Vivian Dorraine Libreto Cash Distin, mother of Roseanne, Kathleen, Cindy and Tara Cash, and first wife of Johnny Cash dies in Ventura, California of complications after lung cancer surgery at age 71 on her daughter Roseanne's 50th birthday.

Saturday, May 23, 2026

MAY 23, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1910 - Scatman Crothers, singer, drummer, guitarist, bandleader, dancer, motion picture and television actor, cartoon voice actor, and Capitol Records (1948-1949) and Aladdin Records (1951-1953) artist, is born Benjamin Sherman Crothers in Terre Haute, Indiana.

1920 - Helen O’Connell, singer, motion picture actress, dancer, vocalist with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, television personality, wife of Capitol Records artist and bandleader Frank DeVol, and a Capitol Records artist, is born in Lima, Ohio.

1928 - Rosemary Clooney, singer, motion picture actress, and Capitol Records (on the 1965 album "That Travelin' Two Beat" with Bing Crosby) and United Artists Records (1976-1977) artist, is born in Maysville, Kentucky.

1959 - Bill Vorn, a synthesizer player and a founding member of the Capitol Records band Rational Youth, is born in Montreal Quebec, Canada.

1967 - Phil Selway, drummer for the Capitol Records band Radiohead, is born Philip James Selway in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England.

1980 - Heather Peggs, Capitol Records A&R executive (2004-2009), founder and president of HELL YA! Records, is born in Wexford, Pennsylvania.


ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1947 - Wingy Manone and His Orchestra (Manone on trumpet; Charlie Griffard, Zeke Zarchy, and Ray Linn on trumpet; Bill Schaefer, Allan Thompson, and Carl Loeffler on trombone; Heinie Beau on clarinet; Fred Stulce and Leonard Hartman on alto saxophone; Herbie Haymer and Ted Nash on tenor saxophone; Moe Weschsler on piano; George Van Eps on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums) record the track "Box Car Blues", with Manone sharing vocals with Johnny Mercer, in Los Angeles, California which will be released as a single by Capitol Records with "Hello Baby" on the flipside. At the same session, The Pied Pipers, with Paul Weston conducting the same musicians (except for Wingy Manone), record the tracks "Just Plain Love" and "The Riddle Song" which Capitol Records will release together as a single.

1952 - Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars (Clark Terry on trumpet; Juan Tizol on valve trombone; John Graas on french horn; Willie Smith on alto saxophone; Wardell Gray on tenor saxophone; Harry Carney on baritone saxophone; Billy Strayhorn on piano; Wendell Marshall on bass; Louis Bellson on drums) record the tracks "The Jeep Is Jumpin'", "Passion Flower", and "Johnny Come Lately" (all three arranged by Strayhorn), "Sticks" and "Punkin'" (both arranged by Shorty Rogers), "Eyes" (arranged by Buddy Baker)", Rainbow" (arranged by Tizol), and "Shadows" (also arranged by Baker) in Los Angeles, California. All the tracks will be released on a 10" album by Capitol Records as part of it's "Classics in Jazz" series.

1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April in Portugal" is #2 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Retail Singles chart, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s single "Pretend" is #9, Jane Froman (with Orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I Believe" is #11, and Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby (theme from the movie Ruby Gantry)" enters the chart at #20. Nat "King" Cole's single "Pretend" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is also #5 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart, #8 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Juke Boxes and also #9 on the magazine's Most Played By Jockeys charts. "Pretend"'s flipside "Can't I" is #38 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's single "I Am In Love" is #2 on The Billboard magazine's Coming Up In The Trade - Disc Jockeys Pick chart and #3 on the magazine's Coming Up In The Trade - The Dealers Pick chart.

1958 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Harry Geller conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed", "Love Makes The World Go Round", "Sunday Barbecue", and "Glad Rags" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed" and "Glad Rags" together as a single (Capitol F4107) and "Love Makes The World Go Round" and "Sunday Barbecue" together as a single (Capitol F3997).

1958 - Pianist Leonard Pennario records the second half of Franz Liszt's "Sonata In B Minor" and the fourth movement of Frederick Chopin's "Sonata N° 3 In B Flat" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of the complete "Sonata In B Minor" and "Sonata N° 3 In B Flat" on Pennario's album "CHOPIN - Sonata In B Flat/LISZT - Sonata In B Minor" (P-8457).

1958 - Erich Leinsdorf conducts The Philharmonia Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record parts of Brahms' "Symphony N° 3 In F Major" in EMI's Abbey Road Studio N° 1 in London, England. Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the complete "Symphony N° 3 In F Major" on the orchestra's album "BRAHMS - Symphony N° 3 In F Major/Variations On A Theme By HAYDN" (G/SG-8483).

1960 - The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Got A Girl" is #24 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1963 - During three sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist June Christy with Al Viola on guitar and Don Bagley on bass, records new takes of the titles "Fly Me To The Moon" with the addition of Bud Shank (as "Bud Legge") on flute, "The More I See You", and, again with Shank on flute, "You're Nearer" at the first session, with Shank on flute for the rest of the sessions, the titles "The More I See You", and "Time After Time" at the second session, and the titles "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "Suddenly It's Spring" at the third session. Capitol Records will issue all the new takes from all three sessions on Christy's album "The Intimate Miss Christy" (T/ST 1953).

1963 - Jerry Guthrie, with unlisted others, records the titles "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart", "I Saw Linda", and "King Of The Surf" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart" and "I Saw Linda" together as a single (Capitol 5013) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

1963 - Capitol Records will master in Los Angeles, California all of Vic Damone's titles "You And The Night And The Music", "When Your Lover Has Gone", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "At Long Last Love", "Fascinating Rhythm", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", "Adios", "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", "A Lot Of Livin' To Do", "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You", and "On The Street Where You Live" which were recorded during a live performance at Basin Street East recorded on April 26, 1963 and will issue all the titles on Damone's album "Vic Damone At Basin Street East" (T/ST 1944).

1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jack Nitzsche conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Our Day Will Come", "On Broadway", and "I Will Follow Her" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Darin's album "18 Yellow Roses & 11 Other Hits" (T/ST 1942).

1964 – Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single “I Get Around” with “Don’t Worry Baby” on the flipside.

1965 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Help Me Rhonda", with "Do You Wanna Dance?" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1967 - The Pink Floyd records Syd Barrett's "See Emily Play" at Sound Techniques Studios in England. The track will later be released in the United States on Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.

1968 - Vocalist Fred Neil, with unlisted others, records the titles "How Long" and "Second Hand Information" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1968 - Overdubs are recorded for pianist Eddie Heywood's titles "Don't Take Your Love From Me", "Soft Summer Breeze", "Give My Regards To Broadway", and "Ramona". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Heywood's album "The Piano Artistry Of Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze" (ST-163).

1968 - Robert Irving conducts The Concert Arts Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the conclusion of Leonard Bernstein's "Fac Simile (A Choreographic Essay)" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the entire "Fac Simile (A Choreographic Essay)" on the orchestra's album "BERNSTEIN - Fancy Free/Fac Simile" (SP-8701).

1970 - Paul McCartney's Apple Records album "McCartney", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, reaches #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart.

1978 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "I'm Gonna Love You", "Love Takes You Higher", "Darling Darlinka", and "Grafhaidh Me Thu" in Sherman Oaks, California. Capitol Records will issue "I'm Gonna Love You" and "Love Takes You Higher" together as a single (Capitol 4682) and with "I See Love" and "Grafhaidh Me Thu" on Campbell's album "Basic" (SW-11722) and "Darling Darlinka" on Campbell's album "Highwayman" (SOO-12008).

1983 - Ronnie Laws, with unlisted others, records the titles "Mr. Nice Guy" and "Rolling" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Mr. Nice Guy" as a single (Capitol 5274) with "Off And On Again" (session date not listed) on the flipside and "Rolling" as a single (Capitol 5421) with "City Girl" (recorded August 31, 1984) on the flipside.

1983 - Vocalist Juice Newton, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangments by Charles Calello, records the titles "Stranger At My Door", "Tell Her No", "Till I Loved You", and "Runaway Hearts" at Conway Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Newton's album "Dirty Looks" (ST-12294) and "Stranger At My Door" and "Tell Her No" also as a single (Capitol 5265).

1994 - The Beastie Boys' Grand Royal and Capitol Records album "Ill Communication" is released and will become their second #1 album and second album to be certified triple platinum.

30 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Suzy Bogguss' first single for the newly renamed label, "Give Me Some Wheels" with "Far And Away" on the flipside.


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1883 - Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., motion picture actor and co-founder of United Artist Pictures which would go on to create United Artists Records, is born Douglas Elton Ulman in Denver, Colorado.

1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotions" is #16 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and Dion and The Belmont's Laurie Records single "When You Wish Upon A Star" is #30. Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Imperial and Laurie Records catalogs.

1963 - Tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, with Bud Powell on piano, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums, records the titles "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Broadway", "Stairway To The Stars", "A Night In Tunisia", "Willow Weep For Me", "Scrapple From The Apple", and, without Gordon on tenor saxophone, "Like Someone In Love" at the CBS Studios in Paris, France with producer Francis Wolff. Blue Note Records will issue "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and "Like Someone In Love" on the compilation album "Bud Powell ‎– Alternate Takes" (BST84430), the rest of the titles on the album "Our Man In Paris" (BLP4146 in mono on 12" LP and BST84146 in stereo on 12" LP), and all the titles on the CD release of "Our Man In Paris" (7-46394-2).

1968 - Som Tres (a big band with an unlisted lineup) records the title "Jungle" in Brazil for EMI Odeon. Blue Note Records will license the title and issue it on the multi-artist compilation album "Blue Brazil Volume 2 (Blue Note In A Latin Groove)" (B1-57741 on the 12" LP and 8-57741-2 on CD).

1969 - Jimmy McHugh (born James McHugh), composer ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "I'm In The Mood For Love", etc.) and pianist, dies in Beverly Hills, California at age 74. Capitol Records released a CD compilation of various Capitol Records artists covering McHugh's songs as part of it's "Capitol Sings" series.

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - The Rolling Stones' single "Brown Sugar", with a cover of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The Rolling Stones' catalog is now released by Virgin Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Music Group's parent company Universal Music Group.

1983 - Pink Floyd's Columbia Records album "The Final Cut" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Pink Floyd's entire catalog is now distributed by Capitol Records in the United States.

1983 - Vocalist Sheena Easton, with unlisted others, records the title "I'm Almost Over You" at an unlisted studio. EMI America will issue the title as a single (EMI America 8186) with "I Don't Need Your Word" (session date not listed) on the flipside and also on Easton's album "Best Kept Secret" (ST-17101 on 12" LP and 7-91754-2 on CD).

20 Years Ago Today In 2006 - The complete "Bugaloos" is released on DVD.
The Bugaloos with their Barris Custom buggy at the back entrance of The Capitol Tower. Photo courtesy of Bill Ung.
Rhino Video releases a 3 DVD set with all 17 original episodes of the series, as well as some great extras. In 1970 Capitol Records released The Bugaloos only album and sponsored a promotional tour of in-store and personal appearances to support it. Bill Ung has a wonderful and massive tribute website to The Bugaloos and I've contributed some photos from the personal appearances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas, to it.


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1910 - Artie Shaw, a clarinet player and a bandleader, is born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky in New York City, New York.

1944 - Tiki Fulwood, drummer for the bands Parliament and Funkadelic, is born Ramon Fulwood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1953 - Bill Haley and The Comets' Decca Records single "Crazy Man Crazy" debuts at #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and is considered the first Rock 'N' Roll single to enter the chart.

1968 - John Lennon and George Harrison open Apple Tailoring (Civil And Theatrical) at 161 King's Road, London, England.

Friday, May 22, 2026

MAY 22, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1948 - Buddy Alan, singer, songwriter, guitarist, son of Capitol Records artists Buck and Bonnie Owens, step-son of Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard, and Capitol Records artist in his own right (1968-1976), is born Alvis Alan Owens in Mesa, Arizona.



ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1943 - Tor Mann conducts The Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stockholm as they record Sibelius' "Symphony #1 In E Minor, Opus 39" in Stockholm, Sweden for Telefunken Records. After Capitol Records leases Telefunken's catalog for release in the United States, it will issue the piece on the album "SIBELIUS-Symphony #1 In E Minor, Opus 39/GRIEG-Norwegian Dance #1" (P-8020).

1944 - Capitol Records issues its first album, a four-disc 78 rpm collection entitled "Capitol Presents... Songs By Johnny Mercer" (listed initially as A-1 in The Billboard magazine but released as CD-1) which includes the titles "Blues In The Night", "On The Nodaway Road", "You And Your Love", You Grow Sweeter", "Jamboree Jones", "Dixieland Band", "I Remember You", and "Too Marvelous For Words".

1948 - The King Cole Trio (with orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol)'s Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Peggy Lee (with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Manana" is #12.

1954 - Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" is #6 and its flipside "The Man Upstairs" is #7, and Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #11.

1958 - Vocalist Ed Townsend, with unlisted others, records the titles "What Shall I Do?", "Richer Than I", and "Please Never Change" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "What Shall I Do?" and "Please Never Change" together as a single (Capitol F3994), also on Townsend's self-titled EP "Ed Towsend" (EAP-1-1091), and "Richer Than I" as a single (Capitol F4104) with "Getting By Without You" (recorded August 6, 1958) on the flipside.

1958 - Alvino Rey conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Speak Low", "Night Train", "I'll Be Seeing You", and "Chukkar" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Speak Low", "Night Train", and "Chukkar" on Rey and his orchestra's album "Swingin' Fling!" (T/ST 1085) and have yet to issue "I'll Be Seeing You".

1958 - During two sessions held this day in EMI's Abbey Road Studio N° 1 in London, England, Erich Leinsdorf conducts The Philharmonia Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record portions of Brahms' "Variations On A Theme By Joseph Haydn" at the first session and the first, third, and fifth movements of Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue the complete "Variations On A Theme By Joseph Haydn" on the orchestra's album "BRAHMS - Symphony N° 3 In F Major/Variations On A Theme By HAYDN" (G/SG-8483) and the complete "Lieutenant Kije Suite" on the orchestra's album "PROKOFIEV - Lieutenant Kije Suite/KODALY-Hary Janos Suite" (P/SP-8508).

65 Years AgonToday In 1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Hazy-Lazy-Crazy Days Of Summer is #25 on WMCA's Top 25 chart in New York City, New York.

1963 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocals, trombone, and bass, Bill Comstock on vocals and guitar, Ross Barbour on vocals, trumpet, and drums, and Ken Albers on vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, and bass), with Shorty Rogers conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Walk Right In", "Summertime", and "We've Got A World That Swings" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Walk Right In" and "Summertime" on the group's album "Got That Feelin'" (T/ST 1950), "Summertime" also as a single (Capitol 5007) with "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" (recorded May 20, 1963) on the flipside, and "We've Got A World That Swings" on the album "Funny How Time Slips Away" (T/ST 2067).

1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Ticket to Ride", with "Yes, It Is" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Capitol Records artist Mrs. Elva Miller appears on the Ed Sullivan show.

1967 - The Knack (Mike Chain, Larry Gould, Dink Kaplan and Pug Baker), with producer Nick Venet and engineer John Krauss, record the tracks "Pretty Daisy" and "Banana Man" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the tracks together as a single (Capitol 5940).

1968 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Tennessee Ernie Ford's titles "As Lately We Watched", "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella", "The Friendly Beasts", and "White Christmas". Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).

1968 - Vocalists John Stewart and Buffy Ford, with unlisted others, records the title "Draft Age" and a new take of the title "Cody" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on June 5, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on Stewart and Ford's album "Signals Through The Glass" (ST 2975).

1968 - Robert Irving conducts The Concert Arts Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the conclusion of Aaron Copeland's "Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo'" and the beginning of Leonard Bernstein's "Fac Simile (A Choreographic Essay)" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the entire "Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo'" on the orchestra's album "COPLAND - Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo'/Appalachian Spring" (SP-8702) and the entire "Fac Simile (A Choreographic Essay)" on the orchestra's album "BERNSTEIN - Fancy Free/Fac Simile" (SP-8701).

1970 - Buck Owens and Susan Raye (on vocals, with unlisted musicians) record the tracks "Your Tender Loving Care", "Think Of Me", "I Thank You For Sending Me You", and "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)" and overdubs for all the tracks but "Think Of Me" at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records will issue "You're Tender Loving Care" as a single (Capitol 2871) with "The Great White Horse" on the flip side and all the tracks on the duo's album "Great White Horse" (ST-558).

1970 - Capitol Records group The Bob Seger System perform at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois. Despite having to stop twice to fix the sound system the band gives a great show. Opening for them is the Swedish five-man group the Mecki Mark Men who are distributed by Limelight Records.

1972 - The Raspberries' second Capitol Records single from their self-titled debut album, "Go All The Way" with "With You In My Life" on the flipside, is released and will eventually peak at #5 on Billboard's singles chart.

50 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Paul McCartney & Wings' Apple Records single "Silly Love Songs", with "Cook Of The House" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's singles chart.

1977 - Hampton Hawes, pianist and member of many jazz bands including Stan Kenton's All Stars, Shorty Rogers and his Giants, Teddy Edwards' Septet, The Bud Shank - Bill Perkins Quintet, as well as leader of his own trio, quartet, quintet, septet, and nonet, Hampton Hawes dies of a stroke at age 48 in Los Angeles, California. The Jazz Discography Project has a great discography of Hawes' work.

1988 - Mother's Finest (lineup unlisted) records the title "Still Over Each Other" at an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Looks Could Kill" (C1-48988 on 12" LP and 7-48988-2 on CD).

25 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' two-CD, 58 track, album "Hawthorne, CA — Birthplace of a Musical Legacy".

2005 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "Making Memories Of Us" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

2007 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' greatest hits album "The Warmth Of The Sun".

2008 - D Kilpatrick passes away at age 88. He was a music executive from the 1940s to the 1960s in Nashville. He was considered the first salaried producer based in Music City and produced sessions for Hank Thompson, Tex Ritter, and Jimmie Skinner. Kilpatrick, born William David "D" Kilpatrick on July 18, 1919 in Charlotte, North Carolina, got into the record business as a salesperson for Capitol Records in his hometown. By the late 1940s, he was producing acts for the label, including James and Martha Carson. In 1956, Kilpatrick became manager of the Grand Old Opry, bringing in acts such as Porter Wagoner, the Everly Brothers and Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. In 1958, he helped found the Country Music Association. He left the Opry in 1959 to form Acuff-Rose Artists Corp., a booking agency for Opry acts and pop stars such as Roy Orbison. He later returned to sales and promotion for Warner, Philips and Mercury Records. He eventually left the music business to run a drapery and fabrics business.

2009 - Capitol Records group Sick Puppies perform at Harrah's Casino Voodoo Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada.


ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1959 - Morrissey, singer, songwriter, with the band The Smiths, and a solo artist who occasionally uses The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California to record in and to broadcast radio events from, is born Steven Patrick Morrissey in Manchester, England.

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Gene McDaniels's Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #4, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #5 and his Imperial Records single "Hello Mary Lou" is #9, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #13, and Al Caiola and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Bonanza" is #20.

1973 - Vocalist Jimmy Witherspoon, with Blue Mitchell, Thad Jones, Ernie Royal, and Melvin Moore on trumpets, Garnett Brown and Benny Powell on trombones, Seldon Powell, Delbert Hill, and Don Menza on tenor saxophones, Arthur Clark on baritone saxophone, Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Richard Tee on organ, Horace Ott on electric piano, Joe Sample on clavinet, Robben Ford, Cornell Dupree, and Freddy Robinson on electric guitars, Chuck Rainey on electric bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, Gene Estes, King Errison, and Omar Clay on percussion, and Hilda Harris, Ella Winston, and Barbara Massey on background vocals, using arrangements by Horace Ott, records the titles "Sign On The Building", "Spoonful", "Big Boss Man", "Inflation Blues", "Pearly Whites", "Nothing's Changed", "Gloomy Sunday", "Take Out Some Insurance", and "Reds And Whiskey" at Wally Heider Studios in Los Angeles, California. Blue Note Records will lease all the masters from Far Out Productions and issue them on Witherspoon's album "Spoonful" (BN-LA534-G).

1977 - Former Capitol Records artist Stan Kenton, on tour with his orchestra, is found unconscious at 8:00 PM, lying on the floor of the Abraham Lincoln Motor Inn in Reading, Pennsylvania. He underwent neurosurgery for a skull fracture with a blood clot on the brain.


ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Calvin "Thang" Simon, vocalist for the bands The Parliaments, Parliament and Funkadelic, and a member of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, is born in Beckley, West Virginia.

1950 - Lyricist Bernie Taupin is born in Lincolnshire, England.