APRIL 8, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1907 - Wesley Prince, a bass player with The King Cole Trio, is born in Pasadena, California.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1949 - Mel Torme's Capitol Records single "Again", with "Blue Moon" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart.

1953 - Bandleader and pianist 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 saxophones, Bill Holman and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophones, Henry Levy on baritone saxophone, Sal Salvador on guitar, Glen Roberts on bass, and Stan Levey on drums), with vocalist Chris Connor, record the titles "All About Ronnie", "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen", and "Baia" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue "Baia" as a single (Capitol 2511) with "" (recorded ) on the flipside and on Kenton's album "Portraits On Standards" (T 462). Mosaic Records will issue the take of "All About Ronnie", which will later be re-recorded, in the box set "Stan Kenton-The Complete Capitol Recordings of The Holman And Russo Charts" (MR6-136 with six discs on vinyl and MD4-136 with four discs on CD). The take of "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen" is rejected.

1953 - Voice artists Stan Freberg, June Foray, and Pinto Colvig record vocal overdubs in Los Angeles, California using a script adapted by Alan Livingston onto music tracks recorded by Van Alexander conducting His Orchestra on March 23, 1953 for the titles "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 1", "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 2" and, without Foray, for the titles "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 3" and "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 4". After June Foray and Pinto Colvig record more vocal overdubs on April 9, 1953 for the titles "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 3" and "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party: Part 4", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the children's album "Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party" (DBX-3165 on 10" shellac and EAX-3165 on 7" vinyl).

1953 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra with Bobby Hackett on trumpet, Toots Mondello on alto saxophone, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Say It Isn't So", "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan", "You Were Meant For Me", "It Happened In Monterey", "Crazy Rhythm", and "After You've Gone" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Say It Isn't So", "I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan", and "You Were Meant For Me" on the album "" (SM-455), with "It Happened In Monterey" on the album "Music To Make You Misty" (EBf-455 on 7" EP set, H/L-455 on 10" vinyl LP, and W/DW 455 on 12" LP) and rejected the take of "Crazy Rhythm" from this session. Collectors' Choice Music will issue "AFter You've Gone" on the CD "Two Classic Albums From Jackie Gleason - Lover's Rhapsody/And Awaaay We Go" (CCM 192-2).

1958 - Bandleader and clarinet and alto saxophone player Les Brown and His Band Of Renown (Dick Collins, Wes Hensel, Conrad Gozzo, Jerry Kadowitz, and Mickey McMahan on trumpets, Dick Kenney and Roy Main on trombones, Jim Hill and Stumpy Brown on bass trombone, Matt Utal and Ralph Lapolla on flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones, Billy Usselton on tenor saxophone, Butch Stone on clarinet and baritone saxophone, Abe Aaron on soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones and bass clarinet, Don Trenner on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, Lloyd Morales on drums, and David Grupp on percussion and bells) record the titles "The Loneliness Of Evening" using an arrangement by Wes Hensel, "I'm Gonna Was That Man Right Out Of My Hair" using an arrangement by Les Brown", "Happy Talk" using an arrangement by Don Bagley, and "Dites Moi" using an arrangement by Les Brown in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Brown's album "Dance To The Music Of "South Pacific"" (EAP-1/2-1060 on 7" EPs and T/ST 1060 on 12" LP).

1958 - Vocalist Wanda Jackson, with "Big" Al Downing on piano, Merrill Moore on piano and organ, Vernon Sandusky on lead guitar and backing vocals, Buck Owens on guitar, Enos "Skeets" McDonald on bass, and Joe Brawley on drums), records the titles "Day Dreaming", "Heartbreak Ahead", "Here We Go Again", and "I Wanna Waltz" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Jackson's album "Day Dreaming" (T 1041).

1958 - Guitarist Laurindo Almeida records the titles "Dialogue", "Fantasia (Fantasy)" and "Danza" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Almeida's album "Contemporary Creations For Spanish Guitar - Laurindo Almeida" (P-8447).

 

1958 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the title "Begin The Beguine", new takes of the titles "Love For Sale" and "So In Love", and the title "I've Got You Under My Skin" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Bushkin's album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter" (T/ST 1030).

1963 - Vocalists Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "All Through The Night", "Somebody Bigger Than You And I", "Shepherd Show Me How To Go", "Oh Holy Morning", "Nearer My God To Thee", and "He Brought My Soul To Calvary" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae's album "There's Peace In The Valley" (T/ST 1916).

1963 - Nat and Maria Cole attend the 35th Academy Awards ceremony at The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Vocalist Liza Minnelli, with Ray Ellis conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Marriage Is For Old Folks", "Say Liza (Liza With A 'Z')", and "Come On And Baby Me" in New York City, New York. 40 years later in 2006, DRG Records will issue all the titles on the 2 disc CD set "Liza Minnelli: The Complete Capitol Collection"  (DRG 19093).

1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Lady Madonna", with "The Inner Light" on the flipside and distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1968 - Stained Glass (lineup unlisted) recorda the titles "Finger Painting", "Horse On Me", "Light Down Below", "Two Make One", "Nightcap", and "Twiddle My Thumbs" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Crazy Horse Roads" (ST-154) and "Twiddle My Thumbs" as a single (Capitol 2372) with "Fahrenheit" (recorded April 9, 1968) on the flipside.

1968 - Vocalist Andy Russell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Somebody Loves You", "Stay With Me (Nel Sole)", and "I'd Love To Rope You Off The Rest Of The World" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Somebody Loves You" and will issue "Stay With Me (Nel Sole)" and "I'd Love To Rope You Off The Rest Of The World" together as a single (Capitol 2185).

1968 - Hedge & Donna (Hedge Capers on guitar and vocals and Donna Capers on percussion and vocals) record the titles "From Silver Lake" and "Love Lady" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "From Silver Lake" on the duo's self-titled album "Hedge & Donna" (ST-107) and has yet to issue "Love Lady".

1968 - Buddy Fo, with unlisted others, records the titles "Life Still Has A Lot To Give Me", "Such Pleasure", and "Some Good" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Life Still Has A Lot To Give Me" and "Such Pleasure" on Fo's album ""Buddy Fo's New Hawaii"" (ST 2879) and has yet to issue "Some Good".

1968 - Human Beinz (lineup unlisted) record the titles "If You Don't Mind, Mrs. Applebee" and "Cement" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Evolutions" (ST 2926).

1978 - Wing's Capitol Records single "With A Little Luck", with "Backwards Traveller/Cuff Link (Medley)" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Eddie Jobson & Zinc (lineup unlisted) record the title "Resident" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "The Green Album" (ST-12275).

1988 - Capitol Records registers the masters it acquired from EMI Records, Ltd. for Aslan's (Christy Dignam on vocals, Joe Jewell on guitar and backing vocals, Tony McGuinness on bass and backing vocals, Billy McGuinness on percussion, harmonica and backing vocals, and Alan Downey on drums) titles "Loving Me Lately", "Pretty Thing", "This Is", "Been So Long", "The Hunger", "Heat Of The Cell", "Please Don't Stop", "Down On Me", "Sands Of Time", "Feel No Shame", and "Book Of Life" which were recorded at Westland Studios, Dublin, Ireland with additional recordings done at Terminal 24/Townhouse 3, London, England, as well as five other unlisted titles, and will issue all the listed titles in the United States on the group's CD "Feel No Shame" (7 48989 2).

2003 - Capitol Records releases Lisa Marie Presley's album "To Whom It May Concern".

2003 - Chris Cagle's second Capitol Records album, "Chris Cagle," debuts at #1 on Billboard magazine's Top Country Albums chart.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1892 - Mary Pickford, an actress and co-founder of United Artists Pictures, is born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. United Artists Pictures would release The Beatles' movies "A Hard Day's Night", "Help!", and "The Yellow Submarine". The catalog for United Artists Records, a subsidiary that also releases the soundtrack to "A Hard Day's Night", is now owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1920 - Carmen McRae, a singer and a Blue Note Records artist is born in Harlem, New York City, New York.

1963 - Julian Lennon, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and son of John and Cynthia Powell, is born John Charles Julian Lennon in Liverpool, England. Julian was the inspiration for the songs "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Good Night", and "Hey Jude".

1967 - The Spencer Davis Group's single "I'm A Man", with "Can't Get Enough" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1968 - Drummer Elvin Jones, with Jimmy Garrison on bass, records the titles "Village Greene" with Joe Farrell on tenor saxophone, "Sweet Little Maia" with Farrell on soprano saxophone, "Raza" with Farrell back on tenor saxophone, "For Heaven's Sake" with Farell on alto flute, "Keiko's Birthday" with Farrell on piccolo, and "Gingerbread Boy" and "Jay-Ree", both with Farrell back on tenor saxophone. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Jones' album "Puttin' It Together" (BLP4282 on mono LP, BST84282 on stereo LP, and 7-84282-2 on CD).

25 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Janet Jackson's Virgin Records America single "All For You", with "Someone To Call My Lover" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

APRIL 7, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1915 - Billie Holiday, a singer and a recording artist for many labels including Capitol Records (the title "Trav'lin' Light", with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, using the name Lady Day), is born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1920 - Ravi Shankar, a composer, sitar player, Capitol ("Concert For Bangladesh"), Capitol India, EMI, and Angel Records artist, and father of Angel Records artist Anoushka Shankar and Blue Note Records artist Norah Jones, is born Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Janis Ian, a singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist is born Janis Eddy Fink in New York City, New York.

1952 - Bruce Gary, a percussionist and drummer with the Capitol Records group The Knack, is born in Burbank, California.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1953 - During two sessions held this day in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California, bandleader and pianist Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (Clark Terry, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, and Ray Nance on trumpets, Juan Tizol, Britt Woodman, and Quentin Jackson on trombones, Russell Procope on alto saxophone and clarinet, Rick Henderson on alto saxophone, Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Paul Gonsalves on tenor saxophone, Harry Carney on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Butch Ballard on drums) record the titles "My Old Flame", "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", and, with Jimmy Grissom on vocals, "Ain't Nothin', Nothin' Baby (Without You)" at the first session and the titles "Stormy Weather", "Star Dust", "Three Little Words", and "Orson" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "My Old Flame", "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "Stormy Weather", "Star Dust" and "Three Little Words" on Ellington and His Orchestra's album "Premiered By Ellington" (EAP-1/2-440 on 7" EPs, EBF-440 on 7" EP set, and H-440 on 10" LP), "Ain't Nothin', Nothin' Baby (Without You)" as a single (Capitol 2503) with "Ballin' The Blues" (recorded April 9, 1953) on the flipside, and "Orson" on Ellington's album "Dance To The Duke!" (EAP-3-637 on 7" EP and T 637 on 12" LP).

1953 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra with Bobby Hackett on trumpet, Toots Mondello on alto saxophone, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Mickey", "The Man I Love", "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", and "It All Depends On You" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gleason's album "Music To Make You Misty" (EBF 455 on 7" two EP set, H/L-455 on 10" LP, and W/DW 455 on 12" LP).

1953 - Vocalist Faron Young, with (listed as probably) Chet Atkins or Thomas "Grady" Martin on electric guitar, Velma E. Williams Smith on rhythm guitar, (listed as probably) Loren Otis "Jack" Shook on guitar and Bob Foster on steel guitar, and Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance on bass, records the titles "What's The Use To Love You", "That's What I'd Do For You", "Just Married", and "Baby My Heart" at Castle Studio in the Tulane Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "What's The Use To Love You" as a single (Capitol 2461) with "I Can't Wait (For The Sun To Go Down" (recorded October 12, 1952) on the flipside, and "That's What I'd Do For You" and "Baby My Heart" together as a single (Capitol 2570). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the five-CD box set "Faron Young - The Classic Years" (BCD 15493).

1954 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs", with Harold Mooney conducting the orchestra and "If You Love Me" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart.

1958 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Sweet Thing" with "I Only Know That I Love You" on the flipside.

1958 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Return To Me", with "Forgetting You" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" debuts at #36 on WMGM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York and is #5 on WJJD 11609 AM's Hit Bound chart in Chicago, Illinois.

1958 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with The Top Twenty (lineup unlisted) and Harry Geller conducting the orchestra (lineup also unlisted), records the titles "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", "O Holy Night (Cantique De Noël)", "Silent Night", and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ford's album "Tennessee Ernie Ford Sings His Christmas Favorites - The Star Carol" (T/ST 1071).

1958 - Vocalist Wanda Jackson, with "Big" Al Downing on piano, Merrill Moore on piano and organ, Vernon Sandusky on lead guitar and vocals, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, Enos "Skeets" McDonald on bass, and Joe Brawley on drums, records the titles "Making Believe", "Just Call Me Lonesome", "Happy Happy Birthday, "Let Me Go Lover" and "Let's Have A Party" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 6:15 PM and 9:15 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Jackson's album "Day Dreaming" (T 1041), "Happy Happy Birthday" also as a single (Capitol F4469) with "Mean Mean Man" (recorded April 10, 1958) on the flipside, and "Let's Have A Party" also as a single (Capitol F4397) with "Cool Love" (recorded February 28, 1957) on the flipside.

1983 - Capitol Records registers the masters for Eddie Jobson & Zinc's titles "Transporter", "Resident", "Easy For You To Say", "Prelude", "Nostalgia", "Walking From Pastel", "Turn It Over", "Green Face", "Who My Friends...", "Colour Code", "Listen To Reason", "Through The Glass", and "Transporter II" in Los Angeles, California and will issue all the titles on the album "The Green Album" as by Eddie Jobson/Zinc (ST-12275) and will also issue "Turn It Over" as a single (Capitol 5273) with "Residential Mix" (recorded June 30, 1983) on the flipside.

1983 - Capitol Records registers the masters for The Rockets' titles "Rollin' By The Record Machine", "Desire", "Can't Sleep", "Sally Can't Dance", "Takin' It Back", "Open The Door To Your Heart", "Oh Well", "Turn Up The Radio", and "Born In Detroit" in Los Angeles, California and will issue all the titles on the group's album "Live Rockets" (ST-12270) and will also issue "Can't Sleep" and "Turn Up The Radio" together as a single (Capitol 5262).

35 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks wins American Country Music awards for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (for "No Fences,") Single "Friends in Low Places," Song, and Video of the Year "The Dance".

2002 - Chris Cagle's Capitol Records Nashville single "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out", with "Country By The Grace of God" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1938 - Freddie Hubbard, a trumpet player, sideman, bandleader, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Frederick Dewayne Hubbard in Indianapolis, Indiana. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company Universal Music Group.

1943 - Mick Abrahams, a guitarist, founder of the Chrysalis Records group Jethro Tull, and a solo artist, is born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Chrysalis' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group.

1949 - The Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein musical "South Pacific" opens at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. Capitol Records will later release an album of cover versions of the hit songs from the musical featuring Gordon MacRae and Jo Stafford.

1958 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say", with "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company Universal Music Group.

1958 - During three sets held live at Small's Paradise in New York City, New York recorded by Blue Note Records, organist Jimmy Smith, with Eddie McFadden on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums, perform the titles "Small's Minor", and with the addition of Lou Donaldson on alto saxophone, "What's New?", "Fugueing The Blues", "Red Sails In The Sunset", and "Cool Blues with the addition of Tina Brooks on tenor saxophone at the first set, "September Song", "Yesterdays", "Small's Minor", and, with the addition again of Lou Donaldson on alto saxophone, "Once In A While" and "Bye Bye Blackbird" at the second set, and, after an announcement by Babs Gonzales, with Lou Donaldson on alto saxophone, Tina Brooks on tenor saxophone, Eddie McFadden on guitar, and Art Blakey on drums, the titles "A Night In Tunisia", "Dark Eyes", and "Groovin' At Smalls" then with Brooks out on tenor saxophone and Donald Bailey replacing Blakey on drums, "Mary Ann" at the third set. Blue Note Records will issue "Cool Blues", "A Night In Tunisia", "Dark Eyes", and Groovin' At Small's" on Smith's album "Cool Blues" (LT-1054) and with the addition of "What's New?", "Small's Minor", and "Once In A While" on the CD release of "Cool Blues" (7-84441-2). Blue Note rejected all the other titles.

1959 - The Fleetwoods' Dolphin Records (later renamed Dolton Records) single "Come Softly To Me", with "I Care So Much" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles chart. Dolton Records was distributed and later bought by Liberty Records. Liberty Records catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1968 - Bobby Goldsboro's United Artists Records single "Honey", with "Danny" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

1975 - Victoria Adams (aka Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice), with the Virgin Records group Spice Girls, wife of European football player David Beckham, is born Victoria Caroline Adams at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom.

1990 - "Hold On", Wilson Phillips' SBK single "Hold On", distributed by Capitol Records with "Over And Over" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Single chart

APRIL 6, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1924 - Dorothy Donegan, a pianist, leader of The Dorothy Donegan Trio, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Chicago, Illinois.

1927 - Gerry Mulligan, an arranger, songwriter, pianist, clarinet and baritone saxophone player, bandleader, Capitol (solo and as part of Miles Davis' "Birth Of The Cool" band), Pacific Jazz, and a Blue Note Records artist is born Gerald Joseph Mulligan in New York City, New York.

1937 - Merle Haggard, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, 1977 inductee into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, 1994 inductee into The Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Kern General Hospital, in Bakersfield, California. He will die of pneumonia 79 years to the day later on April 6, 2016 in Palo Cedro, California.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - The first recording session for Liberty Records (legally renamed Capitol Records on June 1, 1942) is held as a split session at C. P. MacGregor's studios at 729 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. First, vocalist Martha Tilton and the vocal group The Mellowaires (lineup unlisted), with Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra (Jenkins on piano and leading the rest of the unlisted musicians), record "Moondreams" (co-written by Johnny Mercer and J. C. "Chummy"  MacGregor) and "The Angels Cried" (written by Mercer alone), which features a solo by Hubert "Bumps" Myers on tenor saxophone. Johnny Mercer, with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (lineup still unlisted but including Jimmy Van Heusen on piano), then records "Strip Polka" (words and music by Mercer and arranged by Paul Weston), with additional emcee vocals by Phil Silvers and harmony vocals by The Mellowaires, and "They Didn't Believe  Me" (music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Herbert Reynolds). Capitol Records will issue "Moondreams" as a single (Capitol 138) with "Comin' Thru The Rye" (recorded June 25, 1942) on the flipside, "The Angels Cried" as a single (Capitol 105) with "I'll Remember April" (recorded June 4, 1942) on the flipside, "Strip Polka" as a single (Capitol 103) with "The Air-Minded Executive" (recorded May 21, 1942) on the flipside, and "They Didn't Believe Me" as a single (Capitol 129) with "Riffette" (recorded July 20, 1942) on the flipside.

Here's the podcast pilot I recorded about the first session.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young", with "That's My Girl" on the flip side, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts.

1953 - Mel Blanc, using a script written by Ted Pierce and Warren Foster and adapted by Alan Livingston, records vocal overdubs in Los Angeles, California on to music tracks recorded by Van Alexander conducting His Orchestra on March 31, 1953 for the titles "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 1" and "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship: Part 2". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on the children's record "Woody Woodpecker And His Space Ship" (CAS-3171 on 10" 78 RPM shellac and CASF-3171 on 7" 45 RPM vinyl).

1953 - Bandleader and pianist Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (Clark Terry, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, and Ray Nance on trumpets, Juan Tizol on valve trombone, Britt Woodman and Quentin Jackson on trombones, Russell Procope on alto saxophone and clarinet, Rick Henderson on alto saxophone, Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Paul Gonsalves on tenor saxophone, Harry Carney on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Butch Ballard on drums) record the titles "Satin Doll", "Without A Song" with vocals by Jimmy Grissom, and "Cocktails For Two" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Satin Doll" and "Without A Song" together as a single (Capitol 2458) and "Cocktails For Two" on Ellington's EP "Premiered By Ellington" (EAP-1-440 on 7" 45 RPM vinyl EP, EBF-440 on two-disc 7" 45 vinyl EP set, and H-440 on 10" 33 1/3 vinyl).

1953 - Les Baxter conducts His Orchestra and Chorus (lineups unlisted) as they record the titles "Ruby" featuring vocals by Danny Walton, "A Little Love (Can Go A Long, Long Way)", "I Love Paris" and "Manhattan" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Ruby" and "A Little Love (Can Go A Long, Long Way)" together as a single (Capitol 2457), "I Love Paris" as a single (Capitol 2479) with "Gigi" (recorded April 28, 1953) on the flipside, and "Manhattan" as a single (Capitol 2632) with "Love Theme From 'The Robe'" (recorded September 24, 1953) on the flipside.

1953 - Vocalist Mickey Katz and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "How Much Is That Pickle In The Window", "Wild Corsets", "Haim Afen Range (Home On The Range)", and "Tico Tico" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "How Much Is That Pickle In The Window" and "Wild Corsets" together as a single (Capitol 2456), Haim Afen Range (Home On The Range)" and "Tico Tico" together as a single (Capitol 2660), "How Much Is That Pickle In The Window", "Wild Corsets", and "Haim Afen Range (Home On The Range)" on Katz's album "Mish Mosh" (T 799), and "Tico Tico" on Katz's album "Katz Puts On The Dog" T 934).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - The grand opening of The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street, Hollywood, California takes place. Check out my April 6, 2006 posting in the April archives of this blog to find all the information and photos that I posted for the 50th anniversary of The Tower's opening.

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Dear Lonely Hearts" is #50 on Billboard magazine's Top LPs - 50 Best Sellers - Stereo and #60 on the magazine's Top LPs - 150 Best Sellers - Monaural chart. Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #20 on Billboard magazine's Middle-Road singles chart, #43 on the magazine's Hot 100 chart, and #44 on Cash Box magazine's Top 100 Singles chart. Also, according to Billboard's Hits Of The World charts, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Skip To My Lou" is #2 in Denmark and in India  (courtesy of The Voice in Calcutta) his single "Dear Lonely Hearts" is #3.

1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jack Nitzsche conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "18 Yellow Roses" and "Not For Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4970) and on Darin's album "18 Yellow Roses & 11 Other Hits" (T/ST 1942).

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - Buck Owens records the title "Open Up Your Heart" which will be released by Capitol Records.

1968 - Vocalists George Lindsey and The Jordanaires (lineup unlisted), with unlisted others, record the titles "My Way Of Life", "Moccasin Branch", "I'll Live Here Till I Die", and "Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lindsey's album "Goober Sings!" (ST 2965).

1968 - Syd Barrett officially leaves Tower Records' (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) band Pink Floyd.

1968 - After nearly four months of remodeling, The Beatles open their Apple Corporation office on the fourth floor of  95 Wigmore Street, London, England. The office workers find out that they can't play records during office hours so as not to disturb other tenants in the building. About three months later, the company will move to 3 Savile Road on July 15, 1968, after The Beatles buy the entire building.

1978 - Vocalist Juice Newton, with unlisted others, records the titles "You Fill My Life", "I'll Never Love Again", and "If There Could Be" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "You Fill My Life" on Newton's album "Take Heart" (ST-12000) and an edited version as a single (Capitol 4856) with "Tear It Up" (recorded May 1, 1979) on the flipside and "I'll Never Love Again" and "If There Could Be" on Newton's album "Well Kept Secret" (SW-11811).

1988 - Capitol Records registers the master it acquired from EMI for Hazell Dean's title "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" but no issuing information is listed.

1999 - Red Norvo, a xylophonist, bandleader, Capitol Records session player, and artist, dies at the age of 91.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Bob Marley, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, husband of Rita Marley (a member of  I3), and the father of all the members of EMI America and Virgin Records group Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, is born Robert Nesta Marley in Rhoden Hall, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica.

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Donavan Freberg, a photographer and the son of Capitol Records artist Stan Freberg, is born.

1973 - Future Capitol Records band Queen sign their first recording contract.

45 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Bob Hite (aka "The Bear"), guitarist, harmonica player, and founding member of the Liberty Records group Canned Heat, dies of a heart attack brought on by a combination of drug use and extreme weight at age 38. The attack happened in a van that was taking him home from a gig at The Palomino. Though his bandmates tried to revive him, they had to call paramedics when they got to Hite's home in Mar Vista, California, where he was later pronounced dead. If anyone knows for sure where Bob is buried, please leave a comment.

1998 - Pianist Jacky Terrasson records the title "Cumba's Dance" at Anderson Audio's studio in Brooklyn, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the title on Terrasson's album "Lulu On The Bridge" (4-95317-2 on CD).

10 Years Ago Today In 2016 - Merle Haggard, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, 1977 inductee into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame, 1994 inductee into The Country Music Hall Of Fame, and Capitol Records artist dies of pneumonia on his 79th birthday in Palo Cedro, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1917 - The United States of America enters the first world war.

APRIL 5, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1933 - Reggie Lavong, radio disc jockey, recording artist, and Capitol Records R&B promotion executive (1969-1972) is born Reginald Jerome Nelson in Gainesville, Florida.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Stuff Like That There" enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts.

1948 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) titles "When My Blue Moon Turns Gold Again" and "So Long To The Red River Valley" from Gold Seal Records. After registering the masters on April 30, 1948, Capitol Records will issue "When My Blue Moon Turns Gold Again" as a single (Capitol 15108) with "Take It Any Way You Can Get It" (recorded December 3, 1947) on the flipside and "So Long To The Red River Valley" as a single (Capitol 15157) with "He's A Real Gone Oakie" (also recorded December 3, 1947) on the flipside.

1953 - At the opening performance at Carnegie Hall of a nationwide tour of "The Record Show Of 1953", headliner Nat "King" Cole is stricken with ruptured ulcers and rushed to a New York City hospital. The show tries to go on for a week without Cole but the producers decide to close it on April 12 after finding out he won't be able to return for two to four months.

1953 - Vocalist and guitarist Weldon "Big Bill" Lister, with Jerry Rivers on fiddle, Sammy Pruett and Loren Oris "Jack" Shook on guitars, Donald Helms on steel guitar, and Ernie Newton on bass, records the titles "The Human Thing To Do", "Happy Lonesome", "All Dressed Up (And Nowhere To Go)", and "Hog Calling Song" at Castle Studio in Tulane Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee for Capitol Records. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany on Lister's compilation CD "There's A Tear In My Beer" (BCD 16374).

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Just One Of Those Things" is #6 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Jockeys chart and Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" debuts at #38 on The Billboard magazines' Best Selling Pop Singles In Stores chart, #56 on the magazine's Top 100 Sides chart, and #60 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's single "Angel Smile" is also on The Billboard magazine's Top 100 Sides chart at #75.

1962 - Wesley "Speedy" West (on steel guitar), with Billy Liebert on piano, Roy Lanham and Billy Strange on guitars, Lawrence "Red" Wooten on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums, records the titles "Speedy's Special", "Sunset At Waikiki", "Tulsa Twist" and "Slow And Easy" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on West's album "The Incredible Steel Guitar Of Speedy West - Guitar Spectacular" (T 1835).

1962 - The Pre Meds (lineup unlisted) record the yet-to-be-issued titles "Feel Good" and "Feel Better" for Capitol Records in Los Angeles, California.

1962 - Eddie Beal, with unlisted others, records the yet-to-be-issued titles "So Love Me For All We Know", When I Fall In Love", "April Showers", and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.

1963 - It's a Friday night and at 10:00 PM Nat "King" Cole appears on this evening's episode of NBC-TV's "The Jack Paar Program" with fellow guests actor Peter Ustinov, stage and screen actor Robert Morse, comic actor Charles Nelson Riley, and comedian Bob Newhart. Also, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Unforgettable" is #4 on KTKT 990 AM's Album Sound Of The Day chart in Tucson, Arizona.

1964 - General Douglas MacArthur, General of the US Army in the Pacific, whose farewell speeches were released by Capitol Records, dies at age 84.

1967 - Vocalist Dale Evans, with unlisted musicians, records the medleys "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel/Walk In Jerusalem", "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen/Steal Away", and "One More River To Cross/Gonna Lay Down My Heavy Load", the title "Old Time Religion", the medley "Standin' In The Need of Prayer/Do Lord", and the title "It's Real" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Evans' album "It's Real" (T 2772).

1967 - The Stone Poneys (Kenny Edwards on lead guitar and vocals, Bob Kimmel on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Linda Ronstadt on vocals) record the titles "Toys Of Time" and "Evergreen, Part 1" and the instrumental "Evergreen Part 2" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the band's album "Evergreen, Volume 2" (T 2763) and the last two titles together as a single  (Capitol 5910).

1967 - Vocalist Al Martino, with Peter DeAngeles conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "A Woman In Love", a remake of "Mary In The Morning" (an unissued version was recorded on March 16, 1967), "Once Upon A Time", the as yet to be issued take of the title "I'll Return To You", and "I Love You And You Love Me" in New York City, New York with producers Tom Morgan and Marvin Holtzman. After Martino records vocal overdubs for "I Love You And You Love Me" on April 6, 1947, Capitol Records will issue "Mary In The Morning" and "I Love You And You Love Me" together as a single (Capitol 5904) and all the titles except "I'll Return To You" on Martino's album "Daddy's Little Girl" (T 2733).

1968 - The Sugar Shoppe (Peter Mann on vocal and guitar, Laurie Hood on vocals, Victor Garber on vocals and guitar, and Lee Harris on vocals), with The Clique (Al Casey, Al Viola, Howard Robert, Louis Morrell, and Mike Deasy on guitars, Bill Plummer on sitar, Lewis Carroll on trumpet, Lew McCreary and Louis Blackburn on trombones, Abe Most, Jim Horn, and Plas Johnson on saxophones, Al De Lory, Larry Knechtel, and Michael Rubini on pianos and keyboards, Gary Coleman on vibraphone, and percussion, Carol Kaye and Don Bagley on basses, Earl Palmer and Stan Levey on drums, Hal Blaine on drums, vibraphone, and percussion, Stella Castellucci on harp) and a string section (Alfred Lastgarten, Arnold Belnick, Harry Hyams, Henry Roth, Israel Baker, James Getzoff, Marshall Sasson, Nathan Ross, Sam Boghossian, and William Hymanson on violins and violas, and Anne Goodman, Armand Kaproff, Frederick Seykora, and Nathan Gershman on cellos) using vocal arrangments by Peter Mann and instrumental arrangements by Mort Garson, with producer Al De Lory record the titles "The Candy Children Song" and "Papa, Won't You Let Me Go To Town With You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's self-titled album "The Sugar Shoppe" (ST 2959).

1968 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for Billy Robinson & The Burners' titles  "Shucks, You Left The Fire Burning" and "I'm A Lonely Black Boy", both produced by Aki Aleong for Fortune Cookie Productions. Crazy Horse Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue both titles together as a single (Crazy Horse 1305).

1968 - Vocalist George "Goober" Lindsey, with vocal group The Jordanaires and others (lineups unlisted), records the titles "That There's Big With Me", "Louisville", and "Good Morning Sunshine" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lindsey's album "Goober Sings!" (ST 2965).

1978 - Vocalist and guitarist Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band (lineup unlisted) recorded the titles "Still The Same" and "Feel Like A Number" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4581) and on the group's album "Stranger In Town" (SW-11698). Other listings give this as the day Capitol Records released Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band's album "Stranger In Town" (SW-11698).

1978 - Vocalist Juice Newton, with unlisted others, records the titles "Tell Me, Baby, Goodbye", "Hey Baby", "So Many Ways", and "No Reason" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Newton's album "Well Kept Secret" (SW-11811), "Tell Me, Baby, Goodbye" as a single (Capitol 4679) with "Let's Keep It That Way" (recorded November 24, 1978) on the flipside, and "Hey Baby" as a single (Capitol 4611) with "It's Not Impossible" (recorded June 22, 1978) on the flipside.

1978 - Bert Sommer, with unlisted others, records the titles "I've Got The Song In Me" and "I Got A Woman" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4602).

1989 - Dave Edmunds signs with Capitol Records.

25 Years Ago Today In 2001 - OTEP has a party at the Viper Room after signing with Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS

115 Years Ago Today In 1911 - Martin Denny, a composer, arranger, pianist, and Liberty Records artist is born in New York City, New York. Some listings have him being born on April 10, 1911. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment.

1934 - Stan Turrentine, a tenor saxophonist and Blue Note Records artist, is born Stanley William Turrentine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1963 - Organist Big John Patton, with Fred Jackson and Harold Vick on tenor saxophones, Grant Green on guitar, and Ben Dixon on drums, records the titles "The Silver Meter", "Spiffy Diffy", "Gee Gee", "Along Came John", "Pig Foots", and "I'll Never Be Free" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's recording studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Patton's album "Along Came John" (BLP4130 on 12" vinyl in mono, BST84130 on 12" vinyl in stereo, and 8-31915-2 on CD), "The Silver Meter" in two parts as a single (Blue Note 45-1888), and "Along Came John" and "I'll Never Be Free" together as a single (Blue Note 45-1889).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

2010 - Geoff Peterson, built by Grant Imahara, debuts on "The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson".

APRIL 4, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1885 - Arthur Murray, dancer, dance instructor, businessman and founder of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios franchise, television dance show host with his wife Kathryn Murray, inspiration for the song "Arthur Murray Taught Me To Dance In A Hurry" written by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger and introduced by Capitol Records artist in the Paramount movie "The Fleet's In", for whom the "Arthur Murray" series of dance albums were created by Capitol Records, is born Moses Teichman in New York, New York.

1914 - Frances Langford, a singer, radio performer, motion picture actress, a part of Bob Hope's U.S.O. touring company, and a Capitol Records artist (album "Sings Old Songs For Old Friends") is born Frances Newbern in Lakeland, Florida.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - It's a Saturday, and Johnny Mercer signs a recording contract with Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records) two days before the label's first recording session.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Pinto Colvig, Billy Bletcher, and Sara Berner (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to his orchestra (Emanuel "Mannie" Klein, Uan Rasey, and Leonard Mach on trumpet, Elmer Smithers and James Skiles on trombone, J. A. Krechter, Harry Schuchman, Victor Garber, and Vincent Spolidoro on saxophones, Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, John Cyr on drums and a string section with Mischa Russell, Harry Bluestone, and Samuel Freed on violin, Paul Robyn on viola, and Cy Bernard on cello), using a script by session producer Alan Livingston, record the titles "Bozo At The Circus, Part 1" and "Bozo At The Circus, Part 2" at Radio Recorders' original studios at 932 N. Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California (which is now either the parking lot of the Taco Bell or the Thai Angel restaurant). After the last two parts of the album are recorded at the same location on April 12, 1956, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Bozo's debut children's album "Bozo At The Circus" (BBX-34).

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #6, his single "Can't I" is #25 and its flipside "Blue Gardenia" is #36 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. "Pretend" is also #4 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles and Most Played by Jockeys chart #5 on the magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart. Also, at 9:00 PM EST, Nat "King Cole appears on this evening's episode of CBS-TV's "This Is Show Business".

1955 - Capitol Records releases Faron Young' single "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" with "Forgive Me Dear" on the flipside.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Vincent De Rosa on French horn, Harry Klee on flute, Mitchell Lurie on clarinet, Champ Webb on oboe, Bill Miller on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Mike Rubin on bass, Irving Cottler on drums, Kathryn Julye on harp) and The Hollywood String Quartet (Paul Shure and Felix Slatkin on violins, Alvin Dinkin on viola, and Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the titles "I've Had My Moments", "Blame It On My Youth", "Everything Happens To Me", and "Wait Till You See Her" in the Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM on April 5, 1956. Capitol Records will issue the first three titles on Sinatra's album "Close To You" (W 789), the last title on Sinatra's album "Frank Sinatra Sings The Select Rodgers & Hart" (W 1825), and all the titles on the CD "Close To You And More" (7-46572-2).

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #7 on WMCA's Wax To Watch chart in New York City, New York.

1958 - The Kingston Trio (Donald "Dave" Guard on vocals and guitar, Robert "Bob Shane" Schoen on vocals, guitar, and banjo, and Nicholas "Nick" Reynolds on vocals and guitar), with Morty Corb on bass and celeste, records the titles "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" and "When The Saints Go Marching In" in Studio B of The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue "Scarlett Ribbons (For Her Hair)" as a single (Capitol F3970) with "Three Jolly Coachman" (recorded February 5,1958) on the flipside and on the group's EP "Raspberries, Strawberries" (EAP-1-1182) and "When The Saints Go Marching In" as a single in Australia (CP1373) with "The Tijuana Jail" (recorded February 18, 1959) on the flipside.

1964 - The Beatles' have 12 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart with titles at #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 44, 49, 69, 79, 84 and 88. The band also becomes the only act to date in Billboard history to have three consecutive # 1 songs ("Can't Buy Me Love" takes over the # 1 spot from "She Loves You", which succeeded "I Want to Hold Your Hand"). The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Meet The Beatles" is also #1 on Billboard's album chart.

1964 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Together Again", the flipside of "My Heart Skips A Beat", is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1965 - Freddie and The Dreamers' Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) single "I'm Telling You Now", with "What Have I Done To You" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's "Hot 100" singles chart.

1967 - The Geezinslaw Brothers (vocalists Sam Allred and Raymond Dewayne Smith), with unlisted musicians, record the titles "Change Of Wife", "If They Could See The Self Come Out Of Me", "I Wouldn't Do It", and "I'm A People" in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Kelso Herston. Capitol Records will issue the first, second, and last title on the duo's album "My Dirty Lowdown, Rotten, Cotton Pickin' Little Darlin'" (ST 2771), and the third title on their album "Chubby" (Capitol ST 2885). Unfortunately, only "Change Of Wife" is currently available on YouTube.

1968 - The Sugar Shoppe (Peter Mann on vocal and guitar, Laurie Hood on vocals, Victor Garber on vocals and guitar, and Lee Harris on vocals), with The Clique (Al Casey, Al Viola, Howard Robert, Louis Morrell, and Mike Deasy on guitars, Bill Plummer on sitar, Lewis Carroll on trumpet, Lew McCreary and Louis Blackburn on trombones, Abe Most, Jim Horn, and Plas Johnson on saxophones, Al De Lory, Larry Knechtel, and Michael Rubini on pianos and keyboards, Gary Coleman on vibraphone, and percussion, Carol Kaye and Don Bagley on basses, Earl Palmer and Stan Levey on drums, Hal Blaine on drums, vibraphone, and percussion, Stella Castellucci on harp) and a string section (Alfred Lastgarten, Arnold Belnick, Harry Hyams, Henry Roth, Israel Baker, James Getzoff, Marshall Sasson, Nathan Ross, Sam Boghossian, and William Hymanson on violins and violas, and Anne Goodman, Armand Kaproff, Frederick Seykora, and Nathan Gershman on cellos), using vocal arrangments by Peter Mann and instrumental arrangements by Mort Garson, records the titles "Follow Me (From 'Camelot')", "Baby, Baby", and "Hangin' Together" in Los Angeles, California with producer Al De Lory. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's self-titled album "The Sugar Shoppe" (ST 2949).

Peter Mann, Victor Garber, Laurie Hood, Lee Harris, and Al De Lory

1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Transcendental Meditation" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

1968 - Guy Lombardo conducts His Royal Canadians (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Medley #1" and "Medley #2" in Las Vegas, Nevada for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1968 - Vocalist George "Goober" Lindsey, the vocal group The Jordanaires, and unlisted others record the titles "Introduction", "My Goal For Today", "Sweet Thang", "Write Me R.F.D.", and "I Ain't Good Looking (But I'm Mighty Sweet)" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lindsey's album "Goober Sings!" (ST 2965).

George “Goober” Lindsey, promoting his 1968 album “Goober Sings” at KBBQ radio in Burbank, California. He’s flanked by KBBQ music director Larry Scott, Don Grierson of Capitol Records, and disc jockeys Bob Jackson and  Hugh Jarrett

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Empty Arms", with "Everything Begins And Ends With You" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1973 - Vocalist Marjorie McCoy, with unlisted others, records the titles "Shine", "Do Me Wrong, But Do Me", and "You Never Wanna Make Love To Me" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Shine" and "Do Me Wrong, But Do Me" together as a single (Capitol 3621). No issuing information is listed for "You Never Wanna Make Love To Me".

1973 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Al Martino's titles "Hey Mama" and "If I Ever Give My Heart To You". After more overdubs are recorded for both titles on April 5 and 9, 1973, for "Hey Mama" on April 10, 1973, and for "If I Give My Heart To You" on April 11, 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles together as a single (Capitol 3604) and "Hey Mama" on Martino's album "I Won't Last A Day Without You" (ST-11302).

1973 - Capitol Records registers the master it purchased for Buck Owens' title "Love Makes The World Go Round" which was recorded at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California and will issue the title on Owens' album "Arms Full Of Empty" (ST-11222).

1973 - Raspberries (Eric Carmen and Wally Bryson on vocals and guitars, Dave Smalley on electric bass, and Jim Bonfanti [listed as possibly] on drums) record the titles "I'm A Rocker", "On The Beach", "Ecstasy", and "Don't You Wait For Me" in The Record Plant studios New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "I'm A Rocker", "On The Beach", and "Ecstasy" on the group's album "Side 3" (SMAS-11220), "I'm A Rocker" as a single (Capitol 3765) with "Money Down" (recorded April 3, 1973) on the flipside, an edited version of "I'm A Rocker" as a single (Capitol 6327) with "Overnight Sensation" (recorded April 1, 1973) on the flipside, "Ecstasy" as a single (Capitol 3826) with the short version of "Don't Want To Say Goodbye" (recorded November 20, 1971) on the flipside, and has yet to issue "Don't You Wait For Me".

1978 - Colleen Peterson, with unlisted others, records the titles "Angelina" and "Need Your Lovin'" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Peterson's album "Takin' My Boots Off" (ST-11835).

1978 - Bert Sommer, with unlisted others, records the titles "Would You Rather Be Here" and "Break Away" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records. No release information is listed for either title.

1978 - Caldera (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Reviviscence" and "Mosaico" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Time And Chance" (SW-11810).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1952 - Gary Moore, a guitarist, singer, a founding member of Thin Lizzy, and a 10 Records and Virgin Records America solo artist, is born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. One of the first freelance design projects I worked on for Virgin Records America was converting the English 12" vinyl record, cassette, and CD packaging for Moore's "Wild Frontier" album for release in the United States. I met him while working for the label and I remember him being kind of shy and humble in person.

1988 - After a break from recording of seven years, Buck Owens duets with Dwight Yoakam to record the title "Streets Of Bakersfield"  which will be released by Reprise Records as a single with Yoakam's "One More Name" on the flipside. Buck Owens will then begin recording again for Capitol Records later the same year.

APRIL 3, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

90 Years Ago Today In 1936 - Jimmy McGriff, organist and Sue, Veep, Solid State, Blue Note, and Capitol Records artist, is born James Harrell McGriff in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1942- Wayne Newton, a singer, television and motion picture actor, and a Capitol Records artist is born Carson Wayne Newton in Roanoke, Virginia.

1945 - Richard Manuel, a singer, composer, a keyboard player for the band The Hawks and the Capitol Records group The Band, is born in Stratford, Ontario.

1949 - Richard Thompson, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, founding member of the group Fairport Convention, part of a duo with then-wife Linda Thompson, and Capitol Records solo artist, is born in London, England.

75 Years Ago Today in 1951 - Mel Schacher, a bassist with the Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad, is born in Owosso, Michigan.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today in 1946 - Tenor saxophonist Sam Donahue and his orchestra (Mitch Paul, Bill Marshall, Frank Beach, and Earl Collier on trumpets, Dick Le Fave, Tak Takvorian, Kenny Miesel, and Sid Brantley on trombones, Harry Peterson, Bill Nichol, and Paul Petrillo on alto saxophones, Max Kriseman also on tenor saxophone, George Perry on baritone saxophone, Bob Durant on piano, Louis Popp on bass, and Harold Hahn on drums) record the titles "Dinah", "Gypsy Love Song", and "Moten Swing" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will eventually issue all the titles on the album "Classics In Jazz - Sam Donahue" (T 626).

1948 - It's a Saturday in Hollywood, California and while Nat and Marie Cole are on their honeymoon, and the rest of the trio are on vacation, Dave Barbour and his wife, Peggy Lee, are the guest hosts and performers on NBC Radio's "King Cole Trio Time". No known transcription of this show exists.

1949 - Capitol Records team Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis record the audition episode of their NBC Radio program, "The Martin And Lewis Show". Their first guest is Bob Hope. The show will run until 1952. Numerous references to Capitol Records appear on the show and one episode has them taking Burl Ives into Capitol Records' studios for a recording session.

75 Years Ago Today in 1951 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Paul Sells on accordion, Alan "Spud" Goodale, Merle Travis, and Wesley Tuttle on guitar, and Gene Englund on bass, records the titles "Blue Tail, The Red Fox" and "The Noise Song" at Capitol Records studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a children's record album (CAS-3100).

1953 - During two sessions held this day in Chicago, Illinois, bandleader and trumpet player Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (Pat Roberts, Darryl Campbell, Ray Triscari, and Dale Turner also on trumpets, Sy Berger, Vince Forrest, Ken Schrudder, and Dick Reynolds on trombones, Earl Bergman and Jim Schneider on clarinets and alto saxophones, Tom Loggia and Bill Usselton on tenor saxophones, Leo Anthony on alto and baritone saxophones, Dave Sills on piano, Earl Backus on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, Archie Freeman on drums), using arrangements by George Williams, record the titles "Laugh" and "Why, Darling, Why", both with vocals by Georgia Carr and the titles "Jealousie" and "To Each His Own", both with vocals by Tommy Mercer and The Anthony Choir (lineup unlisted), and "The Moon Is Low" with vocals by The Anthony Choir at the first session and a new take of the title "When The Saint's Go Marching In" with vocals by Ray Anthony and The Skyliners (lineup unlisted) and the titles "Ever Since You Went Away" with vocals by Jo Ann Greer and "My Reverie" with vocals by Tommy Mercer and The Anthony Choir at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Laugh" and "Why, Darling, Why" together as a single (Capitol 2466) as by Georgia Carr, "Jealousie", "To Each His Own", "The Moon Is Low", and "My Reverie" on the album "The Anthony Choir with Ray Anthony And His Orchestra" (EAP-1/2-442 on 7" EP, EBF-442 on 7" EP set, H-442 on 10" LP, and T 422 on 12" LP), "When The Saints Go Marching In" as a single (Capitol 2488) with "That's My Weakness" (recorded April 1, 1953) on the flipside, on the 7" EP "Ray Anthony And His Orchestra - Dixie Parade" (EAP-1-539), and the compilation album "The Hits Of Ray Anthony" (T 1477), and "Ever Since You Went Away" on the multi-artist compilation EP "Frank Sinatra/Ray Anthony - Melody Of Love" (EAP-1-590).

1953 - During two sessions held this day in either Dallas, Texas or (listed as possibly) radio station KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana, vocalist and guitarist Leon Chappel, with (listed as possibly) Elmer Leon "Lonnie" Hall on fiddle, Bernie Harkness on piano, Thomas Merle Shelton on rhythm guitar, and Grundy "Slim" Harbert on bass, records the titles "Double Up And Catch Up", "What Makes You Hesitate", "Sweethearts Or Friends", and "How Come You Do Me Like You Do" at the first session and the titles "Now Do Right Daddy", "I'm Gettin' Mighty Tired", "A True Man's Hard To Find", and "I'm Checkin' You Out" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Double Up And Catch Up" and "I'm Gettin' Might Tired" together as a single (Capitol 2526) and "Now Do Right Daddy" as a single (Capitol 2611) with "Don't Dog Me 'Round" (recorded November 14, 1951) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany on the CD "Leon Chappel - Automatic Mama" (BCD 16254).

70 Years Ago Today in 1956 - Cornet player Bobby Hackett, with Glenn Osser conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted but included saxophone players who also were doubling on clarinet, bass clarinet, piccolo, flute, and alto flute, as well as piano, celeste, guitar, bass, and drum players), records the titles "When I'm With You", "You Are Too Beautiful", "Moonlight Becomes You", and "Two Cigarettes In The Dark" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Hackett's album "Rendezvous With Bobby Hackett" (T 719).

1958 - Vocalist Johnny Otis and His Orchestra (unlisted saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums players) record the titles "Ring-A-Ling", "Willie And The Hand Jive", "Black Night (Soundtrack)" and an untitled instrumental in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Ring-A-Ling" and "Willie And The Hand Jive" together as a single (Capitol F3966) and on the 7" EP "Johnny Otis" (EAP-1-1134) and has yet to issue "Black Night" or the unlisted instrumental.

1958 - Bandleader and clarinet and alto saxophone player Les Brown and His Band Of Renown (Dick Collins, Wes Hensel, Conrad Gozzo, Jerry Kadowitz, and Mickey McMahan on trumpets, Dick Kenney and Roy Main on trombones, Jim Hill and Stumpy Brown on bass trombones, Matt Utal and Ralph Lapolla on flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones, Billy Usselton on tenor saxophone, Butch Stone on clarinet and baritone saxophone, Abe Aaron on soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones and bass clarinet, Don Trenner on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, Lloyd Morales on drums, and David Grupp on percussion and bells) record the titles "A Wonderful Guy" using an arrangement by Stumpe Brown, "Bali Ha'i" using an arrangement by Billy May, "Honey Bun" using an arrangement by Jim Hill, and "There Is Nothing Like A Dame" using an arrangement by Wes Hensel in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Brown's album "Dance To The Music Of 'South Pacific'" (EAP-1/2/3-1060 on 7" EP and T/ST 1060 on 12" vinyl).

65 Years Ago Today in 1961 - Vocalist Nat "King" Cole, with Ralph Carmichael directing the orchestra (Curtis "King Curtis" Ousley on tenor saxophone, Ernie Hayes on piano, John Collins, Kenny Burrell, and Everett Barksdale on electric guitars, and possibly Lee Young on drums), records new stereo versions of the titles "Send For Me", "If I May" with a unidentified vocal quartet, and "Looking Back" with a unidentified vocal chorus at Capitol Records' studios in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles in the three-LP set "The Nat King Cole Story" (WCL 1613).

1963 - Nat "King" Cole performs in The Copa Room at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1963 - Overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys' titles "The More In Love Your Heart Is" and "Whatever Happened To Mary". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "The More In Love Your Heart Is" as a single (Capitol F4968) with "I Wasn't Even In The Running" (recorded December 12, 1962) on the flipside and the final mix of "Whatever Happened To Mary" as a single (Capitol F5217) with "The Luckiest Heartache In Town" (also recorded December 12, 1962) on the flipside and on Thompson's album "Luckiest Heartache In Town" (T/ST 2342).

1968 - Vocalist Nancy Wilson, with Jimmy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Buddy Collette, Bill Perkins, Bill Green, Bill Calkins, Jules Jacob, and Bob Richards on reeds, Don Trenner on piano and harpsichord, Herb Ellis and Al Hendrickson on guitars, Buster Williams on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, Larry Bunker on percussion, Ann Stockton on harp, and unlisted musicians on ten violins, three violas, two cellos, and one bass), records the titles "Gentle On My Mind", "Walk Away", and "The Christmas Waltz" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Gentle On My Mind" and "Walk Away" on Miss Wilson's album "Easy" (ST 2909) and "The Christmas Waltz" on the multi-artist two-disc album "The Best Of Christmas" (STBB 2979).

1968 - Guy Lombardo conducts His Royal Canadians (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Medley #3" and "Medley #7" in Las Vegas, Nevada for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1969 - Billy Preston signs with Apple Records and his titles will be released by Capitol Records in the United States.

1972 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens and The Buckaroos' single "Made  In Japan", with "Black Texas Dirt" on the flipside, which will eventually peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

1973 - Vocalist Al Martino, with unlisted others using string arrangements by Ralph Ferraro, records the titles "Hey Mama" and "If I Give My Heart To You" in Los Angeles, California with producer Peter Tavis. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on April 4, 5, and 9, 1973, for "Hey Mama" on April 10, 1973, and for "If I Give My Heart To You" on April 11, 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles together as a single (Capitol 3604) and "Hey Mama" on Martino's album "I Won't Last A Day Without You" (ST-11302).

1973 - The Raspberries (Eric Carmen and Wally Bryson on vocals and guitars, Dave Smalley on electric bass, and Jim Bonfanti [listed as possibly] on drums) record the titles "Hard To Get Over A Heartbreak", "Making It Easy", "Should I Wait", "Money Down", "Last Dance", and "Tonight" in The Record Plant studios in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "Side 3" (SMAS-11220), "Hard To Get Over A Heartbreak" and "Tonight" together as a single (Capitol 3610) and "Money Down" as a single (Capitol 3765) with "I'm A Rocker" (recorded April 4, 1973) on the flipside.

1973 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "Bonaparte's Retreat" and "Let Me Be Yours" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Bonaparte's Retreat" as a single (Capitol 3926) with "Too Many Mornings" (recorded December 15, 1973) on the flipside and on Campbell's album "Houston (I'm Comin' To See You)" (SW-11293) and has yet to issue "Let Me Be Yours".

1978 - Colleen Peterson, with unlisted others, records the titles "Run To Her", "It Hurts To Be In Love", "Maybe It's Love", and "Booze The Blues Away" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "It Hurt's To Be In Love" for which no issuing information is listed, on Peterson's album "Takin' My Boots Off" (ST-11835).

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

85 Years Ago Today in 1941 - Jan Berry, a singer, songwriter, and a member of the Liberty Records duo Jan and Dean is born William Jan Berry in Los Angeles, California.

80 Years Ago Today in 1946 - Dee Murray, bass player for the United Artists Records band The Spencer Davis Group is born in Gillingham, Kent, England.

65 Years Ago Today in 1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law", with "Wanted, $10,000 Reward" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts. Some copies of the single have the A-side mastered at 33rpm by mistake. Minit's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company Universal Music  Group.

50 Years Ago Today in 1976 - United Artists Records releases Crystal Gayle's single "I'll Get Over You", with "High Time" on the flipside, which will eventually peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts.

1990 - Sarah Vaughn, singer and Roulette and Mercury Records artist, dies of lung cancer in California a week after her 66th birthday.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1985 - The famed Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood on Vine Street closed on this day, after 57 years. Many early Capitol Records celebrations and business meetings happened in its booths. Also, it was the site of the founding of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. All of the furnishings were kept, including famous Booth #5 where Clark Gable proposed to Carole Lombard until the building was condemned and torn down after the January 1994 Northridge, California earthquake.

APRIL 2, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

105 Years AgonToday In 1921 - Boomie Richman, a tenor saxophone and flute player, and member of Capitol Records artist Benny Goodman's orchestra (1953-1954), is born Abraham Samuel Richman in Brockton, Massachusetts.

1942 - Leon Russell, a pianist, singer, songwriter, and a Capitol and Shelter Records session musician and solo artist is born Claude Russell Bridges in Lawton, Oklahoma,

1948 - Kerry Minnear, a keyboard (piano, Hammond organ, mellotron, mini-MOOG, the Regal) player, lead and backing vocalist, cello player, and member of the Capitol Records group Gentle Giant, is born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. There are also references to him being born on January 2, 1948. If anyone knows for sure which date is correct, please leave a comment.

1962 - Billy Dean, a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and an EMI America and Capitol Records Nashville artist is born William Harold Dean, Jr. in Quincy, Florida.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1948 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records single "Mañana (Is Soon Enough For Me", with "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart" on the flipside is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played By Disc Jockeys, Best-Selling Popular Retail, and Most-Played Juke Box Records charts for the week ending April 2, 1948.

1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #3 and its flipside, The King Cole Trio's "Lost April", is #5 on The Billboard magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockey's Pick chart and "Nature Boy" is #4 on the magazine's Record Possibilities - The Retailers Pick chart.

1948 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters, with unlisted others, record the titles "Baby Face" and "Heart Braker in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15078).

1952 - Billy May (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra (Tony Facciuto, Conrad Gozzo, Bob McKenzie, and Stu Williamson on trumpet, Karl De Karske, Charles Etter, Bob Raesinger, and Bob Robinson on trombones, Willie Smith and Eddie Freeman on alto saxophones, Charlie Deremoe and Joe Spang on tenor saxophones, Bob Dawes on baritone saxophone, Cliff Fishbach on piano, Ray Pohlman on guitar, Ted Hammond on bass, and Remo Belli on drums), with the vocal group The Maytimers (Willie Smith, Charles Etter, Bob McKenzie, and Ray Pohlman), record the titles "Honest And Truly", "Gin And Tonic", "Love Is Just Around The Corner", "Easy Street" and "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" at Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last titles together as a single (Capitol 2054), the second and third titles together as a single (Capitol 2157), and the fourth title as a single (Capitol 2113) with "Mayhem" (recorded on February 8, 1952) on the flipside.

1953 - Vocalist Frank Sinatra, at his first recording session for Capitol Records, with Axel Stordahl conducting the orchestra (Heine Beau, Leonard Hartman, Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, and Theodore Nash on reeds, Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpet, Vincent De Rosa on French horn, George Van Eps on guitar, Philip Stephens on bass, Bill Miller on piano, Ann Stockton on harp, Ray Hagan on drums, Harry Bluestone, Murray Kellner, Alex Murray, Paul Nero, Irving Prager, and Mischa Russell on violins, Paul Robyn and Dave Sterkin on violas, and Cy Bernard on cello), records the titles "Lean Baby" with an arrangement by Heine Beau, and "I'm Walking Behind You", "Day In - Day Out", and "Don't Make A Beggar Of Me" using arrangments by Stordhal at radio station KHJ's studios (which is 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 in Hollywood, California between 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM, although Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant was sure that Frank, Sr. kept recording at Columbia's studios on Sunset Blvd. opposite what is now the Spaghetti Factory. If anyone knows for sure, please leave a comment. Capitol Records will issue "Lean Baby" and "I'm Walking Behind You" together as a single (Capitol 2450), "Don't Make A Beggar Of Me" on the compilation album "Forever Frank" (T 2602), and all the titles on the remastered 1999 CD release of Sinatra's album "Point Of No Return" (7-48334-2).

1953 - During a concert held at the Blue Note in Chicago, Illinois, Capitol Records artist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bob Burgess, Conte Candoli, Buddy Childers, Vinnie Dean, Don Dennis, Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Lee Konitz, Hank Levey, Stan Levey, Keith Moon, George Roberts, Glen Roberts, Frank Rosolino, Ernie Royal, Sal Salvador, Tom Shepard, Don Smith) perform "Theme (Artistry In Rhythm) And Opening Announcements", "Works (Aka Bill Holman's Work)", "Yesterdays", "Swinghouse", "Stan Kenton Speaks", "Gone With The Wind", and "There Will Never Be Another You" which are recorded and later released by Natasha Imports in 1992 on the album "23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West" (NI-4006).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Pianist Lou Busch, as Joe "Fingers" Carr", with a orchestra and chorus (lineups unlisted), records the titles "Fingers Medley: Hot Potatoes/Two Dollar Rag/Looney Louie", "Portuguese Washerwoman", and "Lucky Pierre" (originally titled "La Saint Amour") in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title as a single (Capitol F3883) with "Dominque" (recorded August 9, 1957) on the flipside and the last two titles together as a single (Capitol 3418).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Trumpet player Ray Anthony and his orchestra (Ray Sims on trombone, Ronny Lang on alto saxophone, Med Flory on alto and tenor saxophone, Dave Pell on tenor saxophone, Marty Berman on baritone saxophone, Geoff Clarkson on piano, Tony Rizzi on guitar, Don Simpson on bass, Roy Harte on drums, and Lou Singer on percussion), using arrangements by Don Simpson, record the titles "The Sleepwalker" with a vocal group (lineup unlisted) and the as yet to be issued takes of the titles "Cornet Capers" and "Let's Make A Scene" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Sleepwalker" as a single (Capitol 3416) with "Chubasco" (recorded March 26, 1956) on the flipside.

1957 - Peggy Lee, with producer Frank Sinatra conducting the orchestra (Buddy Collette and Harry Klee on alto saxophones, Stanley "Champ" Webb and James Williamson on tenor saxophones, Tommy Pederson on trombone, James Decker and Sinclair Lott on French horns, Juan Tizol on valve trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Nick Bonney on guitar, Max Bennett on stand up bass, Lou Levy on piano, Stella Castellucci on the harp, Lou Singer on drums, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, David Frisina, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld, Eudice Shapiro, and Marshall Sosson on violins, Alvin Dinkin, Maxine Johnson, and Barbara Simons on violas, and Ennio Bologinni, Victor Gottlieb, Edgar Lustgarten, and Kurt Reher on cellos), records the titles "He's My Guy", "Something Wonderful", "Please Be Kind", and "The Man I Love" for her Capitol Records album "The Man I Love" using arrangements by Nelson Riddle in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

1958 - The motion picture "The Young Lions", starring Capitol Records artist Dean Martin, as well as Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, opens and makes Martin a dramatic movie star on his own right without Jerry Lewis.

1958 - Paramount Picture's "St. Louis Blues", starring Nat "King" Cole as W.C. Handy, is previewed for the press in New York City, New York. The Billboard magazine's reviewer Charles Sinclair writes that it is "an eye-and-ear treat, and the warmest kind of tribute to a simple, great, talented composer".

1958 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, bandleader and trumpet player Harry James and His Orchestra (Nick Buono, Ollie Mitchell, and Bob Rolfe also on trumpets, Bob Edmondson and Ray Sims on trombones, Ernie Tack on bass trombone, Herb Lorden and Willie Smith on alto saxophones, Bob Poland and Sam Firmature on tenor saxophones, Ernie Small on baritone saxophone, Jack Perciful on piano, Dennis Budimir on guitar, Russ Phillips on bass, and Jackie Mills on drums) record the titles "Walkin'", "Raffles", "Warm Blue Stream", and "Ho, Yeah!" at the first session and the titles "Walkin' On Air", "Bells", and a new take of "Bangtail" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Walkin'", "Warm Blue Stream", "Walkin' On Air", and "Bells" on the album "The New James" (EAP-1/2/3-1037 on 7" EP set and T 1037 on 12" LP) and rejected the takes of "Raffles", "Ho, Yeah" and "Bangtail" recorded at these sessions.

1958 - Alvino Rey conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Little White Lies", "Isn't It Romantic", "I Didn't Know About You", and "A Swingin' Fling (Nails)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Rey's album "Swingin' Fling!" (T 1085).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, in front of a live audience, record the titles "2000 Year Old Man", "Fabiola", "The Astronaught", "In A Coffee House: The Depressed One/The Actor/The Painter/The Folk Singer", "The Peruvian", and "The Psychiatrist" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "2000 Years With Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks" (W 1529).

1963 - "Best Foot Forward", an off-Broadway show starring Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, opens. Her mother, Judy Garland, will attend the show the next night so as not to draw attention away from Liza on opening night.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Sloop John B", with "You're So Good To Me" enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart where it will stay for 11 weeks and peak at #3 on May 7, 1966.

1967 - The Beatles finish recording tracks at EMI's Abbey Road Studios for their Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

1968 - The Sugar Shoppe (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Let The Truth Come Out" and "Skip-A-Long Sam" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2233) and on the group's self-titled album "The Sugar Shoppe" (ST 2959).

1968 - Vocalist Nancy Wilson, with Jimmy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet, Buddy Collette, Bill Perkins, Bill Green, Bill Calkins, Jules Jacob, and Bob Richards on reeds, Don Trenner on piano and harpsichord, Herb Ellis and Al Hendrickson on guitars, Buster Williams on bass, Earl Palmer on drums, Larry Bunker on percussion, Ann Stockton on harp, and unlisted musicians on ten violins, three violas, two cellos, and one bass), records the titles "How Incentive (Insensatez)", "Make Me A Present Of You", "Love Is Blue", and "One Like You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Miss Wilson's album "Easy" (ST 2909).

1968 - The Beach Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Anna Lee, The Healer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Friends" (ST 2895).

1968 - Guy Lombardo conducts His Royal Canadians (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Medley #6" and "Medley #8" in Las Vegas, Nevada for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1973 - Apple Records releases The Beatles compilation albums "The Beatles '62-66" (aka The Red Album) and "The Beatles '67-70" (aka The Blue Album) which will be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States.

40 Years Ago Today In 1986 - Vocalist Tina Turner, with unlisted others, records the title "Don't Turn Around" in an unlisted studio. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5615) with "Typical Male" (recorded March 5, 1986) on the flipside.

30 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records releases Rosanne Cash's album "10 Song Demo".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1872 - Samuel Morse, inventor of the Morse code and grandfather of Leila Morse (who first lit the beacon that spells out "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" on the top of The Capitol Tower), dies at age 80 at his home at 5 West 22nd Street, New York, New York and is later buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

1920 - Jack Webb, radio, motion picture (Capitol released the soundtrack to his movie "Pete Kelly's Blues") and television actor, director, producer, singer, and one-time husband of Liberty Records artist Julie London, is born John Randolph Webb in Los Angeles, California.

85 Years Ago Today In 1941 - Dr. Demento, radio disk jockey, syndicated radio show host, pop/novelty tune music historian, who gave Capitol Records artist Weird Al Yankovic his first on-air appearance, is born Barret Eugene Hansen in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1963 - Guitarist Kenny Burrell, with Seldon Powell on tenor saxophone, Hank Jones on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums, records the title "I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue the title in Japan in the album "Freedom" (GXF-3057) in 1979).

1988 - Johnny Hates Jazz's Virgin Records America single "Shattered Dreams", with "My Secret Garden" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I did the final design production on the U.S. packaging for the single, its promotional material, and trade advertising.

1989 - Roxette's EMI America single "The Look", with "Silver Blue" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

20 Years Ago Today On Sunday, April 2, 2006 - I started my blog on the history of Capitol Records.
It's been over two decades of learning and having fun communicating with those with questions or comments about the label. It's led me to making some great new friends and being able to contribute to a number of Capitol-related projects. 

The Capitol Records Tower's official 79th anniversary of opening is this coming Monday, April 6 and the label's 84th anniversary of incorporation as Capitol Records will be on Thursday, April 9, 2026 (the label did start out as Liberty Records on February 7, 1942, but had to change its name due to a conflict with Liberty Music in New York City that couldn't be resolved). 

Here's a link to my first post. From there, you can follow the links to the posts from the first week or so when I posted a lot of information about the company and the tower.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1902 - The Electric Theatre, the first theater constructed for the purpose of showing projected motion pictures in Los Angeles, is opened by owner and manager Thomas L. Talley (later a co-founder of First National Exhibitors Circuit) on the second floor of 262 South Main Street at Third and charges a dime to see an hour’s worth of movies, including the films "The Capture Of The Biddle Brothers" and "New York In A Blizzard".

1992 - Milton Rackmil, co-founder of Decca Records, dies in Manhattan, New York at age 86.