APRIL 19, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1927 - Don Barbour, a singer in the Capitol Records group The Four Freshmen and, posthumously, a solo Capitol Records artist, is born in Greencastle, Indiana.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1948 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California Jan Garber and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech/Fight Alabama", "Maryland, My Maryland/Hark The Sound Of Tal Heel Voices", "Washington And Lee Swing/Glory To Old Georgia", and "Maine Stein Song/Hail To Old O.S.C." at the first session and "Yale's Boola Song/The Princeton Canon Song", "The Fordham Ram/Hail To Pitt", "On, Brave Old Army Team/Anchors Aweigh", and "Lights Out (University Of California)/Strike Up The Band (UCLA)" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Garber's album "College Medleys" (CD-95 on 10" shellac album, EBF-154 on 7" EP set, and H-154 on 10" LP).

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - General Douglas MacArthur delivers a farewell address before a joint meeting of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Capitol Records will issue two highlights of the speech on the 78 RPM version (DAS-274) and six excerpts on the 10 inch 33 1/3 RPM version (H-274) of the album "General MacArthur Farewell Address".

Here's the entire speech: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four of the entire speech.

1954 - Frank Sinatra, with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra (Harry Edison on trumpet, Tommy Pederson and Ray Sims on trombone, George Roberts on bass trombone, Abe Most and Skeets Herfurt on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller and Babe Russin on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Joe Koch on baritone saxophone, Frank Flynn on vibraphone, Bill Miller on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), records the titles "All Of Me", "Jeepers Creepers", "Get Happy", and "Taking A Chance On Love" for his Capitol Records album "Swing Easy" at radio station KHJ's studios (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and the Academy Film Archive) at 1313 North Vine Street, Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Sinatra's album "Swing Easy" (H-528).

1955 - It's a Tuesday, and Capitol Records album department head, Francis Scott, leaves on the first leg of a trip to London to confer with executives of Electric & Musical Industries, Ltd. on a mutual exchange of masters between the companies.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Actress Grace Kelly, actress and Capitol Records artist (on the motion picture soundtrack to "High Society", and whose duet with Bing Crosby on the single "True Love" earned a Gold record [the last in Crosby's career]), marries Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California vocalist and trumpet player Louis Prima, with Keely Smith on background vocals and tenor saxophonist Sam Butera & The Witnesses (James "Little Red" Blount Jr. on trombone, William "Willie" McCumber on piano, Jack Marshall on guitar, Amado Rodrigues on bass, and Robert "Bobby" Morris on drums) records the titles "Medley: Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)", the instrumental "Body And Soul", "Oh Marie", and "Buona Sera" at the first session between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM and "Jump. Jive An' Wail", "(Nothin's Too Good) For My Baby", "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You", and "Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South" at the second session between 10:00 PM and 1:00 AM on April 20, 1951. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Prima's album "the Wildest!" (T 755).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Spaghetti Rag", "12th Street Rag", and "The Old Piano Roll Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Carr's album "Mister Ragtime" (T 760).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Sonny James, with Bill Simmons on piano, Paul Buskirk on electric mandolin, and possibly Paul Brawley on bass, and William Pecchi on drums, records the titles "Twenty Feet Of Muddy Water" and "All Mixed Up" at the Jim Beck Studio in Dallas, Texas. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3441).

1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #6 on The Billboard magazine's R&B Best Sellers In Stores and Most Played R&B By Jockeys charts, #28 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and The Billboard magazine's Top 100 Sides chart, and #29 on The Billboard magazine's Honor Roll Of Hits chart.

1962 - The Beach Boys (David Marks on guitar, Carl Wilson on guitar and vocals, Brian Wilson on bass guitar and vocals, Mike Love on vocals, and Dennis Wilson on drums and vocals) record the tracks "Surfin' Safari", "409", "Lonely Sea", and "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" at Western Recorders in Los Angeles, California with Brian Wilson producing the session. Capitol Records will issue "Surfin' Safari" and "409" as the band's first single for the label (Capitol 4777).

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Where Did Everyone Go" is #3 on KTKT 990 AM's Album Chart in Tucson, Arizona.

1963 - Bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, and Jim Amlotte on trombones, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker on percussion) and a vocal choir (Evangeline Carmichael, Betty Jane Baker, Loulie Jean Norman, Gloria Wood, Sue Allen, Peggy Clark, Jackie Allen, Sally Sweetland, Jimmy Joyce, Bill Lee, Jay Meyer, Thomas Kenny, Allan Davies, Ian Smith, Charles Schrouder, Bill Stafford, William Cole, and Bernie Parke) and Pete Rugolo conducting his own arrangements, record the titles "Daydreams In The Night (Machito)", "Those Wonderful Things (Lush Waltz)", "Intermission Riff", and "Eager Beaver" at an extended session held in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM with composer Milt Rasking supervising the session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Kenton's album "Artistry In Voices And Brass" (T/ST 2132).

1963 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the titles "John Henry", "Who Can I Count On?", and "Ole 99" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue any of the titles.

1964 - The Beatles pre-record the tracks "Can't Buy Me Love"; "I Wanna Be Your Man"; "Long Tall Sally"; a medley that used "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; "Roll Over Beethoven"; "Shout"; and "Twist and Shout" for an Associated Rediffusion UK TV special "Around The Beatles" that will air on May 9, 1964.

1965 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Ticket To Ride" with "Yes It Is" on the flipside.

1968 - The Sidewalk Skipper Band (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Jeannie At The Circus", "(Would You Believe) It's Raining Flowers In My House", and "Seventeenth Summer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Jeannie At The Circus" and will issue the other two titles together as a single (Capitol 2205).

1973 - Overdubs recordings are started in Los Angeles, California for The Band's titles "I'm Ready (Bring It On Home)", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", and "Ill Wind". After more overdubs are recorded through April 27, 1973, and May 1973, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "I'm Ready (Bring It On Home" on the group's album "Moondog Matinee" (SW-11214) and has yet to issue either of the other titles.

1973 - The Trend (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Home Cookin'" and "Revival" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Home Cookin'" as a single (Capitol 3659) with "Papa Was A Music Man" (recorded April 20, 1973) on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for "Revival".

1973 - Sir Robert Charles Griggs, with unlisted others, records the titles "Uncle Ned", "Country Soul", "Cling Texas", and "In L.A." in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Griggs' album "The Legend Of Sir Robert Charles Griggs" (ST-11234).

1975 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "Bad Time", with "Good And Evil" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "You're So Minor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5368) with "Would You Miss Me?" (recorded December 13, 1983) on the flipside.

1988 - Capitol Records registers in Los Angeles, California the masters for Peter Bardens' titles "Westward Ho", "Black Elk", "Gold", "This Could Be Paradise", "Afterthought", "Speed Of Light", "Whisper In The Wind", "Heartland", "Columbine", and "Gold (Reprise)" and will issue all the titles on Bardens' album "Speed Of Light" (C1-48967 on 12" vinyl and 7-48967-2 on CD).

1990 - Dave Dexter, author, Kansas City reporter for Down Beat magazine (his reviews for Count Basie and His Orchestra got the band noticed), Capitol Records publicity and A&R man (got Peggy Lee to come out of retirement, signed Nellie Lutcher and Julia Lee) and record producer (The History Of Jazz series, New American Jazz all star album, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others), VP of A&R for Capitol Records' International division (created over 500 albums for "The Capitol Of The World" series of world music), remixed the early albums by The Beatles (until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) for U.S. release, editor and writer for Billboard Magazine, dies in Sherman Oaks, California at age 74. His papers have been donated to the University of Missouri Kansas City and they have a great biography of Dave as part of their Club Kaycee website.

25 Years Ago Today In 2001 - Billy Idol and his band travel to New York City to tape his edition of "VH1 Storytellers". Ten months after the taping, on February 26, 2002, Capitol Records will release "Billy Idol's VH1 Storytellers" featuring 14 songs from the session including three tracks from his days fronting the band Generation X ("Dancing With Myself," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Ready Steady Go") to his 1983 solo hit, "White Wedding" and Idol's covers of Tommy James & The Shondell's "Mony, Mony" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman".

15 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Roy Edward "Eddie" Burris, a drummer for Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard's band The Strangers who co-wrote the 1969 song "Okie From Muskogee" with Haggard, dies at age 79 of heart-related problems at a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital.

15 Years Ago Today In 2011 - Vanguard/Capitol Records releases Kimberly Caldwell's debut album "Without Regret".

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1968 - Pianist Andrew Hill, with Woody Shaw on trumpet, Frank Mitchell on tenor saxophone, Jimmy Ponder on guitar, Reggie Workman on bass, and Idris Muhammad (aka Leo Morris) on drums, records the titles "Bayou Red", "Venture Inward" without Ponder on guitar, "Soul Special", "MC", and "Love Nocture" also without Ponder on guitar in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on the CD release of Hill's album "Grass Roots" (5-22672-2) and "Soul Special" in the two-LP multi-artist compilation album "Blue Note Rare Grooves" (B1-35636).

45 Years Ago Today In 1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train (Nine to Five)", with "Calm Before The Storm" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.

1983 - Michael Murphey recorded the title "Disenchantment" in an unlisted studio for Liberty Records. EMI America will reissue the title on Murphey's compilation album "Best Of Michael Martin Murphey" (ST-17143 on 12" vinyl and 7-46556-2 on CD).

1988 - The Ralph Peterson Quintet (Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Steve Wilson on alto saxohone, (ss-1,as) Geri Allen on piano, Phil Bowler on bass, and Ralph Peterson on drums) record the titles "Enemy Within", "Monief" with Wilson on soprano saxophone, "The Short End Of The Stick", "Soweto 6", "Viola's Dance" again with Wilson on soprano saxophone, and "Bebopskerony" at A & R Studios in New York City, New York, in a session that ended early the next day on April 20, 1988, for Somethin' Else Records. Blue Note will issue all the titles on the quintet's album "V" (B1-91730 on 12" vinyl and 7-91730-2 on CD).

1993 - At sessions that start today and go until April 23, 1993 at Sound On Sound studio in New York City, New York, guitarist Kevin Eubanks, with Dave Holland on bass and Mark Mondesir on drums, records the titles "Landing" and "Contact" with the addition of Robin Eubanks on trombone and Kent Jordan on alto flute, "Union" with Robin Jordan on trombone, and "Spirit Talk" with Kent Jordan on alto flute at the first session, the titles "Earth Party", ""Going Outside with Kent Jordan on alto flute, and "Living" with Robin Eubanks on trombone and Kent Jordan on alto flute at the second session, and the titles "Inside" with Robin Eubanks on trombone and "Journey" at the third session. Blue Note Records will lease all the masters from Kevin Eubanks and will issue all the titles on Eubank's CD "Spirit Talk" (7-89286-2).

1993 - Bob Belden and Tim Hagans, with unlisted others, record the title "Venus De Milo" at an unlisted studio. Blue Note Records will issue the title on the CD "Blue Note Plays Prince" (8-6382602).

1995 - The Georgia legislature declares April 19, 1995 to be Johnny Mercer Day in the state for Mercer's "outstanding contributions to the field of music". Johnny Mercer is a co-founder of Capitol Records.

APRIL 18, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1882 - Leopold Stokowski, a conductor, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist as part of Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra, is born in London, England.

1952 - Jim Scholten, a singer and bass player for the Liberty Records, Capitol Records Nashville, and Curb Records group Sawyer Brown, is born in Midland, Michigan.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Capitol Records Recording Department is established with Bill Miller (not to be confused with Frank Sinatra's accompanist, Bill Miller) as boss. Miller would, 21 years later in 1966, "prepare for release" The Beatles' "Yesterday...And Today" and "Revolver" albums. He was also an A&R man and producer. He was responsible for signing and producing Jackie Davis and producing sessions for June Christy, Benny Goodman, The Four Freshmen, Sebastian Temple, Warren Durrett and even co-produced Ted Cassidy's novelty record "The Lurch". The current manager is Paula Salvatore, who has guided the always busy Capitol Studios since 2001. Check out Capitol Studios' website for more information. There's also a great article about the Capitol Studios on the studio expresso website.

75 Years Ago Today in 1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon", with "Walkin' And Whistlin' Blues" on the flipside, is #1 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played by Disc Jockeys and Best Selling Pop Singles charts and #6 on the magazine's Most Played Juke Box Records chart.

75 Years Ago Today in 1951 - Yma Sumac's Capitol Records album "Voice Of The Xtabay" hits #1 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop Albums chart in both the album's 33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM formats.

1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #3 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles and Most Played By Jockeys charts and #4 on The Billboard magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart and Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's Capitol Records single "Can't I?" is #18 on The Billboard magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and #19 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart and its flipside "Blue Gardenia" is #31 on also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #8 on WMCA's Wax To Watch chart in New York City, New York.

1958 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Harry Geller conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Adeste Fideles", "Sleep My Little Lord Jesus", and "O Harken Ye" 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 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Long Before I Knew You", "Satin Doll", "You Oughta Be In Pictures", "All The Things You Are", "My Sin", and new takes of the titles "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", "Nevertheless", "I'm Making Believe", and "Ain't Misbehavin'" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "My Sin" which remains unissued, on Gleason's album "Jackie Gleason Presents - Rebound" (W/SW 1075).

1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, organist Jackie Davis, with Eddie Costa on vibraphone, Kenny Burrell and Mundell Lowe on guitar, and Burtell Knox on drums, records the titles "Surprise", "Just My Luck", and "I Feel Pretty" at the first session and the titles "Jubilation T. Cornpone", a new take of "Say Darling", and the titles "Standing On The Corner" and "Till There Was You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Davis' album "Most Happy Hammond" (T/ST 1046).

1958 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the titles "Let's Do It", "In The Still Of The Night", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", "Just One Of Those Things", "Round Table Walk", and "Lucky Me" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Let's Do It", "In The Still Of The Night", "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and "Just One Of Those Things" on Bushkin's album "I Get A Kick Out Of Porter" (T/ST 1030), "Round Table Walk" as a single (F4027) with "Trudie" (recorded June 26, 1958) on the flipside, and has yet to issue "Lucky Me".

1962 - Buck Owens records the title "Save The Last Dance For Me" which will be released by Capitol Records as a single with "King Of Fools" on the flipside and enters the Country single charts on May 24, 1962.

1963 - Vocalist June Christy, with Al Viola on guitar and Don Bagley on bass, records the titles "Fly Me To The Moon", "Spring Is Here", "The More I See You", and "You're Nearer" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Spring Is Here" on Christy's album "The Intimate Miss Christy" (T/ST 1953). The new takes of the other three titles will be recorded on May 23, 1963, and those takes will also be issued on the album "The Intimate Miss Christy".

60 Years Ago Today in 1966 - Wanda Jackson records the track "I Talk A Pretty Story" at Columbia Studios in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Ken Nelson which will be released as a single by Capitol Records as the flipside of "Little Soldier Boy" in July 1968.

1968 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "He Is Born, The Holy Child", "The Friendly Beasts", and "The Wassail Song" at the first session and the titles "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and "White Christmas" at the second session. After overdubs are recorded on May 21, 1968 for "He Is Born, The Holy Child", "The Wassail Song", and "Good Christian Men, Rejoice", and on May 22, 1968 for the titles "The Friendly Beasts" and "White Christmas", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).

1973 - Vocalist Kay Adams, with the Cliffie Stone Group (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Ain't It Funny (How The Heart Rules The Mind)", "Reason To Feel", "I Can, I Can", and "Hearts Of Stone" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for all the titles on April 26, 1973, Capitol Records will issue "Ain't It Funny (How The Heart Rules The Mind)" and "Reason To Feel" as a single (Capitol 3692) and "I Can, I Can" and "Hearts Of Stone" together as a single (Capitol 3624).

1973 - Denny Saeger, with unlisted others, records the title "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 3618) with "The Finer Things In Life" (recorded November 3, 1972) on the flipside.

1973 - Capitol Records will register the masters for Freddie Hart and The Heartbeats' titles "Trip To Heaven" and "Look-A-Here" in Los Angeles, California and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3612) and on Hart's album "Trip To Heaven" (ST-11197).

1973 - Vocalist and guitarist Freddie King, with either Reverend Patrick Henderson or Leon Russell on piano, Don Preston also on guitar, Carl Radle on electric bass, and Chuck Blackwell and Jim Keltner on drums, records the titles "Woman Across The River" with unlisted female background singers, "Hootchie Cootchie Man" with The O'Neil Twins (lineup unlisted) and other female background singers, "Danger Zone" with The O'Neil Twins on background vocals and a string section (lineup unlisted), "Boogie Man", "Leave My Woman Alone" with The O'Neil Twins and other female background singers, "Just A Little Bit", "Yonder Wall", "Help Me Through The Day" with a string section, "I'm Ready", "Trouble In Mind" with The O'Neil Twins on background vocals and a string section, and "You Don't Have to Go" with The O'Neil Twins and other female background singers in Tia Juana, Oklahoma. Shelter Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on King's self-titled album "Freddie King" (SW-8919) and "Woman Across The River" and "Help Me Through The Day" together as a single (Shelter 7333).

1973 - Leon Russell, with unlisted others, records the title "Mighty Quinn Medley: I'll Take You There/Idol With The Golden Head/I Serve A Living Savior/The Mighty Quinn", "Dixie Lullaby", "Queen Of The Roller Derby", "Roll Away The Stone", "It's Been A Long Time Baby", "Great Day", "Alcatraz", "Crystal Closet Queen", "Prince Of Peace", "Sweet Emily", and "Stranger In A Strange Land" in an unlisted studio. Shelter Records, at the time distributed by Capitol Records, will issue all the titles on Russell's self-titled three-LP set "Leon Russell" (STCO-8917).

1977 - The Steve Miller Band's Capitol Records album "Fly Like An Eagle" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1978 - The Honeys (vocalists Diane Rovell, Marilyn Rovell, and Ginger Blake), with an orchestra (lineup unlisted) using arrangements by Elmo Peeler, records the title "Sweet Sunday Kinda Love" in United/Western Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's compilation CD "Capitol Collectors Series - The Honeys" (7-93193-2).

1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "I Want You Back" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5320) with "Sever The Ties" (recorded April 13, 1983) on the flipside and an edited version of the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).

1989 - Judge Robert Takasugi bars Curb Records from releasing Donny Osmond's album and single "Soldier Of Love" in the United States. Owner Mike Curb (who had signed The Osmonds to M-G-M Records in 1970) had argued that he had a verbal agreement with Osmond to release the album previously released by Virgin Records in the UK which Osmond denied. Capitol Records will release the album in the United States on April 25, 1989.

30 Years Ago Today in 1996 - Bernard Edwards, record producer with partner Nile Rodgers for Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Norma Jean Wright, and Sister Sledge; solo producer for Rod Stewart, Nona Hendryx, ABC, Starpoint, and Missing Persons; songwriter, bass player, and producer for the group Chic and the Capitol Records band Power Station, dies of pneumonia in his hotel room in Tokyo, Japan at age 43 after performing with a reformed Chic as well as with guests Simon Le Bon, Slash, Steve Winwood and Sister Sledge, at The SuperProducers tribute show for Niles Rodgers, who had been named JT SuperProducer of the Year in Japan, at the Budokan Arena.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1929 - Future Capitol Records artist Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (which includes at the time Gene Krupa and future Capitol Records artists Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden) record Glenn Miller's arrangement of "Indiana" for Brunswick Records in New York City, New York.

1958 - Guitarist Wes Montgomery, with Harold Land on tenor saxophone, Buddy Montgomery on piano, Monk Montgomery on electric bass, and Tony Bazley on drums, records the titles "Far Wes", "Leila", "Wes' Tune", "Hymn For Carol", "Montgomeryland Funk" and "Stompin' At The Savoy" in Los Angeles, California for United Artists Records. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Montgomery's two-disc compilation album "Beginnings" (BN-LA531-H2).

1973 - Electric alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, with electric pianist Horace Ott conducting his own arrangements to Thad Jones on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Seldon Powell on flute and tenor saxophone, Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Paul Griffin also on an electric piano as well as piano and organ, David Spinozza, John Tropea, and Hugh McCracken on electric guitars, Wilbur Bascomb on electric bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Omar Clay and Jack Jennings on percussion, records the titles "Pillow Talk", "Sassy Soul Strut", "Good Morning Heartache" with Donaldson on alto saxophone, and "City, Country, City" at Generation Sound Studio in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Donaldson's album "Sassy Soul Strut" (BN-LA109-F).

1988 - Pianist and synthesizer player Renee Rosnes, with Wayne Shorter on soprano saxophone, records the title "Diana" at the Montmartre Club in Copenhagen, Denmark for the Somethin' Else Records. Blue Note Records will issue the title on Rosnes' 1990 self-titled album "Renee Rosnes" (B1-93561 on 12" Vinyl and 7-93561-2 on CD).

APRIL 17, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

95 Years Ago Today In 1931 - David Axelrod, a composer, arranger, record producer, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Los Angeles, California.

1967 - Liz Phair, a musician, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist is born in New Haven, Connecticut.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass) record two takes of the title "Could 'Ja", two takes of the title "Baby, Baby All The Time", and the titles "Oh, But I Do" with a vocal ensemble (possibly just Cole, Moore, and Miller) and the instrumental "Rex Rumba" (aka "Rumba A La King") at Radio Recorders' studios on Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the second take of "Could 'Ja" on the compilation album "Campus Capers" (BD-58), the second take of "Baby, Baby All The Time" as a single (Capitol 15165) with "Money Is Honey" (recorded November 3, 1947) on the flipside, "Oh, But I Do" as a single (Capitol 274) with "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" (recorded May 1, 1946) on the flipside, and "Rex Rhumba" as a single (Capitol 15240) with "Kee-mo Ky-mo (The Magic Song)" (recorded September 26, 1948) on the flipside. Mosaic Records will issue all the titles and takes in the box set "The Complete King Cole Trio Sessions" (MR27-138 on vinyl and MD18-138 on CD).

1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed", with "Sweet Temptation" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

1947 - Benny Goodman (on clarinet), with Jimmy Rowles on piano, Harry Babasin on bass, and Tommy Romersa on drums, records the titles "The Bannister Slide" (with Ernie Felice on accordion and Al Hendrickson on guitar), "Benny's Boogie", and "How High The Moon" (with Ernie Felice on accordion and Ray Sims on trombone) in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Goodman's album "Benny Goodman Rides Again" (BD-57).

1952 - Cliffie Stone and His Square Dance Band (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Virginia Reel", "American Patrol", "Shot Gun Boogie", and "Moonwinks" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Virginia Reel" and "American Patrol" together as a single (CAS-4025), "Shot Gun Boogie" as a single (CAS-4026) with "Washington And Lee Swing" (recorded on October 10, 1946) on the flipside, and "Moonwinks" as a single (Capitol CAS-4034) with "Stepping Stone Schottische" (recorded on January 9, 1952) on the flipside.

1952 - The Four Knights (Gene Alford - 1st tenor vocals, John Wallace - 2nd tenor vocals and guitar, Clarence Dixon - baritone vocals, and Oscar Broadway - bass vocals), with an unlisted orchestra, record a new take of the title "Easy Street" and the titles "I'm The World's Biggest Fool", "If I Had My Way", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", "Doo Wacka Doo", and "Oh Miss Hannah" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Easy Street" and "Oh Miss Hannah" on the group's album "Spotlight Songs" (T 346), "I'm The World's Biggest Fool" and "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" together as a single (Capitol 2087) and "Doo Wacka Doo" as a single (Capitol 2127) with "Win Or Lose" (recorded May 13, 1952) on the flipside. Capitol Records will sell the master to "If I Had My Way" to Coral Records which will issue it on the group's self-titled album "The Four Knights" (CRL-57221).

1953 - Bandleader and pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr (aka Lou Busch) and His Ragtime Band (Mannie Klein on trumpet, Tommy Pederson on trombone, Skeets Herfurt on clarinet and alto saxophone, Phil Stephens on bass, and Nick Fatool and John Cyr on drums) record the titles "Down Home Rag", "Canadian Capers", "Sweet Georgia Brown", and "San Antonio Rose" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Joe 'Fingers' Carr And His Ragtime Band" (EAP-1/2-443 on 7" EPs, EBF-443 on 7" EP set, H-443 on 10" LP, and T 433 on 12" LP).

1957 - Violinist Nathan Milstein, with William Steinberg conducting The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, records Dvorak's "Concerto In A Minor, Opus 53 For Violins And Orchestra" and Glazounov's "Concerto In A Minor, Opus 82 For Violin And Orchestra" at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Milstein's album "DVORAK - Concerto In A Minor, Opus 53 For Violin And Orchestra/GLAZOUNOV - Concerto In A Minor, Opus 82 For Violin And Orchestra" (P-8382).

1957 - At two sessions held at Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Sonny James (on vocals and guitar), with Chet Atkins on guitar, Floyd T. "Lightnin'" Chance on bass, Murrey M. "Buddy" Harman Jr. on drums, and The Jordanaires (lineup unlisted) as a vocal chorus, records the titles "A Fool Such As I", "Near You", and "Ages And Ages Ago" at the first session and the titles "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)", "I'll Never Get Over You", "I Forgot More Than You'll Never Know" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on James' album "Sonny" (T 867).

1958 - Vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson, with The Brazos Valley Boys (Tommy Camfield and Robert "Bob" White on fiddle, Vic Davis on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis also on guitars, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and John Sterling "Butch" White on drums), records the titles "Squaws Along The Yukon", "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues", and the instrumental title "Gathering Flowers" featuring Merle Travis on guitar in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California at an extended session between 6:00 PM and 9:30 PM. After vocal overdubs are recorded for "Squaws Along The Yukon" and "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues" on May 6, 1958, Capitol Records will issue the final mix of "Squaws Along The Yukon" and "Gathering Flowers" together as a single (Capitol F4017) and the final mix of "Two Hearts Deep In The Blues" as a single (Capitol F4502) with "Just One Step Away" (recorded December 18, 1958) on the flipside.

1958 - Jackie Gleason conducts His Orchestra (a large string orchestra featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Close Your Eyes", "All This And Heaven Too", "Without Love", "More Than You Know", and "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which rejects all the takes recorded at this session and will record new takes on April 29, 1958.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in New York City, New York, organist Jackie Davis, with Eddie Costa on vibraphone, Kenny Burrell and Mundell Lowe on guitars, and Burtell Knox on drums, records the titles "All Of You", "Say Darling", and "It's The Second Time You Meet That Matters" at the first session and the titles "Wish", "Push De Button", and "Long Before I Knew You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all of the titles, except the take of "Say Darling" recorded at this session which was rejected and recorded again on April 18, 1958, on Davis' album "Most Happy Hammond" (T/ST 1046).

1960 - Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent is seriously injured after the taxicab hired after a gig in Bristol, England, blows a tire while rounding a curve on the way back to London, England and crashes into a cement post at 70 mph on the A4 at Chippenham, Wilshire. Vincent survives with a badly injured leg that will give him a limp for the rest of his life, but Liberty Records artist Eddie Cochran, who was touring with Vincent and shared the cab, is killed at age 21 and Cochran's girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, is seriously injured. Cochran is later interred in the Forest Lawn Cypress cemetery in Cypress, California.

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #8 on KVCV 600 AM's "Top Pop 40" survey in Redding, California.

1963 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Conte Candoli, Bob Behrendt, and Bob Rolfe on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Gilbert Falco, and Jim Amlotte on trombone, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone and tuba, Dwight Carver, Tony Scodwell, Joe Burnett, and Bob Grull on mellophones, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Steve Marcus and Ray Florian on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Joel Kaye baritone and bass saxophones, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker and Frank Guerrero on percussion), record the titles "Kentonova", "Painted Rhythm", "Artistry In Bossa Nova", and "Opus In Chartreuse" between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM and the titles "Artistry In Rhythm", "Jump For Joe", "Loca-Nova", "Eager Beaver", and "Opus In Pastels" at the second session between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Kenton and his orchestra's album "Artistry In Bossa Nova" (T/ST 1931).

1963 - Tenor saxophonist King Curtis with unlisted vibraphone, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and strings players, records the titles "Sukiyaki" and "Summer Dream" in (listed as possibly) Capitol Records' studios in New York City, New York. Bear Family Records will issue both titles in Germany in the three-CD set "King Curtis - Blow Man Blow (The Capitol Years 1962-1965)" (BCD 15670).

1968 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella", "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks", and "The Little Boy King" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "While Shepards Watched Their Flocks" and "The Little Boy King" on May 21, 1968 and for "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" on May 22, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).

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, record the titles "Thank You Love", "You're A Big Boy Now", and "Don't You Ever Give Up On Me" in Los Angeles, California with producer Al De Lory for Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

1968 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "Crazy Arms", "'68 Rock Island Line", "I Fall To Pieces", and "Clinging To A Hope" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Crazy Arms" on James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937), after overdubs are recorded for "I Fall To Pieces" on April 23, 1968, the final mixes of the rest of the titles on James' album "Born To Be With You" (ST-111), and "Clinging To Hope" also as a single (Capitol 2595) with "Since I Met You Baby" (recorded January 17, 1969) on the flipside.

1969 - Capitol Records group The Band make their solo stage debut at the Winterland in San Francisco, California.

1970 - Apple Records releases Paul McCartney's first solo album, "McCartney", which is distributed by Capitol Records in the United States. McCartney plays all the instruments heard on the album.

1970 - The Beatles officially disband.

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 chart.

1973 - Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side Of The Moon" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1973 – Tavares signs a contract with Capitol Records.

60 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Paul McCartney and Wings' Capitol Records single "Silly Love Songs", with "Cook Of The House" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

1978 - During two sessions held this day in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California, Caldera (lineup unlisted) records the title "Shanti" at the first session and "Passages" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Time And Chance" (SW-11810).

1987 - Crowded House's Capitol Records single "Don’t Dream It’s Over", with "That's What I Call Love" on the flipside, is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1998 - Linda McCartney (born Linda Eastman), photographer, activist, creator and owner of a vegetarian frozen meal company, keyboard player, singer, wife of Capitol Records artist Paul McCartney, member of the Capitol Records band Wings, and, posthumously, a Capitol Records solo artist, dies of breast cancer at age 56.

2000 - Godhead signs a contract with Capitol Records.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1955 - Imperial Records releases Fats Domino's single "Ain't That a Shame", with "Goin' Home" on the flipside. Imperial's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records' parent company.

1957 - Composer, arranger, and conductor Johnny Richards (with Al Stewart, Charlie Shavers, Burt Collins, and Ray Copeland on trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl, and Frank Rehak on trombones; Julius Watkins on French horn; Jay McAllister on tuba; Gene Quill on alto saxophone; Seldon Powell and Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone; Billy Slapin on baritone saxophone and piccolo; Shelly Gold on bass saxophone; Hank Jones on piano; Chet Amsterdam on bass; Jimmy Campbell on drums; Joe Venuto on tympani; Sol Gubin on maracas; Pete Terrace on bongos; Umbaldo Nieto on timbales; Carlos Valdes on congas; Raymond Rodriguez on tambauri; and Al Epstein on percussion) records the self-penned titles "La Pecadora" and "Ofo" for his Roulette Records album "The Rites Of Diablo" at Webster Hall in New York City, New York. Roulette's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records' parent company.

1963 - Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, with Joe Zawinul on piano, Grant Green on guitar, Sam Jones on bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums, records the titles "Clo-E", "Little Sherri", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for Blue Note Records which rejected all the takes of all the titles.

1965 - Liberty Records releases Gary Lewis and The Playboys' single "Count Me In" with "Little Miss Go-Go" on the flipside. Liberty's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Records' parent company.

1973 - Electric alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, with electric pianist Horace Ott conducting his own arrangements to Thad Jones on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, Seldon Powell on flute and tenor saxophone, Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Paul Griffin also on electric piano as well as piano and organ, David Spinozza, John Tropea, and Hugh McCracken on electric guitars, Wilbur Bascomb on electric bass, Bernard Purdie on drums, and Omar Clay and Jack Jennings on percussion, records the titles "Sanford And Son Theme", "This Is Happiness", and "Inner Space" at Generation Sound Studio in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Donaldson's album "Sassy Soul Strut" (BN-LA109-F).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1924 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios is formed after a merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and The Louis B. Mayer Company.

1937 - Daffy Duck debuts in the Warner Bros.' cartoon "Porky's Duck Hunt"

APRIL 16, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

55 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Selena, a singer, actress, and EMI Latin Records (a division of Capitol Records) artist, is born Selena Quintanilla Perez in Lake Jackson, Texas.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - The San Francisco branch of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation opens for business under the direction of Paul Featherstone with salesmen Voyle Gilmore, Ed Nielsen, and Bob Martin.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Betty Hutton's Capitol Records single "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with "A Square In The Social Circle" on the flipside enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles chart.

1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #5 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys chart and its flipside, "Lost April", is #6 on the magazine's Record Possibilities - The Disk Jockeys Pick chart..

1948 - The Pied Pipers (vocalists June Hutton, Chuck Lowry, Hal Hooper, and Clark Yocum), with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the title "My Happiness" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 15094) with "Highway To Love" (recorded December 5, 1947) on the flipside.

1948 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (lineup unlisted), with an uncredited orchestra, record the titles "Tea Leaves" and "Highways Are Happy Ways" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15102).

1949 - Capitol Records artist Tex Ritter is a judge on the final day of a two-day music contest for country musicians sponsored by radio station WESC in Greenville, South Carolina with a $1,500 top prize. A one-hour portion of the finals is aired at 11PM (CST) on the Mutual network.

1950 - Victor Blanchard becomes a vice-president of Capitol Records Distribution Corporation.

75 Years Ago Today In 1951 - Capitol Custom Division is started. This division of Capitol handled creating, producing, and distributing special promo records for outside companies and charities like Scripto, Uniroyal, Bacardi, 7-Up, Firestone, A&W Root Beer, Chevrolet, Dextol, March of Dimes, Renuzit, Salada Tea using tracks from Capitol's catalog as well as specially created material by Capitol artists.
Capitol Custom also produced demos and commercial records for independent artists like Cracker Jills, Help, Gert Benhana, Rafael Mendez, Harry Fields, The Legends, V. Attl, etc. as well as for church choirs and school bands.

Capitol Custom also handled creating promotional records for events like the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and even a single for John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign featuring Frank Sinatra singing a reworded version of his hit "High Hopes".
Probably the most desired record created by Capitol Custom is the 7" single created as a limited pressing, released on June 5, 1964, to promote the Beatles for Hollywood radio station KFWB and Wallichs' Music City that had an interview on side 1 and "You Can't Do That" on the flipside. Copies of this disc have been valued for as much as $2250 with the original mailer.
Most of the physical production was done out of the Capitol pressing plant in Scranton, PA.
There were branches of Capitol Custom in Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

Capitol Custom eventually became EMI-Capitol Special Markets and Capitol and its associated label's catalog are now marketed this way as part of Universal Music Enterprises' Universal Music Special Markets division.

 

1953 - Mel Blanc, using a script written by Ted Pierce and Warren Foster, records vocal overdubs in Los Angeles, California onto orchestral tracks recorded by Van Alexander and His Orchestra for the titles "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning: Part 1" and "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning: Part 2". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both parts in the children's album "Bugs Bunny And The Rabbit Seasoning" (CAS-3168 on 12" shellac and CASF-3168 on 7" vinyl).

70 Years Ago Today In 1956 - Vocalist Tex Ritter, with Harry Gellar conducting the orchestra and chorus (lineup unlisted), records the titles "The Searchers" and "The Wayward Wind" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 3430).

1956 - Vocalist Dick Haymes,  with Ian Bernard and his orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Then I'll Be Tired Of You", "Skylark", and "You Don't Know What Love Is" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Haymes' album "Moondreams" (T 787).

1958 - Capitol Records releases Dean Martin's promotional recording "It's 1200 Miles From Palm Springs To Texas" (HB-2160) for Texas Desert Week held in Palm Springs, California.

1958 - Jacke Gleason conducts His Orchestra (featuring Romeo Penque on alto saxophone and flute, Bernie Leighton on piano, and unlisted others) as they record the titles "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me", "I Must Have That Man", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Nevertheless", "I'm Making Believe", and "I Just Can't Take It" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records. All the takes of all the titles were rejected.

1958 - Pianist Hank Jones, with unlisted others, had a recording session for Capitol Records in New York City, New York for which no details are listed.

1963 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland on tenor vocals, Marvin Inabnett on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals), with Lincoln Mayorga conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Charmaine" and "Demons And Witches" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Charmaine" as a single (Capitol 4974) with "Hi Ho Anybody Home?" (recorded April 15, 1963) on the flipside and "Demons And Witches" as a single (Capitol 5028) with "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" (also recorded April 15, 1963) on the flipside.

1963 - Bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Conte Candoli, Bob Behrendt, and Bob Rolfe on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Gilbert Falco, and Jim Amlotte on trombone, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone and tuba, Dwight Carver, Tony Scodwell, Joe Burnett, and Bob Grull on mellophones, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Steve Marcus and Ray Florian on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Joel Kaye baritone and bass saxophones, Don Bagley on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Larry Bunker and Frank Guerrero on percussion), record the titles "Interlude", "Concerto To End All Concertos", "Brasilia", and "Kentonova" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The take of "Kentonova" recorded at this session is rejected and Capitol Records will issue "Interlude", "Concerto To End All Concertos", and "Brasilia" on Kenton's album "Artistry In Bossa Nova" (T/ST 1931).

1968 - Vocalist Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Jack Fascinato conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "O Come All Ye Faithful", "As Lately We Watched", and "Slumber Song Of The Infant Jesus" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Slumber Song Of The Infant Jesus" on May 21, 1968 and for "As Lately We Watched" on May 22, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes for all the titles on Ford's album "O Come All Ye Faithful" (ST 2968).

1968 - Vocalists Tony Sandler and Ralph Young, with unlisted others, record the titles "Jingle Bells", "Susa Ninna", "Adeste Fidelis", and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Adeste Fidelis" as part of its Leisure Series on the multi-artist compilation album "Joys Of Christmas" (SL-6610) and has yet to issue any of the other titles.

1968 - Eddie Heywood, with unlisted others, records the titles "Give My Regards To Broadway" and "Ramona" in New York City, New York. After overdubs are recorded for both titles on May 23, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on Heywood's album "The Piano Artistry Of Eddie Heywood - Soft Summer Breeze" (ST-163).

1968 - Vocalist Sonny James, with unlisted others, records the titles "She Still Thinks I Care", "Don't Be Angry", and "It's Over" in Nashville, Tennessee. After overdubs are recorded for "She Still Thinks I Care" on April 23, 1968, Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of all the titles on the James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937).

1969 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Galveston", with "How Come Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You" on the flipside, is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1973 - Paul McCartney stars in his first solo TV special, "James Paul McCartney", which features his new band, Wings.

1973 - Vocalist Stoney Edwards, with unlisted others, records the titles "I Spent A Week There Last Night", "I'm Just Tired Of Hurting You", "You're A Family Man", "It's Rainin' On My Sunny Day", and "Seems Like Only Yesterday". After overdubs are recorded for "You're A Family Man" and "Seems Like Only Yesterday" on June 18, 1974, Capitol Records will issue "It's Rainin' On My Sunny Day" as a single (Capitol 3766) with "Daddy Bluegrass" (recorded August 29, 1973) on the flipside and has yet to issue any off the other titles.

1994 - Bonnie Raitt's Capitol Records album "Longing In Their Hearts" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart.

30 Years Ago Today In 1996 - Capitol Records releases Richard Thompson's double CD album "You? Me? Us?" (CDP 7243 8 33704 2 9) in the United States with one disc of acoustic material being dubbed "Nude" and the other disc of electric material titled "Voltage Enhanced". Capitol also releases The Jesus Lizard's label debut "Shot" after recording six albums for Touch And Go and a live album for Collision Arts.

2013 - Capitol Records releases Sky Ferreira's single "Everything Is Embarrassing" from her second EP "Ghost" in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1889 - Charlie Chaplin, an actor, writer, motion picture actor, director and producer, and co-founder of United Artists Pictures, is born Charles Spencer Chaplin in Walworth, London, England. United Artists would later create United Artists Records whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.

1918 - Spike Milligan, comedian, musician, radio (most notably on BBC Radio's "The Goon Show"), television, and motion picture writer and actor, Parlophone Records recording artist as part of "The Goon Show" cast with producer George Martin, is born Terence Alan Milligan in Ahmed Nagar or Ahmadnagar, India.

1929 - Edie Adams, a singer, Broadway (originated the role of Daisy Mae in the Johnny Mercer musical "Li'l Abner" and won the 1956 Tony award for her performance), motion picture and television actress, one-time wife of comedian, motion picture and television actor Ernie Kovacs, one-time wife of trumpet player and Capitol Records artist Pete Candoli, is born Elizabeth Edith Enke in Kingston, Pennsylvania.

1935 - "Fibber McGee and Molly" debuts on NBC Radio. Future Capitol Records music director Paul Weston will begin doing arrangements for the show in 1940 and future Capitol Records artist Martha Tilton will be on the show for about a year starting in 1941. One of Capitol Records' first album releases will be "On The Night Before Christmas" which features the cast of the show (Jim and Marion Jordan) as well as the vocal group The King's Men, with the orchestra conducted by Billy Mills and music and vocal arrangements by Ken Darby.

1947 - Gerry Rafferty, singer, guitarist, member of the groups The Humblebums and Stealers Wheel, and United Artists Records solo artist, is born in Paisley, Scotland.

1953 - The Kenny Drew Trio (Kenny Drew on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Art Blakey on drums) record the titles "Lover Come Back To Me", two takes of "Yesterdays", "Everything Happens To Me", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Be My Love", "Drew's Blues", "Gloria", "Stella By Starlight" and another take of "Everything Happens To Me" at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "Lover Come Back To Me", the second take of "Yesterdays", the first take of "Everything Happens To Me", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "Be My Love", "Drew's Blues", "Gloria", and "Stella By Starlight" on the trio's album "New Faces – New Sounds, Introducing The Kenny Drew Trio" (BLP5023) and all the titles and takes on the double album CD by Howard McGhee and The Kenny Drew Trio "Howard McGhee - Introducing The Kenny Drew Trio" (4-95747-2).

1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "Every Time Two Fools Collide", with "We Love Each Other" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

APRIL 15, 2026


HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1898 - Marian Jordan, a radio and motion picture actress (best known as Molly McGee on the series "Fibber McGee and Molly") and a Capitol Records artist (on the 78 rpm album "On The Night Before Christmas"), is born Marian Driscoll in Peoria, Illinois.

1908 - eden ahbez, songwriter (best known for Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records title "Nature Boy"), is born Alexander Aberle in Brooklyn, New York.

1909 - Vern Yocum, a clarinetist, alto and baritone saxophone player, vocalist, copyist, orchestrator, whose company maintained the arrangement libraries for Capitol Records artists Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Nelson Riddle, Roy Clark, and Nancy Wilson as well as for Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Lane, Trini Lopez, and Julie Andrews, and brother of Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers singer Clark Yocum, is born George Vernon Yocum in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

1933 - Roy Clark, a singer, guitarist, banjo player, motion picture actor, television variety show host, and Capitol Records artist, is born Roy Linwood Clark in Meherrin, Virginia.

1968 - Ed O'Brien, a guitarist and a vocalist with the Capitol Records group Radiohead, is born Edward John O'Brien in Oxford, England.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1945 - Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford's Capitol Records single "Candy", with "I'm Gonna See My Baby" on the flipside, is #4 on the U.S. Pop singles charts.

80 Years Ago Today In 1946 - Guitarist Alvino Rey and his orchestra (Chuck Peterson, Jake Gerheim, Russ Granger, and Frank Nelson on trumpets, Sam Levine, Bob McReynolds, and Bob Swift on trombones, Bob Walsh and Hal McKusick on alto saxophones, Herbie Steward on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Rocky Coluccio on piano and vocals, Jim Bates on bass, and Ben Weber on drums) record the titles "Bumble Boogie" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 262) with "Sepulveda" (recorded February 26, 1946) on the flipside.

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 Pop on bass, and Harold Hahn on drums) record the titles "Take Five" with vocals by Mynell Allen and the instrumental "Convoy" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Take Five" as a single (Capitol 260) with "Dinah" (recorded April 3, 1946) on the flipside and "Convoy" in the compilation album "Classics In Jazz - Sam Donahue" (T 626).

1953 - Vocalist Kay Starr, with Harold Mooney and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the title "Allez-Vous-En (Go Away)" and a new take of the title "Half A Photograph" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2464).

1958 - Tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, with unlisted trumpet, baritone saxophone, piano, bass, and drums players, records the titles "Dinah" with The Corairs (unlisted vocalists), "Everyone Knows", "Blow Your Blues Away" with The Evelyn Freeman Voices (lineup unlisted), and "Little Rockin' Deacon" also with The Corairs on vocals in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Dinah" and "Little Rockin' Deacon" together as a single (Capitol F3977) and "Everyone Knows" and "Blow Your Blues Away" together as a single (Capitol F4029).

1958 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson, with The Brazos Valley Boys (Dubert Ray Dobson on trumpet, Tommy Camfield, Harold Glenn Hensley, and Robert "Bob" White on fiddles, Vic Davis on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis also on guitars, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and John Sterling "Butch" White on drums), records the titles "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "What Will I Do On Monday", "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again", and "I've Run Out Of Tomorrows" at the first session between 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM and the titles "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" at the second session (time of session unlisted). After vocal overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles on May 2, 1958 for "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" and on May 6, 1958 for "What Will I Do ON Monday" and "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again", Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of "Let Me Call You Sweet Heart", "What Will I Do On Monday", "Shenandoah Waltz", "Signed, Sealed And Delivered", "In The Valley Of The Moon", and "Warm Red Wine" on the album "Favorite Waltzes By Hank Thompson With The Brazos Valley Boys" (T 1111), "You're Going Back To Your Old Ways Again" and "I've Run Out Of Tomorrows" together as a single (Capitol F4085),

1958 - Trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden, with Doc Oakley on trumpet, Jerry Fuller on clarinet, Don Ewell on piano, Stan Puls on bass, and Ronnie Greb on drums, records the titles "Walleritis", "Doc Jazz", and "China Boy" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Teagarden's album "Big T's Dixieland Band" (T 1095).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Quincy Jones conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Bob Fowler, Conrad Gozzo, Al Porcino, and Jack Sheldon on trumpets, Vernon Friley, Lewis McCreary, and Frank Rosolino on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Benny Carter and Bill Green on alto saxophones, Plas Johnson and Bill Perkins on tenor saxophones, Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Dennis Budimir and Howard Roberts on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, Stan Levey on drums, and Chino Pozo on congas and percussion), records a new take of the title "Goin' To Chicago Blues" and the titles "Boston Beans", "The Grain Belt Blues" (aka "Orange Blues"), and "Basin Street Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Lee's album "Blues Cross Country" (T 1671).

1963 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "All Over The World" is #29 on WEEZ 1550's Nifty Fifty chart in Chester, Pennsylvania.

1963 - Trombonist Bob Flanigan and guitarist John Gray, with Al Viola also on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, and Bob Neal on drums, record the titles"Coral Reef", "Putt-It (How's Your Bird)", and "A Lot Of Livin' To Do" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Flanigan and Gray's album "Togetherness" (T/ST 1957).

1963 - The Four Preps (Bruce Belland on tenor vocals, Marvin Inabnett on high tenor vocals, Glen Larson on baritone vocals, and Ed Cobb on bass vocals) with Lincoln Mayorga directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Hi Ho Anybody Home?" and "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Hi Ho Anyone Home?" as a single (Capitol 4974) with "Charmaine" (recorded April 16, 1963) on the flipside and "Oh Where, Oh Where (Where Has My Little Girl Gone)" as a single (Capitol 5020) with "Demons And Witches" (also recorded April 16, 1963) on the flipside.

1963 - The Lettermen (vocalists Jim Pike, Tony Butala, and Bob Engemann on vocals), with unlisted others, record the titles "Allentown Jail" and "Two Brothers" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 4976).

1968 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with Al De Lory conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "That's Not Home", "Christmas Is For Children", and "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" in Los Angeles, California. After overdubs are recorded for "Christmas Is For Children" on April 27, 1968, for "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" on May 10, 1968, and for "That's Not Our Home" on September 28, 1968, Capitol Records will issue "That's Not Home" and "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" on Campbell's album "Wichita Lineman" (ST-103), "Dreams Of An Everyday Housewife" also as a single (Capitol 2224) with the instrumental "Kelly Hoedown" (recorded April 19, 1967) on the flipside, and "Christmas Is For Children" as a single (Capitol 2336) with "There's No Place Like Home" (recorded July 24, 1968) on the flipside and also on the album "That Christmas Feeling" (ST 2978).

1968 - Human Beinz (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Two Of A Kind" and "April 15th" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the group's album "Evolutions" (ST 2926).

1972 - Ringo Starr's Apple Records single, "Back Off Boogaloo", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States with "Blindman" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

1978 - Sweet's Capitol Records single "Love Is Like Oxygen", with "Cover Girl" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "Stop This Sorrow" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).

1989 - Donny Osmond's Capitol Records single "Soldier Of Love", with "My Secret Touch" on the flipside, enters the top 40 Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. I met Donny in 1988 at the listening party for Ziggy Marley and The Melody Maker's first Virgin Records album "Conscious Party", which was held at Virgin's first office in Beverly Hills, California.

1990 - Dan Seals' Capitol Records single "Love On Arrival", with "Those" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.

35 Years Ago Today In 1991 - MC Hammer's Capitol Records album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" is certified Diamond (10 million units sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

1998 - Rose Maddox, singer, with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose, and a Capitol Records solo artist, dies in Ashland, Oregon at age 72.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1968 - Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, with Snooky Young and Jimmy Nottingham on flugelhorns, Jim Buffington on French horn, Benny Powellon bass trombone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Grady Tate on drums, records the titles "Blues For Stan" and "Stan" both arranged by Thad Jones and with Hank Jones on piano and "The Look Of Love" arranged by Duke Pearson who is also on piano at recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. After an uncredited fourteen-piece string section records overdubs for all the titles on May 27, 1968, Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Turrentine's album "The Look Of Love" (BST84286).

1977 - Kenny Rogers United Artists Records single "Lucille" (aka Country Music's "National Anthem"), with "Till I Get It Right" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.

1979 - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West's United Artists Records single "All I Ever Need Is You", with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart. United Artists' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group.

1990 - Sinead O'Connor's Chrysalis Records single "Nothing Compares 2 U", with "Jump In The River" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Chrysalis' U.S. catalog was merged with Capitol Records catalog by Universal Music Group in 2013 and later was sold to Warner Music Group, who in turn sold it to Blue Raincoat Music who sold it to Reservoir Media Management..

1998 - Green Hill Records releases the CD compilation "The Nat 'King' Cole Collection".

APRIL 14, 2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

1924 - Shorty Rogers, a trumpet player, bandleader, composer, arranger, a member of Capitol Records band Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, and Blue Note Records artist, is born Milton M. Rajonsky in Great Barrington, Massachusettes.

1925 - Rod Steiger, a Broadway and motion picture actor and singer, and a Capitol Records artist (1955 on the "Oklahoma!" motion picture soundtrack) is born Rodney Stephen Steiger in Westhampton, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1942 - Willem Mengelberg conducts The Concertgebouw Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record Richard Strauss' "Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24" in six parts in Amsterdam, Holland for Telefunken Records. Capitol Records will issue all six parts on the album "Richard STRAUSS - Death and Transfiguration Op. 24/Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks" after it acquires distribution rights in the United States to Telefunken's library (P-8100):

1947 - Vocalist Betty Hutton, with Paul Weston conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted but included brass, reeds, piano, guitar, bass, and drums players but credited as with Joe Lillie and His Orchestra on single the label), records the titles "The Sewing Machine" and "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 409).

1947 - Vocalist Jerry Colonna, with Frank De Vol and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Cowpasture Polka", "Saloon", and "The Spaniard That Blighted My Life" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Cowpasture Polka" and "Saloon" together as a single (Capitol 420) and have yet to issue "The Spaniard That Blighted My Life".

1952 - Capitol Records registers the masters it purchased for Les Paul and Mary Ford's titles "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)" featuring vocals by Mary Ford and "Carioca" and will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2080).

1952 - Skip Martin and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Night And Day", "The Continental", "The Waltz In Sambatime", and "We Saw The Sea" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Martin's album "Music For Tap Dancing" (L-341). Unfortunately, none of the titles are currently available on YouTube.

1953 - Mel Blanc records vocal overdubs in Los Angeles, California, using a script written by Ted Pierce and Warren Foster, onto instrumental tracks recorded by Van Alexander conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted) recorded earlier in the month of April 1953 (exact date unlisted) for the titles "Wild West Henery Hawk: Part 1" and "Wild West Henery Hawk: Part 2". Capitol Records will issue the final mixes of both titles on the children's album "Wild West Henery Hawk" (CAS-3172 on 10" shellac and CASF-3172 on 7" vinyl).

1953 - The Duke Ellington Trio (Duke Ellington on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Butch Ballard on drums) record the titles "In A Sentimental Mood", "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", "All Too Soon", and "Janet" in Capitol Records' studios at 5515 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Ellington's album "The Duke Plays Ellington" (T 477).

1954 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)", with "The Man Upstairs" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of the U.S. Pop singles charts.

1957 - Vocalist and pianist Carole Simpson records vocal tracks in Los Angeles, California over band tracks recorded by Lennie Neihaus and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted but included guitar, bass, drums, three violas, and cello players) on April 3, 1957, for the titles "There Will Never Be Another You", "Your Name Is Love", "Oh, Look At Me Now", and "A Gentleman Friend". Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Simpson's album "The Song Stylings Of Carole Simpson - All About Carole" (T 878).

1958 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #27 on WMGM 1050 AM's Top 40 Survey in New York City, New York.

1958 - During two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson, with The Brazos Valley Boys (Dubert Ray Dobson on trumpet, Tommy Camfield, Harold Glenn Hensley, and Robert "Bob" White on fiddles, Vic Davis on piano, Billy Gray and Merle Travis also on guitars, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and John Sterling "Butch" White on drums), records the titles "La Zinda Waltz" and "Anniversary Waltz" at the first session between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM then the titles "Wednesday Night Waltz", "Gold And Silver Waltz", "Skaters' Waltz", and "Fifty Year Ago Waltz" between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM then at the second session from 11:30 PM and 2:30 AM on April 15, 1958. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Thompson's album "Favorite Waltzes By Hank Thompson With The Brazos Valley Boys" (T 1111).

1958 - Freddy Martin conducts His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as the record the titles "Tonight We Love (Tchaikovsky - 'Concerto In B Minor')", "Rhapsody In Blue", "Strange Music", "Theme From Tchaikovsky's '6th Symphony'", "Liebestraum", and "My Reverie" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Martin and his orchestra's album "Concerto!" (W/SW 1066).

1958 - At a split and extended session held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM, first Nelson Riddle conducts his own arrangement to His Orchestra (Tommy "Pullman" Pederson, Jimmy Priddy, Kenneth Shroyer, and Juan Tizol on trombones, John Cave and James Decker on French horns, Gene Cipriano, Buddy Collette, Joseph Koch, Lee Elliott, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, and Harry Klee on saxophones, Geoffrey Clarkson on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Joe Comfort on bass, Larry Bunker and Frank Flynn on drums, Kathryn Julye on harp, and a string section with Alex Beller, Al Belnick, David Frisina, Marvin Limonick, Dan Lube, Erno Neufeld, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, and David Sterkin on violins, Alvin Dinkin and Maxine Johnson on violas, and Edgar Lustgarten and Kurt Reher on cellos) as they record the title "The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad" then, with Keely Smith on vocals, conducts as they record titles "The Whippoorwill", "You Are My Love", "Sometimes", and "Just As Much". Capitol Records will issue "The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad" as a single (Capitol F3980) with "Love Theme From 'St. Louis Blues'" (recorded April 25, 1958) on the flipside, "The Whippoorwill" and "Sometimes" together as a single (Capitol F3975) by Kelly Smith, and "You Are My Love" as a single (Capitol F4063) with the live version of "That Old Black Magic" (recorded August 25, 1958 in the main room of the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada with Louis Prima, Sam Butera and The Witnesses) on the flipside also as by Smith. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the eight-CD box set "Louis Prima, Sam Butera, and Keely Smith - Their Capitol Recordings" (BCD 15776).

1958 - During two sessions held this day at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois, trombonist Jack Teagarden, with Dick Oakley on trumpet, Jerry Fuller on clarinet, Don Ewell on piano, Stan Puls on bass, and Ronnie Greb on drums, records the titles "Mobile Blues", "Wolverine Blues", "Tishomingo Blues", and, with Teagarden also on vocals, "Someday You'll Be Sorry" at the first session and the titles "Rip-A-Tutte", "Weary River" with Teagarden also on vocals, "Dallas Blues", and "Casanova's Lament" also with Teagarden on vocals at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Teagarden's album "Big T's Dixieland Band" (T 1095).

65 Years Ago Today In 1961 - Comedians Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks record the titles "The Astronaut", "Taxes", "2000 Year & 6 Month Old Man", and "Baby Routine" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "2000 Year & 6 Month Old Man" on the multi-artist comedy album "Fly Buttons" (T/ST 2502) and have yet to issue any of the other titles.

60 Years Ago Today In 1966 - The Beatles record the title "Rain" at Abbey Road Studios in London, England with producer George Martin. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 5651) with "Paperback Writer" (recorded April 13, 1966) on the flipside in the United States.

1968 - Final overdubs are recorded in Los Angeles, California for Glen Campbell's title "She Called Me Baby". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title on Campbell's album "A New Place In The Sun" (ST 2097).

1969 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon finish recording the title "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. It is the first title released as a single by The Beatles not to feature George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

1975 - Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel), motion picture actor and Capitol Records artist (narrator on the album "Hark The Years"), dies at age 77 in Los Angeles, California from cancer.

1978 - Vocalist Cheryl Ladd, with unlisted others, records the title "Bound To Please" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.

1978 - No Dice (Jimmy Jewell on saxophone, Steve Smith on harmonica, Dave Martin and Dave Moore on guitars, Gary Strange on bass, Chris Wyles on drums and percussion, and Roger Ferris on vocals) record the titles "Angel With A Dirty Face" and "Jail House" in San Francisco, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue either title.

1980 - The Knack's Capitol Records album "…But The Little Girls Understand" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.

1983 - Tina Turner signs a contract with Capitol Records.

1983 - Sherry Kean, with unlisted others, records the title "Universe Of Two" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Kean's album "People Talk" (ST-12328).

1990 - Heart's Capitol Records single "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You", with "Call Of The Wild" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

35 Years Ago Today In 1991 - Wilson Phillip's SBK Records (a division of Capitol Records) single "You're In Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY

1959 - The Fleetwood's Liberty Records single "Come Softly To Me", with "I Care So Much" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

1983 - EMI America registers the masters it purchased for Any Trouble's titles "I'll Be Your Man", "Please Don't Stop", "Touch And Go", "foundations", "Party In The Streets", "Northern Soul", "Man Of The Moment", "Time Does Not Heal", "You'd Better Go Home", "Falling In Love With You Again", "Wrong End Of The Race", "Step By Step", and "Human Heart" and will issue "I'll Be Your Man", "Please Don't Stop", "Touch And Go", "foundations", "Party In The Streets", "Northern Soul", "Man Of The Moment", "Time Does Not Heal", "You'd Better Go Home", and "Falling In Love With You Again" on the group's album "" (ST-17096) and "Man Of The Moment" and an edited version of "Touch And Go" together as a single (EMI America 8166). No issuing information is listed for either "Step By Step" or "Human Heart".

1990 - Thurston Harris, singer (best know for the track "Little Bitty Pretty One") and Aladdin Records artist,  dies of a heart attack in Pomona, California at age 58. I designed the album cover, with art director Henry Marquez, for EMI America's release of Harris' "Greatest Hits" album in 1986.