AUGUST 19, 2017

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

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - The King Cole Trio (Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals, Oscar Moore on guitar, Johnny Miller on bass, and William Jack "The Bear" Parker on drums), with an unidentified string section and producers Carl Kress and Walter Rivers, record the title "The Best Man", a new take of Mel Tormé's and Robert Wells' "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" (after an initial take by just Cole, Moore, and Miller on June 14, 1946) this time using a string arrangement by Charlie Grean, and the title "You Should Have Told Me" in the WMCA Studios in New York City, New York. Cole was able to convince Capitol execs to invest more money to re-record "The Christmas Song" because he felt that the song would work better with a string section. In all there are at least six version of the song using Cole's vocals from 4 different sessions. Wikipedia has a good article describing all the versions, how to identify them, and where to find them. Capitol Records will initially issue "The Best Man" as a single (Capitol 304) with "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" (recorded on August 22, 1946) on the flipside, "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" as a single (Capitol 311) with the instrumental "In The Cool Of The Evening" (recorded on September 6, 1946) on the flipside, and "You Should Have Told Me" as a single (Capitol 356) with "I Want To Thank Your Folks" (recorded on December 18, 1946) on the flipside.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - During two sessions held this day in Studio B at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, vocalist and pianist Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm (Ulysses Livingstone on guitar, Billy Hadnott on bass and possibly Sidney "Sid" Catlett on drums) record the titles "Pig Latin Song", "Do You Or Don't You Love Me", "Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago", and "Lovable" at the first session between 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM and the titles "Fine And Mellow", "There's Another Mule In Your Stall", "I Thought About You", and "Kinda Blue And Low" at the second session between 4:30PM and 7:45PM. Capitol Records will issue "Pig Latin Song" as a single (Capitol 15032) with "Fine Brown Frame" (recorded December 27, 1947) on the flipside, "Do You Or Don't You Love Me" as a single (Capitol Americana 40063) with "The Song Has Ended" (recorded August 28, 1957) and on Lutcher's album "Real Gone" (CCF-232), "Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago" and "There's Another Mule In Your Stall" on Lutcher's album "Nellie Lutcher & Her Rhythm" (CC-70), "Lovable" and "Kinda Blue And Low" together as a single (Captol 1026), "Fine And Mellow" as a single (Capitol 57-70026) with "Princess Poo-Poo-Ly Has Plenty Papayas" (recorded December 28, 1947) on the flipside, and "I Thought About You" as a single (Capitol 15112) with "Imagine You Having Eyes For Me" (also recorded December 27, 1947) on the flipside. Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the four CD box set "Nellie Lutcher And Her Rhythm" (BCD 15910).

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

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

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

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

1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "All You Need Is Love", with "Baby You're A Rich Man" on the flipside, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1968 - Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) releases Pink Floyd's single "Let There Be More Light" with "Remember A Day" on the flip side
1969 - The last session where original music is recorded for The Beatles' last album recorded as a group, "Abbey Road", occurs in Studio 2 at Abbey Road Studios in London with George Harrison recording of the MOOG part for the track "Here Comes The Sun" with producer George Martin, engineers Geoff Emerick and Phil McDonald and second engineer Alan Parsons. All further sessions for the album are held for for only mixing, remixing, and mastering purposes.
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - After rehearsal sessions on August 16 and 17, 1977 at a concert given at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, vocalist Natalie Cole, with Gene Barge directing and Linda Williams conducting the orichestra (Oscar Brashear, Gene Coe, and possibly Bobby Sims on trumpets, George Bohanon and Garnett Brown on trombones, Charles Owens on woodwinds, Delbert Hill and Donald Williams on saxophones, Michael Wycoff on organ, Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bobby Eaton on bass, Theodore Sparks on drums, Wayne Habersham on percussion, and a string section with concertmaster Wilbert Nuttycombe, Jay Rosen, Gordon Marron, Brian Leonard, Mari Tsumura, Jerome Reisler, Janice Gower, Irving Katz, Ronald Clark, Isabelle Daskoff, Shari Zippert, and Daniel Anderson on violins, Marilyn Baker, Herschel Wise, and Dan Neufeld on violas, and Ronald Cooper and Jacqueline Lustgarten on cellos), performs the titles "Sophisticated Lady" without the strings, "Que Sera Sera (What Ever Will Be, Will Be)", "I'm Catching Hell (Living Here Alone)", "Peaceful Living", "Inseparable", "No Plans For The Future", "Mr. Melody", "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)", "Party Lights", "I've Got Love On My Mind", "I Can't Say No", and "Can We Get Together Again" which are recorded. Capitol Records will issue all the titles, except "Peaceful Living" and "No Plans For The Future", which it has yet to issue, in the two LP set "Natalie Live!" (SKBL-11709).

1979 - Dorsey Burnette, songwriter, singer and guitarist, who recorded with his brother Johnny as the Burnette Brothers for Imperial and Liberty Records (whose catalog is now owned by Capitol Records) and as a solo artist for Liberty and Capitol Records, dies of a heart attack at age 46 in Canoga Park, California
2003 - Capitol Records releases The Dandy Warhols' album "Welcome To The Monkey House"

2003 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Dierk Bentley's self-titled debut album as an enhanced CD
2011 - Jay Ranellucci (born Julio (Jay) Francis Ranellucci on March 16, 1933), recording engineer for Capitol Records from 1957 to 2007, passes away peacefully at age 78. He stated his career in Korea with Armed Forces Radio as a radio broadcast specialist. On leaving the service in 1955, he worked at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles until he started at Capitol Records in 1957 where he worked as a recording engineer until his retirement in 2007 - a remarkable 50- year career working with such music/entertainment greats as Nat Cole, Julie London, Peggy Lee, the Kingston Trio, the Beach Boys, Stan Kenton, Stan Freberg, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hoyt Axton, Jo Stafford, Bobby Darin, Bing Crosby, Nancy Wilson, Merle Haggard, The Band, and many others. He was also a lifelong fan of old-time radio, both drama and comedy, and had a tremendous memory for actors names and associated time periods, as well as the associated trivia of the genre. His sense of humor was well-known and stories were fascinating. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, a stepdaughter, 2 granddaughters, and a great-grandson.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Billy J. Kramer, singer and front man for the Parlophone Records (a subsidiary of EMI) recording artists Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas (whose manager was Brian Epstein, were produced by George Martin, and whose first three hits were songs written by Lennon & McCartney that weren't used by The Beatles), is born William Howard Ashton in Bootle, Liverpool, England
1948 - Capitol Records recording artist Dean Martin and his wife's daughter, Deana (Dina) Martin, is born
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Capitol and Apple Records artist Ringo Starr's and his wife Maureen Starkey's son Jason Starkey is born.
1981 - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, who will form the EMI Records recording duo The Pet Shop Boys, meet for the first time by chance at an electronics shop on the Kings Road in Chelsea, England. EMI currently owns Capitol Records. The Pet Shop Boys were released in the U.S. by EMI America whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records.
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - At two sessions held this day in a unlisted location, Marty Balin, with unlisted others, records the title "Born To Be A Winner" at the first session and "Virginia" at the second session for EMI America, at the time distributed by Capitol Records. No issuing information is listed.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Groucho Marx (born Julius Henry Marx), comedian, Broadway, motion picture, and television actor, radio and television game show host ("You Bet Your Life"), and part of the comedy team The Marx Brothers, dies of pneumonia at age 86. He will later be cremated, and the ashes will be interred in the Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California