SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1923 - Fats Navarro, trumpet player, bandleader, and Capitol (as a member of Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra and The Benny Goodman Sextet) and Blue Note Records (solo and part of The Tadd Dameron Sextet) artist, is born Theodore Navarro in Key West, Florida. Dr. Stuart A. Varden has a wondeful site on the life of Fats with a pretty detailed sessionography.
1924 - Sheila MacRae, singer, motion picture and television actress (best known as the third Alice Kramden on "The Honeymooners" segment of "The Jackie Gleason Show", wife of Capitol Records artist Gordon MacRae, and a Capitol Records artist as part of a duo with her husband, is born Sheila Margaret Stephens in London, England. Gordon and Sheila were at the opening night festivities for The Capitol Tower.
1936 - Jim Henson, puppeteer, television and motion picture producer, and creator of The Muppets (an adaptation of their movie "Muppets Treasure Island" was released by Angel Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records in 1996), is born James Maury Henson in Greenville, Mississippi.
1941 - Linda McCartney, photographer, singer, keyboard player, first wife of Paul McCartney, member of the Capitol Records group Wings, author, animal rights protector, vegetarian food manufacturer and, posthumously, a Capitol Records solo artist, is born Linda Louise Eastman in Scarsdale, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Vocalists James (Jim) Baskett, Johnny Mercer, and The Pied Pipers, with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to his Orchestra (Uan Rasey on trumpet, Ed Kusby, Elmer Smithers, Carl Loeffler, and Arthur Frantz on trombone Nicholas Dann, J.A. Krechter, George Smith, Herman Berardinelli, and Arthur Fleming on saxophones, Ray Turner on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, Ralph Hansell on percussion, Kathryn Thompson on harp, and a string section with Harry Bluestone, Ivan Eppinoff, Howard Halbert, Nicholas Pisani, Mischa Russell, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, and Olcott Vail on violin, Stanley Spiegelman and David Sterkin on viola, Cy Bernard and Fred Goerner on cello), and using a script adaptation by Alan Livingston, record the titles "Running Away, Part 2" and "Br'er Rabbit And The Tar Baby, Part 2" at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will release both titles as part of the children's album "Tales Of Uncle Remus" (Capitol CC-40).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Al Porcino, Chico Alvarez, and Ken Hanna on trumpets, Milt Bernhart, Eddie Bert, Harry Betts, and Harry Forbes on trombones, Bart Varsalona on bass trombone, George Weidler and Frank Pappalardo on alto saxophones, Bob Cooper and Warner Weidler on tenor saxophone, Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Eddie Safranski on bass, Shelly Manne on drums, and Jack Costanzo on bongos) record the titles "Elegy For Alto", "Soothe Me" with vocals by June Christy, and "Chorale For Brass, Piano And Bongo" at Radio Recorders studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Elegy For Alto" on Kenton's album "A Concert In Progressive Jazz" (CD-79), "Soothe Me" as a single (Capitol 15031) with "Lover" (recorded March 31, 1947) on the flipside, and "Chorale For Brass, Piano And Bongo" on Kenton's album "Stan Kenton Encores" (CC-113).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - At a split session held in Los Angeles, California, first vocalist Andy Russell, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Muchachita" and "Love For Love" then vocalist Peggy Lee, with guitarist Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (unlisted flute, rhythm, finger cymbals, and string players), records a new take of the title "Golden Earring" using an arrangement by Heinie Beau. Capitol Records will issue "Muchachita" and "Love For Love" as a single (Capitol 15006) and "Golden Earrings" as a single (Capitol 15009) with "I'll Dance At Your Wedding" (recorded September 23, 1947) on the flipside and on Lee's album "My Best To You" (CCF-204).

1951 - Jan Garber and His Orchestra featuring Roy Cordell and The Dinning Sisters (Ginger, Delores and Jean Dinning) on vocals, record the titles "Painting Clouds With Sunshine", "Heartbreak Hill" (with vocals by The Dinning Sisters), "We're In The Money (Gold digger's Song)", "Chances Are" (vocals by Roy Cordell), and "Jazz Pizzicato" (vocals by Roy Cordell) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and third titles together as a single (Capitol 1852), "Heartbreak Hill" as a single (Capitol 1858) with "No! No! No! Not That!" (recorded on October 12, 1951) on the flipside, and the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol 1827).

1951 - Bob Crosby and His Orchestra (with Bob leading Charlie Teagarden, Zeke Zarchy, and Ray Linn on trumpet, Murray McEachern, Ted Vesely, and Elmer Schneider on trombone, Matty Matlock on clarinet and alto saxophone), Willie Schwartz on alto saxophone, Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone, John Rotella on tenor and baritone saxophone, Stan Wrightsman on piano, Nappy Lamare on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Nick Fatool on drums) record the titles "I Never Was Loved By Anyone Else" and "Sans Souci" (both with vocal by Gisele MacKenzie), and "Crying Shame" (with vocals by Bob Crosby and Jeanne Gayle) in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 1826) and the last track as a single (Capitol 1894) with "Savoy Blues" (recorded October 3, 1951).
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Somewhere Along The Way" is #10 on The Billboard magazine's Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart, #12 on the magazine's Best Selling Pop Singles chart, and #20 on its Most Played Juke Box Records chart. Also, Cole's single "Because You're Mine" is #17 on the magazines Best Selling Singles chart and #29 on its Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys chart.
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Vocalist Molly Bee (aka Molly Beachboard), with Van Alexander and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Honky Tonk Mountain", "Tennessee Tango", "The Kids Who Pay", and "List'nin' To The Green Grass Grow" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Honky Tonk Mountain" as a single (Capitol 2339) with "Nobody's Lonesome But Me" (recorded October 27, 1952) on the flipside, "Tennessee Tango" and "The Kids Who Pay" together as a single (Capitol 2258), and have yet to issue "List'nin' To The Green Grass Grow".
1956 - The Andrews Sisters (vocalists Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, and Patty Andrews) with The Robert Mitchell Boys Choir (8 unidentified children) and The Lynn Murray Orchestra (with unlisted musicians) record the as yet unissued take of the title "Hosanna, Hosanna" and the titles "A Child's Christmas Song" and "Silver Bells" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the last two tracks together as a single (Capitol F3583).
1956 - Nat "King" Cole on piano and vocals), with Stuff Smith on violin, John Collins on guitar, Alvino Rey on steel guitar, Charlie Harris on bass, and Lee Young on drums, records the titles "Sometimes I'm Happy", "I Know That You Know", "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", and "Two Loves Have I" at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM. EMI and Capitol will release all the titles together for the first time on the English pressing of Cole's album "After Midnight" (EMS1103).
1956 - At two sessions held this day in New York City, New York for Capitol Records Benny Goodman and His Orchestra record the as yet unissued titles "'Warm Up' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" and "'Rag' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" at the first session and "'Ride Out' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" and "'Contrapuntal Blue' Derivations For Clarinet And Band" at the second session.
1956 - Laurindo Almeida on guitar, with Ray Turner on piano, records Gnattali's "Concertino For Guitar And Piano, Movements 1 and 2" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the title on Almeida's album "Impressoes Do Brasil (Impressions Of Brazil)" (Capitol P-8381).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - It's Tuesday night at 7:30 PM and Gogi Grant, dance trio The Dunhills, The Copa Girls, and The Jerry Graff Singers appear on "The Nat 'King' Cole Show" on NBC-TV. Here's a link to the script.
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - At two sessions held this day in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California, vocalist and guitarist Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley Boys (Billy Armstrong, Harold Glenn Hensley, and Billy Peters on fiddles, Vic Davis on piano, Bob Bain on guitar, Floyd Lester "Bobbie" White on steel guitar, Billy Briggs Stewart on bass, and Paul McGhee on drums) record the titles "Bubbles In My Beer", "Headin' Down The Wrong Highway", "Drivin' Nails In My Coffin", and "Lawdy What A Guy" at the first session between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM and the titles "After All The Things I've Done" and "Make Room In Your Heart (For A Memory)" at the second session between 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM. After Bob Bain records guitar overdubs on October 14, 1957 between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM for "After All The Things I've Done", Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys' album "Dance Ranch" (T 975).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Billy May conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Vito Mangano, and Uan Rasey on trumpets, Si Zentner, Murray McEachern, Tommy Pederson, and George Roberts on trombones, Skeets Herfurt and Wilbur Schwartz on alto saxphones, Ted Nash and Fred Falensby on tenor saxophones, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums) as they record the titles "Brushed Off" and "Swingin' Drums" using arrangements by May, and, with the addition of drummers Irving Cottler and Stan Levey, the title "Tri-Fi Drums" using an arrangement by Bill Holman in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 9:00 PM and 1:30 AM on September 25, 1957. After additional recording or remastering is done on September 26, 1957 for "Swingin' Drums" Capitol Records will issue "Brushed Off" and "Tri-Fi Drums" on the multi-artist compilation album "Hi-Fi Drums" (T 926) and "Swingin' Drums" on the EP "Swingin' Drums: Billy May/Earl Palmer" (EAP-1-1026).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Pianist Agi Jambor records Beethoven's "Für Elise" and "Minuet In G", Debussy's "Clair De Lune", Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata, 1st Movement", and Rachmaninoff's "Prelude In C Sharp Minor" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Jambor's album "Introduction To The Piano" (PAO-8422).
1961 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Under The Influence Of Love" with "Bad Bad Dream" on the flipside. Other references list this single as being released on July 24, 1961. If anyone knows for sure which date is accurate, please leave a comment.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Ramblin' Rose" is #10 on WCOL 1230 AM's Music Meter survey in Columbus, Ohio.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's single "One More Town" (Capitol 4842) with "She Was Too Good To Me" on the flip side. On the same day, The Kingston Trio (vocalists Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane, and John Stewart), with Dean Reilly on bass and (b) Allen Newton Fo on percussion, record the titles "My Lord What A Mornin'", "The New Frontier", "Poor Ellen Smith", "Honey, Are You Mad At Your Man?", and "Green Grasses" in The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM and, after a break, between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue all the titles except "Green Grasses" on the group's album "New Frontier" (T/ST 1809). Bear Family Records will issue all the titles in Germany in the ten CD box set "The Kingston Trio - The Stewart Years" (BCD 16161).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Pianist Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Dalton Smith, Marvin Stamm, Bob Behrendt, Keith LaMotte, and Gary Slavo on trumpets, Bob Fitzpatrick, Bud Parker, Tom Ringo, and Jim Amlotte on trombones, Dave Wheeler on bass trombone and tuba, Ray Starling, Dwight Carver,Joe Burnett, and Lou Gasca on mellophones, Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone, Don Menza and Ray Florian on tenor saxophones, Allan Beutler on baritone saxophone, Joel Kaye on bass saxophone, Bucky Calabrese on bass, Dee Barton on drums, and Steve Dweck on percussion), with vocalist Jean Turner, record the titles "Commencement" and "Quintile" at The Capitol Tower Studios at 1750 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Jean Turner(vo). Capitol Records will issue "Commencement" on Kenton's album "Adventures In Time" (T/ST 1844) and rejected the take of "Quintile" recorded at this session. A new take will be recorded on September 25, 1962 and also issued on Kenton's album "Adventures In Time".
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vocalist Tommy Hunter, with unlisted others, records the titles "Penny Wishes", "The Poor Little Bullfrog", and "Jeannie's Last Kiss" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Penny Wishes" and "The Poor Little Bullfrog" together as a single (Capitol 4890) and have yet to issue "Jeannie's Last Kiss".
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vocalist and guitarist Mac Wiseman, with Cecil Brower on fiddle, Ray Edenton on guitar, Buck Trent on banjo, Joe Zinkan on bass, Murrey M. "Buddy" Harman Jr. on drums, and a vocal chorus (Hoyt H. Hawkins, Neal Matthews Jr., Hugh Gordon Stoker, Raymond C. Walker, and Millie Kirkham), records the titles "'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered" with the addition of Mother Maybelle Carter and Hugh Gordon Stoker on harmony vocals, "Wild Fire", and "I Like Good Bluegrass Music" at Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered" as a single (Capitol 5116) with "The Scene Of The Crime" (recorded April 12, 1953) on the flipside and "Wild Fire" and "I Like Good Bluegrass Music" together as a single (Capitol 4899).
1966 - Billboard magazine, in an article with today's street date, reports that The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer", with "Eleanor Rigby" on the flipside, has sold 1.2 million copies in just 4 weeks and has become the band's 21st gold single, setting a record for the most gold records earned by any act in R.I.A.A. history to that date
1966 - The Knack records the titles "I'm Aware", "No Show Today", and "Merry-Go-Round" in Los Angeles, California.
1968 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Hey Jude", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1969 - Before it's release, Capitol Records sends out new artwork to manufactures for the back cover of The Beatles' album "Abbey Road" which adds the song "Her Majesty" after "The End" in the track listing after many covers had been printed (and used) without listing the song. Both versions are shipped, with the revised version being rarer.
1971 - Helen Reddy records the title "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" in Los Angles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title on Reddy's album "No Sad Song" (Capitol ST-857).
1973 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's album "Ernie Ford Sings About Jesus" (Capitol Capitol ST-11232)
1976 - The Pousette-Dart Band records the titles "May You Dance" and "Listen To The Spirit" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on the band's album "Amnesia" (Capitol SW-11608).
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Tavares (lineup unlisted) record the title "Timber" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 4583) with "Feel So Good" (recorded September 29, 1977) on the flipside and on the group's album "Future Sound" (SW-11719).
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, T-Connection (lineup unlisted) record the titles "I've Got News For You" at the first session and "Tonight's The Night" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "I've Got News For You" as a single (Capitol 5230) with "Love Odyssey (Love Shines Forever)" (recorded September 30, 1982) on the flipside, "Tonight's The Night" as a single (Capitol 5205) with "Superstar" (recorded September 27, 1982) on the flipside, and both titles on the group's album "The Game Of Life" (ST-12264).
1990 - Capitol Records releases Megadeth's album "Rust In Peace"
1991 - Liberty/SBK Records, a division of Capitol Records, releases Billy Dean's album "Billy Dean". It will go on to be certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. and have 2 singles that peaked at #4 on the U.S. Country charts in 1991, "You Don't Count the Cost" and "Only the Wind", and two that charted in 1992,  "Billy the Kid" which peaked also at #4, and "If There Hadn't Been You" which peaked at #3.
1991 - Capitol Records releases Barbara Mandrell's last studio album for the label "Key's In The Mailbox".
1991 - Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), cartoonist and writer, whose children's stories "Gerald McBoing Boing" and "Gossamer Wump" were released as double sided singles with original artwork paper sleeves by Capitol Records, dies at age 87 in La Jolla, California following several years of illness
1998 - Capitol Records releases Less Than Jake's album "Hello Rockview"
15 Years Ago Today In 2002 - Tuckertime Records releases Tanya Tucker's album "Tanya" with distribution by Capitol Records Nashville
15 Years Ago Today In 2002 - Capitol Records releases the compilation album "Judy Garland: The Capitol Years 1955-1965" on CD
15 Years Ago Today In 2002 - Capitol Records Nashville releases John Berry's compilation album "Certified Hits"
2003 - Matthew Jay, Capitol Records artist, dies at age 24 after falling seven stories from his apartment in Nottingham, England
10 Years Ago Today In 2007 - Rob Sweitzer and Mark Padgett of the Capitol Records group Mae quit the band. They would return in 2010 and resumed playing with the band on June 19, 2010 when Mae played a show in Singapore.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1915 - Mary Jane Gumm (aka aka Janie, aka Susie or Suzy), member of the singing group The Gumm Sisters, sister of future Capitol Records artist Judy Garland and aunt to future Capitol Records artist Liza Minnelli, is born. If anyone knows where (possibly Grand Rapids, Minnesota), please leave a comment.
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Gerry Marsden, lead singer with the Parlophone Records group Gerry and The Pacemakers (the second group managed by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein), is born in (Toxteth) Liverpool, England. Parlophone is distributed by Capitol Music Group's parent company EMI Music Group in the United Kingdom.
1955 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Ain't That A Shame" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
1955 - "The Ford Star Jubilee" 90 minute variety show premieres on CBS-TV with Judy Garland, on her first television special, re-creating much of her popular stage show. Two days later, on September 26, 1955, Capitol Records releases Garland's album "Miss Show Business" which contains studio versions of many of the songs she performed on the special.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vocalist Dodo Greene, with Ike Quebec and Eddie Chamblee on tenor saxophone, Edwin Swanston on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Wendell Marshall on bass, Jual Curtis on drums, and Dionne Warwick and an unlisted player on tambourines, records the titles "You Don't Know Me", "Nothing Like True Love", "Jazz In My Soul", "Not One Tear", "I Hear", and "Time After Time" in recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue "You Don't Know Me", "Not One Tear", "I Hear" and "Time After Time" as part of its Connoisseur Series on the CD "Dodo Greene - My Hour Of Need" (8-52442-2) and rejected "Nothing Like True Love" and "Jazz In My Soul".
1963 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano, Bobby Haynes on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "On Broadway Pacific", "Free Sample", "Sassy", "You Are Sometimes Only Rain", and "Moon River" for their Pacific Jazz album "Heat Wave" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer and recording engineer Richard Bock on to four track masters. Pacific Jazz's library is currently owned by Capitol Records and re-issued by Blue Note Records.
1964 - "The Munsters" premieres on CBS-TV. Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) group The Standells will make a guest appearance on an episode performing two songs
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - "The Love Boat" premieres on ABC-TV starring Gavin MacLeod, stepfather of Capitol Records' one-time VP of Creative Services Tommy Steele. Not knowing this the first time it happened while I was working freelance in house at Capitol, I was wondering why Captain Stubing was sitting on the couch in Tommy's office.
30 Years Ago Today In 1987 - Pianist Michel Petrucciani, with Gary Peacock on bass and Roy Haynes on drums, records the titles "She Did It Again", "One For Us" with the addition of John Abercrombie on guitar, "One For Us", "Sahara", "13th", and "Mr. K.J." at Clinton Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue all the titles on Peturcciani's album "Michel Plays Petrucciani" (B1-48679).
1988 - Bobby McFerrin's EMI Manhattan single "Don't Worry Be Happy", the first a cappella record to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, is still #1