DECEMBER 26, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1921 - Steve Allen, television variety show host, motion picture actor, songwriter, pianist, and Capitol Records artist (1958 on the LP "Ray Anthony Plays Steve Allen"), is born in New York City, New York
1940 - Phil Spector, director of A&R for Liberty (1962) and Apple Records (1971), record producer (who has worked with Capitol Records artists The Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, Starsailor, and The Vines), is born Harvey Phillip Spector in the Bronx, New York
1990 - Jon Bellion, singer, songwriter, rapper, piano and keyboard player, record producer, and Visionary and Capitol Records artist, is born Jonathan David Bellion in Lake Grove, New York.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Stan Kenton (on piano) and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, John Anderson, Russ Burgher, and Bob Lymperis on trumpet, Freddie Zito, Ray Klein, Milt Kabak on trombone, Bart Varsalona on bass trombone, Al Anthony and Boots Mussulli on alto saxophone, Vido Musso and Bob Cooper on tenor saxophone, Bob Gioga on baritone saxophone, Bob Ahern on guitar, Eddie Safranski on bass, and Ralph Collier on drums) record the titles "Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy" (with vocals by June Christy and tenor sax solo by Vido Musso) and "I Been Down In Texas" (with vocals by June Christy, Gene Howard, Ray Wetzel, and Stan Kenton) at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 235).
1945 - Peggy Lee (on vocals), with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (which features Dave Barbour on guitar and includes unlisted clarinet, saxophone, and rhythm section players), records the titles "I Can See It Your Way" and "I Don't Know Enough About You" at Radio Recorders' studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 236).
1946 - Violinist Jascha Datsko and His Gypsy Orchesstra (lineup unlisted) record the title "Oo Kalitky (At The Gate)" and record a new take of the title "Granadinas/Clavelitos" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Oo Kalitky (At The Gate)" on Datsko's album "Gypsy Dreams" (CC-100) and the new take of "Granadinas/Clavelitos" on his album "Gypsy Nights" (CD-42).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Vocalist and bandleader Tex Williams and His Western Caravan (Max Fidler, Cactus Soldi, and Rex Call on fiddles, Paul "Spike" Featherstone on harmonica, Ossie Godson on piano, Pedro De Paul on accordion, John Weiss and Benny Garcia Jr. on electric guitar, Smokey Rogers on guitar and banjo, Joaquin Murphy on steel guitar, Deuce Spriggens on bass, and Muddy Berry on drums) record the titles "Just A Pair Of Blue Eyes", "I Cried Myself To Sleep", "Happy Birthday Polka", and "Who? Me?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Just A Pair Of Blue Eyes" as a single (Capitol 15175), "I Cried Myself To Sleep" as a single (Capitol 15398), "Happy Birthday Polka" as a single (Capitol Americana 40095), and "Who? Me?" as a single (Capitol 15113).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California, vocalist Peggy Lee, with guitarist Dave Barbour and His Orchestra (unlisted trumpet, piano, bass, and drums players) records the titles "Love Ye" and "What'll It Getcha" at the first session and the titles "(I'm Not Gonna) Let It Bother Me", "I Wanna Go Were You Go (Then I'll Be Happy)", "Bye Bye Blues", and "I Don't Know What To Do About You, Baby" at the second session. Capitol Records has yet to issue "Love Ye" and "What'll It Getcha", will issue (I'm Not Gonna) Let It Bother Me" on the CD "Rare Gems And Hidden Treasures" (5-27564-2), "I Wanna Go Where You Go (Then I'll Be Happy)" as a single (Capitol 15298), "Bye Bye Blues" on the four-CD set "Miss Peggy Lee" (7-97826-2), and has yet to issue "I Don't Know What To Do About You, Baby".
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - At a split session held in Los Angeles, California, first Frank De Vol conducts his own arrangements to His Orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes a string section) as they record the title "Moon Love" then vocalist Margaret Whiting with De Vol and His Orchestra records the titles "I Know Where I'm Going", "I'm Sorry But I'm Glad", and "Every Time I Meet You". Capitol Records will issue "Moon Love" in De Vol and His Orchestra's album "Classics In Modern" (CC-88), has yet to issue "I Know Where I'm Going", will issue "I'm Sorry But I'm Glad" as a single (Capitol 15122), and "Every Time I Meet You" as a single (Capitol 57-590).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The Sportsmen (vocalists Bill Days, Max Smith, Martin Sperzel, and Gurney Bell), with Perry Botkin and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Siesta", "My Gal Sal", "I'd Love To Live In Loveland", and "Tutti Tutti Pizzicato" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Siesta" as a single (Capitol 15295), "My Gal Sal" and "Tutti Tutti Pizzicato" together as a single (Capitol 496), and "I'd Love To Live In Loveland" as a single (Capitol 15145).
1951 - Trumpet player Clyde McCoy and His Orchestra (Joe Triscari, Conrad Gozzo, and Uan Rasey also on trumpet, Si Zentner, Bill Schaefer, and Tommy Pederson on trombone, Wilbur Schwartz on clarinet and alto saxophone, Ted Romersa on alto saxophone, Skeets Herfurt and Ted Nash on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Edwin "Buddy" Cole on piano, Vincent Terri on guitar, Phil Stephens on bass, and Alvin Stoller on drums), record the titles "Limehouse Blues", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Where's My Sweetie Hiding?" with a vocal ensemble (lineup unlisted), and "Farewell Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Limehouse Blues" and "Farewell Blues" on McCoy's album "Sugar Blues" (EBF-311), "Where's My Sweetie Hiding?" as a single (Capitol 2138) with "Tear It Down" (recorded January 10, 1952) on the flipside, and has yet to release "Ain't Misbehavin'".

1955 - Peggy Lee (on vocals), with Dave Barbour and his Orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "The Mill On The Floss", "Climb Up The Mountain", and "Pick Up Your Marbles And Go Home" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "The Mill On The Floss" and "Climb Up The Mountain" together as a single (Capitol 1366). "Pick Up Your Marbles And Go Home" was released on the CD "Peggy Lee: The Lost 40s & 50s Capitol Masters" by Collectors' Choice Music (WWCCM09172) in March 2008.

1955 - Dean Martin's Capitol Records single "Memories Are Made Of This", with "Change Of Heart" on the flipside, is #2 on Billboard's Pop singles chart and Tennessee Ernie Ford's Capitol Records single "Sixteen Tons", with " You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
1956 - Nelson Riddle conducts his own arrangements to his orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Holiday In Naples", "Japanese Sunset", "Blame It On Paree", and "Donkey Tango" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Holiday In Naples" as a single (Capitol F3631) with "Accordion Willy" (recorded June 1, 1956) on the flipside, "Blame It On Paree" as a single (Capitol F3794) with "In A Small Forgotten Town" (recorded April 15, 1957) on the flipside, "Donkey Tango" on the compilation album "Dance Craze" (EAP-3-927), and has yet to issue "Japanese Sunset".
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Vocalist Tommy Sands, with lead guitarist's Bob Bain's Music (unlisted tenor saxophonist, Merrill E. Moore on piano, Buck Owens on rhythm guitar, and unlisted bass and drums players) and a vocal chorus (lineup unlisted), records the titles "You're Driving Me Crazy" and "I'm Your" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles on Sands' album  "This Thing Called Love" (T 1123).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Vocalist Tony Roma, with unlisted others, records the titles "Lovers Again", "The Things I See In You", "Teen Angel", and "Too Long" in New York City, New York for Capitol Records which has yet to issue "Lovers Again" and "Too Long" and whose subsidiary, Prep Records, will issue "The Things I See In You" and "Teen Angel" together as a single (Prep F133).
1961 - Vocalists Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, with Paul Weston conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere", "Now The Day Is Over", "Star Of Hope", and "Abide With Me", in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the duo's album "Whispering Hope" (T/ST 1696).
1963 - Capitol Records rush releases its first single by The Beatles, "I Want To Hold Your Hand", with "I Saw Her Standing There" on the flipside. The single will be #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 5 weeks on February 1, 1964
1963 - Buck Owen's Capitol Records single "Love’s Gonna Live Here", with "Getting Used To Losing You" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Country singles chart
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "I Feel Fine", with "She's A Woman" on the flipside, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owen's single "Where Does The Good Times Go" with "The Way That I Love You" on the flipside
50 Year Ago Today In 1967 - The Art Reynolds Singers (vocalists Thelma Houston, Alfreda James, Lillie Mae Brown, Glenna Session, Arlene Le Beef, and Art Reynolds), with unlisted others, record the titles "Go For What You Know", "Selfishly", "Can't Tell It All", and "Help Yourself" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the group's album "The Soul Gospel Sounds Of The Art Reynolds Singers - Electrifying" (ST 2900).
50 Year Ago Today In 1967 - Capitol Records purchases the masters for the soundtrack album for the American International Productions film "Mary Jane" which will be issued by the label's subsidiary, Sidewalk Records (DT-5811) and will issue two titles from it, "Theme From 'Mary Jane'" by Mike Clifford and "Gas Hassle" by The Sidewalk Sounds together as a single (Sidewalk 939). The album also includes a version of "Theme From 'Mary Jane'" by Capitol Records artist Mrs. Miller.
1970 - George Harrison's Apple Records "My Sweet Lord", with "Isn't It A Pity" on the flipside and distributed in the United States by Capitol Records, is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Helen Reddy's Capitol Records single "Angie Baby" with "I Think I'll Write A Song" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. It is Reddy's third and last # 1 song to date.
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Tromboinst Raul De Souza, with arranger George Duke (as "Dawilli Gonga") on piano and synthesizer, Roland Bautista and Charles Icarus Johnson on guitars, Byron Miller on electric bass, and Leon Ngudu Chancler on drums, records the titles "Jump Street", "Free Jam", "Overture", and "I Believe In You" at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Jump Street", "Overture", and "I Believe In You" on the album "Don't Ask My Neighbors" (SW-11774). No issuing information is listed for "Free Jam".
1981 - The Little River Band's Capitol Records single "Take It Easy On Me", with "Orbit Zero" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles and Cashbox's Top 100 Singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1931 - George Gershwin’s musical "Of Thee I Sing" opens at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The show will become the first American musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Capitol Records will issue the Broadway cast album of the 1952 revival which starred Jack Carson and Paul Hartman.
1945 - Baby Dodds' Jazz Four (Albert Nicholas on clarinet, Art Hodes on piano, Wellman Braud on bass, and Baby Dodds on drums) record the titles "Fealin' At Ease", "Careless Love", two takes of "High Society", "Winin' Boy Blues" and two more takes of Careless Love" at radio station WOR's studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue "Feelin' At Ease" and the second take of "High Society" together as a single (BN 519) and the first take of "Careless Love" and "Winin' Boy Blues" together as a single (BN 518). Mosaic Records will issue all the titles and takes in the box set "The Complete Art Hodes Blue Note Sessions" (MR5-114 on vinyl and MD4-114 on CD).
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - BBC-TV in the U.K. airs, in black and white, The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" for the first time.
1975 - Ronnie Laws (on flute and soprano and tenor saxophone) with Donald Hepburn and Michael Hepburn on electric piano, clavinet, and synthesizer, Marion The Magician on guitar, Nathaniel Phillips on electric bass, Bruce Carter on drums, and Bruce Smith on percussion, record the title "From Ronnie With Love" in the Total Experience Studio in Los Angeles, California. Blue Note Records will release the title on Laws' album "Fever" (BN-LA628-G on vinyl and 7-89541-2 on CD).
30 Years Ago Today In 1987 - The Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield's EMI America Records single "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", with "A New Life" on the flipside, enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company, Universal Music Group.