DECEMBER 31, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1909 - Jonah Jones, trumpet player, singer, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist, is born Robert Elliott Jones in Louisville, Kentucky. If anyone knows for sure which year, please leave a comment.
1928 - Ross Barbour, vocalist with the Capitol Records group The Four Freshmen, is born in Columbus, Indiana

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Tex Ritter's Capitol Records single "I’m Wastin’ My Tears On You", with "There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1946 - Vocalists Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (Ann, Lillian, Peggy, and Jean Harriette Clark), with Earl Sheldon and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "I Tipped My Hat And Slowly Rode Away", "If This Isn't Love", and "Listen To The Green Grass Growing" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "I Tipped My Hat And Slowly Rode Away" and "If This Isn't Love" together as a single (Capitol 364) and has yet to issue "Listen To The Green Grass Growing".
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Roy Rogers marries Dale Evans. Both would become Capitol Records solo artists as well as a Capitol Records duo.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The King Cole Trio start five straight days of shows at The State theatre in Hartford, Connecticut.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The Mel Powell Sextet (Frank Beach on trumpet, Bumps Myers on tenor saxophone, Chuck Gentry on baritone saxophone, Mel Powell on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Lee Young on drums) records the titles "Cuban Pete", "Cookin' One Up", "That Old Black Magic", and, with only Powell on piano, "When A Woman Loves A Man" in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue "Cuban Pete" on the multi-artist compilation album "Classics In Jazz - Piano Stylists" (CCF/EBF/H-323), "Cookin' One Up" and "When A Woman Loves A Man" on the album "Mel Powell On Piano" (CC-87), and "That Old Black Magic" as a single (Capitol 15056). Mosaic Records will issue all the titles in the multi-artist compilation box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions" (MQ19-170 on vinyl and MD12-170 on CD).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Vocalist Jo Stafford, with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Poor Wayfaring Stranger", "Barara Allen", Schubert's "Ave Maria", "Tell Me Why", and "It Was Written In The Stars" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" and "Barbara Allen" on the album "Jo Stafford Sings American Folk Songs" (CC-75), "Ave Maria" as a single (Capitol 15291), has yet to issue "Tell Me Why", and will issue "It Was Written In The Stars" as a single (Capitol 15040).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - At two sessions held this day at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, Billy May and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted), with narrator Ken Carson, record the music tracks for the parts 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the title "So Dear To My Heart" at the first session then vocalist Ken Carson, with Pinto Colvig on additional vocals, using a script adaptation by Alan Livingston and with May conducting the orchestra, records the titles "Nursery Rhymes: Part 1: Lazy Mary Will You Get Up/Good Morning Merry Sunshine/Merrily We Roll Along/Little Robin Redbreast/Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush/Rain, Rain Go Away/Diddle Diddle Dumpling", "Nursery Rhymes: Part 2: Mary Had A Little Lamb/John Brown Had A Little Indian/Billy Boy/Polly Put The Kettle On/Farmer In The Dell", "Nursery Rhymes: Part 3: Hickory Dickory Dock/Three Blind Mice/Three Little Kittens/Little Bo Beep/Pop Goes The Weasel/Ride A Cock Horse", and "Nursery Rhymes: Part 4: Hey Diddle Diddle/Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star/Sing A Song Of Sixpence/Yankee Doodle" at the second session between 9:00 PM and 12:00 AM on January 1, 1948). After John Beal records vocal overdubs for all the parts of "So Dear To My Heart" on June 10, 1948, Capitol Records will issue the final mix on the album "So Dear To My Heart" (DD-109 and BD-124 on 10" 78 RPM, CDF-3000 on 7" 45 RPM) and on the album "Rusty In Orchestraville/So Dear To My Heart" (P-3068 on 12" 33 1/3 RPM) and all the parts of "Nursery Rhymes" on Carson's children's albums "Nursery Rhymes" (DBS-90/CBSF-3005) and the compilation album "Jack Smith-Walt Disney's Songs/Ken Carson-Nursery Rhymes" (H-3069), and parts 1 and 2 on Carson's children's album "Nursery Rhymes" (CAS/CASF-3128) and parts 3 and 4 on Carson's children's album "Nursery Songs" (CAS/CASF-3129).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Vocalist Eddie Kirk, with an orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Take Me Back", "How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?", "A Petal From A Faded Rose", "You Drove Me To Another's Arms (And Now I'm Happy There)", "Please Don't Cry Over Me", and just the instrumental track for "In Your Loveley Veil Of White" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?" as a single (Capitol Americana 40116), "A Petal From A Faded Rose" as a single (Capitol Americana 40092), "You Drove Me To Another's Arms (And Now I'm Happy There)" as a single (Capitol 15310), and has yet to issue "Take Me Back", "Please Don't Cry Over Me", and "In Your Lovely Veil Of White".
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Vocalist and guitarist Tex Ritter, with Alan "Spud" Goodale and Eugene "Smokey" Rogers also on guitar and Deuce Spriggens on bass, records the titles "The Green Grass Grew All Around", "Big Rock Candy Mountain", and "Skybird Effects" in Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California between 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Capitol Records will issue "The Green Grass Grew All Around" and "Big Rock Candy Mountain" on Ritter's self-titled album "Tex Ritter" (DC-91) and has yet to issue "Skybird Effects".
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The Sunset Trio (lineup unlisted), with unlisted others, records the title "One Raindrop Doesn't Make A Shower" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol 492).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - At a split session held this day in Los Angeles, California, first guitarist Arthur Smith, with unlisted others, records the titles "Beautiful Brown Eyes" and "Train Whistle Blues" then vocalist and guitarist Larry Cassidy, with Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "I'll Still Be Crying Over You", "I Found Somebody New" and "The New Oklahoma Bound". Capitol Records will issue "Beautiful Brown Eyes" and "Train Whistle Blues" together as a single (Capitol 1426), "I'll Still Be Crying Over You" and "I Found Somebody New" together as a single (Capitol Americana 40099), and "The New Oklahoma Bound" as a single (Capitol 1456).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Jan Garber and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) record the titles "Serenade" and "My Extraordinary Gal" in Los Angeles, California. After Capitol Records purchases the masters, it will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 15043).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Vocalist Gordon MacRae, with Carlyle Hall and His Orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes string section), records the titles "Evelyn", "Matinee", and without the strings, "I Went Down To Old Virginia" and "Down The Old Ox Road" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Evelyn" as a single (Capitol 15091), "Matinee" as a single (Capitol 15041), "I Went Down To Virginia" as a single Capitol 15128), and "Down The Old Ox Road" as a single (Capitol 1750).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Pianist Skitch Henderson, with unlisted others, records ten unlisted titles for the Capitol Records Transcription Service in Los Angeles, California. No issuing information is listed.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - During two sessions held this day in Los Angeles, California for The Capitol Records Transcription Service, Karl and Harty, with unlisted others, record 10 unlisted titles at the first session and ten more unlisted titles at the second session. No issuing information is listed.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Pianist Buddy Cole, with unlisted others, records fourteen unlisted titles for The Capitol Records Transcription Service in Los Angeles, California. No issuing information is listed.
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Skeets McDonald's Capitol Records single "Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes", with "Big Family Trouble" on the flipside, is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1955 - Nelson Riddle's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antiqua" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Pop singles chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Pianist Joe Bushkin, with a large orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes alto flute, alto saxophone, basson, two baritone saxophones and bass clarinets, guitar, bass, drum and bongos players) using arrangements by Kenyon Hopkins, records the titles "At Sundown", "Fools Rush In", new takes of the titles "The Lady Is A Tramp" and "Love Me Or Leave Me" and the title "Yo Go To My Head" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records has yet to issue the take of "At Sundown" recorded at this session and will issue all the other titles on Bushkin's album "Night Sounds" (EAP-1/EAP-2/T 983).
1960 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Wings of a Dove" is still #1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "I Feel Fine" (with "She's A Woman" on the flipside) and Capitol Records album "Beatles '65" are both certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1966 - The Seekers' Capitol Records single "Georgy Girl" enters the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1966 - The Beach Boys are in Los Angeles, California recording vocal backgrounds for various titles but end up not using them.
1968 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Wichita Lineman" is still #1 on Billboard's Country Singles chart
1969 - Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsies play for the first time in public at the first of two consecutive days of gigs at the Fillmore East in New York City, New York. The last two shows performed the next day on January 1, 1970 will be recorded for a live album that will be released by Capitol Records to honor a 1965 contract that Hendrix had signed with the label.
1970 - Paul McCartney files a writ in London High Court against "The Beatles and Co.", seeking the legal dissolution of the partnership, which will finally take place December 30, 1974
1975 - Tapestry (lineup unlisted) records the titles "It's Not The World That's Messed Up" and an as yet unissued take of "Greed" at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with arranger and producer Norman Harris. Capitol Records will issue "It's Not The World That's Messed Up" as a single (Capitol 4295) with the instrumental "Life Is What You Make It" (a purchased master, written and produced by John Davis) recorded sometime in 1975) on the flipside.
1981 - Dave Cavanaugh (aka "Big Dave" Cavanaugh), tenor saxophonist, bass player, and A&R producer for Capitol Records, dies in Tarzana, California at age 62
1984 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records single "The Wild Boys" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1985 - Rick Nelson (radio, television, and motion picture actor, singer, songwriter, Imperial Records and Capitol Records artist), his fiancée Helen Blair, and five members of Nelson's Stone Canyon Band die after their plane crashes a mile southeast of DeKalb, Texas after a Fire in the passenger cabin forces the pilots of Nelson’s DC-3 to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The crew escaped through the cockpit windows, but none of the pasengers survived.
1994 - Capitol Records Nashville releases Garth Brooks' album "The Hits" which will go on to sell over 10 million copies and be certified Diamond by the R.I.A.A.
2001 - Charlie Louvin, former Capitol Records artist and member of The Grand Ole Opry, suffers broken ribs, a concussion, and a cracked breastbone in a car wreck
2015 - Natalie Cole, Grammy-winning singer, actress, daughter of Capitol Records artists Nat Cole and Maria Ellington Cole, and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 65 of congestive heart failure brought on by treatment for hepatitis C at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1929 - Future Capitol Records artist Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians' first annual New Year's Eve broadcast from the Roosevelt Grill in New York City is heard over the CBS Radio network
1931 - Gil Melle, saxophonist, synthesizer and drum machine player, painter, graphic artist (designed album covers for Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and Sonny Rollins), film score writer ("The Andromeda Strain", one of the first electronic music film scores), who at age 19 became Blue Note Records first white artist, is born Gilbert John Melle in Riverside, California
1960 - Ferrante & Teicher's United Artists Records single "Exodus" is #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The United Artists catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records' parent company Universal Music Group.
1961 - Future Capitol Records band The Beach Boys (previously performing under the names The Pendletones, Kenny and The Cadets, and Carl and The Passions) play for the first time using that name when they appear at a Ritchie Valens' Memorial Concert in Long Beach, California and earn $300
15 Years Ago Today In 2002 - Kevin Macmichael, guitarist and co-founder (with vocalist Nick Van Eede) of the Virgin Records America band Cutting Crew, dies of lung cancer at age 51. Their 1987 hit "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" is the label's first U.S. release and its first #1 single. Virgin Records America's catalog is now owned by Capitol's parent company, EMI Music.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1905 - Jule Styne, pop, motion picture and Broadway composer (who wrote, with lyricists that included Sammy Cahn and Frederick Loewe, the music for the songs "I've Heard That Song Before", "I'll Walk Alone", "It's Been a Long, Long Time","Let It Snow, Let It Snow", "The Things We Did Last Summer", "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night In The Week", "[Kiss Me Once and Kiss Me Twice] It's Been A Long, Long Time", "Five Minutes More", "Three Coins in the Fountain" [an Academy Award Winning tune] and others, and the scores for the Broadway shows "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" [1949, lyrics by Leo Robin, which includes the songs "Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend" and "The Party's Over"], "Bells Are Ringing" [1956, with lyrics by Comden and Green which was turned into the 1960 movie whose soundtrack was released by Capitol Records and included Capitol Records artist Dean Martin singing "Just in Time"] as well as "Funny Girl" [1964, with lyrics by Bob Merrill] whose original Broadway cast album was also released by Capitol Records] and others) is born Julius Kerwin Stein in London, England