MAY 25, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1915 - Van Alexander, arranger, composer (arranged and co-wrote "A-Tisket A-Tasket" with Ella Fitzgerald for Chick Webb and His Orchestra), film scorer, bandleader and Capitol Records artist as Van Alexander and His Orchestra, is born Al Feldman in New York City, New York
1922 - Kitty Kalen, singer, vocalist for Artie Shaw and His Orchestra, Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra, Capitol Records artist Bobby Shorewood and His Orchestra (best known on the 1942 track "Moonlight Becomes You"), Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and Harry James and His Orchestra, and a solo artist, is born Genevieve Agostinello in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1926 - Milt Bernhart, trombonist, member of Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, and Nelson Riddle's Capitol Records bands, session musician on some of Frank Sinatra's Capitol Records sessions (including "I've Got You Under My Skin"), movie studio session musician (including lead trombonist on the theme songs for "Johnny Quest" and "The Jetsons"), bandleader of the RCA Victor group Milt Bernhart Brass Ensemble, and founder of The Big Band Academy Of America, is born in Valparaiso, Indiana
1947 - Jessi Colter, singer and Capitol Records artist (1975-1976, 1978, 1981),  is born Mirriam Johnson in Phoenix Arizona. She would first marry Duane Eddy (1961-1968) with whom she had daughter Jennifer Eddy and then Waylon Jennings (1969) with whom she had sons Buddy and Scooter Jennings.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Rich "Dude" Alves, a guitarist for the Capitol Records group (1990-1991) Pirates of the Mississipi, is born in Pleasanton, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Guitarist Carl Kress (with guitarist Tony Mattola and a clarinetist, bass player, and drummer), records the tracks "Swan Of Tonnelle Avenue", "Sarong", "Blond On The Loose", and "Walking Behind Miss Lucy" at WMCA studios in New York City for Capitol Records, but all would be rejected and would be released in 1997 on Mosaic Records' box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions"
1947 - The St. Paul Church Choir Of Los Angeles (large mixed vocal choir - lineup unlisted) with Eric Gladney on lead vocals, a unlisted pianist, and conducted by J. Earle Hines, records the titles "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me", "God Be With You", "We Sure Do Need Him Now", and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me" as a single (Capitol 867) with "Yield Not To Temptation" (recorded June 12, 1947) on the flipside and as a single (Capitol Americana 40018) with "God Be With You" on the flipside, "We Sure Do Need Him Now" as a single (Capitol Americana 40033) also with "Yield Not To Temptation" on the flipside, and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" as a single (Capitol Americana 40076) with "Walking With My Jesus" (also recorded on June 12, 1947) on the flipside . Capitol will also re-issue "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me", "God Be With You", and "What Could I Do (If It Wasn't For The Lord)?" in 1953 on the group's album "On Revival Day!" (T 791).
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalist Margaret Whiting overdubs vocals at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Boulevard in Hollywood, California onto a band track recorded by Frank De Vol and His Orchestra in London, England (getting around the second Petrillo/AFM recording ban) for the title "A Tree In The Meadow". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 15122) with "I'm Sorry But I'm Glad" (recorded December 26, 1947) on the flipside on June 21, 1948, and also on Whiting's album "Love Songs By Margaret Whiting" (EAP-1-410 on 7" EP and T 410 on 12" LP). "A Tree In The Meadow" will eventually hit #1 on Billboard's singles chart on August 21, 1948.
70 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Vocalist Andy Russell overdubs vocals at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Boulevard in Hollywood, California onto a band track recorded by Frank De Vol and His Orchestra in London, England for the title "I Kiss Your Hand Madame". Capitol Records will issue the final mix of the title as a single (Capitol 15135) with "Just For Now" (recorded November 28, 1947) on the flipside.

1952 - The original Broadway cast of the revival of George and Ira Gershwin's "Of The I Sing" featuring vocalists Jack Carson, Paul Hartman, Jack Whiting, Lenore Lonergan, Betty Oakes, Florenz Ames, Jonathan Lucas, Howard Freeman, J. Pat O'Malley, Donald Foster, Robert F. Simon, Loring Smith, and Mort Marshall, with Maurice Levine conducting the cast chorus and orchestra (lineups unlisted), during five sessions (4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM, 11:30 PM to 12:00 AM on May 26, 1952, 12:00 AM to 3:20 AM, and 3:20 AM to 3:50 AM) as they record the titles "Part 1: Prelude (instrumental)/Wintergreen For President (chorus)/Who Is The Lucky Girl To Be? (girls chorus)/The Dimple On My Knee - Because, Because", "Part 2: Never Was There A Girl So Fair/Some Girls Can Bake A Pie", "Part 3" Love Is Sweeping The Country/Finaletto/The Supreme Court Judges", "Part 4: I Was The Most Beautiful Blossom/Some Girls Can Bake A Pie (Reprise)/Finaletto", "Part 5: Hello, Good Morning/Mine/Who Cares", "Part 6: Garçon, S'il Vous Plait/Illegitimate Daughter/Because, Because (reprise)", "Part 7: Who Cares (Reprise)/The Senate Roll Call - Impeachment/Jilted", and "Part 8: I'm About To Be A Mother/Trumpeter, Blow Your Horn/Finale" in studios at 207 East 50th Street in New York City, New York. After remastering in Los Angeles on June 4, 1952, Capitol Records will issue all the titles on the album "Of The I Sing" (S 350).

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Universal-International Pictures releases the first 3-dimensional musical short subject film to go with the studio's release of the 3D feature film "It Came From Outer Space". Nat "King" Cole is the main star, singing "Pretend", in this 18 minute featurette directed by Will Cowan and filmed in "scientifically perfected eye-resting full-sepia mono-color". The featurette also includes Joan Elms singing "Blue Moon" with Russ Morgan and His Orchestra as well as Charles Drake, Joseph Sawyer, and The Gene Louis Dancers.
65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Robert McDonald conducts The Los Angeles City College Orchestra (lineup unlisted) as they record the titles "Don't Blame Me", "Cream Puff", "September In The Rain", and "Fugue In G Minor" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Cream Puf" and "September In The Rain" together as a single (Capitol 2356 on 10" shellac and F2536 on 7" vinyl) and has yet to issue the other two titles.

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ernie Royal, Conte Candoli, Don Dennis, and Don Smith on trumpets, Bob Burgess, Frank Rosolino, Tom Shepard, and Keith Moon on trombones, George Roberts on bass trombone, Lee Konitz and Vinnie Dean on alto saxophone, Bill Holman and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxophones, Henry Levy on baritone saxophone, Sal Salvador on guitar, Don Bagley on bass, and Stan Levey on drums), with vocals by Chris Connor, record the titles "All About Ronnie" and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Capitol Records will issue "All About Ronnie" as a single (Capitol 2511 on 10" shellac and F2511 on 7" vinyl) with "Baia" (recorded April 8, 1953) on the flipside and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" on the multi-artist compilation CD "Capitol Sings Cole Porter - Anything Goes" (7-96361-2).

65 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Ray Block conducts Jackie Gleason's Orchestra (a string orchestra with an unlisted lineup) as they record the titles "Crazy Rhythm" featuring an unlisted alto saxophonist, "The President's Lady" featuring an unlisted French horn player, "A Little Love, A Little Kiss" featuring an unlisted trumpet player, and "Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight')" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "The President's Lady" as a single (Capitol 2515 on 10" shellac and F2515 on 7" vinyl) with "White House Serenade" (recorded December 19, 1952) on the flipside and "Terry's Theme (From 'Limelight')" as a single (Capitol 2507 on 10" shellac and F2507 on 7" vinyl) with "Peg O' My Heart" (recorded January 12, 1953) on the flipside. Collectors' Choice Music will issue all titles on the compilation CD "Two Classic Albums From Jackie Gleason - Lover's Rhapsody/And Awaaay We Go" (CCM 192-2).

1955 - The Louvin Brothers record the track "When I Stopped Dreaming" which Capitol Records will release as a single with "Pitfall" on the flip side in July, 1955
1955 - Wardell Gray, tenor saxophonist with the Capitol Records group Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1948-1949) and then with Count Basie's band (1950-1955), is found dead in the desert outside Las Vegas with a broken neck. The Jazzitude website has a great article by Marshall Bowden about the life and mysterious death of Gray.
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
60 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Vocalist Peggy Lee, with Jack Marshall's Music (Jack Marshall conducting Conrad Gozzo, Don Fagerquist, and Mannie Klein on trumpets, Bob Enevoldsen on valve trombone, Milt Bernhart on trombone, Justin Gordon and George Smith on reeds, Joe Harnell on piano, Howard Roberts on guitar, Joe Mondragon on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums), records the titles "You Don't Know", "Ridin' High", "Alright, Okay, You Win", and "It's Been A Long, Long Time" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "You Don't Know" as a single (Capitol F3998) with "Fever" (recorded May 19, 1958) on the flipside and also on Lee's EP "Fever" (EAP-1-1052) and her album "All Aglow Again" (T 1366), "Ridin' High", "Alright, Okay, You Win", and "It's Been A Long, Long Time" on Lee's album "Things Are Swingin'" (T/ST 1049), and "Alright, Okay, You Win" also as a single (Capitol F4115) with "My Man" (recorded October 17, 1958) on the flipside.
1959 - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddlers' Capitol Records single "Only You", with "Rainy Night In Paris" on the flipside, is #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls", with "Congratulations" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Surfin' USA" hits #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart becoming the group's first top 10 single, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #5, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #14, Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki", with "Anoko No Namaewa Nantenkana" on the flipside, is #20 (and #2 on KFWB's Fabulous Forty survey), Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #25, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #34, and The Beach Boys' single "Shutdown" (the flipside of "Surfin' USA") is #38. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is also #27 on KFXM 590 AM's Fabulous 59 survey in San Bernadino, California, #28 on Cash Box magazines Top 100 Singles chart, #30 on KDWB's Top 40 survey in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota, and debuts at #44 on C-FUN's C-Funtastic Fifty chart in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records album "Where Did Everyone Go?" is #9 also on KFXM's Spotlight Albums chart in San Bernadino, California.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Pipe organist Eddie Dunstedter, with unlisted others, records the titles "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Beautiful Savior", and "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Dunstedter's album "The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again" (T/ST 1968).

55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Vocalist Bobby Darin, with Jack Nitzsche conducting his own arrangments to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "Reverend Mr. Black", "Walk Right In", and "The End Of The World" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Darin's album "18 Yellow Roses & 11 Other Hits" (T/ST 1942).
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Pianist Peter Duchin, with unlisted others, records the titles "Day Of The Jackal", "Alfredo, Alfredo", "Classical Gas", and "A Little Night Music" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "A Little Night Music" as a single (Capitol 3658) with "Fa-La" (recorded November 16, 1972) on the flipside. No issuing information is listed for the other three titles.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Final mastering is done for Jimmy Rogers' self-titled album "Jimmy Rogers" (SW-8921) that will be issued by Shelter Records, which at the time was distributed by Capitol Records.

1976 - Sweet's Capitol Records album "Desolation Boulevard" is certified gold by the R.I.A.A.
40 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Vocalist Glen Campbell, with unlisted others, records the title "Never Tell You No Lies" in Studio City's studio in Sherman Oaks, California for Capitol Records which has yet to issue the title.
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - During two sessions held this day in Audio Media Recorders' studio in Nashville, Tennessee, vocalist Anne Murray, with unlisted others records the title "Just Another Woman In Love" at the first session and the title "I Guess I Just Missed You" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue "Just Another Woman In Love" as a single (Capitol 5344) with "Heart Stealer" (recorded July 14, 1983) on the flipside and on Murray's album "ST-12301" (ST-12301) and has yet to issue "I Guess I Just Missed You".
1995 - Dick Curless, (aka The Baron of Country Music and born Richard William Curless), singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) artist (1965-1969) and Capitol Records artist (1970-1974), dies of stomach cancer at age 63 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Togus, Maine
2005 - Domenic Troiano, singer, songwriter, guitarist and solo artist with Capitol Records (1977-1979) and member of the bands Mandala, Bush, James Gang, The Guess Who, and Black Market, dies of cancer at age 59 at his home in Toronto, Canada

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #14 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Rick Nelson's Imperial Records version of the same is song is tied for #27 with Mitchell Torok's single "Pledge Of Love". EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company, currently owns Imperial's catalog.
1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #6, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #17. EMI Music Group, Capitol Records parent company, currently owns the Liberty, Laurie, and Imperial catalogs.
55 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, The Chiffons' Laurie Records single "He's So Fine" is #28, and Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Charms" is #35. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the  Roulette, Laurie and Liberty Records catalogs.
1964 - Capitol Records Canada releases The Swinging Blue Jean's single "Hippy Hippy Shake"
1967 - John Lennon's Rolls Royce gets a psychedelic paint job from Dutch team of gypsy artists group The Fool who were commissioned by J. P. Fallon Ltd. John Whelan has a pretty comprehensive article about the vehicle, and the paint job, on the Ottawa Beatles Site.
45 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Virgin Records releases its first album, Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells"
35 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Vocalist Shenna Easton, with unlisted others, records the titles "With Her Radio" and "Don't Leave Me This Way" in an unlisted studio. EMI Americal will issue both titles on Easton's album "Best Kept Secret" (ST-17101).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1846 - Patty Smith Hill, composer (best known for "Happy Birthday To You" which is still under copyright even though Miss Hill died in 1924), is born in Bath, Kentucky

1942 - It's a Monday and at 11:00 AM, trade showings for exhibitors are held by RKO Radio Pictures of Walt Disney's "Bambi" through out the country.