JULY 13, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1942 - Roger McGuinn, digital distribution advocate, techie, and 12-string Rickenbacker guitarist with such bands as The Byrds and Capitol Records group McGuinn, Clark and Hillman, is born James Joseph McGuinn in Chicago, Illinois

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - Arranger and tenor saxophonist Bill Holman (with Dave Madden on baritone saxophone; Conte Candoli on trumpet; Bob Evenvoldsen on valve trombone; Paul Moer on piano; Ralph Pena on bass; and Shelly Manne on drums) records the tracks "The Mild One", "My Buddy", "Where Or When", and "Bon Mot" at Capitol Records Melrose Avenue studios in Hollywood, California. The tracks will remain unissued until they appear on Mosaic Records box set "Kenton Presents Cooper, Holman & Rosolino".
1958 - The Kingston Trio record a live date at the hungry i, where they would perform 30 songs, only 12 of which were later released by Capitol Records until Bear Family Records in Germany released it's box set "The Kingston Trio - The Guard Years" in 1997, which contained the entire concert
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "M.T.A." is #15 up from #18 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Under Your Spell Again" with "Tired Of Livin'" on the flip side
1963 - Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" is #6 down from #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #18 down from #12, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #26 down from #16, The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Shut Down" is #33 down from #31, and Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because is #37 down from #30
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' sing'e "A Hard Day's Night" with "I Should Have Known Better" on the flip side
1966 - At 10:00 AM, The Chocolate Watchband enter American Recording Studios to start their first recording session for Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records. David Aguilar of the group has a great article about what led up to that first session and who was there.
1970 - Capitol Records re-releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's albums "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" and "Let Me Walk With Thee" packaged together with new cover art
1985 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records single "A View To A Kill" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart becoming the first title song from the James Bond franchise of movies to reach the top of the U.S. charts. Ironically, on the same day, the original members of Duran Duran perform for the last time at the Live Aid concert held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until they give a reunion concert in 2003
1993 - Pianist Don Pullen (with Carlos Ward on alto saxophone, Nilson Matta on bass, J.T. Lewis on drums, and Mor Thiam on djembe, tabula, rainsticks, wind chimes, and vocals) perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Capitol Records records the performance and releases the tracks "Yebino Spring", "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya", "Capoeira", "Kele Mou Bana" and "Aseeko! (Get Up And Dance!" on the album "Live-- Again Live At Montreux" in 1995.
5 Years Ago Today In 2004 - Capitol Records releases Rochester, Minnesota band The F-UPS self-titled debut album
2006 - Red Buttons, comedian, actor and Capitol Records artist (on the original motion picture soundtrack to "Pete's Dragon" with another Capitol Records artist Helen Reddy), who also did voice work with Capitol Records artist Judy Garland on the animated feature film "Gay Purr-ee", dies of vascular disease at his home in Century City at age 87. Here's hoping that, wherever he his, he's finally getting a dinner.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1927 - Ike Cole, pianist, singer, and brother of Capitol Records artist Nat "King" Cole, is born in Chicago, Illinois
70 Years Ago Today In 1939 - Frank Sinatra has his first recording session when he's the featured vocalist with new bandleader Harry James and His Orchestra on the tracks "Melancholy Mood" and "From The Bottom of My Heart"
1942 - Stephen Jo Bladd, drummer with the EMI America group The J. Geils Band, is born in Boston, Massachusettes
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Singer and pianist Amos Milburn (with Maxwell Davis tenor saxophone, Chuck Norris on guitar, Ralph Hamilton on bass, and Lee Young on drums) records the tracks "Roomin' House Boogie", "Walkin' Blues" (without Davis on tenor saxophone), and "Blue And Lonesome" for Aladdin Records at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California. The first two tracks will be released on separate singles by Alladin in the United States and the last track wil be released by Aladdin in France on Milburn's album "Vicious, Vicious Vodka"
1951 - Arnold Schoenberg, a tonal composer whose works were recorded for Capitol Records by the Hollywood String Quartet, dies in Los Angeles, California at age 76
1953 - Future Capitol Records artists Louis Prima and Keely Smith are married. If anyone knows where, please contact me.
1957 - Bob Brookmeyer records (with Brookmeyer on valve trombone and piano; Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone; Jim Hall on guitar; Joe Benjamin on bass; and Dave Bailey on drums) the tracks "Louisiana", "Santa Claus Blues", "Truckin’", "Some Sweet Day", "Sweet Like This", "Jada", and "Don’t Be That Way" with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Al Schmitt at Costal Studios in New York City for his Pacific Jazz album "Traditionalism Revisited". Pacific Jazz's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #21 down from #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 single chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Sweeter Than You" enters the top 40 at #24 up from #53 and it's flip side "Just A Little Too Much" also enters the top 40 at #32 up from #42, Dion and The Belmonts Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #33 down from #19, and David Seville and The Chipmunk's Liberty Records single "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" enters the top 40 at #36 up from #65. Liberty, Imperial, and Laurie Records catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1963 - The Essex's Roulette Records single "Easier Said Than Done" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Jan and Dean's Liberty Records single "Surf City" is #2 up from #7, The Chiffons' Laurie Records single "One Fine Day" is #5 up from #6, and The Fleetwoods' Dolton Records single "Goodnight My Love" enters the top 40 at #40 up from #48. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Roulette, Liberty, Laurie, and Dolton Records catalogs.
1972 - Elvin Jones records the tracks "Soultrane" (with Steve Grossman on tenor saxophone, Gene Perla on bass, Jones on drums, Albert Duffy on tympani, and Frank Ippolito on percussion), "One's Native Place" (with Thad Jones on flugelhorn, David Liebman on flute, Steve Grossman on soprano saxophone, Jan Hammer on piano, Gene Perla on bass, Jones on drums, Albert Duffy on tympani, Frank Ippolito on percussion, and Carlos Patato Valdes on conga), and "G. G." (with Thad Jones on flugelhorn, David Liebman and Steve Grossman on tenor saxphone, Jan Hammer on piano, Gene Perla on electric bass, and Jones on drums) with producer George Butler and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at The Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for Jones' Blue Note Records album "Mr. Jones". Blue Note Records catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1962 - The Blossoms record the track "He's A Rebel" written by Gene Pitney with Bobby Sheen singing high tenor for producer Phil Spector. When Philles Records releases the track as a single, with "I Love You Eddie" on the flip side, they called the group The Crystals. The single would hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart on November 3, 1962 and stay for two weeks.

JULY 12, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
90 Years Ago Today In 1919 - Paul Villepigue, clarinetist, flutist, player of the entire range of saxophones, and arranger (for Ben Pollack/Chico Marx band and such Capitol Records artists as Charlie Barnet, Stan Kenton, June Christy, Mel Tormé, and Alvino Rey), is born Paul Fabian Villepigue, Jr. in Ottawa, Kansas
1927 - Conte Candoli, trumpet player, older brother of trumpet player Pete Candoli, and member of Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (1948-1949 and 1951) as well as many other groups including Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band, is born Conte Secundo Candoli in Mishawaka, Indiana
1938 - Bill Cosby, comedian, television and movie actor, producer, and Capitol Records artist, is born William Henry Cosby, Jr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1951 - Cheryl Ladd, television actress, singer and Capitol Records artist (solo and as a vocalist with Josie & The Pussycats) is born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor in Huron, South Dakota

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Peggy Lee with her husband Dave Barbour and His Orchestra records the tracks (which they also co-wrote) "Don't Be So Mean To Baby" (which remains unreleased), "It's A Good Day" (which Capitol Records will release as single #322 with "He's Just My Kind" on the flip side), and "I've Had My Moments" (which was rejected) with producer Lee Gillette in Los Angeles, California.
1946 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson, Ken Hanna on trumpet; Kai Winding, Miff Sines, 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; Kenton on piano; Bob Ahern on guitar; Eddie Safranski on bass; Shelly Manne on drums; and June Christy on vocals) record the tracks "Ain't No Misery In Me" (with vocals by Christy and solos by Winding on trombone and Mussulli on alto saxophone), "Artistry In Percussion" (with solos by Manne on drums and Winding on trombone), two takes of "Safranski (Artistry In Bass)" (with solos by Safranski on bass and Kenton on piano), "Artistry in Bolero" (with solos by Safranski on bass, Kenton on piano, Musso on tenor saxophone and Winding on trombone) at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles, California with producer Lee Gillette. All the tracks except the second take of "Safranski (Artistry In Bass)" will appear on the 78 rpm version of their Capitol Records album "Artistry in Rhythm". The second take of Safranski (Artistry In Bass)" will replace the first on the 33 1/3 rpm version of the album.
1947 - Red Ingle and The Natural Seven (with vocals by Cinderella G. Stump aka Jo Stafford)'s Capitol Records single "Tim-Tay-Shun" (aka "Temptation) is still #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" is #2 up from #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is still #14, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Somewhere Along The Way" (with "What Does It Take" on the flip side) is #13 up from #16, Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Take My Heart" (with "I Never Cared" on the flip side) is #15 up from #17, and Nat "King" Cole (with Billy May and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" (with "I'm Hurtin'" on the flip side) enters the top 20 at #20
1957 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocal, trombone and bass; Don Barbour on vocal and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocal and drums; and Ken Albers on vocal, trumpet, mellophone, and bass) with arranger Pete Rugolo conducting the studio orchestra (Frank Rosolino, John Halliburton, Milt Bernhart, and Herbie Harper on trombone; George Roberts on bass trombone; Clarence Karella on tuba; Herbie Mann on piccolo, flute, and alto flute; Howard Roberts on guitar; Jimmy Rowles on piano; Red Mitchell on bass; Shelly Manne on drums; Bernie Mattinson on vibraphones and percussion; Milt Holland on percussion; and Chico Guerrero on bongos and percusssion) record the tracks "Yesterdays", "Mine", "Again", "What's New", and "Star Eyes" in Los Angeles, California for their Capitol Records album "Voices In Latin"
1962 - Bobby Darin signs a three-year contract with Capitol Records
1965 - Brian Wilson records an instrumental backing track with a rough lead vocal for the song that will become "Sloop John B" at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Minnie Ripperton, singer with a five octave range and a Capitol Records artist (1976-1979), dies at approximately 10:00 AM of breast cancer at age 31 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, California with her husband, Richard Rudolph, by her side
2003 - Benny Carter, composer, band leader, trombonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, alto saxophonist, and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 96 of possible broncitis at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. There is a nice biographical article on Jazz Beat's site by Floyd Levin.
2005 - Billboard Radio Monitor reports that Joanna Carter has been promoted to senior director of creative services at Capitol Records Nashville
2006 - It is reported this day that Syd Barrett, songwriter, guitarist, and founding member of Pink Floyd, had died "peacefully a couple of days ago", either from complications of diabetes or of cancer, at his home in Cambridgeshire, England at age 60

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1895 - Oscar Hammerstein II, Broadway, motion picture, and television lyricist (including "Rose-Marie", "The Desert Song", "Sunny" "Show Boat", "Carmen Jones", "Oklahoma!", "South Pacific", "Carousel", "The King And I", "Cinderella", "The Sound Of Music" and many others) and producer, is born Oscar Greeley Clendinning Hammerstein II in New York City, New York. Capitol Records has released the original motion picture soundtracks to "Oklahoma!", "Carousel" and "The King And I", a 10" album of cover versions of songs from "South Pacific" recorded by Capitol Records artists, and many Capitol Records artists have recorded cover versions of Hammerstein's songs, some of which appeared on Capitol's compilation CD "Hello Young Lovers: Capitol Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein" on April 5, 1994
1962 - The Rolling Stones give their first performance at the Marquee Club in London, England. At the time, the group consisted of singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Dick Taylor, pianist Ian Stewart and drummer Mick Avory. The Rolling Stones catalog is now distributed by Virgin Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.
1972 - Drummer Elvin Jones (with David Liebman and Steve Grossman on tenor saxophones and Gene Perla on bass) records the track "New Breed" for Jones' Blue Note Records album "Mr. Jones" with producer George Butler and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at The Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Blue Note Records catalog.
1996 - Jonathan Melvoin, keyboardist with the Virgin Records group Smashing Pumpkins, dies of a heroin overdose at age 34 in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
155 Years Ago Today In 1854 - George Eastman, inventor of the Kodak camera and roll film upon which motion picture film is based, is born in Waterville, New York
2008 - At 2:25 PM Alaska time, after about 12 hours of labor (which his mom will never let him forget), our grandson, Alexander Lee Johnson, is born at 19.75" and 7 pounds 1 ounce in Juneau, Alaska.

JULY 11, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1947 - Jeff Hanna, guitarist and lead vocalist ("Mr. Bojangles") for the United Artists and Capitol Records group The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is born in Detroit, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1950 - George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva, lyricist, librettist, music publisher, Broadway and motion picture producer, and co-founder of Capitol Records with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, who put up $25,000 of his own money to start the company, dies of heart failure in Hollywood, California at age 55
1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal is #4 down from #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Vaya Con Dios" is #5 up from #6, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" is #12 up from #17, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby" is still #15, and Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Allez-Vous-En" (the flip side of "Half A Photograh) is #17 up from #18
1960 - Time Magazine runs an article about Capitol Records artists The Kingston Trio and the success of their album "Sold Out"
1963 - Buck Owens records the track "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" which Capitol Records will release as a single on August 19, 1963 with "Getting Used To Losing You" on the flip side. The track will go to #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Billboard Magazine runs an article "Beatles' LP: 4 Days That Shake The Industry" about how the soundtrack to "A Hard Day's Night" sold 1 million copies in 4 days, becoming one of the fastest selling albums in recording history
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Wouldn't It Be Nice", with "God Only Knows" on the flip side, peaks at #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1972 - Merle Haggard records the track "It's Not Love, But It's Not Bad" which Capitol Records will release as a single with "My Woman Keeps Lovin' Her Man" on the flip side in August 1972
1987- Heart's Capitol Records single "Alone", with "Barracuda" (live version recorded at NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan, June 1986), on the flip side, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
10 Years Ago Today In 1999 - Helen Forrest (born Helen Fogel), singer with the bands of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, and the Sam Donahue led Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, radio performer (on "The Dick Haymes Show"), motion picture actress (including "Bathing Beauty" and "Two Girls And A Sailor"), and Capitol Records artist (1955 album "Voice Of The Name Bands"), dies of congestive heart failure at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills at 82 and is later laid to rest in Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California
2000 - Capitol Records releases Everclear's album "Learning How To Smile, An American Movie, Volume I". I designed the "frowny face", an adaption of Harvey R. Ball's "smiley face" image, that was used as the main packaging graphic for the album's first single "Wonderful".
2006 - Bill Miller, long time musical director, accompanist, and friend of Frank Sinatra, dies at Montreal General Hospital in Canada at age 91. His daughter Meredith was with him at the hospital when he passed. He had been working at a month long gig that started June 28 with Frank Sinatra, Jr. at Le Cabaret du Casino, 1 Avenue du Casino, Montreal. Army Archerd's blog has an article giving the specifics and reactions from the Sinatra family.
In private life, Bill was a kind, quiet, and patient man whose unquestioning loyalty to friends, and love of his family, was remarkable. Professionally, it was all about the music and the craft, modestly giving every session an extra something that even he couldn't put into words but you could always hear. He had an amazing ear for the well done, and would only become annoyed or, on a rare occasion, angered when faced with the uncaring or sloppy. I was fortunate to be able to talk to Mr. Miller at his home on June 4, 2006. Bill was inside watching the ball games, which he said he only really took interest in during the playoffs. After introductions, and him finding out about my interest in Capitol, he turned down the TV and we talked for a little while. His memory was very much intact, but after being caught in a mudslide in the '60s that also killed his wife, he had some hearing problems. I told him about meeting Vernise Pelzel and Louise Yocum, the daughter and wife, respectively, of Sinatra's music coordinator and copiest Vern Yocum, the previous weekend and he said that he remembered Vern very well and how much Vern would do anything to help Nelson Riddle meet his deadlines. I told him about meeting the curator of the Nelson Riddle collection at the University of Arizona, Tucson, and how he was able to tell how much Vern had done by looking at the handwriting on the charts. Bill said that he remembered how prouc Vern was proud of his body building son and would show him photos of Ray Yokum all the time. I asked Bill if he could help identify some of the players at Sinatra's "Tone Poems Of Colors" sessions. He suggested looking at listings of the session players before and after the "Tone Poem" sessions to get an idea on who was working on those session, as it was normal to get the same people together. We talked about some of the producers who worked with Sinatra, he remembered how Voyle Gilmore was the serious one of the crowd that included Dave Cavanaugh and Lee Gillette. He talked about Sinatra starting out at the Capitol Studios on Melrose and how the first singles with Axel didn't go well. He felt the first real recordings for Capitol started when Nelson Riddle started arranging for Frank for "I've Got The World On A String". He said he had been back in Studio B in the Tower last year working with Frank Jr. on tracks. I told him about the live recording of Sinatra that Capitol released last year as part of the Las Vegas Centennial tribute and Bill said that Capitol recorded a lot of the shows be he didn't know what they had done with the tapes. He hadn't heard about the release of the Las Vegas CD (a few weeks later, after he had left for Montreal, I dropped off a copy of the disc I had bought for him). We talked about people who were still around like Jo Stafford and Martha Tilton and I told him how Stafford and Weston's papers were joining those of Nelson and Vern's at The University of Arizona Tucson's School Of Music. I told him that Nellie Lutcher was still alive in L.A. though no longer performing. He was surprised at that, saying that she must be at least as old as he is, if not more. We talked about Freddie Slack. Bill said he wasn't a big fan of but that was probably because he was jealous that he couldn't play the piano like Freddie. A call from his daughter Meredith in Berkeley ended the conversation. Later, I would thank him for his time and I was invited back after he came back from Montreal. I'm just glad for the time I had.
2006 - The 30th anniversary release of The Steve Miller Band's album is rescheduled to Tuesday, July 18th, 2006

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1931 - Thurston Harris, singer with the groups The Lamplighters, The Tenderfoots, and The Sharps, and a solo Aladdin Records artist (best known for the track "Little Bitty Pretty One"), is born in Indianapolis, Indiana. I designed the album packaging for Harris' EMI America's 1986 greatest hits compliation with art director Henry Marquez.
1946 - At his first recording session, Dean Martin records the tracks “Which Way Did My Heart Go?”, “All of Me”, “I Got the Sun in the Morning” and “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” for Diamond Records whose offices were located in The Brill Building in New York City
1937 - George Gershwin, composer (who worked with future Capitol Records co-founder Buddy DeSylva on songs such as "Stairway To Heaven" as well as with his brother Ira Gershwin, dies in Beverly Hills, California at age 38 from an inoperable brain tumor. Many Capitol Records artists have covered songs written by Gershwin and his compositions were featured as part of the "Capitol Sings" series on the CD "Fascinatin' Rhythm: Capitol Sings George Gershwin".
1960 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Walking To New Orleans" is #21 up from #31 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, The Fleetwoods' Dolton Records single "Runaround" is #23 up from #25, and Don Costa and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Theme From 'The Unforgiven'" is still #27. Imperial, Dolton and United Artists Records' catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1968 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "Fancy Dance", "Upstairs", and "Sting Ray" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Thorne Nogar for their Pacific Jazz album "Powerhouse". Capitol Records now owns the Pacific Jazz catalog
1976 - Frank Sinatra marries Barbara Marx in Palm Springs, California
2006 - Nelson Riddle's Capitol Records album "Sing a Song With Riddle" is re-released on CD with the never released "Hey Diddle Riddle" album as a 2 disc set by DRG Records thanks to DRG's president Hugh Fordin being able to convince Capitol to license him the material. Unfortunately, according to someone who was involved with another record company that was trying to release the album itself last year, DRG's incomplete research has led to them leaving off 1 track from the album and an additional 2 tracks that were supposed to be released as a 45 single to coincide with the album's original release are also not on DRG's release.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Sir Laurence Olivier dies in Steyning, West Sussex, England, from complications of a neuromuscular disorder and cancer at the age of 82, and is interred in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, London.

JULY 10, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1941 - Ian Whitcomb, singer, songwriter, ukulele player, bandleader, motion picture and television scorer, record producer, radio disc jockey and Tower Records (a subsidiary of Capitol Records) artist, is born Ian Timothy Whitcomb in Woking, Surrey, England
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Dave Smalley, guitarist and vocalist with the band The Mods (1964-1966) and The Choir (1966-1969), and bass guitarist (1970-1973) with the Capitol Records group The Raspberries, is born David Bruce Smalley in Oil City, Pennsylvania

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1948 - Capitol Records has five of the top 20 songs on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart with The Pied Piper's Capitol Records single "My Happiness" at #4 up from #7, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is #7 down from #3, Mel Blanc and The Sportsmen Quartet's Capitol Records single "The Woody Woodpecker Song" (with The Sportsmen Quartet's track "I’d Love To Live In Loveland With A Girl Like You" on the flip side) enters the top 20 at #8, Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Twelfth Street Rag" is #15 down from #11, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra)'s single "A Tree In The Meadow" (with "I'm Sorry, But I'm Glad" on the flip side), enters the chart at #17
1951 - Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé, with arranger Sid Feller conducting his orchestra (Buck Clayton and Bernie Privin on trumpet; Warren Covington, Lou McGarity, and Buddy Morrow on trombone; Barry Galbraith on guitar; Joe Shulman on bass; John Lewis on piano; and William Exiner on drums), record the tracks "Don't Fan The Flames" and "Telling Me Yes And Telling Me No" which Capitol Records will release together as a single (5-1738)
1952 - Tennessee Ernie Ford, with Cliffie Stone's Orchestra, records the tracks "The Tennessee Local" and "Blackberry Boogie" which will be released by Capitol Records on the Capitol Americana label (#2170) at Capitol Records' Melrose studios in Hollywood, California. "Blackberry Boogie" will peak at #6 on Billboard's Country singles chart.
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In A Fountain" is #8 down from #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs" is #17 down from #14
1956 - Trumpeter Harry James (with Nick Buono also on trumpet; Juan Tizol on valve trombone; Willie Smith and Herb Lorden on alto saxophone; Francis Polifroni on tenor saxophone; Larry Kinnamon on piano; Joe Comfort on bass; and Buddy Rich on drums) records the track "What Am I Here For" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. The label will reject this version and James will re-record it on May 2, 1957.
1957 - Frank Sinatra, with The Ralph Brewster Singers (Sue Allen, Betty Allen, Ralph Brewster, Peggy Clark, Barbara Ford, Lee Gotch, Beverly Jenkins, Jimmy Joyce, Gene Lanham, Bill Lee, Ray Linn, Jr., John Mann, Thora Mathiason, Dorothy McCarty, Loulie Jean Norman, Betty Noves, Thurl Ravenscroft, Ginny Roos, Max Smith, Bob Stevens, Bill Thompson, Bob Wacker, Betty Wand, Gloria Wood, and Norma Zimmer) and arranger Gordon Jenkins conducting the studio orchestra (Victor Arno, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Sol Kindler, Joseph Livoti, Nick Pisani, Joseph Quadri, Lou Raderman, Mischa Russell, and Marshall Sosson on violins; William Baffa, Louis Kievman, Paul Robyn, and David Sterkin on violas; Cy Bernard and Armand Kaproff on cellos; Bill Miller on piano; Nathan Gangursky and John Ryan on bass; Allen Reuss on guitar; and Kathryn Thompson on harp), records the tracks "Adeste Fideles", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" in Studio A with producer Voyle Gilmore at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for Sinatra's Capitol Records album "A Jolly Christmas"
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #39 down from #27 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1965 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Beatles VI" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart
1967 - Singers Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens (with Roy Nichols on lead guitar; Glen Campbell, Lewis Talley, and Billy Mize on guitar; Norman Hamlett on steel guitar; Jerry Ward on bass; Eddie Burris on drums; and George French on piano) record the track "Look Over Me" with producer Ken Nelson at The Capitol Tower Studios, in Hollywood, California for Haggard's 1968 Capitol Records album "Sing Me Back Home"
1967 - Bobbie Gentry records "Ode to Billie Joe" for Capitol Records at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. I wonder if she listened in to Haggard and Owens' session next door? The track will be rush released as a single by Capitol Records
1968 - Capitol Records releases The Band's debut album "Music From Big Pink"
1972 - Capitol Records releases Pink Floyd's single "Free Four" with "Stay" on the flip side
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Mel Blanc, radio, motion picture and television actor, cartoon voice artist ("man of a thousand voices"), and Capitol Records artist, dies in Los Angeles, California at age 81 and is later interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California with the epitaph "That's All Folks" on his tombstone
2005 - Dr. Cora Martin-Moore, head of the Capitol Records gospel group The Echoes of Eden Choir of St. Paul's Baptist Church, dies in Los Angeles, California at age 74

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
115 Years Ago Today In 1894 - Jimmy McHugh, pianist, song plugger, composer of pop songs (including "Let's Get Lost", "I Can't Give You Anything but Love", "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "I'm in the Mood for Love" and many others) as well as Broadway and motion picture scores, is born James Francis McHugh in Boston, Massachusetts. McHugh collaborated with many lyricsts including Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer as well as Ted Koehler, Ned Washington, Harold Adamson, Frank Loesser, and Dorothy Fields. Many Capitol Records artists have covered McHugh's songs and Capitol released a compliation of them as #17 of its "Capitol Sings" series of CDs "Jimmy McHugh - I Feel A Song Coming On".
1900 - After getting permission from British company The Gramaphone Company (later to become EMI) and commissioning the original artist to make a copy, Emile Berliner registers the image of ‘His Master’s Voice’ with the U.S. Patent Office. In the United States it will become the logo of the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor). The image will remain the official logo for EMI in the United Kingdom.
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Neil Tennant, singer, songwriter, and part of the EMI America Records duo Pet Shop Boys, is born Neil Francis Tennant in North Shields, Northumberland, United Kingdom
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #12 down from #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, it's flip side "Hello Mary Lou" is #21 down from #15, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "It Keeps Rainin'" is #23 up from #24. Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1963 - It's a busy day at the BBC's studios in London as The Beatles record the tracks "A Taste Of Honey", "Memphis, Tennessee", "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Lonesome Tears In My Eyes", "Nothin' Shakin'", "The Hippy Hippy Shake", "So How Come (No-one Loves Me)", "Matchbox", and "Love Me Do" for the sixth episode of the radio show "Pop Go The Beatles" which Auntie Beeb will broadcast on July 23, 1963
1968 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano and electric piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "Hey Jude", "Firewater", and (with Arthur Adams on guitar) "Love & Peace" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Thorne Nogar for their Pacific Jazz album "Powerhouse". Pacific Jazz's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1972 - Capitol Records group Heads, Hands & Feet perform live with The James Gang at Knob Hill in Clarkston, Michigan

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - D.J. Dewey Phillips plays Elvis Presley's single "That's All Right" for its first time on radio, on WHBQ in Memphis, Tennessee
15 Years Ago Today In 1994 - Steven Seagal leaves his footprints in cement at ceremony #163 at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California
2006 - The Cartoon Network starts showing episodes of "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" as part of its "Adult Swim" late night block of shows

JULY 9, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - Bob Howe, long time Capitol Records employee (retires in 1978), is born Robert Howe in Humbolt, Nebraska
1921 - Irv Kluger, drummer, vibraphonist, studio musician, and member of the Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra (1947-1948) as well as the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Tex Beneke, and Artie Shaw, is born in Brooklyn, New York
85 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Leonard Pennario, pianist, composer, and Capitol and Angel Records artis is born in Buffalo, New York. Mary Kunz Goldman, Pennario's official biographer, has a daily blog about how she's progressing on writing her book.
80 Years Ago Today In 1929 - Jesse McReynolds, vocalist, fiddle and mandolin player, and guitarist for the Capitol Records (1952) duo Jim and Jesse McReynolds, is born Jesse Lester McReynolds in Carfax (near Coeburn), Virginia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Johnny Mercer, with The Pied Pipers (June Hutton, Clarke Yocum, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry) and Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Ray Linn, Charlie Griffard, and Zeke Zarchy on trumpet; Allan Thompson, Bill Schaefer, and Elmer Smithers on trombone; Herbie Haymer on tenor saxophone; Fred Stulce, Matty Matlock, Hap Lawson, and Lenny Hartman on reeds; Milt Raskin on piano; George Van Eps on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums), records the track "Why Should I Cry Over You?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will release the track on a single (#448) with "Sugar Blue" on the flip side.
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is still #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugalo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #11 down from #10, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "A Wonderful Guy" is #17 up from #20
1952 - Tennessee Ernie Ford and Ella Mae Morse record the tracks "I'm Hog Tied Over You" and "False Hearted Girl" which Capitol Records will release together as a single (#2215)
1955 - Nat "King" Cole's double sided Capitol Records hit "A Blossom Fell" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) and "If I May" (with The Four Knights on backing vocals and Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra and Chorus' Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #4 down from #3, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" with "If I Had Three Wishes" on the flip side, is still #5, and Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #25 down from #21
1965 - Peggy Lee, with Sid Feller conducting his orchestra, records the tracks "Happy Holidays", Winter Wonderland", and "Little Drummer Boy" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California with producer Dave Cavanaugh for her 1965 Capitol Records album "Happy Holidays"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Pink Floyd record the track "Biding My Time" with producer Norman Smith at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England. The track, written by Roger Waters, will eventually be released on the band's "Relics" album in May 1971
1972 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Made In Japan", with "Black Texas Dirt" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1973 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's album "Country Morning"
1982 - Wingy Manone, trumpet player and Capitol Records artist, dies at age 82 in Las Vegas, Nevada
1988 - Poison's Enigma Records single (distributed by Capitol Records) "Nothin' But A Good Time" with "Look But You Can't Touch" on the flip side, peaks at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1996 - Capitol Records releases two more volumes from its Ultra Lounge Series of compilation albums, "Volume 8: Cocktail Capers" and "Volume 9: Cha-Cha De Amor"
2001 - The Country Music Association announces the inclusion of Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson and Capitol Records recording artists The Jordanaires into the Country Music Hall of Fame that will happen at a special ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee on October 4, 2001 and they will also be recognized during the Annual CMA Awards November 7, 2001 on CBS-TV
2002 - Rod Steiger (born Rodney Stephen Steiger), television and motion picture actor and a Capitol Records artist (on the original motion picture soundtrack for "Oklahoma!"), dies of pneumonia and kidney failure at age 77 and is later interred in the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1916 - Joe Liggins, arranger, pianist, founder of Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers, Exclusive, Speacialty, Mercury, and Aladdin Records artist, is born in Guthrie, Oklahoma
1952 - The Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Chet Baker on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, and Joe Mondragon on bass) record the tracks "Hagi and Haig" and "She Didn't Say Yes, She Didn't Say No" at Phil Turetsky’s House in Los Angeles, Calfornia for Pacific Jazz Records, whose catalog is now owned by Capitol Records
1952 - Les Paul applies for his first patent, "Combined Bridge and Tailpiece for Stringed Instruments", on July 9, 1952, a one pickup design which was granted on March 13, 1956, #2,737,842
1956 - Trumpetist Thad Jones (with Billy Mitchell on tenor saxophone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums), records the tracks "Billie Doo", "Let's", "In A Mellow Tone", and "Thedia" (all of which are rejected) and (with just Thad Jones on trumptet and Burrell on guitar) "Something To Remember You By" (which will be released by Blue Note Records [Japan] on the compilation album by various artists "The Other Side Of The 1500 Series") with producer Alfred Lion and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at The Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note's catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1957 - The Mingus Three (Charles Mingus on bass, Hampton Hawes on piano, and Danny Richmond on drums) records the track "Summertime" in New York city with producer Lee Kraft for their self-titled album for Roulette Records. Roulette's catalog is currenly owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1968 - The Jazz Crusaders (Wayne Henderson on trombone, Wilton Felder on tenor saxophone, Joe Sample on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Stix Hooper on drums) record the tracks "Love Is Blue", "Promises, Promises", and "Cookie Man" at the Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Thorne Nogar for their Pacific Jazz album "Powerhouse". EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, now owns the Pacific Jazz catalog
1972 - Wings, at their first public appearance, opens at Chateauvillon, in the south of France, and marks the first time Paul McCartney has appeared on stage since 1966
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Future Capitol Records artist Eddy Raven's Universal Records single "In A Letter To You" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts. The track will later be leased to Capitol Records for use on "Greatest Hits" compilations.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1955 - One year to the day from when it was released by Decca Records, Bill Haley and His Comets single "Rock Around The Clock", with "Thirteen Women" on the flip side, becomes the first Rock 'n' Roll song to hit #1 on Billboard's singles chart thanks to it's use in the MGM movie "The Blackboard Jungle"

JULY 8, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
105 Years Ago Today In 1904 - Bill Challis, arranger (most notably Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's Capitol Records recording of "San") is born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Way)" is #9 up from #10 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Andy Russell (with orchestra conducted by Al Sack)'s Capitol Records single "Amor" is #10 down from #6
1950 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Mona Lisa", with "The Greatest Inventor Of Them All" (I still haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of this song on CD yet) now on the flip side, is #1 up from #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart. The song was written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the Paramount Pictures movie "Captain Carey USA" (which I also haven't been able to find on DVD), starring Alan Ladd. Also charting on this date are Kay Starr (with Lou Busch and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Bonaparte's Retreat" at #16 up from #17 and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Nola" at #20 down from #19
1957 - Composer and arranger Johnny Richards (with with Burt Collins, Jerry Kail, Paul Cohen, and Doug Mettome, on trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Jim Dahl, and Frank Rehak, on trombones; Al Antonucci on french horn; Jay McAllister on tuba; Gene Quill on alto saxophone; Frank Socolow on tenor saxophone; Billy Slapin on baritone saxophone and piccolo; Shelly Gold on bass saxophone; Hank Jones on piano; Chet Amsterdam on bass; Maurice Marks on drums; and Willie Rodriguez on tympani) continues recording tracks in New York City for his Capitol Records album "Wide Range"
1957 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Send For Me" returns to the top 40 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart tied for #24 up from #45 with Rusty Draper's single "Freight Train", Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #36 down from #25, and Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady" is tied for #36 down from #29 with Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'"
1958 - The Capitol Records original motion picture soundtrack for "Oklahoma!" is the first album certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. At this time, the R.I.A.A. awards a Gold album for $1 million in sales based on the manufacturer's wholesale price and one million copies sold. In 1975 the requirement for number of copies sold is reduced to 500,000 with $1 million in sales.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Buck Owens records the tracks "Dont Let Her Know" and "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)" (which Capitol Records will release together as a single) as well as "Buck's Polka". All the tracks will appear on Owens' Capitol Records album "I Don't Care".
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Yesterday And Today" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1968 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Let The World Keep On A Turning"
1990 - Garth Brooks' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "The Dance", with "Friends In Low Places" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1991 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's compilation CD "Capitol Collectors Series: Tennessee Ernie Ford"
2002 - The Vines' first Capitol Records album "Highly Evolved" is released. The video for the album's first single, "Get Free", is directed by Roman Coppola.
2003 - Capitol Records releases the original motion picture soundtrack for "How To Deal" which includes tracks from Capitol Records artists Syke Sweetnam and Liz Phair

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1935 - EMI (Ireland) is formed
1935 - Steve Lawrence, singer, television and motion picture actor, and United Artists Records artist, is born Sidney Leibowitz
1957 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Teenager's Romance" is tied for #12 down from #9 with The Diamonds' single "Little Darlin'" on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Valley Of Tears" is #17 down from #13, and Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is tied at #36 down from #24 with Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady". Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group.
1966 - Arranger Gerald Wilson (on maracas) and His Orchestra (Al Porcino, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Mel Moore, and Nat Meeks on trumpet; Mike Barone, John Ewing, and Lester Robertson on trombone; Ernie Tack on bass trombone; Anthony Ortega on alto saxophone and flute; Jimmy Woods on soprano and alto saxophone; Harold Land and Teddy Edwards on tenor saxophone; Jack Nimitz on baritone saxophone; William Green on flute and piccolo; Roy Ayers on vibraphone; Jack Wilson on piano; Buddy Woodson on bass; Mel Lee on drums; and Max Garduno on conga) record the tracks "Chanson Du Feu Follet (Song Of The Mad Fire)", "Blues Latinese" and "The Golden Sword" for their Pacific Jazz album "The Golden Sword" with producer Richard Bock and recording engineer Lanky Linstrot at TTG Studios, in Los Angeles, California. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Pacific Jazz's catalog.
1978 - Gerry Rafferty's United Artists Records album "City to City" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart
1992 - Taylor Mayne Pearl Brooks, daughter of Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks and his wife Sandy Mahl Brooks, is born

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Florenz Ziegfeld stages the first Ziegfeld Follies at the roof garden of the New York Theatre in New York City, New York
1946 - Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison leave their footprints in cement at ceremony #75 at Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California
1997 - Robert Zemeckis leaves his footprints in cement at ceremony #166 at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California

JULY 7, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1917 - John Sullivan, comedian, singer, radio performer, and the second "Lonzo" (after Lloyd George left the team in 1950) in the Capitol Records duo Lonzo & Oscar, is born in Edmonton, Kentucky
85 Years Ago Today In 1924 - Mary Ford, singer, guitarist, and a Capitol Records artist as part of a duo with her husband Les Paul, is born Iris Colleen Summers in Pasadena, California
1927 - Charlie Louvin, guitarist, singer and a Capitol Records artist both solo and as part of the duo The Louvin Brothers with his brother Ira, is born Charlie Elzer Loudermilk in either Section or Henegar, Alabama. If anyone has a definitive birth place, please leave a comment.
1940 - Ringo Starr, singer, drummer, motion picture actor, animated feature voice actor, member of the groups Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, the Parlophone, Capitol, and Apple Records group The Beatles, and a solo artist on Apple Records is born Richard Parken in Liverpool, England. He later becomes Richard Starkey, Jr. after his divorced mother marries Richard Starkey. If any one knows Richard's middle name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer's Capitol Records single "On The Atchison, Topeka and The Santa Fe" enters Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records charts at #4. The track will eventually peak at #1 and be on the charts for sixteen weeks
1951 - Nat "King" Cole (with orchestra conducted by Les Baxter using an arrangement by Nelson Riddle)'s Capitol Records single "Too Young" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #3, and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Josephine" is #16 up from #20
1956 - Gene Vincent and The Blue Cap's Capitol Records single "Be Bop A Lula" is still #23 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Four Freshman's Capitol Records single "Graduation Day" is #27 up from #48, Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Standing On The Corner" is #29 up from #40, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "How Little We Know" is #35 down from #33, Tex Ritter's Capitol Records single "The Wayward Wind" is #37 up from #47, and Joe "Fingers" Carr's Capitol Records single "Portuguese Washerwoman" is tied for #40 up from #55 with Tommy Leonetti's single "Free"
1958 - Capitol Records releases Jean Shepard's single "He's My Baby" with "Secret Of Life" on the flip side
1958 - Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is tied for #8 down from #6 with Jimmie Rodgers' single "Secretly" on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Nat "King' Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #13 up from #18, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Big Man" is #15 down from #10, The Johnny Otis Show's Capitol Records single "Willie And The Hand Jive" is #27 up from #33, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is tied for #31 down from #29 with Link Wray and His Ray Men's single "Rumble"
1960 - Nat "King" Cole records the tracks "I Saw Three Ships" and "A Cradle In Bethlehem", with Ralph Carmichael and His Orchestra
1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Act Naturally" returns to #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Arranger and pianist Onzy Matthews (with Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ollie Mitchell,Melvin Moore, John Anderson, and Bob Rolfe on trumpets; Dave Wells on bass trumpet and trombone; Lou Blackburn, Pete Myers, and Dick Leith on trombone; Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone; Clifford Scott on alto saxophone and tenor saxophone; Curtis Amy and Alex Nelson on tenor saxophone; Jay Migliori on baritone saxophone; Ray Crawford on guitar; Jim Crutcher on bass; and Chiz Harris on drums) records the tracks "Moon River", "Down In My Soul" (which will be rejected), and "You'll Know The First Time" for his Capitol Records album "Sounds For The '60s!" with producer Lee Gillette and recording engineer Hugh Davies at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1965 - Peggy Lee, with Sid Feller and His Orchestra, records the tracks "Free Spirits", "Seventh Son", and "I Go To Sleep" with producer Dave Cavanaugh at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "Then Was Then And Now Is Now!"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Apple Records releases Plastic Ono Band's single "Give Peace A Chance", with "Remember Love" on the flip side, with Capitol Records handling manufacturing and distribution in the United States
1973 - Apple Records releases Wings' single "Live And Let Die" (title song for the motion picture) with "I Lie Around" on the flip side. Capitol Records will handle distribution in the United States.
1975 - Capitol Records releases Natalie Cole's album "Inseparable"
1985 - Duran Duran's Capitol Records single "A View To A Kill" (title song for the motion picture), with "A View To A Kill (That Fatal Kiss)" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
2001 - Fred Neil, songwriter ("Candy Man", "Everybody's Talkin'"), singer and Capitol Records recording artist (1966-1971), dies of cancer at age 65 at his home in Summerland Key, in Monoroe County, Key West, Florida
2006 - Syd Barrett, (born Roger Keith Barrett), singer, songwriter, guitarist, founder of the Tower, Harvest, Columbia and Capitol Records group The Pink Floyd, and a solo artist, dies in his home in Cambridge, England at age 60 due to complications from diabetes

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1930 - Hank Mobley, composer, tenor saxophonist, member of the Blue Note Records group The Jazz Messengers and a solo Blue Note Records artist, is born Henry Mobley in Eastman, Georgia
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - A flying bomb hit's EMI's Hayes factory in England near a surface shelter, killing 37 employees and injuring an additional 56 employees who were either in the shelter or caught in the open
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet (Brookmeyer on valve trombone, John Williams on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Frank Isola on drums) record the tracks "Isn’t It Romantic", "Doe Eyes", "Red Devil", "Body And Soul", and "Last Chance" with Brookmeyer producing with recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey for their self-titled Pacific Jazz album whose catalog is currently owned by Capitol Records
1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is still #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Domino's Imperial Records single "My Blue Heaven" is in a 3 way tie for #31 down from #33 with Otis Williams' single "Ivory Tower" and Eddie Fisher (with Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra)'s single "On The Street Where You Live"
1958 - David Saville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #10 down from #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Pool Little Fool" enters the chart at #18 in a tie with The Kalin Twins' single "When?", and Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "I Wonder Why" is tied for #25 down from #22 with Johnny Cash's single "Guess Things Happen That Way". EMI Music Group, parent company of Capitol Music Group, currently owns the Liberty, Imperial and Laurie Records catalogs.
1962 - Dinah Washington, with arranger Don Costa leading the studio orchestra, records the tracks "Fly Me To The Moon" (which will appear on her Roulette Records album "In Love"), "Wouldn't Know What To Do" (which Roulette will release as a single), "No Hard Feelings" (which will appear on her Roulette Records album "Back To The Blues"), and "1 Me And The One I Love" ( (which will also appear on her Roulette Records album "In Love") with producer Henry Glover and recording engineer Eddie Smith at Bell Sound in New York City. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Roulette Records catalog.
1962 - Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Sharing You" is #15 up from #16 on Billboard's Hot 100 single chart and Dinah Washington's Roulette Records single "Where Are You" is still #40. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Liberty and Roulette Records catalogs.
2002 - Dorle Jarmel Soria, record producer, opera supporter, author, journalist, reviewer, as well as co-founder of Cetra-Soria Records and founding co-director (1953-1957) of Angel Records in the U.S. with her husband Dario Soria, dies at age 101 at her home in Manhattan, New York

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1971 - Ub Iwerks (born Ubbe Ert Iwwerks), artist, cartoon animator (hand drew the first Mickey Mouse cartoon "Plane Crazy" for Walt Disney by himself in two weeks), director and studio owner, dies of a heart attack at age 70 in Burbank, California

JULY 6, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1915 - LaVerne Andrews, singer, Capitol Records solo artist (1956-1959) and with the Capitol Records group The Andrews Sisters, is born Laverne Sophie Andrews in Minneapolis, Minnesota

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Johnny Mercer, Luana Patten and Bobby Driscoll, with arranger Billy May conducting the studio orchestra, start the first of two days of sessions for the record "Mickey Mouse And The Beanstalk" which will be released as a children's album by Capitol Records. The next session is held on July 7, 1947.
1956 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocals, trombone and base; Don Barbour on vocals and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocals and drums; and Ken Albers on vocals, trumpet, mellophone and bass), with arranger Dick Reynolds conducting the studio orchestra (Uan Rasey, Ray Triscari, Joe Triscari, Buddy Childers, and Mannie Klein on trumpet; Jack Marshall on guitar; Milt Raskin on piano; Don Simpson on bass: and Frank Carlson on drums), during two sessions held the same day for their Capitol Records album "The Four Freshman And Five Trumpets", record the tracks "The Night We Called It A Day", "Something In The Wind" and the first rejected take of "There Will Never Be Another You" at the first session and, with Pete Condoli on trumpet joining the orchestra for the second session, record "After You've Gone" and the final and accepted take of "There Will Never Be Another You". Both sessions were held in Los Angeles, Calfornia.
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "M.T.A." is #18 up from #28 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart and Franck Pourcel and His French Fiddler's Capitol Records single "Only You (Loin De Vous)" is #35 down from #23
1963 - Kyu Sakamoto's Capitol Records single "Sukiyaki" is #2 down from #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer" is #12 down from #6, Bobby Darin's Capitol Records single "Yellow Roses" is #26 down from #16, Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #30 down from #19, The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Shut Down" is #31 down from #29 and its flip side, "Surfin' U.S.A.", is #36 down from #17
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Peggy Lee, with arranger Lalo Schifrin conducting the studio orchestra (Justin Gordon and Paul Horn on reeds; Robert Bain, John Pisano, and Howard Roberts on guitar; Chuck Berghofer on bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stan Levey on drums; and Francisco Aguabella on bongos and congas) and producer Dave Cavanaugh, records the tracks, "There'll Be Some Changes Made", "Just Call Me Love Bird (Theme From 'Joy House')", and "Senza Fine" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. All the tracks will be released on Lee's Capitol Records album "In The Name Of Love"
1970 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "The Kansas City Song"
1971 - Louis Armstrong, trumpet player, singer, band leader, motion picture actor, and Capitol Records artist (on the original soundtrack albums for "A Song Is Born" and "High Society"), dies of a heart attack in Corona, Queens, New York at age 69
35 Years Ago Today In 1974 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "He Thinks I Still Care", with a cover version of The Beatles' "You Won't See Me" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1975 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Movin' On", with "Here In 'Frisco" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1976 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records album "Grand Funk" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1997 - Greg Scott Eklund, songwriter and drummer for the Capitol Records group Everclear, marries his girlfriend Ellina, whom he met in 1990 at the University of Oregon and who convinced him to take up the drums again after a two year hiatus
1998 - Roy Rogers, singer, actor and Capitol Records recording artist, dies in his Apple Valley home in Victorville, California of congestive heart failure at age 86
2005 - Carrie V. Arnold (born Carrie Virginia Morgan), who worked for AES of Winchester and Capitol Records for 15 years, dies at her home in Winchester, Virginia at age 72

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - In between sets at a show that 16 year old John Lennon was doing with his band, The Quarry Men, at the St. Peter's Church Fete in Woolton Parish, Liverpool, England, a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan, introduces him to 15 year old Paul McCartney. After showing John how he tunes his guitar along with a few new guitar chords, and singing all the lyrics of Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock", Lennon invites McCartney to join his band.
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #14 down from #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Dion and The Belmonts' Laurie Records single "A Teenager In Love" is #19 down from #10, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Ready" is #39 down from #29. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Liberty, Laurie and Imperial Records catalogs.
1961 - The first issue of "Mersey Beat" magazine is released and features The Beatles on its cover
1963 - The Essex's Roulette Records single "Easier Said Than Done" is #1 up from #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, The Chiffons' Laurie Records single "One Fine Day" is #6 up from #7, and Jan and Dean's Liberty Records single "Surf City" is #7 up from #10. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns the Roulette, Laurie, and Liberty Records catalogs.
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Trombonist Grachan Moncur III, with Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Tony Williams on drums, records the tracks "Gnostic", "Thandiwa", "The Twins", and "Nomadic" for his Blue Note album "Some Other Stuff" with producer Alfred Lion and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - United Artists releases The Beatles' first movie "A Hard Day's Night" worldwide and it premieres at 9.00 p.m. at the London Pavilion Theatre
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - ATCO Records releases The Beatles' single "My Bonnie" with "Nobody's Child" on the flip side
1965 - Future Virgin Records group The Rolling Stones' London Records single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", with "Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" on the flip side, becomes their first #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1973 - Otto Klemperer, conductor, father of actor Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink in "Hogan's Heroes"), and EMI Classics artist, dies in Zürich, Switzerland at age 88 and is buried in the Israelitischer Friedhof — Oberer Friesenberg, also in Zürich
30 Years Ago Today In 1979 - Capitol Records artist (1976-1979) Minnie Ripperton makes her last televised appearance on an episode of "The Merv Griffin Show" that airs on this date. She performs the song "Memory Lane", featuring her enunciating the phrase "Oh Why", high in the seventh octave. She will die six days later on July 12, 1969 of breast cancer at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
1986 - Pink Floyd's compilation album "A Collection Of Great Dance Songs", originally released by Columbia in the U.S., but re-released by Capitol Records in 2000 (I replaced the legal lines and stock numbers and reformated the artwork to fit into Capitol's packaging templates), is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
155 Years Ago Today In 1854 - John Phillip Sousa, composer and leader of the Marine Corps. band, is born in Washington, DC, USA
1925 - Bill Haley, singer, guitarist, and bandleader, is born William John Clifton Haley in Highland Park, Michigan
1925 Merv Griffin, singer, composer, talk show host, television game show producer, and real estate magnate, is born Mervyn Edward Griffin, Jr. in San Mateo, California
1976 - 50 Cent, rapper, is born Curtis James Jackson III in South Jamaica, Queens, New York

JULY 5, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1935 - Richard Levitt, countertenor soloist with the Capitol Records group The Roger Wagner Chorale (1964) is born in Los Angeles, California
1943 - Robbie Robertson, guitarist, singer, songwriter, member of the Capitol Records group The Band, and a solo artist, is born Jaime Robert Robertson in Toronto, Canada

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Cootie Williams and His Orchestra (Williams and Bob Merrill on trumpet and vocals; E. V. Perry, Otis Gamble, and Billy Ford on trumpet' Clarence "Gene" Redd on trumpet and vibraphone' Ed Burke, Edward Johnson, and Julius "Hawkshaw" Watson on trombone; Rupert Cole and Daniel Williams on alto saxophone; Chuck Clarke and Edwin Johnson on tenor saxophone; Bob Ashton on baritone saxophone; Arnold Jarvis on piano; Pee Wee Tinney on guitar; Norman Keenan on bass; and Butch Ballard on drums) record the tracks "Wrong Neighborhood", "Piney Brown's Gone", "I May Be Easy But I'm No Fool" (all with vocals by just Bob Merrill), the instrumental "Vibraphobia", and "Let's Do The Whole Thing Or Nothing At All" (with vocals by just Cootie Williams) at WMCA Studios in New York City. Capitol Records will release "Wrong Neighborhood" as a single (#289) with "Let's Do The Whole Thing Or Nothing At All" on the flip side, and "I May Be Easy But I'm No Fool" as a single (#314) with "Ain't Got No Blues Today" (recorded September 11, 1946) on the flip side. The remaining tracks will finally be released in 1997 on Mosaic Records box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Session".
1947 - Red Ingle and The Natural Seven (with vocals by Cinderella G. Stump aka Jo Stafford)'s Capitol Records single "Tim-Tay-Shun" (aka "Temptation) enters the top 5 of Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart at #5
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Capitol Records artist Yogi Yorgesson (aka Harry Stewart) sings "Object Of My Affection" on "Command Performance" with Shirley Ross, Errol Garner, Arthur and Mark Stevens
1952 - Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Here In My Heart" is #3 down from #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone" is still #14, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Somewhere Along The Way" (with "What Does It Take" on the flip side) debuts on the top 20 at #16, Al Martino (with orchestra conducted by Monty Kelly)'s Capitol Records single "Take My Heart" (with "I Never Cared" on the flip side) debuts at #17, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Smoke Rings" (with "In The Good Old Summertime" on the flip side) debuts at #20
1956 - The Four Freshmen (Bob Flanigan on vocals, trombone and base; Don Barbour on vocals and guitar; Ross Barbour on vocals and drums; and Ken Albers on vocals, trumpet, mellophone and bass), with arranger Dick Reynolds conducting the studio orchestra (Uan Rasey, Ray Triscari, Joe Triscari, Buddy Childers, and Mannie Klein on trumpet; Jack Marshall on guitar; Milt Raskin on piano; Don Simpson on bass: and Frank Carlson on drums), during two sessions held the same day for their Capitol Records album "The Four Freshman And Five Trumpets", record the tracks "Everytime We Say Goodbye", "Someone Like You" and the first rejected take of "For Sentimental Reasons" at the first session, and a second take of "For Sentimental Reasons" (which will remain unissued until it appears on Mosaic Records' 2000 box set "The Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Sessions April, 1950-July, 1960"), "Got A Date With An Angel", "Goodnight Sweetheart" and "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" at the second session. Both sessions were held in Los Angeles, Calfornia.
1960 - Nat "King" Cole records the tracks "The Happiest Christmas Tree" with Dave Cavanaugh and His Orchestra, along with "Away In A Manger" and "Silent Night" with Ralph Carmichael and His Orchestra for Capitol Records
1960 - Capitol Records releases the original motion picture soundtrack of "Bells Are Ringing" which stars Judy Holliday and Capitol Records artist Dean Martin
1963 - Pianist George Shearing (along with Gary Burton on vibraphone, Ron Anthony on guitar, Gene Cherico on bass, Vernel Fournier on drums, and Armando Peraza on congas), begins the first of two straight days of live sets at The Blackhawk, in San Francisco, California which will be recorded and released by Capitol Records on the album "Rare Form"
1965 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Only You (Can Break My Heart)" with "Gonna Have Love" on the flip side and The Beach Boys' album "Summer Days (And Summer Nights)"
1966 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' compilation album "Best Of The Beach Boys" as well as Peter & Gordon's compilation album "The Best Of Peter & Gordon" on it's The Star Line subsidiary
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Working Man Blues" enters the U.S. Country singles charts
1983 - Harry James, trumpeter, band leader, actor and Capitol Records artist (1955-1958), dies of lymphatic cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 67 just nine days after his last concert appearance held in Los Angeles, California
1987 - Heart's Capitol Record single "Alone" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1992 - A bus carrying band and crew members of the Capitol Records act Helix goes off the road near Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, and plunges down a 40 foot precipice. Two crew members were seriously injured and bassist Gray escaped with minor injuries, but guitarist and co-founding member Paul Hackman was killed at age 39
2006 - Eight days after it's scheduled release, the 30th anniversary edition of The Steve Miller Band's album "Fly Like An Eagle" still isn't in stores.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1952 - Gerry Mulligan (with Chet Baker on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, and Joe Mondragon on bass) records two sides for Pacific Jazz. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Pacific Jazz's catalog.
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet (Brookmeyer on valve trombone, John Williams on piano, Bill Anthony on bass, and Frank Isola on drums) record the tracks "Liberty Belle", "Have You Met Miss Jones", and "Traditional Blues" with Brookmeyer producing and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey for their self titled album released by Pacific Jazz Records, whose catalog is now owned by Capitol Records
1962 - Dinah Washington, with arranger Don Costa, records the tracks "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me", "My Devotion", " If It's The Last Thing I Do", and "Our Love" (which Roulette Records will release on the album "In Love"), "It's A Mean Old Man's World" (which will appear on the Roulette Records album "Back to the Blues", and "Was It Like That?" (which will also be on the album "In Love") at Bell Sound, in New York City, New York. EMI Music Group currently owns Roulette's catalog and re-releases the albums on the Capitol Jazz label, a division of Blue Note Records, which is a division of Capitol Music Group.
1975 - Pink Floyd, The Steve Miller Band, and Captain Beefheart perform at a live concert at the Knebworth Festival in Hertfordshire, England
30 Years Ago Today In 1978 - The City of Los Angeles declares The Pantages Theatre a historic landmark. Capitol Records would store items in space below the theatre and, in one instance, used one of its staircases leading up from the basement, which had a great view of The Capitol Tower, for a publicity photo shoot for The Beach Boys
1981 - Capitol Records group America joins Three Dog Night, former Liberty Records duo Jan and Dean, and John Sebastian in commemorating The Beach Boys' twentieth anniversary with a concert on a barge next to The Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor, California. The concert is hosted by Wolfman Jack and broadcast via satellite worldwide.
2001 - Ernie K-Doe (aka Ernest Kador, Jr.), who scored a #1 in 1961 with the Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law", written by Allen Toussaint and with "Wanted" on the flip side, dies at age 65 and, after a traditional jazz funeral, was interred in the 200-year-old Duval tomb in Saint Louis Cemetery #2, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Minit Records' catalog is currently owned by EMi Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - 19 year old Elvis Presley records the track "That's All Right (Mama)" at his first session at Sam Phillips' Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The track would released as a single two weeks later on July 19, 1954 with "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" (also recorded during this two day session, along with the tracks "I Love You Because" and "Harbor Lights") on the flip side.

JULY 4, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1937 - Ray Pillow, singer, songwriter, member of The Grand Ole Opry and Capitol Records artist, is born in Lynchburg, Virginia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS
1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Vaya Con Dios" is #6 up from #7, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Ruby" is #15 down from #11, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "Half A Photograph" is #17 down from #13 and its flip side "Allez-Vous-En" is #18 down from #15, and Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Oh!" is still #20
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "I Get Around", with "Don't Worry Baby" on the flip side, is the groups' first #1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. "Don't Worry Baby" will later peak at #24.
1995 - Capitol Records releases Foo Fighters' self titled debut album

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1940 - Future Capitol Records artsts The Louvin Brothers make their debut in Flatrock, Alabama
1943 - Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, co-founder, singer and composer with the Liberty Records band Canned Heat is born Alan C. Wilson in Boston, Massachusetts. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company currently owns Liberty's catalog. If anyone knows Alan's middle name please leave a comment.
1952 - John Waite, singer, member of the Chrysalis Records band The Babys, and an EMI America Records solo artist, is born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Groups' parent company currently owns the Chrysalis and EMI America Recorsd catalogs.
1955 - Future Capitol Records artist Gene Vincent, while on his Triumph motorcycle in Franklin, Virginia, is hit by a woman in a Chrysler, crushing his left leg.
1960 - The Fleetwood's Dolton Records single "Runaround" is #25 up from #29 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotion" is #26 down from #18, Don Costa and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Theme From 'The Unforgiven'" is #27 up from at #37, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Walking To New Orleans" re-enters the top 40 at #31 up from #46. EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company, currently owns Imperial, Dolton and United Artist Records' catalogues.
1975 - Future Capitol Records group Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart debut their act at Six Flags Over Mid-America in St. Louis in front of an audience of 12,500 people. Capitol Records will later sign the group and release two singles and, in May 1976, the band's self-titled album.
1980 - The Beach Boys give a free outdoor performance to an estimated 500,000 people in Washington, D.C.
1981 - Kim Carnes' EMI America Records single "Bette Davis Eyes", with "Miss You Tonight" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1826 - Songwriter Stephen Foster is born Stephen Foster Collins in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania
1970 - Casey Kasem hosts the radio show "American Top 40" for the first time this day.

JULY 3, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
75 Years Ago Today In 1934 - Donfeld, graphic designer (starting in 1953 at age 19 after graduating from Chouinard Art Institute) for Capitol Records and Emmy nominated television and Academy Award nominated motion picture costume designer, is born Donald Lee Feld in Los Angeles, California
1943 - Judith Duram, lead singer with the Capitol Records recording group The Seekers, is born Judith Mavis Cock in Melbourne, Australia

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Peggy Lee, with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra and Ray Linn on trumpet, record the tracks "Why Should I Cry Over You" (which Capitol Records will finally release on Lee's 2000 compilation CD "Rare Gems And Hidden Treasures"), as well as "It Takes A Long, Long Train With A Red Caboose" and "Just An Old Love Of Mine" (which Capitol will release together as single #445) in Los Angeles, California with producer Lee Gillette
1948 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" is still #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "My Happiness" is #7 up from #8, Pee Wee Hunt's Capitol Records single "Twelfth Street Rag" is #11 up from #14, and The Sportsmen's a cappella Capitol Records single "You Can't Be True Dear" is #15 down from #11
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me) is #5 up from #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Three Coins In A Fountain" is still #7, Kay Starr (with orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney)'s Capitol Records single "The Man Upstairs" is #14 down from #9, and Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #17 down from #11
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #27 down from #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart
1966 - The Beatles' Capitol Records single "Paperback Writer", with "Rain" on the flip side, returns to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1967 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart where it will stay for fifteen weeks
1970 - Buck Owens and Susan Raye record the track "The Great White Horse" with producer Ken Nelson that will be the title track of their Capitol Records album that is released on September 8, 1970
1972 - Mississippi Fred McDowell, blues guitarist, singer, and a Capitol Records recording artist (a one-off 1969 album, "I Do Not Play No Rock'n' Roll"), dies of cancer at age 68 in Memphis, Tennessee. CradLemoon.net has a good overview of his life and many links to discographies.
1976 - A memorial service for Johnny Mercer, Broadway, radio, and motion picture singer, actor and songwriter, and co-founder of Capitol Records, is held in his hometown, Savannah, Georgia.
1985 - John Aquilino, lead singer for the Capitol Records band (1984-1985) Icon, leaves the group and Capitol drops the band
1986 - Rudy Vallee, singer, saxophonist, bandleader and radio, television and movie actor, and Capitol Records recording artist (1954), dies at age 84 in North Hollywood, California and is interred in St. Hyacinth's Cemetery, Westbrook, Maine where his headstone was later stolen
2000 - At 11pm EDT Turner Classic Movies shows "The Wizard Of Oz" with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" on the Second Audio Program (SAP) channel to see if the two really do sync' up.
2001 - Roy Nichols, guitarist and 22-year member of Merle Haggard and The Strangers, dies in a hospital in Bakersfield, CA of a heart attack at age 68
2001 - Capitol Records and Chrysalis Records release the Jethro Tull compilation album "The Very Best Of Jethro Tull" which features 20 tracks that have been digitally remastered at 24-bit at Abbey Road Studios in London, England
2001 - Capitol Records releases a digitally remastered and enhanced version of Duran Duran's 1982 album "Rio" in a standard jewel case and in a 7,500 unit limited edition mini-sleeve
2008 - Larry Harmon, entrepreneur, television show producer and licensor, and owner of the rights to Bozo The Clown and Laurel and Hardy, dies of heart disease at age 83 at his home in Los Angeles, California.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
90 Years Ago Today In 1919 - Fred Maddox, singer, guitarist, member of the band The Maddox Brothers and Rose, and brother of Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox, is born Fred Roscoe Maddox
1935 - Webley Edwards' radio show spotlighting authentic island performances, "Hawaii Calls", begins broadcasting from Waikiki's Moana Hotel, and will run for 37 years. Webley would compile and produce a series of albums of Hawaiian music for Capitol Records
1961 - Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #7 down from #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 single chart, its flip side "Hello Mary Lou" is #15 up from #16, and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "It Keeps Rainin'" is #24 up from #28. Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1962 - Dinah Washington, with arranger Don Costa conducting an unknown studio orchestra, records the tracks "Someone Else Is Taking My Place" and "He's Gone Again" (which will both appear on the Roulette Records album "Dinah Washington"), as well as "I Didn't Know About You" (released on the Roulette Records album "Three Of Us", which also featured tracks by Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams), "There I Go" (finally released on Mosaic Records' 2004 box set "The Complete Roulette Dinah Washington Recordings"), "You're A Sweetheart", and "I'll Close My Eyes" (both also released on the Roulette Records album "Three Of Us") with producer Henry Glover and recording engineer Eddie Smith at Bell Sound in New York City, New York. Roulette Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1963 - Tenor saxophonist Harold Land, with Carmell Jones on trumpet, John Houston on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass and Mel Lee on drums, records the tracks "Tom Dooley", "Scarlet Ribbons" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" for his Imperial Recors album "Jazz Impressions Of Folk Music" with engineer Bones Howe at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California. Imperial Records' catalog is currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1968 - John Maddox, guitarist with the group The Maddox Brothers & Rose and brother of Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox, dies at age 52
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Capitol Records artist Gordon MacRae performs "America The Beautiful" live on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
1976 - Brian Wilson performs onstage as a member of The Beach Boys, for the first time in twelve years, at concert given before 74,000 fans at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1878 - George M. Cohan, vaudeville and Broadway performer, singer, dancer, songwriter, playwright, director and producer, and a motion picture actor, is born George Michael Cohan in Providence, Rhode Island. The motion picture "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is loosely based on events from Cohan's life.
1965 - Trigger, motion picture actor and Capitol Records artist Roy Rogers' horse, dies at age 33 and is latter stuffed and put on display at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans museum in Victorville, California
1971 - Jim Morrison, poet, songwriter and lead singer of the band The Doors, is found dead (really) at age 27 by his girlfriend, Pamela Susan Courson, at 5:00 AM in a bathtub in Paris, France from a heart attack and was buried at at Pere-Lachaise cemetery, also in Paris
20 Years Ago Today In 1989 - Jim Backus, writer as well as a motion picture, television, radio and cartoon voice actor, dies at age 76 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California from complications of pneumonia after suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years and is later buried in Westwood Memorial Park, Westwood, California

JULY 2, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
60 Years Ago Today In 1949 - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is still #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugalo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #10 down from #8, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "A Wonderful Guy" re-enters the top 20 at #20.
1955 - Nat "King" Cole's double sided Capitol Records hit "A Blossom Fell" (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) and "If I May" (with The Four Knights on backing vocals and Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra) is #3 up from #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra and Chorus' Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #4 down from #2, Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" is still #5, and Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #21 down from #19
1962 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford's single "Work Song" with "Rags And Old Irons" on the flip side
1963 - Bobby Darin records his own composition, the track "Treat My Baby Good", arranged and conducted by Jimmy Haskell for a Capitol Records single with "Down So Long" on the flip side, with producer Nik Venet. The single peaked at #43 on the Pop Charts and #11 on the Adult charts.
1963 - The Beatles record the tracks "That's All Right (Mama)", "Carol", "Soldier Of Love" and "Clarabella" for broadcast on the BBC. The tracks will later be released by Apple Records on the album "Live At The B.B.C" with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Peggy Lee (with studio orchestra of Justin Gordon, Paul Horn, and Jules Jacobs on reeds; Milt Bernhardt and Ed Kusby on trombone; James Decker on french horn; John Pisano on guitar; Chuck Berghofer on bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stan Levey on drums; and Francisco Aguabella on bongo and conga) records the tracks "Shangri-La" (arranged by Dave Grusin), "Again" (arranger unknown), and The Right To Love (Reflections)" (arranged by Lalo Schifrin) with producer Dave Cavanaugh at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Capitol Records album "In The Name Of Love" although "Again" didn't make it on to the album and was finally released by Capitol Records on the 1998 CD "Miss Peggy Lee"
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Pet Sounds" peaks at #10 on Billboard's album charts
1990 - Capitol Records releases Poison's album "Flesh & Blood", which will peak at #2 on the album charts on August 18, 1990, and be certified triple platinum by the R.I.A.A. on February 14, 1991
1991 - Capitol Records releases Arcadia's album "So Red The Rose" and Crowded House's album "Woodface"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
90 Years Ago Today In 1919 - Fred Maddox, brother of Capitol Records artist Rose Maddox and member of the group The Maddox Brothers and Rose, is born in Boaz, Alabama
1941 - Charlie Watts, drummer with the Virgin Records group The Rolling Stones and bandleader of the group Charlie Watts and His Big Band, is born in Islington, London, England
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Nat "King" Cole and Lee Young of the Capitol Records group The King Cole Trio , with future Capitol Records artist Les Paul sitting in as a last-minute replacement for Oscar Moore, perform at the first "Jazz At The Philharmonic" concert in Los Angeles, California. Paul, who was in the army at the time and not allowed to make civilian recordings, used the pseudonym Paul Leslie and Cole, under contract to Capitol, used the pseudonym Slim Nadine when a track they performed with Illinois Jacquet, Jack McVea, J. J. Johnson, Johnny Miller, and Young, "Blues, Part 2", was released as a single (which some have sited as the first Rock 'N' Roll record)
1948 - Vibraphonist Milt Jackson, with pianist Thelonius Monk, John Simmons on bass and Shadow Wilson on drums, records the tracks "Evidence", "Misterioso" and "Epistrophy" at Apex Studios in New York City with producer Alfred Lion and engineer Rudy Van Gelder for the Blue Note Records album "Milt Jackson: Wizard Of The Vibes"
1966 - The Beatles perform the last of five concerts performed over three days at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Brian Jones, founder and lead guitarist of future Virgin Records group The Rolling Stones, dies in his swimming pool after 11PM at his home, Cotchford Farm, in Sussex, England at age 27. He will be found the next morning and many site July 3, 1969 as the day of his death. A visibly shaken band will perform 3 days later with replacement guitarist Mick Jones for a filmed outdoor benefit concert in Hyde Park.
1973 - Betty Grable, actress, dancer, singer, pin-up girl, and one-time wife (1943-1965) of Capitol Records artist Harry James, dies of lung cancer in Santa Monica, California at age 56 and is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1955 - The Lawrence Welk Show debuts on ABC-TV
1956 - Elvis Presley records the tracks "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" in New York City for an RCA single that would be the first single to go gold on both sides
1967 - Jimmy Hendrix makes his only concert appearance at The Whisky on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California
1997 - Jimmy Stewart, motion picture actor, singer and poet, dies at his home in Beverly Hills California as the result a pulmonary embolus at age 89. He was buried on July 7, 1997 next to his wife Gloria at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Glendale, California
2003 - Former Capitol Records artist Kenny Rogers makes his debut appearance at The Hollywood Bowl

JULY 1, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
110 Years Ago Today In 1899 - Charles Laughton, motion picture actor and director, acting teacher, husband of motion picture actress Elsa Lanchester, and a Capitol Records artist, is born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England
1908 - Alvino Rey, inventor of the amplified guitar at age 15, steel pedal guitarist, popularized the use of the Sonovox to make his steel guitar "talk", bandleader, husband of Louise King of the Capitol Records recording group The King Sisters, and Capitol Records artist (1946-1959) is born Alvin McBurney in Oakland, California
1945 - Debbie Harry, singer, songwriter, Playboy Club bunny, motion picture actress, singer with the Capitol Records band The Wind In The Willows, and a Chrysalis Records artist (both with the band Blondie and as a solo artist), is born in Miami, Florida and named Deborah Ann Harry three months later when she is adopted

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Capitol Records releases to the public it's first nine 78rpm shellac singles:
101. A Side “I Found A New Baby” - Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra (with Buddy Weed on piano) with “The General Jumped At Dawn” - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra on the B Side
102. A Side “Cow-Cow Boogie” - Freddie Slack and His Orchestra with vocal by Ella Mae Morse with “Here You Are” - Freddie Slack and his Orchestra on the B Side
103. A Side “Strip-Polka” - vocal by Johnny Mercer with “The Air-Minded Executive” - vocal Johnny Mercer on the B Side
104. A Side “Johnny Doughboy Found A Rose In Ireland” - vocal Dennis Day with “Phil, The Fluters Ball” - vocal Dennis Day on the B Side
105. A Side “The Angels Cried” - vocal Martha Tilton and The Mellowaires with “I’ll Remember April” - vocal Martha Tilton with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra on the B Side
106. A Side “He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings” - vocal Connie Haines with “I'm Always Chasing Rainbows” - Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra on the B Side
107. A Side “Elk’s Parade” - Bobby Sherwood and his Orchestra with “I Don’t Know Why” - Bobby Sherwood and his Orchestra on the B Side
108. A Side “Serenade In Blue” - vocal Martha Tilton with Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra with “I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo” - Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra - vocal The Mellowaires on the B Side
109. A Side “Windmill Under The Stars” - Johnnie Johnston with “Conchita Lopez” - Johnnie Johnston on the B Side
All nine releases are listed in a July 11, 1942 Billboard Magazine ad placed by Modern Music Sales Company.
65 Years Ago Today In 1944 - Andy Russell (with orchestra conducted by Al Sack)'s Capitol Records single "Amor" is #6 up from #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away)" is #10 down from #6
1947 - Johnny Mercer, with The Pied Pipers (June Hutton, Clarke Yocum, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry), and Paul Weston and His Orchestra (Ray Linn, Ray Woods, Zeke Zarchy, and Don Anderson on trumpet; Allan Thompson, Bill Schaefer, Carl Loeffler, and Abe Lincoln on trombone; Herbie Haymer on tenor saxophone; Fred Stulce, Matty Matlock, Hap Lawson, and Lenny Hartman on reeds; Milt Raskin on piano; George Van Eps on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums), record the tracks "Don't Take Your Meanness Out On Me" (released by Capitol Records as part of the album "Willard Robinson's Deep River Music") and "School Days" (released by Capitol on the album "Campus Classics") in Los Angeles, California
1950 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Mona Lisa" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Kay Starr (with Lou Busch and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Bonaparte's Retreat" enters the chart at #17 and Les Paul's Capitol Records single "Nola" re-enters the charts at #19
55 Years Ago Today In 1954 - Capitol Records terminates its relationship with Lockwood Miller (who owns all the shares of Capitol Records of Canada Ltd. as well as the rights to the name since 1949) and forms Capitol Records Distributors of Canada Limited with head office in Toronto, a branch office in Montreal, and three independent distributors in the west part of the country
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "I'm Gone" is #25 down from #24 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Goin' Steady" is #29 down from #19
1957 - Nat "King" Cole (with additional vocals by The McCoy Boys and the orchestra conducted and arranged by Billy May)'s single "Send For Me", with "My Personal Possession" (with additional vocals by The Four Knights and arranged by Nelson Riddle) on the flip side, enters Billboard's R&B singles chart which it will top for two weeks.
1958 - Harry James and His Orchestra (with James, Nick Buono, Bob Rolfe, and Ollie Mitchell on trumpet; Bob Edmondson and Ray Sims on trombone; Ernie Tack on bass trombone; Willie Smith and Herb Lorden on alto saxophone; Bob Poland and Sam Firmature on tenor saxophone; Ernie Small on baritone saxophone; Jack Perciful on piano; Dennis Budimir on guitar; Russ Phillips on bass; and Jackie Mills on drums) record the tracks "Willow Weep for Me" and "Moten Swing" (both arranged by Ernie Wilkens), "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" and "You're My Thrill" (both arranged by James 'Jay' Hill, "I Want A Little Girl" (also arranged by Ernie Wilkens), and "The New Two O'Clock Jump" (arranged by Neal Hefti) with producer Bill Miller in Los Angeles, California for their Capitol Records album "Harry's Choice"
1963 - The Beatles record the tracks "She Loves You" and "I'll Get You" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England with producer George Martin
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Peggy Lee, with Billy May conducting his orchestra (Justin Gordon, Paul Horn, Theodore Nash, and Maury Stein on reed; Conrad Gozzo, Manny Klein, and Ray Triscari on trumpet; Milt Bernhardt, Ed Kusby, and Kenny Shroyer on trombone; James Decker on french horn; John Pisano on guitar; Chuck Berghofer on bass; Lou Levy on piano; Stan Levey on drums; and Francisco Aguabella on bongos and conga), records the tracks "Talk To Me Baby" (arranged by Dave Grusin), "Make Believe" (arranger unknown), "When In Rome" (arranged by Dave Grusin), and "The Girl From Impanema" (arranged by Billy May) with producer Dave Cavanaugh at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California for her Captiol Records album "In The Name Of Love". I wonder if she heard any of Onzy Matthews sessions being held next door, or if Onzy listened in to Lee's session?
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - Arranger, pianist and singer Onzy Matthews (with Bud Brisbois, Bobby Bryant, Melvin Moore, John Anderson, and Bob Rolfe on trumpet; Dave Wells on bass trumpet and trombone; Lou Blackburn, Pete Myers, and Dick Leith on trombones; Gabe Baltazar on alto saxophone; Clifford Scott on alto and tenor saxophone; Curtis Amy and Alex Nelson on tenor saxophone; Jay Migliori, baritone saxophone; Ray Crawford on guitar; Jim Crutcher on bass; and Chiz Harris on drums) records the tracks "Make Someone Happy", "I Thought About You", (all with Matthews on lead vocal with an overdubbed female chorus and unreleased until they appear on Mosaic Records 2007 3 CD set "Mosaic Select: Onzy Matthews") and "Ray-on Blues" (which will appear on Matthews' Capitol Records album "Sounds For The '60s") at The Capitol Tower Studios, in Hollywood, California
1966 - Dick Curless and Kay Adams record their album "A Devil Like Me Needs An Angel Like You" with produced by Buck Owens at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1967 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart
1968 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Sweet Rosie Jones"
1968 - Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases The Main Attraction's album "And Now The Main Attraction"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Capitol Records releases The Band's debut album "Music From Big Pink"
40 Years Ago Today In 1969 - Capitol Records of Canada releases "Franck Pourcel's album "The Way It Used To Be"
1976 - Natalie Cole's Capitol Records album "Natalie" is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A.
1978 - Bhaskar Menon becomes Chief Executive of EMI Music Europe and International, based in London, England, and Capitol Industries, based in the United States
1987 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' album "Magical Mystery Tour" on CD
1990 - M.C. Hammer's Capitol Records album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 albums' chart
1997 - Capitol Records releases John Hiatt's last album for the label, "Little Head"
1997 - Capitol Records releases Radiohead's debut album, "OK Computer", in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1957 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Teenager's Romance" is #9 down from #8 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Valley Of Tears" is #13 up from #16, and Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #24 up from #37,
50 Years Ago Today In 1959 - Trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden (with Don Goldie on trumpet and vocals; Henry Cuesta on clarinet; Don Ewell on piano; Stan Puls on bass; Ronnie Greb on drums) performs six (yes, six!) sets at The Roundtable in New York City, New York Set One: "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" (incomplete and rejected), "That's A Plenty" (unissued), "Tin Roof Blues" (unissued), "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" (unissued), "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You/I Can't Get Started" (unissued)"South Rampart Street Parade" (released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's album "At The Roundhouse), "Mixed Emotions" (unissued), and "Jazz Me Blues" (rejected)
Set Two: "Fidgety Feet" (rejected), "Basin Street Blues" (unissued), "Big Noise From Winnetka" (released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's album "At The Roundhouse), "When" (released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's album "At The Roundhouse)
Set Three: "South Rampart Street Parade" (rejected), "Stars Fell on Alabama/When A Woman Loves A Man" (unissued), "Honeysuckle Rose" (released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's album "At The Roundhouse"), "Sweet Georgia Brown" (unissued), "Junk Man" (unissued), "Lover" (with Sol Yaged on clarinet, unissued)
Set Four: "Original Dixieland One-Step" (unissued), "St. James Infirmary (instrumental version)" (unissued), "Royal Garden Blues" (unissued), "Stardust" (released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's albums "At The Roundhouse and "The World of Jack Teagarden"), "Jada" (unissued), "When The Saints Go Marching In" (vocal by Teagarden and Goldie, rejected), "Atlanta Blues" (unissued), "(Back Home Again In) Indiana" (unissued)
Set Five: "St. James Infirmary" (vocal by Teagarden and released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's albums "At The Roundhouse and "The World of Jack Teagarden"), A Hundred Years From Today" (vocal by Teagarden, unissued), "14200 St. Louis Blues (vocal by Teagarden and released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's album "At The Roundhouse"), "Lulu's Back In Town" (rejected), and "Tap Room Blues" (rejected)
Set Six (no audience): "Ol' Man River" (with Teagardeon on baritone horn, unissued), "Lulu's Back In Town" (rejected take one), "Lulu's Back In Town" (take two, unissued), "When The Saints Go Marching In" (with vocals by Teagarden and Goldie and released by Roulette Records on Teagarden's albums "At The Roundhouse and "The World of Jack Teagarden"), "Tap Room Blues" (rejected), "Big Noise From Winnetka" (rejected), "Riverboat Blues" (with vocals by Teagarden, unissued), and "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" (unissued). All the sessions are recorded by Roulette Records and will finally be released by Mosaic Records on the 2003 box set "The Complete Roulette Jack Teagarden Sessions".
45 Years Ago Today In 1964 - United Artist Records announces that The Beatles' soundtrack to "A Hard Days Night" has sold 1 million copies in just 4 days
1966 - The Beatles play three performances at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan which are subsequently released on the bootleg album "Three Nights in Tokyo"
1968 - There are two conflicting reports about John Lennon and Yoko Ono for this date. The first reads that John Lennon publicly declares his love for Yoko Ono at the opening of his first art exhibition in London, England. The other states that John Lennon and Yoko Ono are hospitalized after an auto accident in Scotland. If anyone knows for sure what happened, please leave a comment.
1975 - Ringo Starr divorces his wife Maureen Cox

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1897 - Three years after the first issue of Billboard Advertising was published, the monthly publication is renamed to The Billboard