MAY 12, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1910 - Gordon Jenkins, pianist, bandleader, arranger, and Capitol Records artist (as Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra) who conducted the orchestral background at Capitol Records first session, is born in Webster Groves, Missouri
1920 - "Tiny" Moore (a nickname due to his large frame), electric mandolin, fiddle, and banjo player and drummer, with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys and in Capitol Records artists Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers, is born Billie Moore in Port Arthur, Hamilton County, Texas. In the '50s, while touring with Haggard, he invents a five-string electric mandolin.
1921 - Joe Maphis, singer, guitarist, fiddle player, with the Capitol Records duo Joe Maphis & Rose Lee with his wife, session musician on sessions for Capitol Records artists Merle Travis, Wesley Tuttle, Tex Ritter, Skeets McDonald, Freddie Hart, Wynn Stewart, Wanda Jackson, Sonny James, Joe Carson, Hank Thompson, The Four Preps, Robert Mitchum, Tommy Collins, Dean Reed, Rose Maddox, Charles Lee Guy III and Imperial Records artist Rick Nelson, is born Otis W. Maphis in Suffolk, Virginia
1950 - Billy Squier, singer, guitarist, Capitol Records artist (1980-1993), and recently part of Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, is born in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. If anyone knows his full name, please leave a comment.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - At Capitol Records' second recording session, vocalist Johnnie Johnston, with Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the titles "Can't You Hear Me Callin', Caroline", "Conchita Marquita (Lolita Pepita Rosita Juanita Lopez)", "Easy To Love", and "Windmill Under The Stars" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue "Can't You Hear Me Callin', Caroline" as a single (Capitol 130) with "That Old Black Magic" (recorded July 9, 1942) on the flipside, "Conchita Marquita (Lolita Pepita Rosita Juanita Lopez)" and "Windmill Under The Stars" together as a single (Capitol 109) which will be part of the label's initial release to retail, and "Easy To Love" as a single (Capitol 120) with "Dearly Beloved" (also recorded on July 9, 1942) on the flipside.
1945 - Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford & The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston & His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Candy" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart.
1949 - On NBC's radio show, The Martin and Lewis Show, Dean and Jerry are at Capitol Records to record a new tune and get tips on how to sing folk songs from guest Burl Ives
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Nat "King" Cole (with orchestra conducted by Les Baxter using a ghost written arrangement by Nelson Riddle)'s Capitol Records single "Too Young" is #3, Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin'bird Hill" is #5,
1954 - 20th Century Fox releases the movie "Three Coins In A Fountain" with Frank Sinatra singing the title song over the opening credits
1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "The Poor People Of Paris" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is #6, and Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is tied for #38 with Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers "I Want You To Be My Girl"
1958 - Twelve year-old Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Dean Martin (with Gus Levine and His Orchestra and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #6, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #10, The Four Preps' Capitol Records single "Big Man" is tied at #23 with Paul Anka's "Crazy Love" and their single "Twenty Six Miles" is tied at #32 with Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Sick And Tired"
1960 – Capitol Records artist Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley sing each other's hits on Sinatra's ABC-TV "Timex Spectacular" television special "Welcome Home Elvis", Elvis' first television appearance after being discharged from the U.S. Army. Elvis sings "Witchcraft" and Frank sings "Love Me Tender"
1964 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "My Heart Skips A Beat", with "Together Again" on the flipside, tops the U.S. Country singles charts
1968 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single ""I Wanna Live", with "That's All That Matters" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1968 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney hold the first board meeting of Apple Corps in a Chinese junk sailing around New York's Statue of Liberty.
1979 - The Motels sign with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1948 - Steve Winwood, singer, songwriter, musician, member of the United Artists band Spenser Davis Group, as well as the bands Traffic, Blind Faith and Ginger Bakers' Army, and a Virgin Records America solo artist, is born Stephen Lawrence Winwood in Great Barr, Birmingham, England. I worked on the design of the packaging, promotional items, and advertising for his album and single "Roll With It".
1956 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm In Love Again" is #26 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say" is #21 and his single "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" is tied for #27 with Pat Boone (with Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra)'s single "Sugar Moon", and Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "Sick And Tired" is tied at #32 with The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Twenty Six Miles"
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Jay and The Americans' United Artists single "She Cried" is #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Walter Brennan's Liberty Records single "Old Rivers" is #7, Joey Dee and the Starlighters' Roulette Records single "Shout (Part 1)" is #10, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young World" is #22, and Dick and DeeDee's Liberty Records single "Tell Me" is #29
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Emilio Estevez, actor and one-time husband of Virgin Records America artist Paula Abdul is born
1963 - The Beatles lip sync "From Me To You" and "I Saw Her Standing There" at a taping for TV show "Thank Your Lucky Stars." that wil air May 18
1965 – Future Virgin Records artists The Rolling Stones begin the initial recordings of "Satisfaction" at Chess Studios in Chicago.
1971 – Future Virgin Records artist and member of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, marries Bianca Perez Morena de Macias in St. Tropez, France, with the rest of The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and others as guests in attendance.
1986 - Glass Tiger's Capitol Records single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" with Bryan Adams lending vocals for the duet and with "Ancient Evenings" and "Large Hole" on the flipside, hits #1 on the Canadian charts. The single was released by Capitol Records in Canada and Manhattan Records in the United States, where it would peak at #2 on the U.S. Billboard chart, and go on to win the 1986 Juno Award in Canada for "Single Of The Year".

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
110 Years Ago Today In 1907 - Katharine Hepburn, Broadway and motion picture actress, is born Katharine Houghton Hepburn in Hartford, Connecticut
1928 - Songwriter Burt Bacharach is born Burt Freeman Bacharach Kansas City, Missouri
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Singer and leader of Kilburn and the High Roads and The Blockheads, Ian Dury, is born in Upminster Essex, England
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Singer and musician Billy Swan is born in Cape Giradeau, Missouri and currently resides in Sherman Oaks, CA,
1971 - Tor Johnson, professional wrestler as well as an actor in many of Ed Wood's films dies at age 67 in San Fernando, California of a heart attack and is buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California, USA, in the Whispering Pines section, #177 E.

MAY 11, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1904 - Salvador Dali, surrealist artist, is born Salvador Felip Jacint Dalí Domènech in the town of Figueres, in Catalonia, Spain. Dali will paint the cover art for Jackie Gleason's Capitol Records album "Jackie Gleason Presents Lonesome Echo" and a photo of him shaking hands with Gleason is on the back cover.

1911 - Phil Silvers, actor, comedian and Capitol Records artist as a guest vocalist on Johnny Mercer's first big hit for the label, "Strip Polka", is born Philip Silversmith in Brooklyn, New York. Mercer will later write the Broadway musical "Top Banana" for Silvers and Capitol Records will release its original Broadway cast album.
1930 - Marilyn King, singer, sister-in-law of Captiol Records artist Alvino Rey and Capitol Records executive Jim Conkling as well as actor Robert Clarke and keyboardist Buddy Cole, and youngest member of the Capitol Records group The King Sisters, is born Marilyn Adine Driggs in Los Angeles, California
1931 - Dick Garcia, guitarist with the Capitol Records group The George Shearing Quintet, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Andy Russell (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Alvino Ray (with vocals by Rocky Coluccio)'s Capitol Records single "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti Put-Ti)" with "We'll Gather Lilacs" on the flip side, debuts at #6
1950 - Mel Blanc records the tracks "I'm Glad That I'm Bugs Bunny" and "Daffy Duck's Rhapsody" for the Capitol Records children's EP "Bugs Bunny Sings". The sessions were produced by Alan Livingston who also wrote the songs with Warren Foster, Mike Maltese, and Billy May. May also arranged and conducted the session with additional uncredited vocals provided by June Foray and Tom Reddy
1953 - Bobby Hackett (on coronet, with Lou Stein on piano, Billy Bauer on guitar, Arnold Fishkind on bass, Denzil Best on drums, and a string quintet of four violas and one cello), during two sessions held on the same day in New York City, New York, records the tracks "That Old Black Magic", "The Song Is You", "You Turned The Tables On Me" and "Someday You'll Be Sorry" during the first session and "Easy To Love", Soft Lights And Sweet Music", "I Cried For You (Now It's Your Turn To Cry Over Me)" and "Bobby's Blues" during the second session, for his Capitol Records album "Soft Lights And Bobby Hackett"
1959 - Capitol Records artist Judy Garland opens on Broadway at the Metropolitan Opera House for a series of 7 concerts, which will end on May 17, 1959.
1959 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Second Fiddle", with "My Everlasting Love" on the flipside, becomes his first single to enter the U.S. Country singles chart
1960 - Gene Vincent, at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England, records the track "Pistol Packin' Mama" using an arrangement that he had worked on with Eddie Cochran, with whom he had planned to record the song before Cochran's death in a car crash in England. Backing was provided by The Beat Boys featuring Georgie Fame, who was also touring with Gene, on piano. "Pistol Packin' Mama" would be Vincent's biggest UK hit, peaking at No. 15. At the same session Gene also recorded the ballad, "Weeping Willow" with the Norrie Paramor Orchestra.
1964 - Capitol Records releases The Beach Boys' single "I Get Around", with "Don't Worry Baby" on the flipside
1964 - The Beatles mono EP "Four By The Beatles" is released in the U.S. with the tracks "Roll Over Beethoven" and "This Boy" on the A side and "All My Loving" and "Please Mr. Postman" on the B side
1965 - Masters for The Beatles tracks "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" and "Bad Boy" are sent by The Beatles, via air mail, to Capitol Records and the shooting of "Help!" resumes in Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire.
1968 - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Mal Evans, Derek Taylor and Neil Aspinal arrive in New York to promote Apple Corps.
1970 - The Beatles' Apple Records single "Long And Winding Road", with "For You Blue" on the flipside, is released by Capitol Records in the United States
1970 – The Chairmen of the Board's "Gimme Just a Little More Time" on Invictus Records, distributed by Capitol Records, is certified Gold by the RIAA
1973 - Helen Reddy performs live at the Palladium, London, England from May 11-13. The performances are recorded and will be released by Capitol Records on the album "Live In London"
1988 - Capitol Records exec, Lynn Shults, goes to the Bluebird Cafe to hear Garth Brooks perform in front of a live audience. After the show Shultz does a handshake deal signing Brooks to Capitol Records
2001 - Paul McCartney's TV special "Wingspan" has it's world debut on ABC-TV in the United States.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Les Chadwick, bassist for the group Gerry and the Pacemakers, is born John Leslie Chadwick in Liverpool, England
1965 - The musical "Flora, the Red Menace", featuring a score by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, opens on Broadway at The Alvin Theatre with future Capitol Records artist 19 year-old Lisa Minnelli in her first starring role, a role that will also make her the youngest woman ever to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
1981 - "All Those Years Ago", George Harrison's tribute single to John Lennon, with help from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, is released in the U.S. by Dark Horse Records with "Writings On The Wall" on the flipside
1991 - Roxette's EMI America single "Joyride", with "Come Back" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1888 - Irving Berlin, songwriter, producer, and motion picture actor, is born in Israel Isidore Beilin somewhere in Russia/Beylorussia or possibly Temun, Russia. If anyone knows for sure where Irving was born, please leave a comment.
1918 - Richard Feynman, physicist, teacher, lecturer, percussionist and occasional stage actor (CalTech's Theatre Arts musicals including "South Pacific" and "Kismet"), is born Richard Phillips Feynman in in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. I met him when I was doing the poster and program design (as well as working a spotlight) and he would be drawing in a sketchbook during rehearsals and go to the cast parties including on at Al Hibb's home in Pasadena where I was in charge of the music. He really liked the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme's "Something's Wild" as well as any big band music with a great beat that I played.
90 Years Ago Today In 1927 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded
1941 - Eric Burdon, lead singer of the group The Animals, is born Eric Victor Burdon in Walker-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England
1970 – The triple album soundtrack to "Woodstock" is released and will be certified Gold in just two weeks by the R.I.A.A.
1979 - Country legend Lester Flatt, best remembered for his recordings with partner Earl Scruggs of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "The Theme To The Beverly Hillbillies", dies in Nashville, Tennessee at age 64
1981 - Bob Marley (born Robert Nesta Marley), singer, songwriter, and father of EMI America and Virgin Records artists Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, dies at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida of cancer at age 36

MAY 10, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
110 Years Ago Today In 1907 - "Pee Wee" Hunt, trombone player, bandleader and Capitol Records artist (whose single "Twelfth Street Rag" was Capitol's biggest seller in the label's first decade and almost didn't happen. Its master had been accidentally tossed and it had to be remastered from a 16" transcription disc that had been created for radio use to make the commercial discs after the Dixieland single became a surprize radio hit), is born Walter Hunt in Mount Healthy, Ohio
1929 - Mel Lewis, drummer, with the Capitol Records bands of Alvino Rey, Ray Anthony and Stan Kenton, and bandleader, arranger, composer and music director of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra which performed every Monday night at the Village Vanguard club, is born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Jay Ferguson, Capitol Records solo artist (albums "Terms and Conditions" and "White Noise"), and former lead vocalist of the bands Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, is born John Ferguson in the San Fernando Valley in southern California
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Young MC, singer, songwriter and Delicious Vinyl and Capitol Records artist (albums "Brainstorm" and "What's The Flavor"), is born Marvin Young in London, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 65 1947 - The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Mam'selle", with "It's The Same Old Dream" on the flipside, is #9 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "Wild Side of Life", with "Crying In The Deep Blue Sea" on the flipside, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1956 - Pianist Rudolph Firkusny records Claude Debussy's "Suite Bergamasque: Prelude/Menuet/Claire De Lune/Pässepied" at Capitol Records' Studio A in New York City, New York. Capitol will issue the title on Firkusny's album "DEBUSSY - Estampes/Suite Bergamasque/Children's Corner" (P-8350).
1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "My Heart Skips A Beat", with "Together Again" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
1965 - After spending the day shooting the Buckingham Palace scenes indoors at Cliveden House in Berkshire and in Bluebell Wood at Cliveden for their movie "Help", The Beatles return to Studio 2 at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England to record the tracks "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" and "Bad Boy" in sessions that go late into the night
1970 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "My Love", with "Blue For You" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - Duran Duran's debut album "Rio" is released worldwide. In the U.S., the album is released on Harvest Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.
1989 - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band's Capitol Records album "Beautiful Loser" is certified Platinum

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1899 - Fred Astaire, Broadway, motion picture and televison actor, dancer, singer, and EMI recording artist, is born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Sid Vicious, singer and bass guitarist with the EMI, Virgin, and Warner Bros. Records group The Sex Pistols, is born John Simon Ritchie
1963 - Future Virgin Records band The Rolling Stones, at their first recording session for Decca Records, cut the tracks "Come On" and "I Want To Be Loved" at Olympic Studios in London, England. Decca will issue both tracks together as the first single for the label.
1964 - The Beatles performance at the New Musical Express 1963-64 Annual Poll Winner's Concert at Empire Pool, Wembley, England was aired in the UK by ABC-TV on the special "Big Beat '64". They sang "She Loves You," "You Can't Do That," "Twist and Shout," "Long Tall Sally," and "Can't Buy Me Love." at a taping held on April 26, 1964
1981 - Kim Carnes' EMI America Records single "Bette Davis Eyes", with "Miss You Tonight" on the flipside, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by Universal Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1909 - Mother Maybelle Carter, singer, guitarist, founding member of the singing group The Carter Family, and grandmother of future Capitol Records artist Roseanne Cash, is born Maybelle Addington in Nicklesville, Virginia

MAY 9, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1941 - Pete Birrell, bass player with the Tower and Capitol Records group Freddie and the Dreamers, is born in Manchester, England

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Jo Stafford (on vocals), with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (lineup unlisted) records the tracks "I'm So Right Tonight" and "Passing By (Vous Qui Passez San Me Voir)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 423).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Little David Wheaton (on vocals and guitar with an unlisted musician on washboard) records an unissued take of the track "Don't Play Me For A Fool" and the tracks "It Just Ain't For Me", "I Just Couldn't Help It", and "There's All Kinds Of Women" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the second track as a single (Capitol Americana 40139) with "That's What I'm Talkin' About" (recorded July 10, 1947) on the flipside and the third and fourth tracks together as a single (Capitol Americana 40009).
1951 - Vocalist Margaret Whiting, with Lou Busch directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the titles "This Little Piggie Went To Market", "The End Of A Love Affair", "Everlasting", and "River Road Two-Step" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first title as a single (Capitol 1566) with "Hoppy, Topper, and Me" (recorded May 10, 1951) on the flipside, the second and third title together as a single (Capitol 1585), and the last title as a single (Capitol 1702) with "Good Morning Mr. Echo" (recorded June 14, 1951) on the flipside.
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune", with "Angry" on the flipside, is #1 on the U.S. Pop singles charts

65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Bob Osgood (caller), with Jack Barbour and his Rhythm Rustlers (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Virginia Reel", "Silver Bells (Rip Tide)", "Jackson's Breakdown (Forward Six Hash), "Bully Of The Town (Make An Arch)" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks on the album "Square Dances With Calls" (DAS-4028) and the second and third tracks together on the album also called "Square Dances With Calls" (DAS-4027).

65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Tex Ritter (on vocals and guitar) with Billy Liebert on piano, Otis "Joe" Maphis, Merle Travis, and Wesley Tuttle on guitar, Wesley "Speedy" West on steel guitar, and Dale Warren on bass, records the tracks "Everybody Likes A Little Lovin'" and "Talk Gobbler Talk" at Capitol Records' studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California between 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Bear Family Records in Germany will issue both tracks on the compilation CD box set "Tex Ritter - High Noon" (BCD 16356).
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - During two session held today in New York City, New York, Leonard Pennario (on piano) records Johann Strauss' "Emperor Waltz, Part 1" and "Emperor Waltz, Part 2" at the first session and "On The Beautiful Danube (Blue Danube Waltz), Part 1" and "On The Beautiful Danube (Blue Danube Waltz), Part 2" at the second session. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Pennario's album "Johann STRAUSS Waltzes" (H-8167).
1953 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)"s Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #5, and Jane Froman (with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller)'s Capitol Records single "I Believe" is #14
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Ruth Welcome (on zither, with unlisted other musicians) records the track "Star Dust", an unissued take of the track "No Other Love", and the tracks "My Melancholy Baby" and "Does Your Heart Beat For Me?" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue the first, third, and last tracks together on Welcome's album "Hi-Fi Zither" (T 942).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Cannon and chime effects are overdubbed in Los Angeles, California on The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra's (lineup unlisted, conducted by Felix Slatkin) recording from April 27, 1957 of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Capitol Records will issue the final version of the track on the orchestra's album "Starlight Chorale" (P-8390).
1961 - Jean Shepard records the tracks "How Long Does It Hurt (When A Heart Breaks)" (which will be released by Capitol Records as a single with "If You Were Losing Him To Me" on the flip side in June 1961) and "I've Got To Talk To Mary" (which will be released by Capitol Records as her next single with "Biggest Cry" on the flip side on August 10, 1961) at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Glen Campbell (on vocals), with an uncredited orchestra using arrangements by Jimmie Haskell, records the tracks "Too Late To Worry, To Blue To Cry", "Tomorrow Never Comes", "How Do I Tell My Heart Not To Break?", and "Walking The Floor Over You" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Campbell's album "Too Late To Worry-Too Blue To Cry" (T 1881).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Gordon MacRae (on vocals with unlisted musicians) records the tracks "Lovely" and "Warmer Than A Whisper" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 4773).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Dinah Shore (on vocals), with Van Alexander conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "That'll Show Him" and "Just A Brief Encounter" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 4774).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Capitol Records files information in Los Angeles, California for the masters they purchased for Nelson Riddle (conducting his own arrangements) and His Orchestra's (featuring Don Fagerquist, Cappy Lewis, and Shorty Sherock on trumpet, Dick Nash and Tommy Shepard on trombone, Buddy Collette, Ronnie Lang, and Willie Schwartz on reeds, Frank Flynn on vibraphones, and Ray Sherman on piano, with an uncredited string section) tracks "Indiscreet", "Alone Too Long", "Queen Of Hearts", "Playboy's Theme", "Penny Ante", "You Fascinate Me So", "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House", "Witchcraft", "Finesse", "A Game Of Poker", "Red Silk Stockings And Green Perfume", and "Two Hearts Wild" which it will issue on Riddle's album "Love Is A Game Of Poker" (T 1817).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - The Louvin Brothers (Charlie Louvin on vocals and guitar and Ira Louvin on vocals and mandolin) with (listed as probably) Marvin H. Hughes on piano, Jimmy Capps on electric guitar, Harold Ray Bradley on guitar and 6-string bass guitar, Roy M. "Junior" Huskey Jr. on bass, and William Paul Ackerman on drums, record the tracks "The First Time In Life", "There's No Easy Way", "Love Turned To Hate", and "Must You Throw Dust In My Face" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the first and last tracks together as a single (Capitol 4822), the second track as a single (Capitol 5075) with "Everytime You Leave" (recorded May 13, 1961) on the flipside, and the third track as a single (Capitol 4941) with "I Cried After You Left" (recorded on March 25, 1956) on the flipside.
1966 - Paul McCartney records vocal, piano and bass guitar tracks for the ballad "For No One" for The Beatles' "Revolver" album with Ringo Starr on drums. Additional vocals will be overdubbed on May 16 and the French horn solo by Alan Civil of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be overdubbed on May 19. John and George did not participate.
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Overdubs are recorded for Sonny James' tracks "Rally 'Round Your Love" (which was later rejected), "Love Is A Happy Song", and "Today Is The End Of The World" in Nashville, Tennesee. After other overdubs are recorded for the first two tracks on December 13, 1969 Capitol Records will issue the final version of "Love Is Happy Song" on James' album "Heaven Says Hello" (ST 2937) and will issue "Today Is The End Of The World" on James' album "I'll Never Find Another You" (T 2788).
1968 - Merle Haggard records the track "Mama Tried" which will be released by Capitol Records as a single in June 1968 with "You'll Never Love Me Now" on the flip side and will eventually peak at #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1970 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Oh Happy Day", with "Someone Above" on the flip side, enters the U.S. Country singles chart
1976 - The Sylver's Capitol Records single "Boogie Fever" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1986 - The Smithereens sign with Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1935 - Nokie Edwards, guitarist with Buck Owens band, bass player and lead guitarist with the Dolton and Liberty Records group The Ventures, solo artist, and television actor, is born Nole Edwards in Lahoma, Oklahoma
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - The Miles Davis All Stars (Miles Davis on trumpet, J.J. Johnson on trombone, Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Gil Coggins on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums) record the tracks "Dear Old Stockholm", two takes of "Chance It", two takes of "Donna", two takes of "Wouldn't You", "Yesterdays" (without trombone and alto saxophone), and "How Deep Is The Ocean" (without trombone and alto saxophone) at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the first, third, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth tracks on Davis' album "Young Man With A Horn" (BLP 5013) and will issue all the tracks on the CD "Miles Davis, Volume 1" (7-81501-2).
1956 - Johnny Dale Owens, future Capitol Records artist Buck Owens' third son, is born in California
1960 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young Emotions" is #33 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - The Beatles sign a contract with Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI Records, Ltd.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Lou Donaldson (on alto saxophone), with Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, John Patton on organ, Grant Green on guitar, and Ben Dixon on drums, records the tracks "Spaceman Twist", "People Will Say We're In Love", "That's All", "Funky Mama", "Loved Walked In", "Sow Belly Blues" and "Nice 'N' Greasy" in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the tracks except the second on Donaldson's album "The Natural Soul" (BNLP4108) and all the tracks on album's release on CD (7-84108-2).
1964 - Louis Armstrong's single "Hello Dolly" becomes #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, his first in his 41 year career, and knocks The Beatles out of the #1 spot on the chart for the first time in 14 weeks (a run which started February 1 when their single "I Want To Hold Your Hand" held top for 7 weeks, then "She Loves You" was #1 for 2 weeks and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" held the top spot for 5 weeks)
1964 - Kevin Saunderson, with the Virgin Records America group Inner City, is born
1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Apple Records album "Unfinished Music No. 2 - Life With The Lions" is released in the U.K. and will be released by Capitol Records in the United States on May 26
1993 - Janet Jackson's Virgin Records single "That's The Way Love Goes" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1949 - Billy Joel is born William Martin Joel in Levitown (near Hicksville), Long Island, New York
1949 - Columbia Records releases the Original Broadway Cast album of "South Pacific" featuring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Eight years later to the day, Ezio Pinza, who had an earlier career as a renowned bass opera singer, dies in Stamford, Connecticut nine days before his sixty-fifth birthday
1984 - Nudie Cohn, clothing designer for the stars, dies in North Hollywood, California at age 81

MAY 8, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1905 - "Red" Nichols, cornet player, bandleader (Red Nichols and His Five Pennies), and Capitol Records recording artist in the '50s and '60s, is born Ernest Loring Nichols in Ogden, Utah. The film "The Five Pennies" is based loosely on Nichols life with actor and Capitol Records artist Danny Kaye playing Nichols.
1940 - Rick Nelson, singer, radio, television, and motion picture actor, and Imperial and Capitol Records artist, is born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Jean Stewart signs with Capitol Records
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - At a split session held at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 N. Western Avenue in Hollywood, California, first Johnny Mercer (on vocals) and The Pied Pipers (vocal group - lineup unlisted), with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Ray Linn, Zeke Zarchy, and Don Anderson on trumpet, Allan Thompson, Bill Schaefer, and Carl Loeffler on trombone, Fred Stulce, Matty Matlock, Herbie Haymer, Hap Lawson, and Len Hartman on saxophones, Milt Raskin on piano, George Van Eps on guitar, Jack Ryan on bass, Nick Fatool on drums, and a string section with unlisted musicians on 6 violins, 2 violas, 1 cello, and 1 harp), record the titles "Tallahassee" and "Cecilia" and then Wingy Manone (on trumpet and vocals) and Johnny Mercer (on vocals), with the addition of unlisted reed players and without the string section, record the track "Box Car Blues". Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 422) and Mosaic Records will issue the last track on the compilation box set "Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions" (LP - MQ19-170, CD - MD12-170) and Wingy Manone and His Orchestra will record another version of the track on May 23, 1947 with the same lineup and that version will be the one released as a single by Capitol Records (Capitol 442).
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Freddie Stewart (on vocals), with The Buddy Cole Orchestra (Buddy Cole listed as possibly on piano, Ernie Felice on accordion, Dave Barbour on guitar, & other unlisted musicians), records the tracks "There's That Lonely Feeling Again" and "Sincerely Yours" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both tracks together as a single (Capitol 426).
1948 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Nature Boy" (with orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol) hits #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of an 8 week stay, and Peggy Lee with then husband Dave Barbour and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Mañana" ends its nine week stay at #1 and is now #3
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Joe "Fingers" Carr (aka Lou Busch [Bush] on piano), with an uncredited orchestra, records the tracks "Twelfth Street Rag", "The Daughter Of Rosie O'Grady", and "Dardanella" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Carr's album "Rough House Piano" (EBF-345).
1954 - Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat"King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #8, Kay Starr's double sided hit Capitol Records single has "If You Love Me (Really Love Me) at #9 and its flip side, "The Man Upstairs" at #10, and Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "I Really Don't Want To Know" at #19
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Ann Leonardo (on vocals), with Dick Reynolds and His Orchestra and Chorus (lineup unlisted), record an unissued take of the track "Three Time Loser", the tracks "Lottery" and "One And Only" and an unissued take of the track "I Must Have Your Lovin'" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the second and third tracks together as a single (Capitol F3733).
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Jane Froman (on vocals), with Marion Evans conducting the orchestra (lineup unlisted but includes French horns, reeds, piano, guitar, bass, and drum players), records the tracks "Under A Blanket Of Blue", "Red Sails In The Sunset", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", and "At Sundown" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the tracks on Froman's album "Songs At Sunset" (T 889).
1959 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "High Hopes" and "Love Looks So Well On You" with Nelson Riddle, who arranged both tracks, conducting the studio orchestra at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. "High Hopes" would later be adapted to become John F. Kennedy's campaign song with Sinatra supplying the vocals to new lyrics.
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #29 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1961 - Jean Shepard records the track "Two Voices Two Shadows Two Faces" at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee which will be released by Capitol Records
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - During two sessions held this day at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California Vic Damone (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Joe Graves, Bobby Bryant, and Mannie Klein on trumpet, Francis "Joe" Howard on trombone, Jules Jacob, Plas Johnson, Jules Kinsler, and Chuck Gentry on saxophones, Joe Parnello on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Meyer Rubin on bass, Sidney Bulkin on drums, and a string section with Bob Barene, Jacques Gasselin, James Getzoff, Anatol Kaminsky, Lou Klass, Erno Neufeld, Stanley Plummer, Lou Raderman, Nathan Ross, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, and Marshall Sosson on violin, and Edgar Lustgarten and Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the tracks "Cathy", "Ruby", "Laura", "Nina Never Knew", and "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" at the first session between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM and then, with Conrad Gozzo and Uan Rasey replacing Joe Graves on trumpet, the addition of Milt Bernhart, Lew McCreary, and George Roberts on trombone and Billy Strange on guitar, records the tracks "I Want A Little Girl", "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", "Marie", "Little Girl" and "Diane" at the second session between 8:30 PM and 12:00 AM on May 9, 1952. Capitol Records wlll issue all the tracks, except "Cathy" on Damone's album "The Lively Ones" (T 1748) and will issue "Cathy" as a single (Capitol 4799) with "Vieni, Vieni" (recorded June 6, 1962) on the flipside.
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - LaVern Andrews singer, motion picture actress and Capitol Records artist as part of The Andrews Sisters from 1956 to 1959, dies at age 55 of cancer in Brentwood, California and is later buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Tony Sandler and Ralph Young (on vocals), with Billy May conducting Sid Feller's arrangements to the orchestra (John Audino, Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari, and Uan Rasey on trumpet, Milt Bernhart, Phillip Teele, Lloyd Ulyate on trombone, and Harry Klee on bass clarinet and flute, Justin Gordon on clarinet, flute, and tenor saxophone, Abe Most on clarinet, alto saxophone, and flute, Jack Nimitz on clarinet, bass clarinet, and baritone saxophone, Arnold Ross on piano and organ, Al Hendrickson and Bob Bain on guitar, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and electric bass, Stan Levey on drums, and Gene Estes on percussion), record the tracks "Sentimental Journey", "Marie", "Cabaret", an unissued take of the track "The Exodus", and the track "The Late, Late Show" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood California between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Capitol Records will issue the second, third, and fifth tracks on Sandler and Young's album "" (T 2802) and the first track on the compilation CD "Spotlight On...,Vol. 11 - Sandler & Young" (8-32944-2).
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Joanie Summers records the tracks "Trains And Boats And Planes", "Yesterday Morning (Woke Up This Morning)", and "Window Wishing" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two tracks together as a single (Capitol 5936). There is no issuing information listed for the last track.
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - People (lineup unliste) record the track "She's A Dancer" and an unissued take of the track "Floor Talk" in listed as possibly Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the first track on the group's album "Both Sides Of People" (ST-151).
1970 - Capitol Records releases The Beates' "Let It Be" soundtrack album in the United States
45 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Billy May and The Time-Life Orchestra (lineup unlisted) recorded the tracks "Gigi", "Land Of Dreams", "Theme From 'Limelight'", and "Theme From 'A Summer Place'" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Time-Life Records will issue the first, third, and last tracks as part of the "As You Remember Them" Series of 3 LP sets on the album "Volume 1 - Billy May" (STL 241) and the second track on the album "Volume 6 - Billy May" (STL 246).
45 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Capitol Records registered the masters in licensed from Apple Records for John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band's tracks "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World" and "Sisters, O Sisters", Chris Hodge's tracks "We're On Our Way" and "Supersoul", and Dave Meadow's tracks "I Didn't Mean To Love You So Good, Juanita" and "Lucky Me". Capitol will distribute both of Lennon's tracks as a single (Apple 6244) and both of Chris Hodge's tracks together as a single (Apple 1850) on the Apple label in the United States but will not distribute either of Dave Meadow's tracks in the United States.
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - Bob Seger recorded an unissued take of the track "Sunset" in Los Angeles, California for Capitol Records.
1988 - Nappy Lamare, guitarist, banjo player, bandleader and Capitol Records artist, dies in Newhall, California at age 81
2001 - Capitol Records releases Paul McCartney's album "Wingspan". I did the design and Photoshop work for the DVD packaging of the "Wingspan" documentary.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
105 Years Ago Today In 1912 - The Paramount company was founded by W. W. Hodkinson as a merger of 11 film rental bureaus. In 1917, Adolph Zukor bought Paramount and merged it with Famous Players to form the new firm called Paramount Pictures Corporation. Zukor also fired W. W. Hodkinson, who went on to found First National to challenge Paramount's distribution power. In 1919, First National and Paramount planned to merge, to gain full control of the market and to cut production cost, but the plan was uncovered by a private eye hired by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and D.W. Griffith. In reaction to the plan, they decided to found their own distribution company, United Artists Pictures (which would later found United Artists Records), which effectively ended Paramount and First National's efforts to found a monopoly. Future Capitol Records co-founder Buddy DeSylva would become production chief of Paramount and during his reign music from it's films (with "Mona Lisa" from "Captain Carey, U.S.A." being the best know song from the least known movie) would be released by Capitol Records as would recordings by many of its stars including Betty Hutton and Bob Hope.
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Jack Blanchard, singer, songwriter, saxophone and keyboard player, and member of the United Artists duo Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan, is born in Buffalo, New York
1943 - Toni Tennille, singer and wife of former keyboardist for The Beach Boys "Captain" Daryl Dragon (who also was a Capitol artist with his band The Dragons), was born Cathryn Antoinette Tennille in Montgomery, Alabama
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Phil Sawyer, bass guitarist and guitarist for the United Artists band The Spencer Davis Group, is born in Birmingham, England
1953 - Billy Burnette, singer, songwriter, guitarist, son of Liberty Records artist Dorsey Burnette and Alberta Burnette, member of Fleetwood Mac (1987-1995), and a solo artist, is born William Beau Burnette III in Memphis, Tennessee
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - The Horace Silver Quintet (Art Farmer on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, Horace Silver on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums) records the tracks "Metamorphosis", "No Smoking", "The Back Beat", "Soulville", "My One And Only Love", and "Home Cookin'" in Hackensack, New Jersey. Blue Note Records will issue all the tracks on the group's album "The Stylings Of Silver" (BLP1562).
1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Gene McDaniels' Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #3, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #9, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #18, Al Caiola and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Bonanza" is #23, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Hello Mary Lou" is #27, and The Fleetwoods' Dolton Records (distributed by Liberty Records) single "Tragedy" is #31
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - The Broadway production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" opens at The Alvin Theatre in New York City, New York, starring Zero Mostel. The show will run for a total of 964 performances and Capitol Records will record the show on May 13, 1962 and release the show's original Broadway cast album. The motion picture version, which also stars Mostel, will be directed by Richard Lester, who directed The Beatles' first two films.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - At two straight days of sessions starting today Dinah Washington, with Don Costa conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (lineup unlisted), records the tracks "Lover Man", "The Man That Got Away", and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?" for Roulette Records. Blue Note Records will reissue the first two tracks on the compilation CD "Jazz Profile 5 - Dinah Washington" (8-54907-2) and the last track in England on the compilation CD "Blue Divas" (8-53232-2).
1963 - United Artists Pictures releases "Dr. No", the first James Bond film, and United Artists Records will release the soundtrack album. Capitol Music Group's parent company, EMI Music Group, currently owns the United Artists catalog.
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Leo Sayer's Chrysalis Records single "When I Need You" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. Capitol Music Group's parent company, Universal Music Group, currently owns the Chrysalis catalog in the United States.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1911 - Robert Johnson, singer, guitarist, and songwriter, is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His 29 Blues recordings are among the most influential especially with English musicians including Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones, who have both covered Johnson's tunes. This date has not been verified and if anyone knows for sure when Johnson's birthdate is, please leave a comment.
1945 - Victory in Europe (aka V.E. Day) during World War II is announced and there is a massive celebration in Times Square in New York City, New York and around the world in the allied nations

BTW - Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Roberta Joan Stolz Nielsen Gallmeyer Nielsen, and my wife, Kristine Anne Jennifer Heimback-Nielsen

MAY 7, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1950 - Prarie Prince, graphic designer, former drummer in the Capitol Records band The Tubes, and now with the band The New Cars, is born Charles L'Emprere Prince in Charlotte, North Carolina

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Peggy Lee, with the Four Of A Kind (Dave Barbour on guitar, Philip Stephens on bass, Buddy Cole on piano, celeste, and organ, and Tom Romersa on drums) records the tracks "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me", "I've Had My Moments", "Them There Eyes", "Lonesome Road", and "You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me" with arrangement by Heinrich "Heine" Beau at Radio Recorders, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California for a transcription disc that will be released by Capitol Records for radio.
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Ella Mae Morse (on vocals) with Buddy Cole's Boogie Woogie Seven (Vernon "Geechie" Smith on trumpet, Mahlon Clark on clarinet, Dave Cavanaugh on tenor saxophone, Edwin LeMar "Buddy" Cole on piano, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Harry Babasin on bass, and Lee Young on drums), records the titles "Get It Off And Go", "Old Shank's Mare", and "A Little Further Down The Road A-Piece" in Studio B at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 N. Western Avenue in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 424), and the last title on the compilation album "Campus Capers" (BD-58).
1949 - Mel Torme (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke)'s Capitol Records single "Careless Hands" is #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "'A' You're Adorable" is #8, Mel Torme (this time with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #9, and Weston and MacRae (again with Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Need You" is tied at #13 with Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra's single "Red Roses For A Blue Lady", Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol & His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Forever And Ever" is #24, Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Cruising Down The River) is #28, and Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Baby, It's Cold Outside" debuts at #30 in a tie with Bing Crosby (with Victor Young and His Orchestra)'s single "Galway Bay"
1950 - Nat "King" Cole performs "Mona Lisa" during the first of his eventual thirteen guest appearances on Ed Sullivan's CBS Television show.
65 Years Ago today In 1952 - Bob Hope and Jane Russell (on vocals), with Joseph (Joe) Lilley directing the orchestra (lineup unlisted), record the titles "Wing Ding Tonight" and "Am I In Love?" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue both titles together as a single (Capitol 2109).
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Tennessee Ernie Ford (with Cliffie Stone's Band)'s Capitol Records single "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" is #7, Nat "King" Cole (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Amie Beaucoup" is #10, Cole and Riddle are also at #20 with a double sided Capitol Records hit single "A Blossom Fell" and its flip side "If I May" (with backing vocals by The Four Knights), and Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Learnin' The Blues" debuts at #25
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Zither player Ruth Welcome, with other unlisted musicians, records the titles "Song From 'Moulin Rouge'", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "La Cumparsita", and "Charmaine" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue "Song From 'Moulin Rouge'" and "Charmaine" on Welcome's album "Hi-Fi Zither" (T 942) and have yet to issue either "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" or "La Cumparsita".
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Jackie Gleason conducts the orchestra (featuring Bernie Leighton on piano and Tony Mottola on guitar but otherwise unidentified), with The Voices of Artie Malvin (lineup also unlisted), as they record the titles "High On A Windy Hill", "Can This Be Love?", "Thine Alone", and "Dearest You're The Nearest To My Heart" in New York City, New York. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Gleason's album "Oooo!" (W 905).
60 Years Ago In 1957 - The Louvin Brothers (Charlie Louvin on vocals and guitar and Ira Louvin on vocals and mandolin), with Paul Yandell and "Smiley" Wilson on guitar, Floyd T. "Lightnin'" Chance on bass, and Murray M. "Buddy" Harman Jr. on drums, record the titles "Call Me", "I Wish You Knew", "Dogsled" and "When I Loved You" in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together a single (Capitol F3804) and the last two titles together as a single (Capitol F3871).
1958 - Bobby Hackett continues recording sessions for his Capitol Records album "At The Embers" by recording the tracks "Cheek To Cheek", "It's Been So Long", "If I Had My Way", and "That Naughty Waltz"
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vic Damone (on vocals), with Billy May conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Joe Graves, Bobby Bryant, Ray Triscari, and Mannie Klein on trumpet, Francis "Joe" Howard, Milt Bernhart, Lew McCreary, and George Roberts on trombone, Jules Jacob, Plas Johnson, Justin Gordon, Chuck Gentry on saxophone, Joe Parnello on piano, Billy Strange and Al Hendrickson on guitar, Myer Rubin on bass, Sidney Bulkin on drums, and a string section with Bob Barene, Jacques Gasselin, James Getzoff, Anatol Kaminsky, Lou Klass, Erno Neufeld, Stanley Plummer, Lou Raderman, Nathan Ross, Paul Shure, Felix Slatkin, and Marshall Sosson on violin, and Edgar Lustgarten and Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the titles "Charmaine", "Cherokee", and "Dearly Beloved" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California. Capitol Records will issue all the titles on Damone's album "The Lively Ones" (T 1748).
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Vocalist Carol Ventura, with unlisted musicians, records the titles "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and unissued takes of an unknown title and "The Music Goes 'Round And Around" in Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" as a single (Capitol 4782) with "(Hey) Mr. Muscles" (recorded April 27, 1962) on the flipside.
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Sloop John B.", with "You're So Good To Me" on the flipside and the original A side, peaks at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Sam's Place" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
45 Years Ago Today In 1972 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Grandma Harp" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 - Space People (lineup unlisted) record the track "Love's Got You This Time" in (listed as possibly) Los Angeles, California. Capitol Records will issue the title as a single (Capitol DLP-15003) with "You Really Got A Hold On Me" (recorded April 28, 1982) on the flipside.
30 Years Ago Today In 1987 - The Boogie Boys (lineup unlisted) record the title "Kick It" at an unlisted location. Capitol Records will issue the title on the group's album "Romeo-Knight" (C1-46917).
1998 - Eddie Rabbitt, singer, songwriter, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (1990 to 1992, during which time he recorded recorded the top 10 hit "Runnin' With The Wind"), dies of lung cancer in Nashville, Tennessee at age 56.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Babs' Three Bips And A Bop (Tadd Dameron on piano and vocals, Pee Wee Tinney on guitar and vocals, Art Phipps on bass, and Babs Gonzales on vocals), using arrangements by Tadd Dameron, record the titles "Runnin' Around" (without Tinney on guitar and vocals only by Gonzales), "Babs' Dream", "Dob, Bla Bli", and "Weird Lullaby" (again with vocals only by Gonzales) at WOR Studios in New York City, New York. Blue Note Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Blue Note 537) and the last two titles together a single (Blue Note 536) and all the tracks on the CD "Weird Lullaby" (7-84464-2).
1966 - Del Shannon's Liberty Records single "The Big Hurt", with "I Got It Bad" on the flipside, enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The next time Shannon enters the chart will be in 1981.
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Capitol Records artist Judy Garland's appearance on Jack Paar's NBC special, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Hollywood", is the last time she's on a primetime network television show
25 Years Ago Today In 1992 - At sessions held at Estudio Quarzo in Madrid that started today and went to May 12, 1992, Spain Gonzalo Rubalcaba (on piano, with Reynaldo Melian on trumpet, Felipe Cabrera on electric bass, and Julio Barreto on drums) records the tracks "Preludio Proyecto Latino", "Here, There, And Everywhere", "Tress Palabras", "Comienzo", "Nuestro Balance", "4 Y 20", "Siempra Maria" and "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" and then (without Cabrera but adding Charlie Haden on bass) records the tracks "Transparence", "Our Spanish Love Song", "Love Letters", "Perfidia", "Nadie Me Ama" for the Somethin' Else label. Blue Note Records will issue all the tracks on Rubalcaba's CD "Suite 4 Y 20" (7-80054-2).
20 Years Ago Today In 1997 - Pieces Of A Dream (James Lloyd on keyboards and background vocals, George Duke on synthesizer programming, Kevin Chokan on guitar, Curtis Harmon on drum programming and background vocals, and Mike Davis on vocals and background vocals, over sessions lasting until the next day, record the track Anyway You Want It" at Le Gonks West in Los Angeles, California. Blue Note Records will issue the track on the group's album Pieces (8-54052-2).

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - Glenn Miller and His Orchestra record the track "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" for Bluebird Records (a subsidiary of RCA Victor Records) at the Victor Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The single would later become the first record to be awarded a Gold record, for sales of 1 million copies. The idea for a Gold record was thought up as a publicity event by RCA Victor and later adopted by other labels and finally by the R.I.A.A. in 1958.
1945 - Representatives of the German army sign unconditional surrender documents ending World War II in Europe.
1946 - Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) is founded
1949 - "A - You're Adorable" by Perry Como becomes the first song available on RCA'S new 45rpm format to hit #1 on the Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records charts
1953 - Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Carson Smith and Larry Bunker record "Love Me or Leave Me" and "Varsity Drag" for Gene Norman's GNP label.
1955 - Bill Haley and The Comets' Decca single "Rock Around The Clock", with "Thirteen Women" on the flipside, debuts at #22 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1956 - The Rock 'n' Roll Trio, consisting of Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette, and Paul Burlison, has its first recording session for Coral Records at Pythian Temple Studio, in New York City, producing the single "Tear It Up" which will be covered by John Lennon on his Capitol Records "Rock 'n' Roll" solo album. Capitol wanted to sign the trio. but after the Burnettes and their manager, bandleader Henry Jerome, heard that Capitol might be also signing Gene Vincent, they decided to go with Coral. Capitol then signed Vincent who recorded "Be-Bop-A-Lula" three days before the Trio's session.
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Wand Records releases The Isley Brothers' cover of The Top Notes' title "Twist And Shout" as a single. This version would later itself be covered by "The Beatles", with John Lennon doing lead vocals, on February 11, 1963.
1966 - Rolling Stones' single "Paint It Black", with "Stupid Girl" on the flipside, is released on London Records.

MAY 6, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1945 - Bob Seger, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Grammy award winning (and multi-platinum selling) Capitol artist, is born Robert Clark Seger in Ann Arbor, Michigan

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Long Ago (And Far Away)" debuts at #7 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Ella Mae Morse's Capitol Records single "Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet", with orchestra conducted by Dick Walters, debuts at #10
1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Dearie" is #16 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1950 - Ray Anthony records the track "The Man With The Horn" which will be released as a single by Capitol Records
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Capitol Records releases Judy Garland's album "Alone". The sessions were produced by Voyle Gilmore with arrangements by Gordon Jenkins, who also conducted the orchestra and chorus.
1958 - Bobby Hackett (on cornet, with Pepe Moreale on piano, John Giuffrida [aka John Giuff] on bass, and Buzzy Drootin on drums) records the live tracks "C'est Magnifique", "Spring, Beautiful Spring", "All Of You", and "Rosalie" at The Embers in New York City, New York. The tracks will later be released by Capitol Records on Hackett's album "At The Embers".
1964 - On the Associated Rediffusion UK TV special "Around The Beatles", the band lip synchs, in front of a live audience, to tracks pre-recorded on April 19, 1964. The performance includes the tracks "Can't Buy Me Love"; "I Wanna Be Your Man"; "Long Tall Sally"; a medley that used "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "From Me To You", "She Loves You", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"; "Roll Over Beethoven"; "Shout"; and "Twist and Shout". They also perform a comedy sketch based on "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
1966 - Bob Bain leads a overdub session with drummer Hal Blaine at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California between 7:00PM and 12:30 AM on May 7, 1966 recording new tracks for the titles "Silver Bird" and "Let Me Tell You, Babe" which Nat "King" Cole originally recorded on January 14, 1964 and "No Other Heart" which was originally recorded on December 3, 1964. Capitol Records will issue the new versions of these songs on Cole's album "Sincerely" (T 2680).
1970 - Paul McCartney's Apple Records album "McCartney", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, peaks at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1974 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Things Aren't Funny Anymore" is #1 on the U.S. Country Singles chart
1988 - Pink Floyd's fans rip apart one of the band's flying pigs that descends on them at the first of two concerts at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts
1990 - Dan Seals' Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) single "Love On Arrival" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
25 Years Ago Today In 1992 - Marlene Dietrich, motion picture actress, singer, and Capitol Records artist, dies in Paris, France at age 90 of old age.
1994 - Lisa Marie Presley divorces her first husband, Danny Keough
2003 - Capitol Records reissues Warren Zevon's 1969 Imperial Records album "Wanted Dead Or Alive"
2004 - Barney Kessel, guitarist, arranger, writer, record producer, session artist on many Billy May and Mel Torme Capitol Records tracks, and member of The Oscar Peterson Trio, dies of brain cancer in San Diego, California at age 80
2006 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" reaches 1,500 weeks on the Billboard charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1919 - L. Frank Baum, writer of "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz" and a series of sequel books, dies at age 63. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Capitol Records would record a 3 disc 78 rpm album of "Dorothy And The Wizard Of Oz", featuring Rosemary Rice, in 1948.
1970 - Al Jarvis, DJ (show: 'Jivin' With Jarvis), who would broadcast from Wallichs' Music City in Hollywood and was great friends with Capitol Records co-founder Glenn Wallichs, dies in Newport Beach, California at 60

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1915 - Orson Welles, Broadway, radio, motion picture and television actor, director and writer, is born George Orson Welles
1930 - The first "Looney Tunes" cartoon short, "Sinkin' In The Bathtub" featuring Bosko and his girlfriend Honey, is shown at The Warner Theatre in New York City
80 Years Ago Today In 1937 - The Hindenburg explodes over Lakeland Naval Air Station in New Jersey and is captured on film by amateur George Willens, a Detroit printing company owner, and a audio description is given by NBC Radio’s Herbert Morrison, whose live on-site transcription of the tragedy and its immediate aftermath, was broadcast coast to coast on both the NBC Red and NBC Blue networks
1963 - The Beatle's single "From Me To You", backed with "Thank You Girl" on the flipside, was released on Vee-Jay Records
1965 - Keith Richards, along with Mick Jagger, begin work on the track "Satisfaction" in their Clearwater, Florida hotel room after Richards, who had gotten a new Gibson fuzzbox, dreams the opening riff

MAY 5, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1911 - Pete Daily, cornet player, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Portland, Indiana
1933 - Bobby Austin, Capitol Records solo artist, songwriter and bassist for Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens and Tommy Collins, is born in Wenatchee, Washington. The first song that Austin wrote, co-written with Johnny Paycheck, was Tammy Wynette's first recording, "Apartment #9". The title would be named Song Of The Year by the Academy of Country Music. Jason Odd wrote a great biographical article for the Traditional Country Hall of Fame website.
1968? - Dominic Pandiscia, CEO of Pledge Music, formerly President of Caroline Records, Executive Vice President Music Services at EMI, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of EMI Label Services, Global/Caroline Distribution, an unlisted position with Capitol Music Group in New York City, and Senior Vice President of Sales for Virgin Records in New York City, is born in Stanhope, New Jersey.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Trumpet player Bobby Sherwood and His Orchestra (Bob Goodrich, Clyde Hurley, and Gene Morgan also on trumpet, Al "King" Jackson and Joe Yukl on trombone, Bill Covey on alto saxophone, Bill Martinez on clarinet and alto saxophone, Bud Carlton and John Hamilton on tenor saxophone, Champ Webb on baritone saxophone, Gene Plummer on piano, Basil Hutchinson on guitar, Jud De Naut on bass, and Johnny Cyr on drums) record the titles "I Don't Know Why" with vocals by Bobby Sherwood, the instrumental title "The Elks' Parade", "Moonlight Becomes You" with vocals by Kitty Kallen, and "Harlem Butterfly" with vocals again by Bobby Sherwood at Radio Recorders' studios at 932 North Western Avenue in Hollywood, California for Ammor Records. Capitol Records will purchase the masters from Ammor and issue "I Don't Know Why" and "Elks' Parade" together as a single (Capitol 107 which will be part of Capitol's first release to retail) and "Moonlight Becomes You" and "Harlem Butterfly" together as a single (Capitol 123).
1945 - John Mercer, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Candy" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Dream" debuts at #6
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole with Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records Single "Too Young" is #4, and Paul and Ford's Capitol Records single "Mockin'bird Hill" is #5
1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is tied for #5 with The Platters featuring Tony Williams' single "The Magic Touch", and Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is tied for #35 with The Dick Hyman Trio's single "Theme From 'Three Penny Opera'"
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1958 - Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Records chart, Dean Martin with Gus Levene and His Orchestra & Chorus' Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #9, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #12, and The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Twenty-Six Miles" is #33
1958 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's single "Scarlet Ribbons", with "Three Jolly Coachmen" on the flipside
1965 - Buck Owens & His Buckaroos finish recording sessions at The Capitol Towers Studios for their album "Instrumental Hits". The sessions were produced by Ken Nelson. Besides Owens on guitar and electric guitar, the sessions featured Don Rich (acoustic & electric guitars, fiddle), Tom Brumley (steel guitar), Doyle Holly (bass), Willie Cantu (drums), along with Jelly Sanders (guitar, fiddle), Ralph Mooney, Jimmy Seals, Red Simpson (guitar), Jay McDonald (pedal steel guitar), George French, Jr. (piano), Bobby Austin, Kenny Pierce, Bob Morris (electric bass), Wayne "Moose" Stone, Mel King, Ken Presley (drums).
1969 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles' Apple Records single "Get Back", with "Don't Let Me Down" on the flipside, in the United States and Buck Owens' single "Johnny B. Goode"
1973 - Harvest Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases Pink Floyd's single "Money", with "Any Colour You Like" on the flipside, in the United States
1975 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford and Glen Campbell's album "Ernie Sings and Glen Picks".
1978 - Capitol Records releases Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band's album "Stranger In Town".
25 Years Ago Today In 1992 - Capitol Records releases Radiohead's first commercial EP, "Drill", which contains the tracks "Prove Yourself", "Stupid Car", "You", and "Thinking About You"
1998 - Capitol releases Garth Brooks first boxed set "Limited Series" (only 2 million sets released worldwide). The collection will include Brooks' first six multi-platinum studio releases as well as a new bonus track on each CD, for a total of 66 cuts and over three hours of music. The package also includes a new photo booklet commemorating Brooks' career to date. Also released is Brooks’ single "To Make You Feel My Love" featured on the soundtrack for the feature film "Hope Floats"
1998 - Capitol Records releases The Jesus Lizard's album "Blue".
1999 - Radiohead's "Meeting People Is Easy" becomes Capitol Records' first simultaneous DVD and Home Video release
1999 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Garth Brooks is named the artist of the decade at the 34th annual Academy of Country Music Awards

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1943 - Michael Palin, comedian, television and motion picture actor, and member of the Virgin Records America group Monty Python's Flying Circus, is born Michael Edward Palin in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" is #22 and its flipside, "Believe What You Say" is #24
1958 - Imperial Records releases The Burnette Brothers' single "Warm Love" with "My Honey" on the flipside which will be their only single release for the label
1960 - The Quarry Men become The Silver Beetles
55 Years Ago Today In 1962 - Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Young World" is #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Jay And The American's United Artists single "She Cried" is #13, Walter Brennan's Liberty Records single "Old Rivers" is #15
1991 - Roxette's EMI America single "Joyride" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2006 - EMI entered preliminary talks to buy Warner Music Group which would later reject EMI's offer

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1891 - Carnegie Hall officially opens with a concert by The Symphony Society of New York (also known as the New York Symphony), one of the two ensembles that merged in 1928 to form today’s New York Philharmonic, conducted by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1900 - The Billboard, a magazine for the music and entertainment industries, begins weekly publication after six years as a monthly
1961 - Alan B. Shepard, Jr. becomes the first American to go into space
1968 - Ed Sullivan presents a tribute on CBS-TV to Irving Berlin on his 80th birthday

MAY 4, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1928 - Maynard Ferguson, musician (trumpet, trombone, other horns), bandleader, winner of Down Beat Magazine reader's poll for best trumpet in 1950, '51 and '52, and member of the Capitol Records group Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, is born in Verdun, Quebec, Canada
80 Years Ago Today In 1937 - Dick Dale, "King of the Surf Guitar" and Capitol Records artist (his first full-length album, "Surfer’s Choice", was picked up by Capitol Records in 1962 and distributed nationally), is born Richard Monsour in Boston, Massachusetts.
75 Years Ago Today In 1942 - Nickolas Ashford, producer, songwriter, and singer in the Capitol Records duo Ashford & Simpson, is born in Fairfield, South Carolina
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Jacob Miller motion picture actor, singer with the Capitol Records group Inner Circle, and a solo artist, is born in Madeville, Jamaica

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1945 - Stan Kenton and His Orchestra, with June Christy on vocals, record the track "Tampico" which will be released as a single by Capitol Records and become the group's first million selling record
1946 - Andy Russell with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside" enters Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart at #8
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "The Wild Side Of Life" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1956 - Vocalist Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (Cliff Gallup on guitar, Ervin "Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on bass, and Dickie Harrell on drums) record the titles "Race With The Devil", "Be-Bop-A-Lula", "Woman Love", and "I Sure Miss You" with producer Ken Nelson at Owen Bradley's Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Capitol Records will issue "Race With The Devil" as a single (Capitol F3530) with "Gonna Back Up Baby" (recorded June 25, 1956) on the flipside, "Be Bop A Lula" and "Woman Love" together as a single (Capitol F3450, the label's first Rock 'N' Roll single), and "I Sure Miss You" on the group's eponymous album "Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps" (T 811). Capitol Records will rush-release "Be Bop A Lula" so that it will be in stores within two weeks and the group will perform the song before cameras for the film "The Girl Can't Help It". "Be-Bop-A-Lula" will influence generations of rockers around the world including John Lennon’s first band The Quarrymen and would be the first record bought by Paul McCartney.
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Tommy Sands' Capitol Records single "Teenage Crush" is #13 in a three way tie with Harry Belafonte (with Bob Corwin and His Orchestra)'s single "Mama Look-A Boo Boo", and Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (with The Arthur Malvin Singers)'s single "So Rare"
1959 - Capitol Records releases Judy Garland's album "The Letter" which has recently been re-released by GRP Records
1959 - The first Grammy Awards are presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Capitol Records artists Louis Prima and Keely Smith win Best Group or Chorus Vocal Performance with the single "That Old Black Magic", The Kingston Trio win Best Country and Western Performance with the single "Tom Dooley", Billy May wins Best Orchestra Performance with the album "Billy May's Big Fat Brass", Meredith Wilson wins Best Original Cast Album - Broadway or Television with "The Music Man", Felix Slatkin conducting The Hollywood Bowl Symphony wins Best Classical Performance - Orchestra with "Gaite Parisienne", The Hollywood String Quartet wins Best Classical Performance - Chamber Music with "Beethoven: Quartet No. 13", Roger Wagner Chorale win Best Classical Performance - Operatic or Choral with "Virtuoso", Stan Freberg wins" Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording with "The Best Of The Stan Freberg Show", and Frank Sinatra wins "Best Album Cover" with his art direction of his album "Only The Lonely"
1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Tijuana Jail" is #21 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Surfin' USA" debuts on the US album charts
1963 - The Beach Boy's Capitol Records single "Surfin' USA" is #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Reverend Mr. Black" is #14, and Al Martino's Capitol Records single "I Love You Because" is #29
1964 – Capitol Records releases The Beatles' single "Can’t Buy Me Love" and The Kingston Trio's last album for the label, "Back In Town", recorded during a stint at hungry i in San Francisco that started on March 23, 1964
1969 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Hungry Eyes" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1971 - Buck Owens records the titles "Corn Likker (Corn Liquor)", "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms",  and "I Know You're Married But I Love You Still" at Buck Owens Studios in Bakersfield, California. Capitol Records will issue the first two titles together as a single (Capitol 3164) and all three titles on Buck Owens and The Buckaroos' album "Ruby" (ST-795).
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's cover single of "Loco-motion" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for the second of a two week stay
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - Capitol Records releases The Beatles live album "The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl"
1979 – A congratulatory ad for “Phantasm” star Angus Scrim (The Tall Man) from Capitol Records appears in the Hollywood Reporter. Angus Scrim is the screen name for Rory Guy, Grammy winning writer of liner notes for Angel and Capitol Records, whose office was on the 5th floor of The Capitol Tower. Ron Waite has a great article online about a visit to Rory/Angus in the Tower with a young fan of the movie.
35 Years Ago Today In 1982 – Duran Duran's second album, “Rio”, produced by Colin Thurston, was released worldwide with Capitol Records' subsidiary Harvest Records initially handling distribution in the United States
25 Years Ago Today In 1992 - Dudu Zulu, a principal member of the Capitol Records group Johnny Clegg & Savuka, was shot and killed on May 4, 1992 in his native Zululand as he was en route to his home.
1998 - Capitol Records releases Robbie Williams' first U.S. album "The Ego Has Landed", culled from his first 2 UK albums
2011 - Gary West (aka Speedy West, Jr.), guitarist and son of Capitol Records artist Speedy West, dies in Oklahoma City of complications from lung cancer at age 58. A memorial service is set for 3 p.m. May 11 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City under the direction of Buchanan Funeral Service of Oklahoma City.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 – Capitol Records co-founder and artist Johnny Mercer sings "Huggin' and Chalkin'" on the Armed Forces radio show "Command Performance"
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Fats Domino's Imperial Records single "I'm Walkin'" is #8 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Eddie Cochran's Liberty Records single "Sittin' In The Balcony" is #21
1959 - Liberty Records artist David Seville wins Best Comedy Recording and Best Recording for Childern with "The Chipmunk Song" and Ted Keep wins Best Engineered Recording - Novelty with "The Chipmunk Song" at the first Grammy Awards presentation
1959 - The Fleetwoods' Dolton (originally Dolphin) Records single "Come Softly" is #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Martin Denny's Liberty Records single "Quiet Village" is #19, Rick Nelson's Imperial Records single "Never Be Anyone Else But You is #26 and its flip side, "It's Late", is #29
1963 - Bobby Vee's Liberty Records single "Charms" is #15 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, Lou Christie's Roulette Records single "Two Faces Have I" is #23, and Jan and Dean's Liberty Records single "Linda" is #28
1986 - The Pet Shop Boys' EMI America single "West End Girls" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1886 - Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter are granted a patent on the gramophone
1929 - Audrey Hepburn, Academy Award-winning actress, who introduced the Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini song “Moon River” in the film “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”, is born Edda Kathleen van Heemstra in Brussells, Belgium
1945 - Miles Davis records for the first time in a session with a band led by Herbie Fields
1958 - Keith Haring, artist, is born in Reading, Pennsylvania
1970 – Students Allison Krause, Sandra Lee Scheuer, Jeffrey Glenn Miller and William K. Schroeder were shot down by National Guard members during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration  on the Kent State University Campus in Ohio
1975 - Moe Howard, vaudelville, Broadway, motion picture and television actor, comedian and member of The Three Stooges, dies at age 77
40 Years Ago Today In 1977 - "Star Wars" debuts in movie theatres
2006 - I saw actor Kent McCord working on his website on a 12" iBook outside a coffee shop next to the Virgin MegaStore on Sunset and Crescent Heights. He appeared on "Ozzie and Harriett" as one of Rick Nelson's friends before going on to co-star on "Adam 12".

MAY 3, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1903 - Bing Crosby, singer, radio, motion picture, radio, and television actor, and a Decca and Capitol Records artist, is born Harry Lillis Crosby at 1112 North "J" Street in Tacoma, Washington
105 Years Ago Today In 1912 - Virgil Fox, organist and Capitol Records artist, is born in Princeton, Illinois.
1950 - Mary Hopkin, singer (best known for "Those Were The Days") and Apple Records artist distributed by Capitol Records in the United States, is born in Pontardawe, Wales
1955 - Steve Jones, singer, disc jockey, and guitarist with the EMI and Virgin Records band The Sex Pistols, is born

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" debuts at #10 on Billboards Best Selling Retail Records chart
70 Years Ago Today In 1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So firm, So Fully Packed" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
65 Years Ago Today In 1952 - Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "Wheel Of Fortune" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Ella Mae Morse's Capitol Records single is still #3, and Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I'll Walk Alone", with orchestra conducted by Sid Feller, debuts at #19
1968 - Capitol Records band The Beach Boys begins its US tour, with special guest Mahareshi, in New York City, New York
1969 - Margaret Young, popular comedienne and singer in the 1920s, Capitol recording artist in 1949 and aunt of Capitol artist Margaret Whiting, dies in Inglewood, California at age 78. She was born Margaret Youngblood.
45 Years Ago Today In 1971 - Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad hold their first press conference with six journalists attending
40 Years Ago Today In 1976 - Capitol Records band Wings end their "Wings Over America" tour after a three-night stand at The Forum, in Los Angeles, California or start their tour in Fort Worth, Texas marking Paul McCartney's first time back on a U.S. stage in a decade
1977 - Helmut Köllen, bassist, acoustic guitarist, vocalist and writer for the Capitol band Triumvirat, after a long day in the studio recording, is accidentally killed at age 27 by carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in his car listening to a cassette tape of the day's tracks in his garage. A solo album named by his friends after one of his favorite Beatles' songs, "You Won't See Me", is released posthumously later that year by Harvest/EMI Records in Germany. Russ Schenewerk has written a great biographical article about Triumvirat and Köllen.
1980 - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band's Capitol Records album "Against The Wind" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart
1988 - Poison's album "Open Up And Say...Ahh!" is released on Enigma Records, and distributed by Capitol Records. The album was produced by Tom Werman after Kiss' Paul Stanley had to bow out after scheduling conflicts. The album was recorded and mixed at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles and contains the #1 hit "Every Rose Has It's Thorn".
1998 - Garth Brooks' Capitol Records Nashville single "Two Pina Coladas" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1936 - Future Capitol Records artist Joe DiMaggio plays his first major league baseball game in Yankee Stadium against the St. Louis Browns
1965 - The Beatles spend the day filming scenes for their United Artists movie "HELP!" on Salisbury Plain with the assistance of the British Army's Third Tank Division
1976 - Carmen McRae (on vocals, with concertmasters Gerry Vinci and David Frisina; Buddy Childers, Bobby Shew, Al Aarons, Snooky Young, Oscar Brashear, and Blue Mitchell on trumpet; Lew McCreary, George Bohannon, Kenny Shroyer, Maurice Spears, Grover Mitchell, and Ernie Tack on trombone; Bill Perkins, Lanny Morgan, Harry Klee, Abe Most, Bill Green, Jerome Richardson, Ernie Watts, Don Menza, Pete Christlieb, and Jack Nimitz on reeds; Artie Kane and Marshall Otwell on piano; Joe Sample, Dave Grusin, and Ian Underwood on keyboards; Larry Carlton and Dennis Budimir on guitar; Joe Mondragon, Chuck Berghofer, and Wilton Felder on bass;, Harvey Mason on drums; and Victor Feldman and Larry Bunker on percussion) begins recording tracks for her United Artists Records album "Can't Hide Love" with producer by Dale Oehler, executive producer George Butler, and mixing engineer Hank Cicalo assisted by Milt Caliceis, at A&M Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
1994 - August Anna Brooks, daughter of Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks, is born
20 Years Ago Today In 1997 - Former Capitol Records band Katrina & the Waves win the forty-second Eurovision Song Contest, held in Dublin, Ireland, for the United Kingdom singing "Love Shine a Light"

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1919 - Betty Comden, lyricist (best known as partner to composer Adolph Green), is born in Brooklyn, New York
1933 - James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul", is born in Barnwell, South Carolina
1956 - "Most Happy Fella", a musical by Frank Loesser, opens at The Imperial Theatre in New York City, New York
1960 - "The Fantasticks", by composer Harvey Schmidt and writer-lyricist Tom Jones, opens off-off-Broadway at the Sullivan Street Playhouse and would run continuously for the next 40 years, becoming the world's longest running musical. Its hit song, "Try To Remember", is introduced by Jerry Orbach, later better remembered for his stint on TV's "Law & Order" and as the voice of Lumiere in the Walt Disney animated feature "Beauty And The Beast".
45 Years Ago Today In 1972- Bruce Springsteen records 12 songs at an acoustic solo demo session for CBS talent scout John Hammond in New York City which eventually leads to his signing to the label
1998 - Gene Raymond, actor (lead in RKO's 1933 film "Flying Down to Rio", the first film to team Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), singer (introduced the song "All I Do Is Think Of You" in the 1934 MGM film "Sadie McKee"), and one-time husband of singer and actress Jeanette MacDonald, dies at age 89.

BTW - It's also my brother Paul Nielsen's 55th birthday :)

MAY 2, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1950 - Lou Gramm, singer and drummer in the Capitol Records band Black Sheep and the band Forienger, is born Louis Grammatico, in Rochester, New York
1954 - Prescott Niles, bass player in the Capitol Records band The Knack, as well as the bands The Game and The Front, is born in New York City, New York

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1946 - Andy Russell's Capitol Records single "Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)" is released
70 Years Ago Today in 1947 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" is released
1953 - Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Pretend" is #4 on Billboard's Best Selling Records chart, Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "April In Portugal" is #5, and Jane Froman's Capitol Records single "I Believe", with Sid Feller conducting the orchestra, is #17
1953 - Frank Sinatra, with Nelson Riddle conducting his own arrangements to the orchestra (Arthur “Skeets” Herfurt, Ted Nash, and James Williamson on reeds, Clyde Hurley and Emanuel Klein on trumpets, Milton Bernhart and James Priddy on trombones, John Cace and Vincent De Rosa on French horns, Bill Miller on piano, Phil Stephens on bass, Alton Hendrickson on guitar, Alvin Stoller on drums, Kathryn Julve on harp, and a string section with Victor Bay, Walter Edelstien, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Mischa Russell, and Gerald Vinci on violins, Alfred Barr and Paul Robyn on violas, Eleanor Slatkin on cello), records the titles "Anytime, Anywhere", "My One And Only Love", "From Here To Eternity", and "I Can Read Between The Lines" at radio station KHJ's (now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and The Academy Film Archive) studios at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM with producer Voyle Gilmore. Capitol Records will issue "Anytime, Anywhere" and "From Here To Eternity" together as a single (Capitol 2560), "My One And Only Love" as a single (Capitol 2505) with "I've Got The World On A String" (recorded on April 30, 1953) on the flipside, and "I Can Read Between The Lines" on the album "Songs For Young Lovers" (W 1432).
1955 - Jackie Gleason records the track "That Certain Party" for Capitol Records
1956 - The Louvin Brothers record the track "Cash On The Barrelhead" for Capitol Records
1964 - The Beatles' Capitol Records album "Second Album" hits the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart two weeks after its release, making it the first album ever to reach #1 that quickly.
1966 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "Dust On Mother's Bible"
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Capitol Records pulls the plug on Brian Wilson's "Smile" album for The Beach Boys. Thirty eight years later in 2005, after a series of concert performances by Brian Wilson, the album and a documentary film will finally be released.
1973 - June Hutton, who replaced Jo Stafford in the Capitol Records group The Pied Pipers in June 1944 and was the wife of arranger Axel Stordahl, dies at age 53. She is later interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California next to her husband.
1986 - Anne Murray's Capitol Records single "Now And Forever" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
25 Years Ago Today In 1992 - Capitol Records artist Bonnie Raitt receives an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music during commencement ceremonies in Boston. The principal speaker at the commencement is Capitol Records boss Joe Smith.
2004 - Keith Urban's Capitol Records Nashville single "You'll Think Of Me" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1885 - Hedda Hopper, American actress, gossip columnist, radio show host, mother of motion picture and television actor William Hopper (best known as Paul Drake on "Perry Mason"), and whose estate was an early tenant of The Capitol Tower, is born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
1964 - The Beatles' Tollie Records single "Love Me Do" enters the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1964 - Imperial Records releases Billy J. Kramer's single "Little Children" in the United States
1981 - Sheena Easton's EMI America single "Morning Train" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1988 - Jim Fifield is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of EMI Music Worldwide, based in New York. He becomes President and Chief Executive Officer the following year.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1895 - Larry Hart, lyricist, writer, composer, producer and partner of Richard Rodgers, is born Lorenz Milton Hart in New York City, New York
85 Years Ago Today In 1932 - NBC introduces a new entertainer to their network's radio audience - Jack Benny
1938 - Future Capitol Records artist Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb Orchestra record the track "A Tisket A Tasket" in New York City, New York. Written by Van Alexander & Ella Fitzgerald, the track features Fitzgerald on vocals; Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, and Taft Jordan on trumpet; Sandy Williams, Nat Story, and George Matthews on trombone; Garvin Bushell, Louis Jordan, Wayman Carver, and Teddy McRae on reeds; Tommy Fulford on piano; Bobby Johnson on guitar; Beverley Peer on bass; and Chick Webb on drums.
1984 - Bob Clampett, cartoonist, director, television host, puppeteer, and creator of Tweety Bird and Beany and Cecil, dies at age 70, six days before his 71st birthday, of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan.

MAY 1, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1929 - Sonny James (aka "The Southern Gentleman"), singer, guitarist, and Capitol Records artist, is born James Loden in Hackleburg, Alabama

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1948 - Capitol Records holds the #1 and #2 spots on Billboard's Best Selling Singles Chart with Peggy Lee's "Mañana" at # 1 for the 9th straight week and Nat "King" Cole's first solo recording, "Nature Boy", at # 2 (it would hit #1 the following week and stay for 7 weeks)
1954 - Capitol Records releases its first ever 12" LP, Nat "King" Cole's "10th Anniversary Album", at a consumer list price of $4.75 (with inflation that's $41.72 in 2014) plus excise tax. It is Cole's 11th album for the label and a collection of previously unreleased masters and features sides by the original King Cole Trio and the orchestras of Pete Rugulo, Les Baxter, Dave Cavanaugh, and Nelson Riddle. All promotional materials for the album have been given  de luxe treatment, with streamers, browser -box cards, etc., printed in gold metallic inks.
1954 - Frank Sinatra with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Young At Heart" is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Answer Me, My Love" is #6, Kay Starr's Capitol Records single "If You Love Me (Really Love Me) is #11, and it's flipside, "The Man Upstairs", is at #12. Cole's "Answer Me, My Love" is also #10 on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart. Cole's single "It Happens To Be Me" is #20 and its flipside, "Alone Too Long", is #24 also on Cash Box magazine's Best Selling Singles chart.
1954 - Capitol Records artist Andy Griffith debuts at The Grand Ole Opry
60 Years Ago Today In 1957 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Maybe You'll Be There" and "Where Are You?" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
1958 - The Kingston Trio make their TV debut on the Playhouse 90 episode "Rumors Of Evening" when they play WW2 pilots as well as sing.
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is at #39 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1966 - The Beatles' last scheduled concert in the UK is held at the New Musical Express Poll Winner's Show at Empire Pool, Wembley. The Beatles played a fifteen-minute set performing the songs, "I Feel Fine," "Nowhere Man," "Day Tripper," "If I Needed Someone," and "I'm Down."
1969 - Peggy Lee's Capitol Records album "Natural Woman" is released
1988 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" finally leaves Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart after 725 weeks
1999 - Matador Records ends it distribution relationship with Capitol Records and goes independent
2001 - After a transition period, Andy Slater starts full time as president of Capitol Records

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1868 - Tom Dula, the basis for the Kingston Trio's first million selling single "Tom Dooley", is hung in Statesville, North Carolina
1918 - Jack Paar, television host who, via a short clip, introduced The Beatles to the U.S. television audience on "The Jack Paar Show" on NBC-TV , is born in Canton, Ohio
1951 - Bud Powell (on piano, with Curly Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums) records three versions of his "Un Poco Loco", a pair of takes on "A Night in Tunisia", and unaccompanied piano work on "Over the Rainbow" and "It Could Happen to You" at a session for Blue Note Records
1961 - Ernie K-Doe's Minit Records single "Mother-In-Law" is #2 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records Chart, Gene McDaniel's Liberty Records single "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is #4, Steve Lawrence's United Artists Records single "Portrait Of My Love" is #11, Al Caiola and His Orchestra's United Artists Records single "Bonanza" is #33, and Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Travelin' Man" is #34
1963 - Future Virgin Records band The Rollin' Stones sign Andrew Loog Oldham as manager
50 Years Ago Today In 1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu are married at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas by District Court Judge David Zenoff. They will become the parents of future Capitol Records artist Lisa Marie Presley.
1968 - D'Arcy Wretsky-Brown, with the Virgin Records America group Smashing Pumpkins, is born

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1901 - The Pan-American Exposition opens in Buffalo, New York
1909 - Kate Smith, singer and radio, television and motion picture performer, is born Kathryn Elizabeth Smith in Greenville, Virginia
1931 - The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York City
1941 - Orson Welles's Citizen Kane premieres in New York City
1965 - Spike Jones (born born Lindley Armstrong Jones), comedian, motion picture and television performer, musician and bandleader, dies at age 53 and is later interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California