MAY 13, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Tom Cochrane, lead singer of the Canadian band Red Rider and solo artist on Capitol Records and EMI Records, is born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada

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) is #6 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dearie" is #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday Morning) is #20
1954 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "It Worries Me" and "Half As Lovely (Twice As Nice)" (which will be released together as a single by Capitol Records), as well as "The Gal That Got Away" (which will be released by Capitol with "When I Stop Loving You" on the flip side which will be recorded on August 23, 1954), with arranger Nelson Riddle conducting the studio orchestra (Mahlon Clark, Chuck Gentry, Arthur "Skeets" Herfert, Arthur Kafton, Theodore Nash, and Warren Webb on reeds; Conrad Gozzo and Rubin "Zeke" Zarchy on trumpet; Dick Noel and Tommy Pederson on trombone;, George Roberts on bass trombone; Bobby Gibbons on guitar; Joe Comfort on bass; Bill Miller on piano; Kathryn Julye on harp; Alvin Stoller on drums; Victor Bay, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, George Kast, Nick Pisani, Mischa Russell, Eudice Shapiro, Paul Shure, and Felix Slatkin on violn; Maxine Johnson and Paul Robyn on viola; and Cy Bernard and Eleanor Slatkin on cello) at Capitol Records' Melrose Studios in Hollywood, California
1966 - Time Magazine runs an article about Capitol Records artist Mrs. Elva Miller and her upcoming appearance on the Ed Sullivan show (May 14, 1966)
1967 - Capitol Records artist Merle Haggard debuts on the Grand Ole Opry
1970 - The Beatles' film "Let It Be" is released
1975 - Bob Willis (born ames Robert Wills), fiddle and mandolin player, songwriter, bandleader (Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys), motion picture actor, 1968 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, 1970 Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee, 2000 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and Capitol Records artist, dies of pneumonia at age 70 in his Fort Worth, Texas home
20 Years Ago Today In 1988 - Chet Baker (born Chesney Henry Baker Jr.), singer, trumpet player, Capitol Records, Pacific Jazz and Blue Note Records artist, and whose face is part of the mural on the side of The Capitol Tower, dies at age 59 after falling (or being pushed) from his second story hotel window in Amsterdam, Holland. His body is later brought home for internment in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
1989 - Donny Osmond scores his first US Top 5 hit since 1972 when his Capitol Records single "Soldier of Love" moves to #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
1996 - Liz Phair shoots a video for her Capitol Records single "Rocket Boy" on a soundstage in Hollywood, California

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1907 - Madame (later Dame) Nellie Melba lays the foundation stone for the Power House at the Hayes factory site of The Gramaphone and Typewriter Ltd., a company that would later become EMI
95 Years Ago Today In 1913 - Pianist, arranger and composer Gil Evans, is born Ian Ernest Gilmore Green (or Gilmore Ian Rodrigo Green) in Toronto, Canada. He would later take his stepfather's last name. Along with his own recordings and arranging for other bands (including Capitol and Pacific Jazz Records artists Billy Butterfield, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Gerry Mulligan and others), Evans would provide the arrangements to the Miles Davis Nonet for the tracks "Moondreams" and "Boplicity" that were part of the "Birth Of The Cool" sessions for Capitol Records.
1924 - Future Capitol Records Marlene Dietrich marries Rudolf Sieber, and they will remain married for over 50 years
1945 - Magic Dick, musician with the EMI America Records group The J. Geils Band is born Dick Salwitz in New London, Connecticut
1946 - Danny Klein, bassist with the EMI America Records group The J. Geils Band, is born in New York City, New York
1947 - Liza Luise Rey, harpist, songwriter, and daughter of Capitol Records artist Alvino Rey and future Capitol Records artist Luise King (of The King Sisters), is born in Burbank, California, would later marry geologist Ned Butler, and now lives in South Harbor, Maine
1954 - "The Pajama Game" makes its debut on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City, New York. It is producer Harold Prince's first Broadway endeavor. Capitol Records artist John Raitt and Janis Paige star in the leading roles. The show will run for 1,063 performances. Raitt will also star in the movie version long with Doris Day.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1941 - Ritchie Valens, singer, songwriter, and guitarist and motion picture performer, is born Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, California
65 Years Ago Today In 1943 - Motown singer Mary Wells is born Mary Esther Wells in Detroit, Michigan

MAY 12, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1910 - Gordon Jenkins, pianist, bandleader, arranger, and Capitol Records artist as Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra, 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, with the group Joe & Rose Lee Maphis with his wife, session musician on sessions for Capitol Records artists Tex Ritter and Wanda Jackson 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
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"
50 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, tops the U.S. Country singles charts
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single ""I Wanna Live", with "That's All That Matters" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
40 Years Ago Today In 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
60 Years Ago Today In 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
50 Years Ago Today In 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"
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
1962 - Emilio Estevez, actor and one-time husband of Virgin Records America artist Paula Abdul is born
45 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, 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
1907 - Katharine Hepburn, Broadway and motion picture actress, is born Katharine Houghton Hepburn in Hartford, Connecticut
80 Years Ago Today In 1928 - Songwriter Burt Bacharach is born Burt Freeman Bacharach Kansas City, Missouri
1942 - Singer and leader of Kilburn and the High Roads and The Blockheads, Ian Dury, is born in Upminster Essex, England
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 attach and is buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California, USA, in the Whispering Pines section, #177 E.

MAY 11, 2008

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 aritst (guest vocalist on Johnny Mercer's first big hit on Capitol Records, "Strip Polka". Mercer will later write the Broadway musical "Top Banana" for Silvers and Capitol Records will release it's original Broadway cast album), is born Philip Silversmith in Brooklyn, New York
1930 - Marilyn King, singer, sister-in-law of Captiol Records artist Alvino Ray 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
55 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, 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 flip side
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.
40 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, 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
35 Years Ago Today In 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"
20 Years Ago Today In 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
65 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side
1991 - Roxette's EMI America single "Joyride", with "Come Back" on the flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
120 Years Ago Today In 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.
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 age36

MAY 10, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
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 Ray, 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
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
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
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 flip side, is #9 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart
1952 - Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "Wild Side of Life", with "Crying In The Deep Blue Sea" on the flip side, hits #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "My Heart Skips A Beat", with "Together Again" on the flip side, 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
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
1957 - Sid Vicious, singer and bass guitarist with the EMI, Virgin, and Warner Bros. Records group The Sex Pistols, is born John Simon Ritchie
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Future Virgin Records band The Rolling Stones, at their first recording session, cut the tracks "Come On" and "I Want To Be Loved" at Olympic Studios in London, England
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 flip side, is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. EMI America's catalog is currently owned by EMI 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, 2008

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
55 Years Ago Today In 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
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
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. 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.
40 Years Ago Today In 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
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
1962 - The Beatles sign a contract with Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI Records, Ltd.
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
15 Years Ago Today In 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
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, 2008

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
1947 - Jean Stewart signs with Capitol Records
1947 - Wingy Malone and His Orchestra (Charlie Griffard, Zeke Zarchy, and Ray Linn on trumpet; Bill Schaefer, Allan Thompson, and Carl Loeffler on trombone; Heinie Beau on clarinet; Fred Stulce and Leonard Hartman on alto saxophone; Herbie Haymer and Ted Nash on tenor saxophone; Moe Weschsler on piano; George Van Eps on guitar; Jack Ryan on bass; and Nick Fatool on drums) record an early version of the track "Box Car Blues" in Los Angeles, California. Wingy plays trumpet and shares vocals with Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer. Another version will be recorded on May 23, 1947 with the same lineup and that version will be the one released as a single by Capitol Records (Capitol 442).
1947 - At the same session with Wingy, Johnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers and the Paul Weston Orchestra record the tracks "Tallahassee" and "Cecilia"
60 Years Ago Today In 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
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
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
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
1970 - Capitol Records releases The Beates' "Let It Be" soundtrack album in the United States
20 Years Ago Today In 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
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.
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
65 Years Ago Today In 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
1947 - Phil Sawyer, bass guitarist and guitarist for the United Artists band The Spencer Davis Group, is born in Birmingham, England
55 Years Ago Today In 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
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
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 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.
45 Years Ago Today In 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.
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, EMI Music Group, currently owns the Chrysalis catalog.

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1911 - Robert Johnson, singer, guitarist, and songwriter, is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His 29 Blues recordings are amongst 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.

MAY 7, 2008

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
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"
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
50 Years Ago Today In 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"
1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Sloop John B." peaks at #3 on Billboard's single charts
1967 - Buck Owens' Capitol Records single "Sam's Place" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1972 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Grandma Harp" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles chart
10 Year Ago Today In 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
1966 - Del Shannon's Liberty Records single "The Big Hurt", with "I Got It Bad" on the flip side, enters Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The next time Shannon enters the chart will be in 1981.
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

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 the R.I.A.A. in the 1950s
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
55 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, 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.
1962 - The Isley Brothers' single "Twist And Shout" is released. The track would later 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 flip side, is released on London Records

MAY 6, 2008

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
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.
50 Years Ago Today In 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".
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
20 Years Ago Today In 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
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
5 Years Ago Today In 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
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
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beatle's single "From Me To You", backed with "Thank You Girl" on the flip side, 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, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1911 - Pete Daily, cornet player, band leader, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Portland, Indiana
75 Years Ago Today In 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 with Johnny Paycheck, was Tammy Wynette's first recording, "Apartment #9". The track 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.

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1942 - Bobby Sherwood and His Orchestra record the tracks "The Elk's Parade" and "I Don't Know Why" which will be released together by Capitol Records as single #107
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'"
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone" is still #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
50 Years Ago Today In 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
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Capitol Records releases The Kingston Trio's single "Scarlet Ribbons", with "Three Jolly Coachmen" on the flip side
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 flip side, in the United States
1969 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' single "Johnny B. Goode"
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Harvest Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records, releases Pink Floyd's single "Money", with "Any Colour You Like" on the flip side, in the United States
1975 - Capitol Records releases Tennessee Ernie Ford and Glen Campbell's album "Ernie Sings and Glen Picks"
1992 - Capitol Records releases Radiohead's first commercial EP, "Drill", which contains the tracks "Prove Yourself", "Stupid Car", "You", and "Thinking About You"
10 Years Ago Today In 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"
10 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Capitol Records releases The Jesus Lizard's album "Blue" is released
1999 - Radiohead's "Meeting People Is Easy" becomes Capitol Records's first simultaneous DVD and Home Video release
1999 - Capitol Records Nashville artist Garth Brooks is named artist of the decade at the 34th annual Academy of Country Music Awards

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
65 Years Today In 1943 - Michael Palin, comedian, television and motion picture actor, and member of the Virgin Records America group Monty Python, is born Michael Edward Palin in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
50 Years Ago Today In 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 flip side, "Believe What You Say" is #24
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Imperial Records releases The Burnette Brothers' single "Warm Love" with "My Honey" on the flip side which will be their only single release for the label
1960 - The Quarry Men become The Silver Beetles
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 offically opens with a concert 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 Shepard becomes the first American to go into space
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Ed Sullivan presents a tribute on CBS-TV to Irving Berlin on his 80th birthday

MAY 4, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
80 Years Ago Today In 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
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.
1942 - Nickolas Ashford, producer, songwriter, and singer in the Capitol Records duo Ashford & Simpson, is born in Fairfield, South Carolina
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
1952 - Hank Thompson's Capitol Records single "The Wild Side Of Life" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1956 - Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps record the single "Be-Bop-A-Lula" at Owen Bradley's Studio in Nashville, Tennessee for Capitol Records. The session was produced by Ken Nelson and take #12 was used for the single. "Be Bop A Lula" was the second tune recorded that day. "Race With The Devil" was recorded first and became the group's second Capitol Records single. Capitol’s first rock ‘n’ roll record was rush-released and would be in stores within 2 weeks. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" would influence a generation of rockers around the world including John Lennon’s first band The Quarrymen.
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 Performace with the single "Tom Dooley", Billy May wins Best Orchestra Performance with the album "Billy May's Big Fat Brass", Mereith 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
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records album "Surfin' USA" debuts on the US album charts
45 Years Ago Today In 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"
1964 - Capitol Records releases 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
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's cover single of "Loco-motion" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for the second of a two week stay
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.
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
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.
10 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Capitol Records releases Robbie Williams' first U.S. album "The Ego Has Landed", culled from his first 2 UK albums

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 – Capitol Records co-founder and artist Johnny Mercer sings "Huggin' and Chalkin'" on the Armed Forces radio show "Command Performance"
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
45 Years Ago Today In 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
50 Years Ago Today In 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
1984 - Bob Clampett, cartoonist, director, television host, puppeteer, and creator of Tweety Bird and Beany and Cecil, dies at age 70, four days before his 71st birthday
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.

MAY 3, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
105 Years Ago Today In 1903 - Bing Crosby, singer, radio, motion picture, radio, and television actor, and a Decca and Captiol Records artist, is born Harry Lillis Crosby at 1112 North "J" Street in Tacoma, Washington
1912 - Virgil Fox, organist and Capitol Records artist, is born
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
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
1947 - Merle Travis' Capitol Records single "So Round, So firm, So Fully Packed" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
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
40 Years Ago Today In 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 69. She was born Margaret Youngblood. There's some biographical info and a link to a sound file of Ms. Young singing on Mike Scaife's UK Website "The Great Song Stylists".
1971 - Capitol Records band Grand Funk Railroad hold their first press conference with six journalists attending
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 poising 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
20 Years Ago Today In 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".
10 Years Ago Today In 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
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
75 Years Ago Today In 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 Lumier in the Walt Disney animated feature "Beauty And The Beast".
1962 - Paul Robert Nielsen, my brother and one-time DJ in Buffalo, New York, is born in Chicago, Illinois
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
10 Years Ago Today In 1998 - Gene Raymond, actor (lead in "Flying Down to Rio", the first film to team Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) and one-time husband of singer and actress Jeanette MacDonald, dies at age 89

MAY 2, 2008

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
1947 - The Pied Pipers' Capitol Records single "Mam'selle" is released
55 Years Ago Today In 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
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Anytime, Anywhere", "My One And Only Love", "From Here To Eternity", and "I Can Read Between The Lines" at Capitol Records' Melrose Studios in Hollywood, Callifronia. All the tracks were arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. The session was produced by Voyle Gilmore and musicians included Arthur “Skeets” Herfurt, Ted Nash, and James Williamson on reeds; Clyde Hurley and Emanuel Klein on trumpet; Milton Bernhart and James Priddy on trombone; John Cace and Vincent De Rosa on french horn; Victor Bay, Walter Edelstien, Henry Hill, Alex Murray, Mischa Russell, and Gerald Vinci on violin; Alfred Barr and Paul Robyn on viola; Eleanor Slatkin on cello; Bill Miller on piano; Phil Stephens on bass; Alton Hendrickson on guitar; Alvin Stoller on drums; and Kathryn Julve (harp).
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"
1967 - Capitol Records pulls the plug on Brian Wilson's "Smile" album for The Beach Boys. Thirty eight years later, after a series of concert performances by Brian Wilson, the album and a documentary film will finally be released.

35 Years Ago Today In 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
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
20 Years Ago Today In 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
1932 - NBC introduces a new entertainer to their network's radio audience, Jack Benny
70 Years Ago Today In 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.

MAY 1, 2008

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
60 Years Ago Today In 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 - 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 flip side, "The Man Upstairs", is at #12
1954 - Capitol Records artist Andy Griffith debuts at The Grand Ole Opry
1957 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Maybe You'll Be There" and "Where Are You?" at The Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California
50 Years Ago Today In 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
20 Years Ago Today In 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
140 Years Ago Today In 1868 - Tom Dula, the basis for the Kingston Trio's first million selling single "Tom Dooley", is hung in Statesville, North Carolina
90 Years Ago Today In 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
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Future Virgin Records band The Rollin' Stones sign Andrew Loog Oldham as manager
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.
40 Years Ago Today In 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 later interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California

APRIL 30, 2008

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1947 - Mel Blanc is in the studio to record the track "Porky Pig In Africa" for the Capitol Records childrens album "Bugs Bunny Stories For Children". The track is produced by Alan Livingston with music by Billy May and story by Tedd Pierce and Warren Foster.
1949 - Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Sonny Burke)'s Capitol Records single "Careless Hands" is #9 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 #11, Mel Tormé (with orchestra conducted by Pete Rugolo)'s Capitol Records single "Again" is #13, Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Need You" is #15, Mel Tormé's Capitol Records single "Blue Moon" is #23, Jack Smith and The Clark Sisters (formerly called The Sentimentalists when they recorded with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra) with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Crusing Down The River" is tied with Gordon MacRae (with studio orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "So In Love" (from the Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me Kate") at #27, and Margaret Whiting (with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra) is tied with herself at #29 with her Capitol Records single "Forever And Ever" and its flip side "A Wonderful Guy" (from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "South Pacific")
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nelson Riddle conducts his first recording session with Frank Sinatra (Sinatra's second session for Capitol Records) with Voyle Gilmore producing. Recorded that day in Capitol Records' Melrose Studios (the former KHJ radio studios) are the first arrangements credited to Riddle for Sinatra: "I've Got The World On A String", "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", and "I Love You". Riddle "ghost" arranges for Billy May, who is credited on the songs "South Of The Border" and "From Here To Eternity". May is on tour with his own band at the same time as this session. Not bad for a single day's work.
1955 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Unchained Melody" is #4 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 #8, Nat "King" Cole with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" is #10 and both sides of their single "A Blossom Fell" with "If I May" on the flip side debut at #27
1961 - Faron Young's Capitol Records single "Hello Walls" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1966 - After being introduced by Ernest Tubb, Capitol Records artist Ray Pillow, best known at the time for his duets with Jean Shepard, is made a member of The Grand Ol' Opry 1966 - The Beach Boys' Capitol Records single "Caroline, No" peaks at #32 on the Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart. The track was recorded January 31, 1966 at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California and released March 7, 1966 as Capitol single 5610 with Brian Wilson on lead vocals.
1967 - Sonny James' Capitol Records single "Need You" is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1969 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon record overdubs and sound effects for their Apple Records track "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London, England
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - George Harrison's Apple Records single, "Give Me Love", released by Capitol Records in the United States, hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1974 - Merle Haggard records the track "Old Man From The Mountain" for Capitol Records
1977 - Glen Campbell's Capitol Records single "Southern Nights" is still #1 on Billboard's singles chart
1977 - Klaatu's self-titled debut album on Capitol Records peaks at #32 on the Billboard album charts and will stay there for 3 weeks
30 Years Ago Today In 1978 - Dick Curless, bandleader and Capitol Records artist, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame
1985 - Mickey Katz, comedian, klezmer style clarinet player, member and vocalist with Spike Jones and His City Slickers, father of Broadway, motion picture and television actor and Capitol Records artist Joel Grey, grandfather of motion picture and television actress Jennifer Grey, and a Capitol recording artist, dies at age 75 and is later interred in the Valley of Remembrance section of Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California
1987 - Apple Records releases The Beatles' albums "Help!", "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" on CD for the first time with there original UK track order and with Capitol Records handling distribution in the United States
1995 - Capitol Records artist Roseanne Cash and record producer John Leventhal are married
2000 - Jonah Jones, trumpet player and Capitol Records solo artist, dies at age 91

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1870 - Franz Lehar, composer of the operettas "The Merry Widow and "Naughty Marietta" (selections from both were later recorded by Gordon MacRae and released first as separate 10" albums and later together as a single 12" LP by Capitol Records), is born in what is now Komrno, Slovakia
1928 - Ten year old Stubenville, Ohio native Dino Crocetti (aka future Capitol Records artist Dean Martin) has his first Holy Communion and takes the name Paul as his confirmation name
75 Years Ago Today In 1933 - Willie Nelson, singer, songwriter, disc jockey, motion picture and television actor, founder of Farm Aid, and Liberty Records artist, is born Willaim Hugh Nelson in Abbott, Texas
70 Years Ago Today In 1938 - The Warner Bros. cartoon short "Porky's Hare Hunt", debuts in movie theaters, introducing future Capitol Records "artist" Bugs Bunny.
65 Years Ago Today In 1943 - Bobby Vee, singer and Liberty Records artist (1959-1970), is born Robert Thomas Velline in Fargo, North Dakota

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1927 - Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford become the first to put their hand and footprints in cement outside Sid Graumann's Chinese Theatre at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California
1934 - Jerry Lordon, composer of "Apache", the first big hit for the UK's The Shadows, was born in London, England
25 Years Ago Today In 1983 - Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield), Blues legend, dies in his sleep at age 68 at his home in Westmont, Illinois

APRIL 29, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1899 - Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, pianist, composer, bandleader, and Capitol Records artist, is born in Washington, D.C.. Ellington would record his last popular hit "Satin Doll" for Capitol Records with producer Dave Dexter, Jr. On his 70th birthday in 1969, Ellington will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1919 - Celeste Holm, Broadway, motion picture and television actress and Capitol Records artist (original motion picture soundtrack for the movie "High Society") is born in New York City, New York
1934 - Otis Rush, guitarist and Capitol Records artist (signed in 1970), is born near Neshoba, Mississippi
1942 - Klaus Voormann, graphic designer and illustrator (cover of The Beatles' Revolver and Anthology albums), bass player with Manfred Mann, Apple Records group Plastic Ono Band, and on various George Harrison projects including "The Concert For Bangladesh", is born in Berlin, Germany
40 Years Ago Today In 1968 - Carnie Wilson, singer, television talk show host, daughter of Brian Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Beach Boys and Marilyn Rovell Wilson of the Capitol Records group The Honeys, and co-founder of the SBK Records group Wilson Phillips, is born in Bel Air, California

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1944 - The King Cole Trio's Capitol Records single "Straighten Up and Fly Right", with "I Can't See For Lookin'" on the flip side, hits #1 on the "Black" charts for the first of ten weeks, and would later cross over to the country and pop charts. The track came from the Trio's first session for Capitol Records.
1944 - Jo Stafford (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "I Love You", with "Long Ago And Far Away" on the flip side, is #10 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
1946 - Les Baxter signs with Capitol Records
1950 - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Dearie", with "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday" on the flip side, is #11 on Billboard's Best Selling Retail Records chart and Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely's Capitol Records single "Let's Go To Church (Next Sunday)", with their track "Why Do You Say Those Things?" on the flip side, debuts at #19 and was also #2 on Billboard's Country Best Selling Singles chart
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Nelson Riddle signs a contract to conduct his first Sinatra session at Capitol which will be held the next day on April 30, 1953
1957 - Frank Sinatra records the tracks "Lonely Town" and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" with arranger Gordon Jenkins
45 Years Ago Today In 1963 - Capitol Records releases Buck Owens' album "On The Bandstand". The album was produced by Ken Nelson during sessions that occurred between May and September 1961 in the Capitol Studios in Hollywood and featured Owen's on guitar and vocals, Don Rich on fiddle, guitar, and vocals, Jay McDonalds on steel guitar, Kenny Pierce on electric bass and vocals and Ken Presley on drums.
1974 - Wings' Apple Records album "Band On The Run", distributed by Capitol Records in the United States enters Billboard's Top 100 Albums chart

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1931 - Lonnie Donegan, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Chrysalis Records artist, is born Anthony James Donegan in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland. Bruce Eder has written a great biography for the Memorable Music Hall of Fame on the man who invented Skiffle and influenced a generation of future British rock and blues musicians including The Beatles.
75 Years Ago Today In 1933 - Rod McKuen, singer, poet, actor, writer and composer of the song "Two-Ten, Six-Eighteen" recorded by Captiol recording artists The Kingston Trio, and Liberty Records artist, was born in Oakland, CA
60 Years Ago Today In 1948 - Tommy James, singer, member of the Roulette Records group Tommy James and The Shondells, is born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - The Gerry Mulligan Quartet begin a two day recording session for Pacific Jazz that will produce "Darn That Dream", "I May Be Wrong", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", "The Nearness Of You" and "Tea For Two". The quartet includes Mulligan (sax), Chet Baker (trumpet), Larry Bunker (drums), and Carson Smith (bass).
1992 - Virgin Records America artist Paula Abdul marries actor Emilio Estevez in Santa Monica, California. It is the first marriage for both and Paula will resume her concert tour in two days.
2006 - Former Capitol Records artist Keely Smith and Trio perform live at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, California. Showtimes were at 8:30 and 10:30 PM. For more info, check out the Catalina's website. They also played the previous night. Any first hand accounts would be much appreciated!

APRIL 28, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1926 - Blossom Dearie, singer, pianist, songwriter and Capitol Records artist (1964 for one album, "May I Come In?", currently available on Blue Note Records, also on the original soundtrack to the television show "Multiplication Rock!"), is born in East Durham, New York
1945 - John Wolters, record producer, singer, and drummer with the Capitol Records group Dr. Hook, is born

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1945 - Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers (with Paul Weston and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Candy" is at #3 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart,
1949 - Smiley Burnette signs with Capitol
1951 - Les Paul and Mary Ford's Capitol Records single "How High The Moon" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, they are also at #3 with their Capitol Records single "Mockin' Bird Hill", Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young" with Les Baxter conducting the orchestra using Nelson Riddle's arrangement, is at #5, and Stan Kenton and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "September Song" enters the chart at #20
1956 - Les Baxter and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Poor People Of Paris" is still #1 on Billboard's Best Selling Popular Retail Records chart, Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra's Capitol Records single "Lisbon Antigua" is #4, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Too Young To Go Steady" is at #35 (in a three way tie with Bill Haley and The Comets' single "See You Later, Alligator" and George Cates and His Orchestra's single "Moonglow And Theme From 'Picnic'"), and Dean Martin (with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra)'s Capitol Records single "Innamorata (Sweetheart)", is at #39 (in a tie with The Four Lads (with Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)'s single "Standing On The Corner")
1957 - Gene Vincent receives a gold record from Capitol during a show in Chicago for sales of over 2 million copies of the single "Be-Bop-A-Lula", which would go on to sell over 9 million copies
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Twelve year-old Laurie London's Capitol Records single "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" is #3 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, Dean Martin (with Gus Levine, His Orchestra, and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #16, The Four Prep's Capitol Records single "Twenty-Six Miles" is #25, Nat "King" Cole's Capitol Records single "Looking Back" is #28, and Ed Townsend's Capitol Records single "For Your Love" is #29 (in a tie with Betty Johnson's single "Little Blue Man")
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - Gil Evans signs with Capitol
1965 - The Beatles receive the Grammy for "Best Vocal Performance by a Group" for "A Hard Day's Night
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Pink Floyd's Capitol Records album "Dark Side Of The Moon" hits #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. It'll be #1 for only 1 week, but it will stay on Billboard's charts for 741 weeks.
1974 - Merle Haggard's Capitol Records single "Things Aren't Funny Anymore", with "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" on the flip side, is #1 on the U.S. Country singles charts
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad's Capitol Records single "The Loco-motion" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
1985 - Sleepy Willis, who worked with Dick Curless on the Capitol Records album "The Soul of Dick Curless" and later would become Curless' lead guitarist, agent and manager, is inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame
1991 - NBC-TV airs Liberty Records (later to become Capitol Records Nashville) artist Garth Brooks' network special "This Is Garth Brooks"

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1896 - George Ewing Lee, baritone saxophone player, singer, bandleader (George E. Lee and His Novelty Singing Orchestra, which featured his sister, future Capitol Records artist Julia Lee, on vocals and piano), is born in Boonville, Missouri
50 Years Ago Today In 1958 - David Seville's Liberty Records single "Witch Doctor" is #1 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart, and Ricky Nelson's Imperial Records single "Believe What You Say" is #13 with the flip side "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" at #20. Liberty and Imperial Records' catalogs are currently owned by EMI Music Group, Capitol Music Group's parent company.
1979 - Blondie's Chrysalis Records single "Heart Of Glass" is still #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart
2006 - Wanda Jackson Capitol Records artist from 1956 to 1973, is on stage at 7:00 pm in the Jensen Concert Hall at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at the Idaho State University in Pocatello. Any first hand accounts would be appreciated!

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
2005 - The U.S. Postal Service has a ceremony in New York City, New York to celebrate the release of a postage stamp featuring E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, writer of such well known songs as "Over the Rainbow" (with Capitol Records artist Harold Arlen) from "The Wizard of Oz" and (with Jay Gorney) "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

APRIL 27, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
1900 - Walter Lantz, cartoonist, studio owner, creator of Woody Woodpecker (which Capitol Records would release a childrens record featuring), Andy Panda, and Chilly Willy, is born Walter Benjamin Lantz in New Rochelle, New York. Walter Lantz Studios was one of future Capitol Records employee Fred Rice first jobs in Hollywood. Rice would later do the artwork for Capitol's Woody Woodpecker's album and promotion materials.
1909 - Jimmie Skinner, singer, songwriter, and Capitol Records artist (recorded 15 released singles for Capitol between 1950 and 1953, but no album was ever put together and the singles are a rare find), is born on a farm near Berea, Kentucky. There's also a reference to him being born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. If anyone knows for sure where Jimmie was born, please leave a comment. A great biography can be found on Paul Vidal's site and at the Hillbilly Music site.
1939 - Jerry Mercer, drummer with the Capitol Records group April Wine, is born in Newfoundland, Canada
1947 - Pete Ham, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founder of Apple Records and Capitol Records group Badfinger, is born William Peter Ham in Swansea, Wales

ON THIS DAY IN CAPITOL HISTORY
1955 - Dean Martin and Line Renaud record the track "Relax-Ay-Voo" for Capitol Records
1957 - Ferlin Husky's Capitol Records single "Gone", with "Missing Persons" on the flip side, is #5 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart, Tommy Sand's Capitol Records single "Teenage Crush", with "Hep Dee Hootie (Cutie Wootie)" on the flip side, is #12 (tied with Steve Lawrence's single "Party Doll"), and Sonny James' single "Young Love", with "You're The Reason I'm In Love" on the flip side, is #27
1959 - Bobby Hackett (on coronet, with Stan Brauner on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor sax; Dave McKenna on piano; Bill Kahakalau on steel guitar; Billy Bauer or Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and ukulele; Bob Carter on bass; Dick Scott on drums; and Johnny Cresci on bongos) records the tracks "Orchids From Hawaii", "Ku Nei", "Soft Sands" and "Aloha Oe" for his Capitol Records album "Hawaii Swings" in New York City. The sessions may have been produced by Andy Wiswell. The complete Bobby Hackett Capitol solo sessions are available on Mosaic Records.
1959 - The Kingston Trio's Capitol Records single "Tijuana Jail", with "Oh Cindy (from the Warner Bros. Picture “Rio Bravo”)" on the flip side, is #15 on Billboard's Best Selling Singles chart
1966 - Recording begins on The Beatles' track "I'm Only Sleeping" which will appear on their Capitol Records album "Revolver"
35 Years Ago Today In 1973 - Capitol Records artist Peggy Lee appears in a concert setting on the last episode of former Capitol Records artist Bobby Darin's NBC-TV variety show "The Bobby Darin Show"
1981 - Apple Records and Capitol Records artist Ringo Starr marries his second wife, motion picture actress Barbara Bach, at Marylebone Registry Office in London, England. Paul McCartney and wife Linda, George Harrison and Harry Nilsson were in attendance.
1988 - Great White’s Capitol Records album "Once Bitten" is certified Platinum by the R.I.A.A.
1990 - Liberty Records (later renamed Capitol Records Nashville) releases Garth Brooks' album "No Fences"
1992 - Capitol Records releases it's limited edition promotional 50th Anniversary box set. It contains 8 cds and a hard cover book covering the highights of the previous 50 years of the label's history.

ON THIS DAY NOT QUITE IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1791 - Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor (most notably of Morse code), painter, and grandfather of Leila Morse (who threw the switch to light the beacon on top of The Capitol Tower that spells out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D in Morse code for the first time), is born Samuel Finley Breese Morse in Charlestown, Massachusetts
55 Years Ago Today In 1953 - Gerry Mulligan (on baritone saxophone with Chet Baker on trumpet, Larry Bunker on drums, and Carson Smith on bass), records "My Old Flame" for Pacific Jazz Records with producer Richard Bock at Radio Recorders, in Los Angeles, California.
1959 - Sheena Easton, singer, television actress, and EMI America Records artist, is born Sheena Shirley Orr in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
1961 - Lou Donaldson (on alto saxophone with Herman Foster on piano, Ben Tucker on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Alec Dorsey on conga drums) records the tracks "Glory of Love", "Gravy Train", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", "Candy", "South Of The Border", "Twist Time", and "Avalon" for his Blue Note Records album "Gravy Train" with producer Alfred Lion. The album is released in mono in June 1961 and stereo in July, 1962.
1964 - Tollie Records release The Beatles' single "Love Me Do", with "P.S. I Love You" on the flip side, in the United States

ON THIS DAY NOT IN CAPITOL RECORDS HISTORY
1932 - Casey Kasem, cartoon voice actor (best known as the voice of Shaggy in "Scooby Doo" and Robin in "Batman" and "Superfriends" cartoons), host of "American Top 40" weekly radio show and "America's Top 10" television show, is born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan