Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.)

~ Label

Annotation

1942

Capitol Records was born out of Johnny Mercer frustration not being able to obtain satisfactory recording conditions for his work, and upon a suggestion from Glenn Wallichs.

Mercer made an initial arrangement in January 1942 with Buddy DeSylva (at that time head of production at Paramount Studios), who will agree to put in a total of $25,000 to help things start.

On February 7, Liberty Records was created. Due to the failure to obtain rights on the name, though, it was changed to Capitol Records, which was effectively created on April 9.

Later in May was held the first recording session of the new label (a Paul Whiteman session), like most of the early recordings, at C.P. MacGregor's Recording Studios (729 S. Western Avenue, Hollywood, CA, USA).

On May 21, Cow-Cow Boogie (the first gold Capitol single) is recorded by Freddie Slack.

Later on, Glenn Wallichs invent the concept of giving away promotional pre-releases to disc-jockeys - soon imitated by other companies, that move was crucial in making Capitol early success - including Cow-Cow Boogie.

On June 4, Capitol officially starts activity in a new office, 1483 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA, USA. Capitol will stay there until 1946. The first batch of employees includes (besides Mercer & Wallichs) Dave Shelly, Floyd Bittaker, and Dave Dexter, Jr. (later on famous for turning off the Beatles twice).

On June 12, Billie Holiday records with Paul Whiteman (Travelin' Light).
Soon after, the first reviews of Capitol records appears in Billboard Magazine.
On July 1, Capitol finally releases a first batch of 9 singles, numbered 101 to 109, soon the be praised and a commercial success.

On July 30, the Petrillo Ban starts, helping in the end of Big Band orchestras.

By the end of the year, Capitol made $195,000, signing Tex Ritter, Martha Tilton, Johnny Mercer, Ella Mae Morse, Freddie Slack, Margaret Whiting and Johnnie Johnston, and hiring Paul Weston as musical director.

1943-1955

1955

Bought by EMI.

Notes

Had subsidiaries: SBK, EMI America Records and EMI-Manhattan Records.
Distributed by: Capitol Records (US), Parlophone/EMI Records (UK)

Complicated history, with recent merges including with Priority Records in 2001.
Some of the back catalog reissued by Blue Note.
Also made a career out of messing records.

Annotation last modified on 2008-02-09 01:47 UTC.

Releases

ReleaseArtistFormatTracksCountry/DateCatalog#Barcode
I've Found a New Baby / The General Jumped at DawnPaul Whiteman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1942-06-29
101
Cow-Cow Boogie / Here You AreFreddie Slack and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1942-07-01
102[none]
Strip Polka / The Air-Minded ExecutiveJohnny Mercer10" Shellac2
  • US1942-07-01
103[none]
Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland / Phil, the Fluter's BallDennis DayVinyl2
  • US1942-07-01
104
The Angels Cried / I'll Remember AprilMartha Tilton10" Vinyl2
  • US1942-07-01
105
He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings / I'm Always Chasing RainbowsGordon Jenkins & His OrchestraVinyl2
  • US1942-07-01
106
The Elks' Parade / I Don't Know WhyBobby Sherwood & His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1942-07-01
107[none]
Serenade in Blue / I've Got a Gal in KalamazooPaul Whiteman & His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1942-07-01
108
Windmill Under the Stars / Conchita LopezJohnnie Johnston10" Shellac2
  • US1942-07-01
109[none]
Mr. Five By Five / The Thrill Is GoneFreddie Slack and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
115
Trav'lin' Light / You Were Never LovelierPaul Whiteman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
116
He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings / I'm Always Chasing RainbowsGordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
106
There'll Never Be Another You / DaybreakGordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
119
White Christmas / Heaven for TwoGordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
124
Hurry, Hurry! / Poinciana (Song of the Tree)Benny Carter and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1943-10-25
144
Moondreams / Coming Through the RyeMartha Tilton With Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
138
G. I. Jive / (I'm Going to Sit Right Down and) Write Myself a LetterJohnny Mercer With Paul Weston And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
141
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To / Would You Rather Be a Colonel With an Eagle on Your Shoulder, or a Private With a Chicken on Your Knee?Six Hits and a Miss With Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
127
Bye Bye Blackbird / Two on a BikeSix Hits and a Miss With Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
135
Pistol Packin' Mama / Deacon JonesThe Pied Pipers With Paul Weston And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
140
Old Aquaintance / How Sweet You AreJo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra10" Shellac2
142[none]
Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year / Irresistable YouJohnnie Johnston with Paul Weston and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
152[none]
Straighten Up and Fly Right / I Can’t See for Lookin’The King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
154[none]
Songs by Johnny MercerJohnny Mercer4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
10001, 10002, 10003, 10004
Eager Beaver / Artistry in Rhythm (Production on Theme)Stan Kenton and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
159[none]
I’m Lost / Just a Baby’s Prayer at TwilightBenny Carter and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
165
The King Cole TrioThe King Cole Trio4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
20009, 20010, 20011, 20012, A-8[none]
Moonlight in Vermont / There Goes That Song AgainBilly Butterfield & His Orchestra10" Shellac2
  • US1944-11-30
182
Jealous Heart / We Live in Two Different WorldsTex Ritter and His Texans10" Shellac2
179[none]
Sweet Lorraine / Embraceable YouThe King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
20009[none]
The Man I Love / Body and SoulThe King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
20010[none]
Prelude in C Sharp Minor / What Is This Thing Called Love?The King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
20011[none]
It’s Only a Paper Moon / Easy Listenin’ BluesThe King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
20012[none]
Rock Island Line / Eagle Eye RagLeadbellyShellac2
10021
His Rocking Horse Ran Away / It Had to Be YouBetty Hutton with Paul Weston and his Orchestra10" Shellac2
155[none]
Patty Cake Man / Invitation to the BluesElla Mae Morse10" Vinyl2
163
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive / There's a Fellow Waiting in PoughkeepsieJohnny Mercer10" Shellac2
180
Every Time We Say Goodbye / Are You Livin’ Old Man?Stan Kenton and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
187[none]
New American JazzThe Capitol Jazzmen4×10" Vinyl2 + 2 + 2 + 2
A-3
I’m Gonna See My Baby / CandyJohnny Mercer with Paul Weston and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
183[none]
Laura / There Must Be a WayJohnnie Johnston with Paul Baron and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
196[none]
Malibu / I Surrender DearBenny Carter and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
200
You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often / Green Grow the LilacsTex Ritter and His Texans10" Shellac2
  • US1945-07-25
206[none]
Mean Old World / I Got a Break, BabyT‐Bone Walker10" Shellac2
10033[none]
Symphony / Day by DayJo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra10" Shellac2
227[none]
Let’s Take the Long Way Home / I Promise YouJo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra10" Shellac2
181[none]
Propaganda Papa / Mother's PrayerWally Fowler and His Georgia Clodhoppers10" Shellac2
190[none]
What More Can a Woman Do? / You Was Right, BabyPeggy Lee10" Vinyl2
197
Freddie Slack’s Boogie WoogieFreddie Slack4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
20029, 20030, 20031, 20032, BD 12[none]
Oklahoma Hills / I'm a Brandin' My Darlin' With My HeartJack GuthrieVinyl2
201
Oklahoma Hills / I'm Brandin' My Darlin' With My HeartJack Guthrie & His OklahomansVinyl2
201
Waiting for the Train to Come In / I’m Glad I Waited for YouPeggy Lee10" Vinyl2
218
The Frim Fram Sauce / Come to Baby, Do!The King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
224
Just A‐Sittin’ and A‐Rockin’ / Artistry JumpsStan Kenton and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
229[none]
The History of Jazz, Volume 1: N'Orleans OriginsVarious Artists12" Vinyl12
T793[none]
King Cole Trio, Vol. 2King Cole Trio4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
BD-29[none]
Divorce Me C.O.D. / MissouriMerle TravisVinyl2
290
Memory WaltzesFrank De Vol and His Orchestra4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
BD 31
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / The Best ManThe Nat King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
304[none]
The Christmas Song / In the Cool of EveningThe King Cole Trio10" Vinyl2
311[none]
Jalousie (Jealousy) / SteamrollerBilly Butterfield and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
335[none]
Detour / I Wish I Had Never Met SunshineWesley TuttleVinyl2
233
I Don’t Know Enough About You / I Can See It Your Way, BabyPeggy Lee10" Vinyl2
236
The House of Blue Lights / Hey Mr. PostmanFreddie Slack With Rhythm Section and Ella Mae Morse with Don Raye10" Shellac2
251
Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside) / They Say It's WonderfulAndy Russell10" Vinyl2
252[none]
(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 / Everyone Is Saying Hello Again (Why Must We Say Goodbye?)The King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
256[none]
Linger in My Arms a Little Longer, Baby / Baby You Can Count on MePeggy Lee with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
263
You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love) / Oh, but I DoThe King Cole Trio10" Shellac2
274[none]
Aren’t You Kind of Glad We Did? / It’s All Over NowPeggy Lee with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
292
It’s a Pity to Say Goodnight / Intermission RiffStan Kenton and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
298[none]
He’s Just My Kind / It’s a Good DayPeggy Lee10" Vinyl2
322
Everything's Movin' Too Fast / It's Lovin' TimePeggy Lee with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
343
Johnny Mercer and the Pied PipersJohnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
CD-36[none]
St. Louis Woman (1946 original Broadway cast)Harold ArlenVinyl10
CE 28
Tales of Uncle RemusJohnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers, James Baskett2×10" Shellac4 + 2
CC-40
Steel Guitar Rag / Three Times SevenMerle TravisVinyl2
  • US1947-03-22
384
It Takes Time / Moon-Faced, Starry-EyedBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
376
Lonely Moments / Whistle BluesBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
374
Temptation (Tim-Tayshun)Red Ingle & The Natural Seven10" Shellac2
412[none]
I Want to Be Loved / MahzelBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
416
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) / Roundup PolkaTex Williams and His Western Caravan10" Shellac2
40001
The Freedom Train / God Bless AmericaJohnny Mercer, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Margaret Whiting, The Pied Pipers With Paul Weston And His Orchestra / Margaret Whiting And The Pied Pipers With Paul Weston And His Orchestra10" Shellac2
15003
Prelude to a Kiss / I Can’t Escape From YouBenny Carter and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
40048[none]
Save the Bones for Henry Jones (’Cause Henry Don’t Eat No Meat) / HarmonyJohnny Mercer10" Shellac2
15000[none]
A Nightingale Can Sing the Blues / There’ll Be Some Changes MadePeggy Lee10" Vinyl2
15001
Nagasaki / Gonna Get a GirlBenny Goodman Sextet10" Shellac2
15008
Oooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty? / Sweet and LovelyBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
15020
Too Young to Go Steady / Never Let Me GoNat King ColeVinyl2
3390[none]
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Speaking of AngelsPeggy Lee with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
375
Chi-baba Chi-baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) / Ain’tcha Ever Comin’ BackPeggy Lee with Dave Barbour and His Orchestra10" Vinyl2
419[none]
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve / Don't Tell MeMargaret Whiting10" Shellac2
427[none]
Folk Songs of the HillsMerle Travis4×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2 + 2
AD-50[none]
Dizzy Fingers / TattletaleBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
B439
Hi 'Ya Sophia / Baby, Have You Got a Little Love to SpareThe Benny Goodman Sextet10" Shellac2
B-462
I'll Never Be the Same / Sweet and Hot Mop (78 RPM)Åke (Stan) Hasselgård and His All Star Six10" Shellac2
C 15302
King Cole Trio, Volume 3King Cole Trio3×10" Shellac2 + 2 + 2
CC-59[none]
Music Out of the MoonHarry Revel, Les Baxter & Dr. Samuel J. HoffmanVinyl6
H2000
Folk Songs of the HillsTennessee Ernie FordVinyl13
  • -1947
Nature Boy / Lost AprilNat King Cole10" Shellac2
  • US1948-03-29
15054[none]
For Every Man There’s a Woman / Beyond the SeaBenny Goodman and His Orchestra10" Shellac2
15030