Capitol Albums, 401 to 500 and A Word About High Fidelity

Transcription

1 Capitol Albums, 401 to 500 and A Word About High Fidelity In 1953 and 1954, Capitol was shifting from a market dominated by 78 RPM singles to one where the 45 RPM single was rapidly increasing in popularity. Along with that change, the long-playing record was becoming more popular. Capitol adopted RCA Victor s new extended play format whole hog at the beginning of the year. Between January and April, 1953, they released dozens of new and reissue releases as double EP s. They also determined that they could release half of an eight-song album on a single EP, and half on another EP. Dean Martin Sings Capitol EBF-401 = H-401 Dean Martin Released January, Horace Heidt Souvenirs Capitol EBF-402 = H-402 Horace Heidt Released April, 1953.

2 Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely Sing Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely Released April, Capitol EAP The Dixie Style of Pete Kelly's Big 7 Capitol EAP Pete Kelly's Big 7 Released April, Al Martino Sings Capitol EAP Al Martino Released April (?), I have only seen the label of the American EP; this cover is British. Ray Anthony Concert Capitol EAP Ray Anthony Released April, 1953.

3 The Student Prince Capitol L-407 Gordon MacRae and Dorothy Warenskjold Released c. April, The Art Tatum Trio Capitol H-408 Art Tatum Released August (?), Reissued as L-408. The Benny Goodman Band Capitol H-409 Benny Goodman Released April, Love Songs by Margaret Whiting Margaret Whiting Released Capitol EAP-1-410

4 The Trials and Tribulations of Yogi Yorgesson Capitol EAP Yogi Yorgesson Released c. May, The Billy May Band Capitol EAP Billy May Released April, Backwoods Boogies + Blues Capitol EAP "Tennessee" Ernie Ford Released c. May, The 4 Knights Sing Capitol EAP The Four Knights Released c. May, 1953.

5 The Hits of Kay Starr Capitol EAP EAP = H-415 Kay Starr Released June, 1954 (?). The Hit Makers! Capitol EAP EAP = H-416 Les Paul and Mary Ford Released April, Honky-Tonk Hits Capitol EAP Joe "Fingers" Carr Released April, Songs of the Brazos Valley Capitol EAP EAP = H-418 Hank Thompson

6 Songs for Strings Capitol L-419 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Released February, Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love Capitol EBF-420 = H-420 Nat King Cole Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton Stan Kenton Released April, Expanded to a 12 LP (T-421) in Capitol EAP By the Light of the Silvery Moon Capitol EBF-422 = H-422 Gordon MacRae and June Hutton Released April, 1953.

7 Inca Taqui Capitol L-423 Yma Sumac Classics in Jazz Capitol H-424 Billy Butterfield Released May, Hi-Jinks on the Hammond Capitol H-425 Milt Herth Trio Sketches on Standards Capitol H-426 Stan Kenton Released April, Reissued 1955 as L-426.

8 Piano Hits Ben Light Released June, Capitol EAP Memory Songs Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae Released July, Capitol EAP Jane Froman Favorites Jane Froman Released July, Capitol EAP J'Attendrai Gisele MacKenzie Released March, 1954 (?). Capitol EAP-1-430

9 Tex Ritter Sings Tex Ritter Released July, Capitol EAP Johhny Pecon's Polka Party Johnny Pecon Released July, Capitol EAP The Four Freshmen The Four Freshmen Capitol EAP Serenade Capitol L-434 Voices of Walter Schumann Released 1953.

10 Starring Jo Stafford Capitol H-435 Jo Stafford Party Panic! Capitol H-436 Mel Blanc Released June, The Student Prince/The Merry Widow Capitol P-437 Gordon MacRae Released A reissue combining L-335 and L-407. Reissued later as T-437. Piano Demitasse Capitol EBF-438 = H-438 George Greeley

11 Gerry Mulligan and His Ten-Tette Capitol EBF-439 = H-439 Gerry Mulligan Premiered by Ellington Capitol EBF-440 = H-440 Duke Ellington The Goodman Touch Capitol EBF-441 = H-441 Benny Goodman The Anthony Choir Capitol EBF-442 = H-442 The Anthony Choir with Ray Anthony

12 Joe "Fingers" Carr and His Ragtime Band Capitol EBF-443 = H-443 Joe "Fingers" Carr & His Ragtime Band The Park Avenue Hillbillie Capitol H-444 Dorothy Shay Released September, Dreamtime Capitol H-445 The Strings of (Axel) Stordahl Moods for Starlight Capitol H-446 Francis Scott

13 Blue Tango Les Baxter Capitol EAP Get Happy With June Christy June Christy Capitol EAP Gospel Songs Martha Carson Capitol EAP Goin' Steady Faron Young Capitol EAP-1-450

14 Country and Hillbilly Songs Capitol EAP Skeets McDonald Can-Can Capitol S -452 Original Cast Released July, Reissued as W-452. Spellbound Concerto/The Red House Capitol L-453 Erich Kloss/Miklos Rozsa Released November, A partial reissue of Capitol CB-48. Quo Vadis Suite Capitol L-454 Frankenland State Orchestra (Erich Kloss) Released November, 1953.

15 Music to Make You Misty Capitol EBF-455 = H-455 Jackie Gleason Released November, Spellbound Concert//The Red House/Quo Vadis Suite Capitol P-456 Erich Kloss/Miklos Rozsa Released November, Combines L-453 and L-454. Reissued as T-456. The Family Danced Capitol H-457 Mickey Katz Released October, Soft Lights and Bobby Hackett Capitol EBF-458 = H-458 Bobby Hackett Released March, 1954.

16 Classics in Jazz Capitol H-459 Miles Davis Released March, This Modern World Capitol KCF-460 = H-460 Stan Kenton Released March, Yingle Bells Capitol EAP Yogi Yorgesson Released November, The Christmas Party is shown on the front cover as The Christmas Story. Portraits on Standards Capitol H-462 Stan Kenton Released November 1953.

17 Classics in Jazz Bobby Sherwood Released March, Capitol EAP Capitol 464 not known Capitol 465 not known Classics in Jazz Stan Hasselgard Released March, Capitol EAP The Eddie Cantor Story (Soundtrack) Capitol DDN-467 = FBF-467 = L-467 Eddie Cantor Released December, In December, 1953, Capitol changed label styles from Label 49 (left) to Label 53 (right).

18 Naughty Marietta Capitol FBF-468 = L-468 Gordon MacRae and Marguerite Piazza Released April, Jerry Shard and his Music Jerry Shard Released Capitol EAP Hawaii Calls Capitol EBF-470 = H-470 The Hawaii Calls Orchestra (Webley Edwards) Released March, Tawny Capitol EBF-471 = H-471 Jackie Gleason Released January, 1954.

19 Songs for Harmonizing Capitol EBF-472 = H-472 Background Music (Vol. 6) Bill Loose Released February, Sweet and Sentimental Capitol EBF-473 = H-473 Background Music (Vol. 5) Released February, Thinking of You Capitol H-474 Les Baxter Released February, For Lovers Only/To Make You Misty Capitol P- 475 Jackie Gleason Released A reissue combining H-352 and H-455. Reissued in 1955 as W-475.

20 I Remember Glenn Miller Capitol EBF-476 = H-476 Ray Anthony Released January, The Duke Plays Ellington Capitol H-477 Duke Ellington Released April, Love Songs Italiane Capitol EAP EAP = H-478 Tony Romano Released March, Classics in Jazz Capitol EAP EAP = H-479 Benny Goodman Released April, 1954.

21 Birth of a Baby Capitol H-480 The Documentary Recording of an Actual Birth WISC Radio Recorded March, Released January, Sunny Italy Capitol EAP Dean Martin Released December, Hits from Can-Can Capitol EAP Various Artists Released December, Polynesia! Capitol H-483 The Royal Polynesians Released February, Reissued 1955 as L-483.

22 Bobby Troup! Capitol EBF-484 = H-484 Bobby Troup Released March, Three Sailors and a Girl Capitol FBF-485 = L-485 Gordon MacRae and Jane Powell Released January, The Passions Capitol LAL-486 Les Baxter Boxed set with book. The first pressing is on a maroon/gold Full Dimensional Sound label. Released January, Billy May's Naughty Operetta! Capitol H-487 Billy May Released February, 1954.

23 Songs for Young Lovers Capitol H-488 Frank Sinatra Released February, Songs for Harmonizing/Sweet and Sentimental Capitol P-489 Background Music (Vols. 5 and 6) Bill Loose Released Combines H-472 and H-473. Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals Capitol H-490 Borrah Minevitch (His name is misspelled on the LP.) Released July, Classics in Jazz Lennie Tristano Released March/April, Capitol EAP-1-491

24 Swingin' Around Capitol EAP EAP = H-492 Pee Wee Hunt Released April, Liquid Sounds Capitol EAP EAP = H-493 Paul Smith Released October, Invitation Les Baxter Released May, Capitol EAP Vaya Con Dios Les Paul and Mary Ford Released March, Capitol EAP-1-495

25 Any Requests? Stan Freberg Released March, Capitol EAP Piano Rags Joe "Fingers" Carr Released March, Capitol EAP What It Was, Was Football! Andy Griffith Released February, Capitol EAP Capitol 499 not known Songs by Nat King Cole Nat King Cole Released March, Capitol EAP-1-500

26 In October, 1953, Capitol announced their plans to make a big push in the direction of High Fidelity recordings. While these were well-liked by fans of classical music, Capitol s plan was to use Hi-Fi techniques on its popular LP s as well. From that point until the end of 1954, Capitol began adding stickers to the covers of recordings that fit the definition of High Fidelity. The first such sticker read HIGH FIDELITY on two lines. The later sticker reads Capitol Records High Fidelity Recording on three lines in a manner that would become the label s logo for Hi-Fi albums. None of the original pressings of Capitol EP s or LP s have High Fidelity printed directly onto the front cover until January, Therefore, the true first pressing of every record listed in the files called Capitol Albums 1,2, 3, and 4 will not mention High Fidelity on the front cover slick.