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September 30, 2005
The Legacy Of Capitol Records!
Songwriter Johnny Mercer created Capitol Records in 1942 with Hollywood music store owner Glenn Wallichs and movie producer Buddy DeSylva. According to Stephen Fratallone's 60th anniversary tribute article, "Like Mercer's musical genius, Capitol Records was new, fresh and revolutionary. He wanted to form a record company where music that was recorded and the artists who recorded it were treated differently. He wanted to give new artists and veteran artists alike the freedom to grow and to expand their artistic palette. Capitol Records provided a competitive alternative to the three major record companies of the day -- Victor, Columbia and Decca -- all established in New York. With his new record company, Mercer helped to change the sound of American pop music and the way it was made. In her autobiography, It Might As Well Be Spring, singer Margaret Whiting, a close personal friend of Mercer's and one of the first singers to record on the new label, wrote that he "was a man bursting with talent and always looking for a place to channel his energies. This idea of a record company seemed ideal." Mercer took his idea to one of his best friends, Glenn Wallichs, the owner of Music City, the biggest record store in Los Angeles situated across from NBC. Wallichs loved the thought of being a part of such a venturesome endeavor. It was agreed upon that Wallichs would run the business while Mercer would find the artists and supervise their artistic output. All that was needed to set Capitol Records into motion was financial backing. Mercer looked to Buddy DeSylva, who, besides being a great songwriter in his own right, had become head of production at Paramount Studios. He had hired Mercer to do the score with Victor Schertzinger for The Fleet's In, a musical with William Holden, Dorothy Lamour, Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton. DeSylva was also excited about Mercer's new project and quickly wrote him out a check for $25,000. Capitol Records was now in business."
By 1946 Capitol has sold 42 million records and was established as one of the Big 6 studios. In 1950 Capitol built its own studio on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. In 1955, EMI acquired Capitol Records for $8.5 million. The Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) company was created in Britain in April 1931 by the merger of British Gramophone Company and the Columbia Graphophone Company. In November 1931 it had opened one of the world's great recording studios in North London at 3 Abbey Road. By 1955 Capitol was the fourth largest American record company, emphasizing popular music with Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin. Frank Sinatra made 19 albums with Capitol 1954-62, with arrangers Axel Stordahl and Nelson Riddle. EMI decided to build a new studio in Hollywood that would be state-of-the-art equivalent to its Abbey Road studio in London.
The present Capitol Tower building was constructed in 1956 at 1730 Vine Street near Hollywood Boulevard. According to James Bayless, "In February of 1956, Capitol Records reached a long planned-for goal when West Coast operations were consolidated in a new combined studio and office building in Hollywood. The building is unique in a number of ways. It has already become a Hollywood landmark as it is the world's first office building in fthe form of a round tower. Now widely known as the 'Capitol Tower', the building was designed by Welton Becket, noted architect, and is a modern, striking, earthquake-resistant reinforced-concrete structure. It is 13 stories tall and 150' high, the maximum building height permitted in Los Angeles. The decor is in keeping with the outward appearance of the building. The ground floor, the only rectangular part of the building, is actually a separate structure which surrounds the tower and was joined to it after the entire tower was completed. It houses the Recording Department offices, tape-to-disk dubbing rooms, and three recording studios which were designed to be as modern and striking as the building itself."
I had to good fortune to watch Nik Venet, my mentor and partner produce The Chicago Conspiracy Trial at Capitol Records in front of a live audience. Those were the days!
Mary Hopkin's first single was Those Were The Days, released on Apple Records on August 30, 1968
Posted by mitchsantell at 04:37 PM
September 28, 2005
A Much Needed Break!
Thank you all for your patience with me. I must admit a little secret. Ready? After working on this site and the podcast show and putting our team together. I needed a much needed break. There continues to be great movement in the music business and we plan on sharing our view each and every day.
We also have some amazing annoucements to make over the next two weeks so please stay tuned. Our podcast? We'll happily be posting starting next week. As my dear son Michael always says, "hey Dad" shift happens!
Michael is also the Chairman Of The Board that owns "What's Out Next!" and as Michael loves to tell my partners, clients and team, "You let me know if my Dad is doing a good job okay? Because if he isn't, I'll fire his ass!"
The picture in the post was the first time I went to Canters in LA after my own father died in September of last year. The shot of my folks was from 1965 during my Mom's 10th year Hamilton High School Reunion. My Dad used to say, I fell in love with your Mom the first time I met her.
Of course, Michael claims that the whole sixties trip was like a strawberry field. You know what I say? It's only love! I love you Michael and I am so proud of you. At 18, you have taught your old man some great lessons. Just know that me and Mom are here for you always! It's all good. I get a peaceful easy feeling that Michael will be there for me the way I was for my DAD! God bless you son.
Posted by mitchsantell at 01:27 PM
September 22, 2005
First, There is A Moutain!
In 1969 at the ripe of 12 years of age, I remember my Dad bringing this record into Marty's Music. Donavan: the man, the legend! This guy sounds as cool in 2005 as in did in 1965. The guy is a legend and according to John Lennon, "Donovan is as important and influential as Bob Dylan and we are ... listen, the man's a poet."
With all the changes going on the music business, all I can say is that first there is a business model and then there isn't! Everyone is scrambling for the final answer. Who will win? I think the consumer....because when we want our music we want it now and we won't wait! For us at What's Out Next our take is There is a mountain!
Posted by mitchsantell at 11:06 PM
September 20, 2005
The Story of Warner Brothers Records!
Warner Brothers, as a company, goes back to 1918, when four brothers (Jack, Albert, Harry, and Samuel Warner) opened their first Warner Brothers studio. They incorporated as a production and distribution entity five years later under the name Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. In 1944, they purchased Leon Schlesinger's cartoon studio, Looney Tunes, and became the owners of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and the rest. The Warner Brothers animation division then churned out high quality cartoons, comic books, and shorts for decades, until it was closed in 1963. Meanwhile, Warner Brothers continued to be one of the big Hollywood players in the movie industry.
Following the lead of MGM, who started a record label in the late 1940s, and Paramount, who established ABC-Paramount in 1957, Warner Brothers formed its own Warner Brothers Records as a division of Warner Brothers Studios on March 19, 1958. The office was located above the film studio's machine shop at 3701 Warner Blvd. in Burbank, California. The President of the label was James B. Conklin. Directors of A&R were Harris Ashburn, George Avakian and Bob Prince. The Warner Brothers label initially recorded pop, jazz, classical, spoken word, folk and gospel.
Over the years, it had not bothered Warner Brothers too much that they didn't have a record company, but it was in early 1957, when Randy Wood's Dot Records signed Warners' movie star Tab Hunter to a recording contract, that the Warner Brothers brass started seeing red. Wood could sign Hunter because although his Warner Brothers contract was exclusive, Warners had no record label. In fact, the timing of when Warner Brothers started their record label was very much linked to their getting their star's recording contract away from Dot. Hunter, who by his own admission could barely sing at all, was coached by Wood to make a few passable records which were major hits in 1957, while Warners steamed. When Warner Brothers finally got their record label off the ground in 1958, they reclaimed Tab Hunter, who made several albums for the label and had a few singles in the mid-ranges of the charts, although nothing like the success he had had with Dot. In fact, Tab Hunter's "Jealous Heart" [WB 5008], which only made #62 on the charts, was the only chart record Warner Brothers had during its first year, 1958.
On the album side in 1960, comedian Bob Newhart scored a #1 album with The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, the success of which started Warner Brothers to look around for other comedians to sign to record contracts. Eventually, Warner Brothers would become one of the most successful in the comedy album genre, with stars like Allan Sherman and Bill Cosby also becoming household names by 1965.
The early 1970s saw the Warner Brothers label grow to the major label it had always aspired to become. New artists included rockers Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Grateful Dead, Ides of March, Alice Cooper, and the Faces. On the more acoustic side, there was James Taylor, Seals and Crofts, Dion, and America. Also added were soul bands Tower of Power and Malo as well as pop/soul singer Dionne Warwick. By 1973, Warner Brothers was firmly ensconced in a leadership position in the music industry, and that is where they remain today.
As we continue to educate you all on some of the history behind the music biz, we want to thank Mike Callahan who wrote the original WB Records Story. Of course at What's Out Next we say it may all be black water!
Black Water, Produced by Ted Templeman and released on WB Records in 1974 from the album "What Where Once Vices Are Now Habits!"
Posted by mitchsantell at 11:21 PM
September 19, 2005
Part Two of the Bruce E. Singer Podcast - Show # 16
Bruce E. Singer is a Voting Grammy Member, published song writer ("Don't Touch That Dial," Engelbert Humperdinck / CBS Records) and published author (satire / parody of comedian Al Franken, Random House / Xlibris Press). Mr. Singer combines his well-honed business expertise with his creative gifts to create "win-win" deals and a "good deal more."
There's so much more to the Bruce Singer story and you'll get a kick out of part one on What's Out Next! I first met Bruce Singer at a song writing class that was taught by Al Kasha in 1977. We ended up partnering together to create an ASCAP Music Publishing company called L.A. Music Publishing. We never thought we'd get the name but guess what? Nobody had it so we got it.
During our many adventures together we produced a number of records together including Lady Rhythm with Bruce's brother Donnie Singer. The song was reviewed in Cashbox and Billboard and even ended up with a rating of an B+/84 rating on American Bandstand!
Since 1977 Bruce continues to amaze me with his song writing skills, marketing genius and we continue to support each other with our newest venture (mums the word), Movie Capital, Inc. starting over the next 30 days.
Mr. Singer welcomes your questions, comments or insights at: besinger@dc.rr.com
Part Two of the Bruce E. Singer Podcast - Show # 16
Posted by mitchsantell at 09:42 PM
From Beatles To Wings!
There is an emotional high (natural please) that comes from holding a Long Playing LP. Sitting in my garage is over 300 albums in mint condition from my Dad's day's in the music business. Do you remember the heart ache we all shared when the Beatles broke up? Man, it was like the Pope had just died and there was never going to be anyone to replace him.
We devote this post to one of my favorite "Beatles" Paul McCartney who happily transitioned from The Beatles to form a band with his wife Linda McCartney called Wings!
Paul's rise to stardom started very simply with his first single "Another Day." Paul's first "real" solo album was a true solo effort, since he plays all of the instruments. The album was recorded in Paul's basement in Scotland, which by this time had been converted into a studio (resembling Abbey Road's studio #2).
A fast succession of singles and albums followed with most critics and fans recognizing that Paul was back in full "Beatle form" with the 1973 release of Band on the Run.
Like you, I loved Band On The Run! The album that has the warmest memories for me was the 1975 Release of Venus and Mars! The track Rock Show (which launches with the Venus and Mars Intro) is pure Heaven! Just Listen What The Man Said!
Another interesting fact about Paul McCartney is that he actually had a syndicated radio show at one time but decided that the "music biz" was where it's at! If you get a chance, check out Paul's newest album called "Chaos and Creation in the backyard! It will blow your mind!
Posted by mitchsantell at 05:42 PM
September 14, 2005
Bruce E. Singer - Amazing Songwriter, Published Author & Marketing Guru! Podcast Show # 15
Bruce E. Singer is a Voting Grammy Member, published song writer ("Don't Touch That Dial," Engelbert Humperdinck / CBS Records) and published author (satire / parody of comedian Al Franken, Random House / Xlibris Press). Mr. Singer combines his well-honed business expertise with his creative gifts to create "win-win" deals and a "good deal more."
There's so much more to the Bruce Singer story and you'll get a kick out of part one on What's Out Next! I first met Bruce Singer at a song writing class that was taught by Al Kasha in 1977. We ended up partnering together to create an ASCAP Music Publishing company called L.A. Music Publishing. We never thought we'd get the name but guess what? Nobody had it so we got it.
During our many adventures together we produced a number of records together including Lady Rhythm with Bruce's brother Donnie Singer. The song was reviewed in Cashbox and Billboard and even ended up with a rating of an B+/84 rating on American Bandstand!
Since 1977 Bruce continues to amaze me with his song writing skills, marketing genius and we continue to support each other with our newest venture (mums the word), Movie Capital, Inc. starting over the next 30 days.
Mr. Singer welcomes your questions, comments or insights at: besinger@dc.rr.com
Bruce E. Singer - Amazing Songwriter, Published Author & Marketing Guru! Podcast Show # 15
Posted by mitchsantell at 09:11 PM
September 06, 2005
It's All On The Tape!
Music has an amazing way of taking you back to another time. When Fleetwood Mac was in the studio back in 1976 working on Rumors released in 1977... they had no idea what a blockbuster the album would be. Going through an unbelievable amount of pain and drama, Fleetwood Mac would go on to produce an album that had so many hits on it that some Executives within the music industry simply wanted to call the album "Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits!"
What most of you don't know who are out there in the digital music space is this amazing fact. Rumors was recorded on good old Ampex 456 Tape. Two inches wide and a standard for 16 and 24 track recording, the feel off this tape had a warmth that is hard to match today.
Here is a little known fact about that album. Ready? Back in 1977 when Rumors was recorded they had a "safety back up" of the drum tracks. (This was also on 456 tape). By the time they got down to the final mix of the album, they noticed that all of the "high end" on the drum tracks including the high-hat could no longer be heard. It had rubbed off of the tape.
Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut, the producers on the record knew they had a huge problem on their hands. What did they do? Using two multi-track recorders they had the original safety track playing in one ear and the original finished track in the other. This was painstaking work as they had to match the finished track with the safety in order for the tracks to work.
At What's Out Next, we know what dreams are made of and we are still in awe of the magic that was created. Now that is magic to our ears!
Posted by mitchsantell at 02:36 PM
September 04, 2005
Part Two of Dan Radlauer, Composer Extraordinaire!
From Full Orchestral Scores to Head Banging Rock and Cutting edge Techno. Swinging Big Band Jazz and Retro 60’s Lounge to Ethnic and Acoustic Music. From Hip Hop and Sound Design to delicate intimate scores. Few composers have the breadth and depth that Dan Radlauer has!
For almost 20 years I have known Dan and have watched his growth as a world class composer, sound designer and Film, TV and Commercial miracle worker!
Currently Dan Radlauer is writing for the number one show on VH1, Surreal Life (which is viewed on both VH1 & the WB TV Network). An accomplished pianist, guitarist, bassist, orchestrator and synthesizer programmer his influences and abilities give him the range and expertise to compose in any musical situation. He is also frequently asked to collaborate on lyrics for songs, jingles and theme songs.
In addition to the Surreal Life, Dan also has composed for feature films including The Addams Family, Long Hot Summer, Metro Chase and many more.
Plus, National TV Themes including show like Jerry Springer and Sally Jesse Raphael. No only is Dan is master of more musical styles than I can even mention here, he delivers his craft on time, on budget or under and is willing to bring additional team members to make every object fly!
Not only was Dan Radlauer kind enough to do an interview on What's Out Next, you'll see his smiling face above with Carol Smith, who just completed her pilot at the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) in July and did some fantastic interviews including Dan at the ABC Radio Network.
Enjoy Part Two of Dan Radlauer, Composer Extraordinaire!
Posted by mitchsantell at 09:24 PM