GA Russell

ejp, you're making me laugh again!

In 1976 I had a summer job working for MCI. I sold their long distance service at a time when no one had heard of them. I would call up businesses and give the presidents the pitch. I spoke to four relatively famous people without knowing when I dialed that they were in charge: Dagmar (late night TV personality) Ralph Guglielmi (Notre Dame and St. Louis Cardinals quarterback) Van McCoy (Do the Hustle! ) Bob Purkey (Cincinnati Reds pitcher) edit for typo

Paul Erdman died Monday. I enjoyed very much The Billion Dollar Sure Thing and The Silver Bears back in the day. I remember seeing him interviewed on television. This obit is the first I've heard about his being charged with fraud. The minimal $25,000. judgment makes it sound bogus to me. At the time he made it clear that he felt that the only "crime" he committed was presiding over a Swiss bank that failed. He said that the Swiss don't tolerate that sort of thing. He suggested that he was a fall guy of the real powers that be in international finance. So in his first novel his hero was a guy that the powers that be tried to make take the fall. Here's his obit from today's LA Times: Paul Erdman, 74; banker-turned-novelist By Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer April 27, 2007 Paul Erdman, a noted economist and former Swiss banker who tapped his knowledge of international finance and monetary trends to write best-selling financial thrillers, including "The Billion Dollar Sure Thing" and "The Crash of '79," has died. He was 74. Erdman died of cancer Monday at his ranch in Healdsburg in Sonoma County, said his son-in-law Hernan Narea. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), in a statement to The Times this week, called Erdman "one of the leading financial minds of the 20th century" and "a dear friend whose intellect was dazzling." Dubbed "the king of the financial thriller" and the "Adam Smith of the crime novel," Erdman launched his career as a novelist three decades ago in an unlikely venue: a 17th century Swiss jail. He was chief executive of United California Bank of Basel, Switzerland, in 1970 when he presided over what has been called "one of the most spectacular collapses in the history of Swiss banking." Erdman and seven other bank employees, according to a 1972 story in The Times, were charged with fraud, forgery and other crimes in connection with commodity speculation resulting in a $53.4-million loss. Erdman began writing his first novel, "The Billion Dollar Sure Thing," during the months he spent behind bars after his arrest. Published in 1973, the international tale of various attempts to manipulate the value of the dollar and the price of gold reportedly sold more than 2 million copies and earned Erdman an Edgar Award for best first novel from the Mystery Writers of America. "I had just come off the excitement of international banking," Erdman later told Time magazine, "and I was full of theories. Primarily, I was convinced that the world was facing the first cataclysmic financial events since World War II: a massive increase in the price of gold and the devaluation of the dollar." Erdman originally had intended to write a book on economics. "But since I was in jail at the time, I had no research facilities, so I decided to try it in novel form," he told the New York Times Book Review in 1981. Erdman's 1974 novel "The Silver Bears" became a 1978 movie starring Michael Caine and Cybill Shepherd. "The Great Game," his 10th novel, is expected to be published this year, his family said. "I probably have a better background in international economics than most economists in this country," Erdman told San Francisco Business Magazine in 1990. "I think my credentials are just fine. It's just that it's a rather boring profession. Who in hell wants to spend their life being an economist?" Born May 19, 1932, in Stratford, Canada, to American parents (his father was a Lutheran minister), Erdman received a bachelor of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1954 and another bachelor's degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. After stints as an assistant editor of the editorial page at the Washington Post and working in a brokerage house in Washington, he earned a doctorate in economics, European history and theology from the University of Basel in 1958. During the late 1950s and early '60s, Erdman served as an international economist with the European Coal and Steel Community (the forerunner of the European Common Market) and the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, Calif. With funding from San Diego financier Charles Salik, Erdman launched the Salik Bank in Basel in the mid-1960s, reportedly becoming the first American to establish a private bank in Switzerland. By late 1968, the Salik Bank reportedly had assets of nearly $50 million. It was bought by United California Bank in 1969. Then came the bank's closing in 1970. The Swiss prosecutor, according to the 1972 Times story, said the bank's losses were incurred through large-scale unauthorized speculation by key bank officers on silver, cocoa and other commodities and by foreign exchange dealing in the late 1960s. The losses, the prosecutor said, had been covered up by falsifying the bank's books. Erdman, who blamed the bank's commodities traders for the problems and disclaimed personal responsibility, left Switzerland after posting bail. Tried in absentia, according to a 1987 Times story, he was convicted of fraud, sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. He also was banished from Switzerland for 15 years and would have faced incarceration had he ever returned. Under U.S.-Swiss treaties, however, he could not be extradited. Erdman's time in jail became a colorful biographical footnote as he pursued his career as a novelist and continued to be sought after for his views on international finance as a speaker and writer. In addition to his novels, Erdman wrote several nonfiction books, including "Tug of War: Today's Global Currency Crisis." And from 1998 to 2005 he wrote a column on international finance and affairs for MarketWatch, an online financial news service. "Paul was one of these characters who could really capture the intersection of international relations and the financial markets," MarketWatch managing editor Alexander Davis told The Times this week. "He wrote with a kind of idiosyncratic wit and flair; he was a pretty rare talent." Erdman is survived by his wife, Helly; his daughters, Jennifer Erdman and Constance Erdman Narea; and two granddaughters.

Speaking of pushing aside, I did it once myself, and I've felt bad about it ever since. This was about 1979. I was in a record store in Pittsburgh. The import section was upstairs. I don't recall why, but I was in a really bad mood. As I was leaving, a punk rock and roll band in black leather jackets were lined up side by side at the foot of the stairs. Perhaps to have their photo taken. Really posturing like they were bad. I stepped between this short skinny petite guy and a guy that looked like a girl and pushed them aside so I could leave. The band went on to have some hits. They were called The Talking Heads. The skinny guy was the lead singer, I think his name was David but you rock fans would know. He looked startled and hurt, and the bravado disappeared in a flash. The blond guy really was a girl. Her name I'm pretty sure was Tina.

Couch is now the third string quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts. P.S. Oops! Couch is not with the Argos. The Argos QB is another NFL bust named Eric Crouch, I think. Jackson is now the third string QB for the British Columbia Lions.

Stan Getz - Another World, disc 2 (Columbia) 1978 Elton Dean's Ninesense - Oh! For the Edge (Ogun) 1976

The league will webcast its draft at its cfl.ca website on Wednesday starting at 1:00 pm eastern. ***** Calgary has signed former Cincinnati QB Akili Smith to challenge Henry Burris. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

RIP. I remember seeing him on the Lloyd Thaxton Show! I have a Christmas tape put out by EMI on which is Pickett's Monster Mash knock off which featured Lon Chaney, Jr. I'm pretty sure that it is called Monsters' Holiday. P.S. Now that I think about it, I don't think that Pickett had anything to do with the Lon Chaney, Jr., song. It was just a knock-off.

Stan Getz - Another World, disc 1 (Columbia) 1978

Tjazz, Marsalis Music is the name of the label. It is owned by Branford Marsalis. Wynton has nothing to do with this.

ejp, you're making me laugh!

Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive (A&M) 1981 The Animals - Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted (It. Polydor) 1977 Manfred Mann - Soul of Mann (Br. See For Miles) 1964-66

Yes, Bertrand. Brasil '66 was the first in the US to do it, to my knowledge, with lyrics by Lani Hall (their lead singer) and called it Empty Faces. Mark Murphy covered it on his third Muse album Sings with a great solo by Randy Brecker.

Dreams was a jazz rock band from the very early 70s. In 1971 I had their first album (self-titled), and I remember recommending it to a friend who then bought it. I don't recall ever seeing anything else by them in the stores. Some years ago, about 2000, I ordered the CD of what I believe was their only other album, Imagine My Surprise. I didn't open it up right away, and then I misplaced it. I came across it not too long ago, and waited till today to open it up. Despite the presence of Randy and Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, Will Lee and Billy Cobham, it is not very jazzy. Less so than their first album (which also had John Abercrombie). It's not bad, but not great. Because it is of my era, I'll give it three stars. Younger people might give it fewer.

Thanks Moose! I knew nothing about this.

My second jazz record was his Gotta Travel On on Cadet (1966), with Clark Terry and Snooky Young guesting on some tracks. As I recall Walter Booker was on bass, but I don't remember who the drummer was. Haven't heard it in years. Nice, a little heavy-handed, uncomplicated. Great for a jazz beginner.

I'm an Astrud fan. I know of ony two or three albums of hers I don't have. This one is one of my favorites. I'm with you, Soul Stream!

Cecil Taylor - Silent Tongues (Arista Freedom) 1974

To be precise, eBay doesn't sell ammo. I found this at digg.com: http://newsbusters.org/node/12212 ABC News: VT Killer 'Purchased Ammo' on Ebay... But Ebay Doesn't SELL Ammunition! Posted by Warner Todd Huston on April 21, 2007 - 20:55. ABC News tries its hand at sensationalism with a story on the VT killer buying "ammo" on the auction site Ebay, but muffs it badly getting all the relevant facts wrong. But it sure is a good headline... Ammo from eBay? VT Killer May Have Used Site April 21, 2007 — ABCNews has learned that in the months before his shooting spree at Virginia Tech, Seung-Hui Cho may have purchased 20 rounds of ammunition through the online auction site eBay. An eBay account holder who appears to be Cho purchased a two-pack of 10-round ammunition clips for a Walther P22 on March 22, 2007, less than a month before Cho killed 32 people and himself at Virginia Tech. The ammunition was purchased on eBay from Elk Ridge Shooting Supplies for the same type of weapon used by Cho in his bloody rampage last week. Problem is, Ebay doesn't sell ammunition... it doesn't even sell guns. What the VT killer bought were clips (magazines), not "ammo"-- if it was even him . Will ABC News correct itself? Will ABC News admit it was not only misinformed on an easily checked issue, but acted with tabloid journalism to boot? Keep watching and let's see.

Here's a news report that says that he fired over 100 rounds, often to the head, and suggests that he might have gotten away with the first two killings in the dorm if he had left it at that. http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=2...0422-1027507176 Tech Gunman Shot Victims Over 100 Times By KRISTEN GELINEAU (Associated Press Writer) From Associated Press April 22, 2007 9:13 PM EDT BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho was as mysterious in death as he was in life, leaving behind few clues for medical examiners. Dr. William Massello, the assistant state medical examiner based in Roanoke, said Sunday that Cho died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his temple after firing enough shots to wound his 32 victims more than 100 times. But there was nothing unusual about Cho's autopsy, he said, and nothing that would have hinted at any psychological problems that might have led him to commit the worst shooting massacre in modern U.S. history. Pathologists sent blood samples for toxicology testing to determine if Cho was on drugs at the time of his rampage, but Massello said it could take as long as two weeks to get results. Police are still searching for a motive. Cho, the 23-year-old English major who was described as reclusive and extremely shy, left behind a package of videos and letters railing against privilege and wealth, but did not say how he chose his victims. Those victims apparently did not fight back against Cho's ambush. Massello said he did not recall any injuries suggesting a struggle. Many victims had defensive wounds, indicating they tried to shield themselves from Cho's gunfire, he said. Massello said Cho hit many of his victims several times. Authorities had to return to the victims' dorm rooms and homes to collect fingerprints so they could make identifications, according to an official close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing. Several of the victims had gunshot wounds to the head, the official said. Many of the victims' bodies left the medical examiner's office on Thursday, the official said, adding that several major airlines offered to transport the remains back to their families for free. The official was not sure if Cho's body was among those that had been released. Psychologists and criminologists have suggested in recent days that Cho suffered from a mental illness, but Massello said such disorders are usually neurological or chemical in nature and unlikely to be identified during an autopsy, even if Cho's brain had been intact. Massello said the autopsy reports are being typed, and he was unsure when they would be released. He said it took four doctors working for days to complete the autopsies on all 32 victims and Cho. Also Sunday, state police said investigators have still been unable to definitively tie Cho to the dormitory where the first two victims were found. One of Cho's guns was linked to the first shooting, but authorities have no other evidence that ties him to that crime scene. Police searched the dorm again for fingerprints and other evidence Saturday as a final sweep before students returned Monday, and were reviewing the information, investigators said.

I remember when the Twins, who were my favorite team at the time, did it - I think it was 1965, the year they won the pennant. It could have been '64. Maybe the four were Killebrew, Allison, Jimmie Hall and Jim Lemon, but my memory is pretty sketchy on that.

I think I'll bookmark this thread!

My guess is even more.

Ken Albers was the big blond who sang the bass part (even though his voice wasn't very low) and played trumpet for The Four Freshmen. Here is his obituary from today's LA Times: Ken Albers, 82; singer harmonized as one of the Four Freshmen From Times Staff and Wire Reports April 21, 2007 Ken Albers, 82, who contributed harmonies to the Four Freshmen vocal group that was popular in the 1950s and '60s, died Thursday in Simi Valley after a long illness, according to Ross Barbour, one of the original members of the quartet. Barbour, his brother Don Barbour, their cousin Bob Flanigan and Hal Kratzsch formed the close-harmony group at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music at Butler University in Indiana in 1948. The quartet sang such standards as "Moonglow" and "Mood Indigo." By the time Albers joined the Barbours and Flanigan in 1956, they had had several hit singles and a debut album, "Voices in Modern." In addition to singing four-part harmony, they all played instruments, and Albers contributed performances on trumpet, mellophone and fluegelhorn. Until 1982 he performed with the group, which had top 40 hits with "It's a Blue World," "Day by Day" and "Graduation Day," which the Beach Boys covered. Brian Wilson often cited the Four Freshmen as an influence on the California surf band's harmonizing sound. John Kenneth Albers was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Woodbury, N.J., and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and sang with the Stuarts Quartet before joining the Four Freshmen.

Happy Birthday Mark!