The Russians killed James Bond today in 1925.
Sidney Reilly, the first “Super Spy” of the 20th century, known as the “Ace of Spies,” was killed by the secret police of the Soviet Union. The best guess is that Reilly was born Georgi Rosenblum, in the Russian Empire. Arrested by the Soviet secret police before his 20th birthday, Reilly then changed his identity and set out to sea for a life of adventure, eventually being employed by Scotland Yard, the British Secret Service and the SIS. After his capture and death, the London Evening Standard ran a serial of his exploits and Ian Fleming would later use him as the model for James Bond.
Today in 1988 Kylie Minogue’s version of, “The Loco-Motion“ hit #1 on the Billboard charts, making it the first song to reach #1 three different times, by three different artists. Little Eva sang the original in 1962 and Grand Funk Railroad covered it in 1974. For our money, it’s not even a good song, but we like Grand Funk Railroad’s version the best.
George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer today in 1994 to become the oldest Heavyweight Champion at 45 years old.
Today in 1996, the American League Rookie of the Year went to a 22-year old Derek Jeter.
Elton John released, “Madman Across the Water” today in 1971. Try to name an album with a better 1st and 2nd track than “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon”. You probably didn’t know that “Tiny Dancer” peaked at #41 on the Billboard charts, never even making it to Casey Kasem-land.
Today in 1999 saw the release of Al Pacino’s last truly great movie, “The Insider.” Pacino played Lowell Bergman, a 60 Minutes producer who was doing a story on big tobacco whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand, who was played by Russell Crowe. This is a fantastic scene that happens in newsrooms around the world, big and small, almost every day. Not with this much at play obviously, but at some level. The movie is filled with great scenes, but this one was my favorite.
Bryan Adams turns 53 today. Ryan Adams turns 37. Today in 1984, Bryan released, “Reckless.” On November 4, 2003, Ryan released, “Rock N Roll.”
Birthday showdown:
Reckless: Heaven (10 pts), Summer of ’69 (10 pts), One Night Love Affair (9 pts), Run to You (5 pts), Somebody (6 pts), She’s Only Happy When She’s Dancin’ (5 pts), Kids Wanna Rock (7 pts), It’s Only Love (w Tina Turner, 5 pts)
Rock N Roll: 1974 (5 pts), Wish You Were Here (8 pts), So Alive (9 pts), Burning Photographs (10 pts), Rock ‘N Roll (5 pts), Anybody Wanna Take Me Home (10 pts), Do Miss America (9 pts), Note to Self: Don’t Die (w Parker Posey, 4 pts)
Both fantastic albums, but I have Ryan winning 60-57. Actually, I have to dock Ryan 3 points for jumping the crowd once at a fan who kept yelling for him to play a Bryan Adams song, and then he refused to continue until the fan was escorted out. Lighten up Francis.
For the very first time tonight in 1971 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, Al Dvorin walked on stage, grabbed the microphone and said, “Elvis has left the building.”
— Bill Hubbell