By Lowell (165.121.214.228 - 165.121.214.228) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 08:30 pm:

...for a great story and a wonderful education. Your story and effort in bringing it to SoulfulDetroit.com has been so appreciated by me that words cannot describe the gratitude I feel. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 08:54 pm:

Lowell,
Thank you for all the help you've given me and making me look good.It's been some experience.

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 08:55 pm:

Ralph and Lowell

I just read the final instalment. A chilling climax to the most amazing and enthralling story. I honestly have tears in my eyes.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Thank you - from all of us.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155 - 62.31.40.155) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 10:17 pm:

Tears, nothing but......

I have enjoyed this privileged trip through the Tera Shirma story tremendously. I feel a better person for knowing the struggle to achieve the music I am beginning to like more and more. Towards the end I felt emotional too. I just wished I could have been there to help - if that makes any sense.

Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

By Ian W (213.122.109.132 - 213.122.109.132) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 10:34 pm:

Ralph & All Forum members

I too have tears streaming down the old face as I write this. I don't think Detroit knew what it had! What a story - when the Funk Brothers movie is a hit - what about reconstructing the Tera Shirma story? It's a little piece of history. What a fabulous list of recordings, I just wish I had more of 'em!

Ian

By Phillysoulman (152.163.204.196 - 152.163.204.196) on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 11:54 pm:

Ralph,

I am priveleged to have become your newfound friend after all of these years. The thing that aamazes me is that I have actually had the honour, first hand to have recorded there at the birth of studio B ,and with Mike Terry to boot!!!
Two for the price of one(sounds like a song about a menage a trois with two hookers)I was just a mere teenager and was trepiditious about venturing up to the control room with the fear of being booted out!! But I did want to check it out.
I remember thre dark haired dudes up in there though!!(the gabagool twins plus one)
I wish that I could have continued my stay longer but I was on a tour with the Vibrations and I had to go to the next town.
But I was fortunate to have had the Tera Shirma experience first hand
To the future Ralph. Cent Anni Mo*******r!!!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 04:01 am:

You guys are really getting to me now. Quick...Bobby...Make me laugh!

By Eli (205.188.192.156 - 205.188.192.156) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 04:52 am:

They don't call it genITALIA for nothing!!
I am holding my own though, but don't forget i am Jewish!!
Any thing for 10% off ha ha ha ah f**n ha ha !!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 04:57 am:

Now I'm laughing Bobby. As usual, you never fail!

By motesartsound (66.122.53.15 - 66.122.53.15) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 07:35 am:

For Mr. Terrana:

As this SF Bay Area native, this somehow reflects as what had happened here: A dynamic studio such as Tera Shirma had lived a short life, never going towards its 10th or 20th year or beyond.
I reflect back here when we had Wally Heider, and what a hit-making paradise that was, on 245 Hyde St., which still sits in a very rough neighbourhood. Even until this moment (same as it ever was), it is currently as Hyde St. Studios and the 'hood is still the same. (what's worst, gangsta dudes with guns--not Detroit-like now or prostitutes + drunkards + the homeless?)
But based on the exterior shots of TS, I think of the CBS recording studios on 827 Folsom, which became The Automatt, under David Rubison's (a former Columbia staff producer) home base when Clive Davis was ousted, but became 829 instead, without the high ceiling.
The common ground here? They were very well-booked, produced a "manure-load" of clieltele, very good reputations, but sadly short-lived. Unlike Rubison, he had two ace engineers under his shield: TS had Bodgan and your brother, The Automatt had Fred Catero (also from CBS in NYC) and Leslie Ann Jones, as well as a fantistic slew of staffers who worked for you that mad it well.

TS went downhill (read: J & M in New Orleans) because of the music scene there, Heider's died because of corporate neglect by Filmways in the late 70's, the Automatt sank because of another studio went public in the East Bay, Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, as well as The Plant in my original hometown of Sausalito. So went the Automatt's lease in 1984 went up, thanks to Francis Ford Coppla, who later owned the building, as the complex was shut down then, until 1991 (after the earthquake of '89), a transient burned the place down.

Currently, we aren't producing anything remarkable so far, in the SF Bay Area, but a Chris Issak project recorded in Oakland... Hmmm, Ralph, if you could set up shop there, without the bullet hole mentality of Detroit! What would be you Idea if you did that if you set up a large orchestreal/scoring room if you'd did that? Mare Island in Vallejo (15 miles south from where I live) is available.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 02:20 pm:

Hmmm...Tera Shirma West.I suppose in reality, you can't go back again. I honestly don't think I'd have the energy to put something like that together again.My old bones are starting to creak.I've got my 24 track studio in my house and it works well for me. We don't pull all nighter sessions like in the old days and when recording is done, I'm automatically home.
We did come close to building a place here in Monterey. I had a third partner for a while that was going to put the money up to do it, but he was a little volitile. another Italian ( remember John Merlino Ralph ) and the relationship was short lived. So basically, I like things just as they are for now. Tomorrow might be another story.

By keith Rylatt (195.92.194.15 - 195.92.194.15) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 06:11 pm:

Ralph This has been a fantastic trip through uncharted waters for us mere record buying fans, THANK YOU. P.S. Do you know anything about the Seafair Bolo label, it had such artites as Jimmy Hanna & the Dynamics on? Thank you again, we want more! Keith Rylatt.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 06:53 pm:

Thanks Keith,
No I'm not familiar with the artist you mentioned.

By Joe Moorehouse (64.12.101.176 - 64.12.101.176) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 06:55 pm:

Great story from beginning to end--thanks!

One of the recordings listed as coming out of Tera Shirma is an LP by Rodriguez (Rod Riguez) on Impact. I love his single, but have never seen the album. Did it ever see the light of day?

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 07:36 pm:

Joe,
Go to...Best of Impact...on your computer. Yes, There was an album....Cold Fact...which is somewhat of a collecters item I understand.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 08:03 pm:

joe
half way down the undernoted page. it is a cult album in south africa.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/9229/impact.htm

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 05:44 am:

Ralph, David and Lowell,
Many thanks for a providing a wonderful slice of history in such a professional, detailed and personal manner.
soulfuldetroit's high standard has shown the way, and long may it continue.
So, what's next?
Best wishes, Graham

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 05:54 am:

Thanks Graham,
I think David and Lowell have some interesting things lined up that will please everyone.

By John Lester (213.122.204.153 - 213.122.204.153) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 01:27 pm:

David

I have been finding it difficult to download the pages....but Saturday morning when there are not so many people around, it's a bit better.

I suppose Ritchie and Carl are gonna use swear words to me like "broadband" and ADSL lines!! LOL..well let me tell you both, I am considering.....I am just waiting for the moths in my wallet to hatch out some babies so I can sell them to get me some greenies!!!!

Ralph....did you know Diana Ross worked at Hudsons....probably in one of those sections that YOU used to frequent alot. Ha Ha..only joking.

Ralph..was Rare Earth's LP recorded at both Tera Shirma and Hitsville then - that's a question!

By John Lester (213.122.204.153 - 213.122.204.153) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 01:36 pm:

Ralph.

That John Merlino story......my gawd.....that is just so incredible........how so frightening.

It's as bad as Bob Babbitt's story when he went out the back of the studio and saw a guy with a gun....

Jeez...thank goodness we dont have guns over here (or should I say, we are not supposed to..)

By John Lester (213.122.204.153 - 213.122.204.153) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 01:50 pm:

Ralph

I just got to the end of the Tera Shirma story and I'm in tears here..I really am so sorry that it didn't continue...

You're a good man.....I'm just so sorry that the music business is so fickle.

I won't take any pot shots at you just at this moment....my breath has been taken away by your pure honesty.

Thank you SO much for giving us THE TERA SHIRMA STORY.

By John Lester (213.122.204.153 - 213.122.204.153) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 01:53 pm:

Please excuse an oversight in my last message

David and Lowell..thank you for working so hard with Ralph to put the story together and presenting it in a way that even thicko's like myself can get to it.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 03:16 pm:

John,
thanks for the momentary truce. In all honesty, I'm flattered by the shots you take at me. Guys show affection for one another in different ways. If you were Babbitt you would be beating me up, and his affection is just as genuine.

I know the Rare Earth " Get Ready " album was recorded at Hitsvile, but I believe it was mixed at TS. I'm not sure if any sweetening was done at TS. When Harry Balk was getting the Rare Earth label off the ground he was coming into TS a lot to mix various things.

Thanks for thinking me a good man John. I have always tried to do my best. Everyone in this business has their own tales of injustice. It goes with the territory. The music business is a rough and tumble game, and we all take our licks at one time or another. During yesterday's visit with John Rhys, he told me a few of his own heartbreakers that he dealt with. these things happen. You just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the studio.

OK John. I'm putting my " target " shirt back on now. Business as usual pal.

By John Lester (213.122.196.105 - 213.122.196.105) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 04:00 pm:

As a special thank you...I am not gonna take any pot shots at you.......this truce will last 24 hours........ONLY.

Enjoy it whilst it lasts.


HA HA HA HA

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 04:12 pm:

Yeah, right John!

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 04:53 pm:

thanks to everyone for their comments and support.

the tera shirma story will probably never close. the beauty of the web is that we can change things as we go along.

we need to reorganise the site however. for example i foresee separate sections for studios/record companies-labels/entertainment venues/tera shirma & other webisodes/databases.

next up will be the 20 grand story. followed by bobby eli's detroit connection.

therafter an expansion of the united sound story.
and a golden world story based on some more inside pics by ralph terrana and ed wolfrum.

i hope we can expand on impact too.

so there is a mountain of detail to come.

and then there's the forum which is fast becoming music history in real time (as predicted by corvax last october).

stay tuned!

By phillysoulman (64.12.102.178 - 64.12.102.178) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 05:22 pm:

David and Lowell,

One day during the Thanksgiving holiday season, I was surfing the web casually looking for sites dealing with Black music, r&b, etc.
In doing so I found a site called Soulwalking which had an alphabetical link listing.
When I entered the "S" section, and saw Soulful Detroit I said "Hmmm..... I gotta check this one out" as I am a Detroit-o-phile, and voila!! right before me was a treasure trove of the most amazing historical info on the city that I have ever laid eyes upon!! And when I got to the forum
I couldn't believe what I was seeing!! At first, I was hesitant on posting anything, for I didn't think anyone would know who I was, but I took a chance and entered a brand new world connected by friend of both old and new and who share a common
"craziness" that only we can understand!!
Long live the forum and long live the great music that inspired it!!!

Eli

By Eli (64.12.102.178 - 64.12.102.178) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 05:28 pm:

And Ralph,Tutti froschi vara fongulo stronsi!!!!

I have found a true good "new" paisano"
Cent anni, mo******r!!!!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 05:57 pm:

I'm planning on ALL of the above Bobby. Another great benifit of this site is hooking up with you pal. Bobby, you and Vonnie are truly blessed and I wish the best for both of you. She is a genuine sweetheart.

By South Phillysoulman (64.12.102.178 - 64.12.102.178) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 06:12 pm:

Grazzi Grazzi!!! io amore musica!!

I feel that we are "connected" so I am making an offer that you can't refuse for you have "made" me part of the "family" kapish??
Fogettaboutit, with all due respect you are truly the Godfather of the Detroit musical la familia!!

Guido Calamari

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 06:23 pm:

Guido,
Tutti mi grazzi
KAPISH???? What's this??? Yiddish???
Umberto...per favore...it's capice!

By motesartsound (66.127.76.111 - 66.127.76.111) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 07:38 am:

Ralph:
My goodness, I'd love to have lunch with you!
As I look at the TS exterior photo as I think of David Rubison's studio, preceded by Columbia records under its guise (often mentioned) on what it was before, I was wondering (since you live now about 100 miles from where I live, but been there, Monterery), I can imagine if you'd set shop in San Francisco during the Clive Davis era, Tera Shirma west would have been a staple here in the early 1970's. Then I can visualise TS/SF years later as when Acoplyse Now (the scoring) would have came out. High ceilings, a spacious room for a full orchestra, you'll act as a forerunner on what George Lucas has now in Marin. To think about in the "then again" file, why would some locals had to drive around a twisted road to get to Lucas' place, whilst Terrana go closer for the musicaians or vocalsists that cannot driive.
Mare Island in Vallejo has some excellent buildings awating... and for all of you to revive the style of the CBS East 30th St. Studio (100 x 100) again. Scoring stages? Give me some work!

Derrlad Leo Mote

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 02:44 pm:

Intereting concept Derrlad. I wonder how much it would cost to move the Studio B building to San Francisco??
If you get down to Monterey look me up. I'd like to meet you sometime.

By Carl Dixon (195.153.219.170 - 195.153.219.170) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 03:33 pm:

Well Ralph, it happened in Monteray!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 04:06 pm:

Carl,
the sad thing about Monterey today is, in spite of it's past, it's a lousy music town. There are some really great musicians living here but very few places for them to play.Some, like Thom Ayers, the guitar player I have used on my sessions for 14 years, have moved away in search of greener pastures. Fortunately, Thom who now lives in San Francisco, still comes in to do sessions for me.

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 11:27 pm:

Ralph, I was amazed at your story. I never knew about John Merlino...wow. You should be very proud of the work you did and the Tera Shirma story. It was absolutely amazing.

By Bob Olhsson (68.53.120.100 - 68.53.120.100) on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 11:50 pm:

Ralph, I realized after reading your story that we each lived several lifetimes during just those few short years in the 1960s. What an incredible odyssey!

By RaLPH (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 12:08 am:

Thanks DeAnne and Bob.Both of you lived through the same era also and your stories are my stories.

By motesartsound (67.114.128.245 - 67.114.128.245) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 04:06 am:

Ralph:

When you brought up Thelma Hopkins' name as your replacement for Nieca Lee, was this THE Tehlma Hopkins who became a member of Tony Orlando & Dawn? I bring this up because her name came up on allmusic.com as a background vocalist for the late Johnnie Taylor's recording for Columbia, which was produced by Don Davis, Eargasam. The single,... Too overplayed for commercial coporate radio, so go figure, Disco-Lady-wise.
Still, if TS hadn't shut its doors down earlier, you'd still would have been making hits, despite the slowdown. Think of Parliment/Funkadelic, the ADC Band, One Way with Al Hudson, Bob Segear & the Silver Bullet Band, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Five Special, Was (Not Was), Michael Henderson... Ralph, you could have set a second shop like I said before, in San Francisco in the early 1970's.

By the way, what's going on with Al Sherman theese days, as well as some of the stars of TS?

Derrald Leo Mote!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 06:32 am:

Derrald,
Yes, Telma Hopkins would become Dawn along with Joyce Vincent. In fact, it was I that advised her to take the gig. Telma and I were very good friends and we seemed to be drifting toward a romantic involvement while I was at Motown. She came to my office one day after returning from NYC where she and Joyce had been doing some background sessions. It was at these sessions that she was noticed by Tony Orlando and he offered she and Joyce an opportunity to join him on a television show that was in the planning stages. She asked me what I thought she should do.Naturally I told her she and Joyce should accept the offer. In light of my past history with women, it was the smart thing for her to do. She may have ended up one of my ex's.I was always happy for the success that would come her way. Telma is a wonderful girl.

Al Sherman died in the late 70's of heart problems.He was an amazing and exceptionally shrewd man.

Milan Bogdan eventually settled in Nashville and did very well for himself. Fred Saxon, who is a San Diego television personality told me Milan has formed a publishing company that seems to show a lot of promise. I last talked to him two or three years ago and we had a great conversation on the phone.

I haven't seen Les Chasey since Tera Shirma folded, but I'm sure he did very well for himself. He was a very gifted indivdual.

Neica Lee Rompollo lives in New Jersey and occasionally appears on this forum. She and I have remained very close friends over the years and are always in touch with each other.

Russ Terrana produces television commercials for AT&T. He was named producer of the year in 2001.He has done some mixing for me at Powerhouse.

Clive Davis or Jac Holtzman had advised me to move Tera Shirma to the West Coast. Maybe I should have taken their advice Derrald, but things happen for reasons I suppose.

By Bob Olhsson (68.53.120.100 - 68.53.120.100) on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 04:32 pm:

I'm sure the reason you were advised to move to the west coast was because a lot of Motown's technology had spilled over to all of the other Detroit studios. The west coast music studios were way behind Detroit at that time although most of us didn't realize it.

Jimmy Syracuse had worked for Paramount pictures before building United Sound studio Detroit. I know Jimmy had a pretty good grasp of what Motown was up to technically as producers and musicians who had worked at Hitsville requested various capabilities. I'm pretty sure Les Cooley told me that Les Chasey had worked for Jimmy and for RCA Victor before that.

By M.McLeanTech (65.59.28.117 - 65.59.28.117) on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 02:37 pm:

Ralph,

Do you remember that day that I dropped in at Terra Sherma for a friendly visit, and HDH was in the middle of a session? Jeffery Bowen went ballistic, and you finally blew your top?

That was a funny occasion that somehow should be part of the Terra Shirma story.

Time for a drink. Every time I get sober, I get devilish, and every time I get drunk, I get disgusting! I am too sober at the moment.

Cheers,

Mike McLean

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 03:10 pm:

Mike,
Now that you mention it I do remember you stopping in. I had forgotten that you were ever at Tera Shirma. I remember I was so honored that you came in. Yeah...Jeffery was a pain in the ass. Admittedly, he had to protect HDH, but he was SO parenoid and used to drive Neica Lee and me crazy all the time.I actually liked the guy when he wasn't over the top with his paranoia.
How far into the studio did you get? I don't remember. I'm sure if Jeffery was around I certainly didn't get you up to the control room.

By M.McLeanTech (63.210.124.134 - 63.210.124.134) on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 04:02 pm:

Ralph,

I walked into the front door of Terra Shirma, which was unlocked. It was on a weekend. I encountered no one as I went upstairs and walked right into the control room. Brian and Lamont were sitting at the console, and the musicians were playing a take.

Jeffery went into orbit and ran to get you in a fury! You and Jeffery got into a shouting match, right in the control room in front of everyone.

I wanted to know why everyone was so upset. Brian and Lamont gave me a sheepish look.

I'm surprised that you don't remember this occasion more clearly. Perhaps it is a surpressed bad memory.

As I said: I am a devil to even bring it up. It's just that it was such a wild occasion.

I didn't have that drink. This morning I have to drive out to Point Hueneme, near Ventura, to spend tonight with an old flame. Perhaps I will "get a little." (hetro)

Wish me luck.

Mike McLean

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, May 26, 2002 - 04:11 pm:

Mike,
I was always yelling about SOMETHING going on in the studio, so this would have just been another incdent in a long line of incidents. How did this one end? By the way...hope you get a lot today...

By Eli (205.188.198.159 - 205.188.198.159) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 05:07 am:

Mike is going on a serious BOOTY CALL fellas!!
Don't forget the POP FILTER Mike!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 01:47 pm:

Bobby,
I wonder if Mike will give us one of his long disertations on his week-end. A " blow by blow ' if you will.

By Eli (152.163.206.189 - 152.163.206.189) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 02:02 pm:

Good one Guido!! Maybe he could but a rubber on an RE 20 and use it as a toy!!

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 02:09 pm:

Some sort of a carnal pop shield huh Bobby?

By Eli (152.163.206.189 - 152.163.206.189) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 02:12 pm:

Either that or maybe a Penis Pump as a last resort!! Accu-Jack it is called.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 02:18 pm:

Yes, I understand those go direct too.( Geeze Bobby...we're deteriorating here. We may be on the wrong forum now )

By Eli (64.12.101.162 - 64.12.101.162) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 04:58 pm:

I have to stop reading the back of Screw Magazine!!

By M.McLeanTech (64.236.243.243 - 64.236.243.243) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 11:58 pm:

Fellas,

I stopped in here at work to make some vidiocassettes on my way home. That was some fine jokeing! I laughed myself silly.

You reminded me of a wonderful story about Motown. I sent a couple of Neumann U67 microphones to Gotham Audio for servicing. I received a call from Stephen F. Temmer, Gotham's president, and he advised me that the capsules were extreamly dirty and fouled with saliva.

I asked what he recomended to protect the microphone. He said that an excellent technique was to place a condom over the microphone. I said that I thought that this would have a bad effect on the sound, but he assured me that it was a technique that works very well. I never did figure out if he was kidding or not.

At any rate, I ran down the the Cunninghams Drug Store on the corner and purchased a small package of plain Trojan condoms. We tried it out, and I can't remember what the result was. It seems to me that someone objected to the appearance of the condom on the microphone, and we never went any further with the project.

All that was left was to get reimpursed for the purchase from petty cash. Suddenly I realized that this was a golden opertunity for a Mikie prank. It was early 1962, and Motown had hired a very straght laced, proper lady to be the purchasing agent. Back in those days there were still people around who were shocked by things that are considered absolutely tame today. This lady was the type that would make a good school teacher or librarian, and no doubt went to church every Sunday without fail. I can't remember her name, but it is not important.

Anyway, I wrote up a standard purchase requisition, exactly correctly as I would for any other purchase of supplies. I filled it in like this:

1 - Package of two Trojan condoms, non-lubercated, non-receptical end. For use on the microphones for protection.

I sent it to her as it it was business as usual, which, in fact, it was. Of course I could have worded it a little differently if I wanted to be diplomatic, but I was being a devil!

She blew her stack and stormed into Berry's office madder then a wet hen about what she was sure was a "filthy, cruel joke." Berry called Mrs. Edwards and me in and asked me, in front of the lady, what this was about.

I played it absolutly straght, telling him exactly what happened. He thanked me and sent me on my way.

Later in the day, he told me alone that he had straghtened things out with the lady, but in the future, if such a situation should arise again, I should give the paperwork to him directly, so that he could take care of it. It never did.

It took me weeks to stop laughing about this incident.

I didn't score, but we drank a lot of gin (which I brought along) and she fed me some wonderful food. I have the feeling that it will take no more then about two more visits to hit the target. She did let me neck with her a little. I enjoyed the visit. Rome wasn't built in a day!

By the way, her name is Marillyn, and she was with me at the book signing when I sang that song "Everyone Was There" to Berry and Robert Gordy. I suggested to her that next time she visits me, I would love it if she would like to dictate to me, in her own words, a posting (which I would type exactally as she spoke) for the forum which will be on any subjects she would like, including hopefully a discription of the book signing from her point of view. She was absolutely delighted by the idea. (She has no computer, so we must wait until we are together with access to one. She is 12 years older then me, and it is hard to teach an old dog new computer tricks.) By the way, I said that she was an "old flame." I can assure you that there was nothing old fashioned about her approachs in the area that counts the most! Rome, when built, will be a magnificent city!

I hope that you enjoy the above story.

Mike McLean

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 12:08 am:

Mike,
A toast to Rome!

By V. Gabagool (152.163.206.179 - 152.163.206.179) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 03:48 am:

Santa must be in Rome as well. Capice??

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 07:57 am:

I am glad he ate her, so to speak. I am fortunate to have been to Rome, only last year, for a surprise visit arranged by my wife. We were picked up by a small stretch limo from home and I had no idea we were going until the guy at check in, at Air Italia, said Rome, changing at Milan. It was a great surprise. Mike, your condom story and Motown together, sounds wierd, but I am sure it was fun.

By Eli (64.12.106.24 - 64.12.106.24) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 10:43 am:

Carl, was that Air Italia or gen Italia, mate??
Bearing in mind the nature of the story,the second one would be apropos!!

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 11:33 am:

That's very cunning of you Bobby - ha ha! However! - I am listening to 'You make me feel brand new/The Harris Machine' album. Could that be you playing the electronic guitar effect like the original? It is a double album with Leon Huff/Here to create music.

By Rajah Akbar!! (64.12.106.47 - 64.12.106.47) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 01:33 pm:

Affirmative mate!

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 02:52 pm:

It's hard to say if Steve Temmer was kidding but I've seen a number of photographs of Neumann U-67s with condoms on them, the most famous being on a Herbie Mann album cover. It's also a common technique used by motion picture production sound mixers when they are working in foul weather.

What was it were we talking about again?

By American Gothic (205.188.198.188 - 205.188.198.188) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 06:04 pm:

The "foul weather", of course applies to folk who are into chickens, hence the condom to avoid any mess!!

By M.McLeanTech (63.208.237.7 - 63.208.237.7) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:08 pm:

After sleeping on it, I think I am going to back off and just be friends with Marillyn. She is too emotional, and I don't want to hand her a line of hot air just to score. Remember what happened to that guy that had to go find it in the vacant lot!

By RALPH (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:18 pm:

Mike...Where is your sporting blood???

Also...IM CLOSNG THIS THREAD... CONTINUE ON....HMMMMM....WHAT.......
RALPH TERRANA/TERA SHIRMA..2

REPEAT...THIS THREAD IS NOW HISTORY