Tony called the shots

The first recording was played this morning in Tony Rezko's trial, jerking awake hanging heads in the courtroom after a couple of lengthy cross examinations.

Taking the stand was Health planning board chairman Thomas Beck, a rotund white-haired man who served as Cook County controller for 18 years.

Prosecutors played a recording of Beck and Stuart Levine, the chief witness against Rezko. The two can be heard talking very openly about greasing approval for Mercy Hospital. That was after Rezko called Beck and gave him his "marching orders."

There's more tapes to come this afternoon.