Pop Artifact! G.I. Joe Action Marine

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 14, 2007

DC Comics has a new kid-aimed Captain Marvel comic in the works, along with some other additions to its Johnny DC line.

Mike Kunkel, creator of the critically-acclaimed Herobear and the Kid, is providing Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam, a kid-friendly reworking of Captain Marvel, the classic superhero saga of child empowerment.

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Another original "Star Trek" actor will appear on "Heroes."

Having recruited George "Sulu" Takei to portray Hiro's father during Season 1, the Heroes creator has called upon Nichelle Nichols, aka USS Enterprise communications officer Lt. Uhura, to fill a short-term role.

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And the title for the next Indiana Jones movie is...

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Still no Beatles, but John Lennon's music is now available for legal downloading.

Sixteen of Lennon's solo works from EMI Music are available for the first time on iTunes starting today, with the "Lennon Legend" and "Acoustic" collections making their worldwide digital debuts. For a limited period of 30 days, exclusive video content will be included with the albums "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band," "Sometime in New York City," "Walls and Bridges," "Milk and Honey" and the collections "Anthology" and "Working Class Hero."

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Mattel is recalling a whole mess of toys.

...action today involving 18.2 million magnetic toys, about half of them sold in the United States, expanded a recall initiated last year after reports of deaths and injuries to children who ingested magnets that had come loose. Mattel said the recall covered 63 different toys, all sold before January of this year, including 44 Polly Pocket toys, 11 Doggie Day Care toys, 4 Batman toys, a One Piece toy, and two Barbie toys.

CD new releases Aug. 14, 2007

Kiss: Kissology Volume II 1978-1991 ~ Kiss



Live at the BBC (Bonus Dvd) by Sandy Denny



Forever Cool by Dean Martin

DVD new releases Aug. 14, 2007

David Lynch's Inland Empire (Limited Edition Two-Disc Set)


Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 3 (Behind That Curtain / Charlie Chan's Secret / Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo / Charlie Chan on Broadway / The Black Camel)


Dynasty - The Second Season


Kiss: Kissology Volume II 1978-1991


Les Paul - Chasing Sound


The Fugitive - Season One, Vol. 1


Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters for DVD


Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme


Doctor Who - Robot


Doctor Who - Survival


Elvis: The Mini-Series


A Pup Named Scooby Doo, Vol. 7


Rowan Atkinson Live!


Loonatics Unleashed: Complete Second Season


Welcome to Grindhouse: Dragon Princess/Karate Warriors


Welcome to Grindhouse: The Bodyguard/Sister Street Fighter


The Rolling Stones: In Performance (w/ Book)

Vintage G.I. Joe Ad



Pop Artifact! G.I. Joe Action Sailor

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 13, 2007

The BBC has a number of comics-related TV documentaries in the works. Hopefully we'll see some of these stateside ('specially the Ditko program):

BBC Four is set to explore the wonderful world of comic books in a new three-part series celebrating one the of most powerful achievements of British popular culture – the classic comic strips generations of us have grown up with over the past 70 years.

From the Beano to Bunty, Commando to Viz, The Eagle to 2000AD, British comics have captivated generations from the Thirties to the present day.

Narrated by comedy writer Armando Iannucci (The Thick Of It), Comics Britannia will feature comics legends who wrote and drew the original strips, comics experts and a range of celebrity fans who re-live their favourite comic strip moments and characters.

Bash Street Kids, Dennis the Menace, Roy of The Rovers, Fat Slags, Watchmen, V for Vendetta and many more are brought to life using a special graphics style that allows the audience literally to step inside the comics.

Comics Britannia forms the centrepiece of BBC Four's comics season which also includes a one-off film, In Search Of Steve Ditko, which sees Jonathan Ross go in search of his hero – comic book legend, Steve Ditko.

Other programmes within the season include Adam West's Batman series and Modesty Blaise.


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Comics artist Mike Wieringo died yesterday of a sudden heart attack.

Wieringo did work on DC Comics' The Flash and Adventures of Superman titles and may be best known for his lengthy run on Marvel's Fantastic Four with writer Mark Waid.

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DC Direct plans a line of action figures inspired by DC's Showcase Presents reprints books. The first batch will include a Carmine Infantino Batgirl, Curt Swan Superman, Joe Kubert Hawkman and Jonah Hex (I guess we don't know which artist's rendition of Jonah we'll be getting).

At this time, yet subject to change, the Superman and Hawkman figures will include extra alternate heads. The Curt Swan Superman will sport heads representing Red Kryptonite transformations (a lion, etc.) and the Kubert Hawkman will feature both his pre and post-“honor wings” looks. The talented Karen Palinko has sculpted all four debut figures.

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A diverse group of musicians provide tunes the soundtrack of "I'm Not There," the upcoming Bob Dylan bio-pic. Here's the track list:

All Along The Watchtower --Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
As I Went Out One Morning--Mira Billotte
Ballad Of A Thin Man--Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
Billy--Los Lobos
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window--The Hold Steady
Can't Leave Her Behind--Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo
Cold Irons Bound--Tom Verlaine & The Million Dollar Bashers
Dark Eyes--Iron & Wine & Calexico
Fourth Time Around--Yo La Tengo
Goin' To Acapulco--Jim James & Calexico
Highway 61 Revisited--Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers
I Wanna Be Your Lover--Yo La Tengo
I'm Not There--Bob Dylan
I'm Not There--Sonic Youth
Just Like A Woman--Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues--Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Knockin' On Heaven's Door--Antony & The Johnsons
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll--Mason Jennings
Maggie's Farm--Stephen Malkmus & The Million Dollar Bashers
Mama You've Been On My Mind--Jack Johnson
The Man In The Long Black Coat--Mark Lanegan
Moonshiner--Bob Forrest
One More Cup Of Coffee--Roger McGuinn & Calexico
Pressing On--John Doe
Ring Them Bells--Sufjan Stevens
Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)--Willie Nelson & Calexico
Simple Twist Of Fate--Jeff Tweedy
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again--Cat Power
The Times They Are A Changin'--Mason Jennings
Tombstone Blues--Richie Havens
When The Ship Comes In--Marcus Carl Franklin
Wicked Messenger--The Black Keys
You Ain't Goin 'Nowhere--Glen Hansard & Markta Irglov

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Asterix fans will want to take a gander at this Obilex Pez dispenser.

Vintage G.I. Joe Ad



Pop Artifacts! Batman buttons 4

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 10, 2007

Filming has begun on Doctor Who's fourth season with Catherine Tate boarding the TARDIS as the Doctor's new companion, Donna Noble. More from the BBC:

The start of the new series will see Donna tracking down the Time Lord during an alien emergency in modern-day London.

The couple are destined to experience a series of wonderful adventures throughout the new series including meeting one of Doctor Who's most popular aliens, The Ood, in a brand new episode, Planet Of The Ood.

Donna and The Doctor – David Tennant – will also be travelling through time for an encounter with the legendary murder mystery novelist, Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie will be played by Jekyll star Fenella Woolgar and The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal will star as Lady Clemency Eddison.

Blackadder and Notting Hill actor Tim McInnerny will also guest star later in the series.

Doctor Who's executive producer and head writer, Russell T Davies comments: "Visiting Agatha Christie has been on my wish-list for ages now and, for the Doctor, it's a real meeting of minds! Viewers can expect many more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandson, comments: "What a brilliant idea that Agatha Christie and Doctor Who should meet! Two characters whose contribution to British entertainment is absolutely unrivalled.

"As far as I know my grandmother, Agatha Christie, never saw Doctor Who, but I am sure she would have been intrigued, excited and above all flattered by all this attention in 2007."

Catherine Tate said: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."

Freema Agyeman who has played Martha Jones, The Doctor's companion throughout the critically acclaimed third series, will return to the show to join The Doctor and Donna mid-series.




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"Layer Cake" director Matthew Vaughn is set to direct a big screen Thor movie.

Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) is scripting the tale, which will bring the Norse god to life as he wields his mighty hammer Mjolnir and travels from his mystical home of Asgard to help the humans of Midgard.

The announcement comes just as Paramount releases Matthew's latest project Stardust, an adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel, starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer.

It marks his second effort at a superhero pic. He was apparently attached to direct X-Men 3 before bowing out for personal reasons.


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Marvel Comics plans a direct-to-DVD animated Hulk movie.

"Hulk Smash"...is slated for release in October of 2008.

Vintage DC Comics house ad



Today's video: Mego action figures ad



Pop Artifacts! Batman buttons 3

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 9, 2007

In a lengthy interview, Joss Whedon talks about Buffy and Marvel Comics, his ill-fated Wonder Woman script and his in-the-works horror flick "Goners."

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The official Doctor Who site presents some cool season 3 concept art by the show's production artists.

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Robyn Hitchcock has a retrospective box set in the works.

I Wanna Go Backwards will include two disks of B-sides, demos and alternate takes along with Hitchcock's 1981 debut, Black Snake Diamond Role, 1984's I Often Dream of Trains and 1990's Eye--all with bonus tracks. It'll be out Oct. 16.

In 2008, a second box, tentatively dubbed Bad Case of History, will sport the three albums Hitchcock recorded with his band the Egyptians plus another odds-and-sods collection, "Dynasty."

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Check out a stunning collection of World War II propaganda posters.

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The Deseret News doesn't like Sci Fi's new "Flash Gordon" series, which premiers Friday night.

The first time I tried to watch the 90-minute pilot of "Flash Gordon" I fell asleep. The second time, it was all I could do to keep my eyes open.

And I like science fiction shows. I was sort of looking forward to this one.


While Inside Bay Area thinks it's worth giving a chance:

Flash Gordon" is a hoot and a half, especially after Friday night's choppy 90-minute pilot. As we all know, pilots are the place where all the ingredients get tossed in the pot and something coherent sort of springs forth.

But after we get through the initial introductions, "Flash Gordon" turns into a tasty little treat. The action takes place on both the planet Mongo and Earth, with people and aliens shifting back and forth between the two. Later episodes will take place on other planets as well.

October 2007 comics solicitations

Along with upcoming items from DC and Marvel Comics, here's some stuff to look out for in your comics shop come October. Click links to pre-order items from Amazon.

COMPLETE PEANUTS 1963-1964 HC
by Charles M. Schulz In this volume of the bestselling Complete Peanuts series, Charles Schulz introduces one (in fact, three) of the quirkiest characters to the Peanuts universe, the numerically-monikered 95472 siblings. They didn't stay around very long but offered some choice bits of satirical nonsense while they did. As it happens, this volume is particularly rich in never-before-reprinted strips: over 150 (more than one fifth of the book!) have never seen the light of day since their original appearance over 40 years ago, so this will be a trove of undiscovered treasures even for avid Peanuts collectors. Introduced by Bill Melendez, animator of all the Peanuts TV specials starting all the way back with A Charlie Brown Christmas!

HANK KETCHAMS COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE 1957-1958 HC
by Hank Ketcham No one captured the mischievousness, rambunctiousness, and anarchy of a kid's world better than cartoonist Hank Ketcham with Dennis the Menace. The strip appeals to both parents and children - while parents shake their head ruefully at how accurately Ketcham caught the essence of children's natural zest for mayhem, children identify with Dennis and the chaos that he leaves in his wake. Ketcham's gags are funny, subtle and touching, and executed with a vivacious exquisite line. Ketcham's legendary pen and ink work achieves its full flowering in this volume, as do the various situations and themes that Ketcham would return to again and again. This fourth volume of Hank Ketcham's The Complete Dennis the Menace publishes every single panel strip from 1957 and 1958 in one handsome and thick hardcover volume.

POPEYE VOL 2 WELL BLOW ME DOWN HC
by E.C. Segar This second volume of the acclaimed hit series collecting the entirety of E.C. Segar's original Popeye (a.k.a. Thimble Theatre) comic strips begins with a foreword by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, and continues with an introduction by noted film and cartooning critic Donald Phelps. This second volume features work from 1930 to 1932, and most notably includes the debut of Segar's second greatest character: J. Wellington Wimpy, which stands as a one-of-a-kind icon some 70 years after his creation - the most likeable lowdown cad ever to grace the comics page. Popeye Volume 2 includes the stories: "Clint Gore" (continued from the cliffhanger last volume); "A One-Way Bank," in which Popeye opens a bank that allows withdrawals but no deposits; a long war story featuring King Blozo that begins with "The Great Rough-House War"; and "Skullyville," which wraps up the daily strips for this volume.

EC ARCHIVES VAULT OF HORROR VOLUME 1 HC
by Various Legendary publisher Bill Gaines provided the forum and creators like Al Feldstein, Johnny Craig, Wally Wood, Harry Harrison, Jack Kamen, Harvey Kurtzman, Graham Ingels, and Jack Davis provided the mayhem. Six full issues and 24 complete stories are collected in this full-color, deluxe volume. Foreword by perennial N.Y. Times best-selling author R.L. Stine.

UNCLE SCROOGE ADVENTURES LAND PYGMY INDIANS WAR OF WENDIGO TP
by Carl Barks & Don Rosa It's the first in a new series of Gemstone trade paperbacks - pairing Carl Barks' Scrooge classics with Don Rosa's modern-day sequels! This time "Land of the Pygmy Indians" is teamed with its follow-up, "War of the Wendigo!" When Scrooge grows sick of the big city's rumble, his back-to-nature journey takes him to the Peeweegah - Native Americans whose traditions haven't changed in a thousand years, and whom he must defend from modernity's encroaching grasp!

WALT DISNEYS CHRISTMAS PARADE #5
by Barks, Block, Korhonen & Scarpa It's Gemstone's latest 80-page Disney annual! In Carl Barks' "Thrifty Spendthrift," a hypnotized Uncle Scrooge reenacts the "Twelve Days of Christmas" song in real life! Then Pat and Shelly Block plunge Donald into a "Cookery Countdown," and Italian maestro Romano Scarpa brings us Mickey, Goofy and the Ducks in "Memoirs of an Invisible Santa." Finally Scrooge returns to top off the book with Kari Korhonen's "Mr. Clerkly's Christmas!"

BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2007
by Various The latest volume in Houghton-Mifflin's ground-breaking series! Guest editor Christ Ware and series editor Anne Elizabeth Moore have sought out the best stories to create this cutting-edge collection. With contributors such as Lynda Barry, R. Crumb, Gilbert Hernandez, and Art Spiegelman, no reader will want to be without.

COMPLETE DICK TRACY VOL 3 HC
Presenting the third volume of IDW Publishing's deluxe hardcover collection of Chester Gould's timeless comic strip, Dick Tracy. Volume Three once again contains over 500 comic strips from the series' early years, this time covering material that originally ran from January 1935 through June 1936. This special volume features an introduction from Consulting Editor and longtime Tracy writer Max Allan Collins. Each volume features book design from award-winning designer/artist Ashley Wood.

DOCTOR WHO ENCYCLOPEDIA HC
by Gary Russell Covering both Christopher Eccelston and David Tennant's Doctors and packed with never-before-seen photos, concept drawings, and special effects artwork, the Doctor Who Encylopedia is the perfect companion for anyone wishing to know more about the Doctor, the Tardis, his friends and enemies, and the worlds through which he travels.

DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 11The pulp era's greatest superman battles evil in two exciting 1936 thrillers by Laurence Donovan and Lester Dent writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, the Man of Bronze battles Var, a faceless fiend whose sinister pronouncements threaten destruction through the eerie "Cold Death!" Then, Doc Savage becomes embroiled in a desperate race to Antarctica to block "The South Pole Terror!" This collector's item pulp reprint showcases the classic color pulp cover by Walter Baumhofer, original interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical articles by Will Murray, author of seven Bantam Doc Savage novels.

SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 12
The Dark Avenger explores the worlds of magic and mystery in two of Walter Gibson's most intriguing thrillers. The Shadow is buried alive when he battles Hindu thuggees of an ancient cult as he searches for the strange secrets of the "Serpents of Siva." Plus, writer/magician Walter Gibson reveals yogi secrets and the levitation illusion. Then, Lamont Cranston visits a magic convention to investigate "The Magigals Mystery," featuring Walter Gibson's only pulp cameo! This classic pulp collection also features George Rozen's incredible pulp covers, all the original interior art by illustrators Edd Cartier and Paul Orban, and historical articles on Walter Gibson's magical world by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin.

New and upcoming action figures Aug. 9, 2007

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

DC Direct Action Figures

DC Armory Action Figures
--Aquaman
--Batman
--Flamebird
--Nightwing

Superman Last Son Action Figures
--Last Son Superman
--Ursa
--Bizarro
--Zod

Shazam Action Figures
--Dr. Sivana
--Captain Marvel Jr.
--Mary Marvel
--Billy Batson and Hoppy
--Captain Marvel

Superman Vs. Doomsday
Doomsday
Lex Luthor and Robot
Solar Suit Superman
Superman

Batman and Son
Batman
Ninja Man-Bat
Robin and Daimin
The Joker

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Martian Manhunter
Catwoman
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern

First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack

DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman

DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures
--Batman
--Dr. Fate
--The Flash
--Martian Manhunter

Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Force Field Invisible Woman
Silver Surfer
Lightning Attack Dr. Doom
Blast-off Human Torch
Super Strength Thing

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

McFarlane Lost series 2 action figures
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

McFarlane Lost series 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry

Marvel Legends Action Figures

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 3
--Bucky Barnes
--First appearance Captain America
--Marvel Girl Rachel Grey
--Heroes for Hire Black Knight
--Hydra Soldier
--X-3 Colossus
--Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
--Danger

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
--The Punisher
--Doctor Doom
--The Human Torch
--The Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Select Figures

Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin
--Mephisto

Marvel Sideshow Toys Figures
--Venom
--Black costume Spider-Man
--Spider-Man
--White Queen
--White Queen Exclusive

Vintage DC Comics house ad



Today's video: Bonanza action figures TV ad

Pop Artifacts! Batman buttons 2

Pop Culture Roundup Aug. 8, 2007

Back in the 60s, illegal "pirate" radio was the best place to hear the hippest music in the UK. Now, some of the best-known DJs from that time are broadcasing again--legally. According to the BBC:

Johnnie Walker of BBC Radio 2, Emperor Rosko – who is flying over from Los Angeles to take part – Norman St John and John Kerr, both coming over from Australia, are just four of the DJs.

They will be boarding the LV18, a former lightship moored half-a-mile off Harwich, for six days of music and chat, with the emphasis firmly on Sixties music.

Programmes start on Thursday 9 August 2007 and continue 24-hours a day until 3pm on Tuesday 14 August – 40 years to the day and time that nearly all the original pirate stations went off air, scuppered by the Marine Offences Act.

As well as by tuning in to Pirate BBC Essex on 729, 765 and 1530 MW, the shows can also be heard via the website, bbc.co.uk/essex.


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Another attempt is underway to bring Jonny Quest to the big screen.

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Anton Yelchin ("Alpha Dog") is in negotiations to play Chekov in director J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek film.

Casting is under way in New York and London for Kirk, Bones, Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, the film's villain and the Federation captain. Abrams is expected to sign bigger-name actors for the latter two parts.

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Carla Gugino is joining the cast of "Watchmen." She'll play the original Silk Spectre, part of the Minutemen, a group of heroes who preceded the Watchmen.

She joins Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Malin Akerman in the Warner Bros. movie, which is set in an alternate America that has passed a law banning costumed crime fighters. When one is murdered, the remaining members set out to solve the mystery.

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Shadows' guitarist Hank Marvin tells how Paul McCartney nearly gave "Here, There and Everywhere" away.

...at least Marvin has finally recorded an instrumental version as McCartney originally envisaged it. It's one of 15 tracks on his new album, Guitar Man - which includes the old Bread classic as the title track, George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Sting's Fields of Gold, James Blunt's You're Beautiful and Summer House, a new song co-written by his son Ben.