Trailer for new album by James Hunter
I like the retro soul of James Hunter's previous couple LPs. New one is out this week.
Hear Jimi Hendrix's People, Hell and Angels album
People, Hell and Angels, a new collection of previously unissued Jimi Hendrix recordings is now streaming via NPR.
The album is out March 5.
The album is out March 5.
Pop stuff: What I'm reading, watching, hearing, etc.
Alex Toth's Zorro: The Complete Dell Comics Adventures
If you've read much about Toth, you knew he was an opinionated cuss and very critical of comics and comic art -- including his own.
One of his biggest frustrations with comic book stories, and the Zorro scripts he was given at Dell in particular, was that they tended to place words over image. Toth felt that, in a visual medium, pictures should drive the story, not words.
In these stories, which should be a perfect match for Toth's love of swashbuckling adventure and his ability to put beautiful, flowing action on the comics page, you can't help but relate to his frustration.
We should be getting big panels of Zorro sword-fighting up and down staircases, swinging into action. leaping off balconies and running across moonlit rooftops. Instead, we get page after page crammed with six panels of talking heads practically crouching under crowded word balloons.
Part of this is a product of the time, the late 1950s, when comics tended to be word driven and pictures came in second. Dell's editors didn't appreciate the caliber of artist they had on hand. If only they'd let Toth follow through on his desire to cut some of the words and move forward more of the story with his visuals, which there's no question he could have done.
So, as much as people tend to praise Toth and his work on this series, in my view it's not the artist presented at his best. It's not even that entertaining of a read. Occasionally, there a nice plot twist or a funny scene. But I kept thinking how much better it could be.
Speaking of which, the production values in this new color edition from Hermes Press is taking some hits in online customer reviews. Some folks prefer the black and white/gray-scale version published by Image Comics in 2001. I missed that one, though it's still available and I may need to pick it up. Toth's art looks very good in black and white -- he was a master at balancing the two tones. The Hermes edition reviewed here looked ok to me, but there's no question that the colors, "remastered" from scanned art, overpowers the line art and images are somewhat murky and blurred in spots.
If you love Toth, there's no question you'll want to see these stories in one form or another. But be prepared to be a little underwhelmed. The stories here don't compare with much of his other work, including the great Zorro pin-ups and stand-alone illustrations he did throughout his career just for fun. In these, at least, he had room to let his imagination, and Zorro's cape, flow.
Video find: Ukulele Ike performs "Singing in the Rain"
An early film of Ukulele Ike aka Cliff Edwards performing his big 20s hit "Singing in the Rain," later made memorable again by Gene Kelly the movie musical of the same name.
Edwards voiced "When You Wish Upon a Star" in Walt Disney's "Pinocchio."
Edwards voiced "When You Wish Upon a Star" in Walt Disney's "Pinocchio."
BBC Radio this week: Stream music, comedy, drama and more.
Click the links to stream the following shows.
I Was a Teenage Heartthrob. Nina Myskov confronts the ultimate question for teenage girls in the 1970s - David Cassidy or Donny Osmond? With vivid illustration from archive radio footage and the hits of that extraordinary era.
Alan Bennette: The Lady in the Van. Autobiographical play about the woman who took refuge in author Alan Bennett's Camden garden and stayed for 15 years. Stars Maggie Smith.
Doctor Who: To the Last. The Time Lord calls on friends, family and the Meddling Monk to help overthrow the Daleks.
The Goon Show: The Scarlet Capsule. Professor Ned Quatermass unravels a mystery around some enigmatic blue serge suits. Stars Spike Milligan. From February 1959.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ian Fleming's magical tale of a car saved from the scrapyard that takes the Pott family on a fantastic adventure. Stars Imogen Stubbs.
Patricia Highsmith: The Call of the Owl. Patricia Highsmith's intriguing tale of obsession, starring John Sharian.
The Howling Terror Mystery. In July 1900, an enormous megaphone projected a human voice for miles across the South Downs. Alan Dein recalls the story the newspapers labelled The Howling Terror.
I Was a Teenage Heartthrob. Nina Myskov confronts the ultimate question for teenage girls in the 1970s - David Cassidy or Donny Osmond? With vivid illustration from archive radio footage and the hits of that extraordinary era.
Alan Bennette: The Lady in the Van. Autobiographical play about the woman who took refuge in author Alan Bennett's Camden garden and stayed for 15 years. Stars Maggie Smith.
Doctor Who: To the Last. The Time Lord calls on friends, family and the Meddling Monk to help overthrow the Daleks.
The Goon Show: The Scarlet Capsule. Professor Ned Quatermass unravels a mystery around some enigmatic blue serge suits. Stars Spike Milligan. From February 1959.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Ian Fleming's magical tale of a car saved from the scrapyard that takes the Pott family on a fantastic adventure. Stars Imogen Stubbs.
Patricia Highsmith: The Call of the Owl. Patricia Highsmith's intriguing tale of obsession, starring John Sharian.
The Howling Terror Mystery. In July 1900, an enormous megaphone projected a human voice for miles across the South Downs. Alan Dein recalls the story the newspapers labelled The Howling Terror.
Hal Foster up close: Tarzan art
Click the images to see up-close images of Hal Foster's stunning line work on his Tarzan Sunday comic strip.
New comics collected editions Feb. 27, 2013
Click the links to order discounted items from Amazon.


Adventures Into the Unknown Archives Volume 2


Archie Archives Volume 8


Batman: The Black Mirror (Batman (DC Comics Paperback))


Catwoman Vol. 2: Dollhouse


The New Teen Titans: Games


Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 6


Superman Vs. Shazam! (Superman (Graphic Novels))


Daredevil by Mark Waid - Volume 4


Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel - Volume 1
Adventures Into the Unknown Archives Volume 2
Archie Archives Volume 8
Batman: The Black Mirror (Batman (DC Comics Paperback))
Catwoman Vol. 2: Dollhouse
The New Teen Titans: Games
Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Vol. 6
Superman Vs. Shazam! (Superman (Graphic Novels))
Daredevil by Mark Waid - Volume 4
Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel - Volume 1
Trailer for new Batman documentary: Legends of the Knight
Here's the trailer for an upcoming, crowd-funded documentary that examines the mythos of Batman.
More info on the Kickstarter page.
More info on the Kickstarter page.
Music new releases Feb. 26, 2013
Click the links to order discounted CDs, LPs and downloads from Amazon.


Amok by Atoms for Peace


The Messenger by Johnny Marr


Minute By Minute by the James Hunter Six


Hagar's Song by Charles Lloyd and Jason Moran


Silent Comedy by Bill Frisell


Extended Versions by the Zombies


Lemma by John Zorn


Unissued Cafe Bohemia Broadcasts by Miles Davis and John Coltrane


The Complete King Federal Singles by Freddie King
Amok by Atoms for Peace
The Messenger by Johnny Marr
Minute By Minute by the James Hunter Six
Hagar's Song by Charles Lloyd and Jason Moran
Silent Comedy by Bill Frisell
Extended Versions by the Zombies
Lemma by John Zorn
Unissued Cafe Bohemia Broadcasts by Miles Davis and John Coltrane
The Complete King Federal Singles by Freddie King
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