Pop Culture Safari!

See the Zombies' first music video

We've been on a Zombie kick recently, so let's take the look at Blunstone/Argent's new music video, for the song "Any Other Way," from the group's recent studio LP Breathe Out, Breathe In.

Excerpt from Mark Lewisohn's long-awaited Beatles bio, plus interview: Plus how to order

The Daily Telegraph has published a John Lennon-focused excerpt from, "Tune In," the first volume of Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn's massive three-part biography of the group.

Read it here. You also can see an interview with the author here.

It should be noted, Lewisohn's book comes in a few different editions. The U.S. version is out Oct. 29 in hardcover and on Kindle. In Britain, the book also is being released in hardcover and on Kindle, and in an much-expanded, 1,700-plus-page version that includes more text and notes. The regular hardcover edition runs close to 950 pages. So, if you're ordering from the States, the expanded version will cost you about $120.

Here's more info on the expanded version:

This extended special edition of Mark Lewisohn's magisterial book Tune In is a true collector's item, featuring hundreds of thousands of words of extra material, as well as many extra photographs. It is the complete, uncut and definitive biography of the Beatles' early years, from their family backgrounds through to the moment they're on the cusp of their immense breakthrough at the end of 1962.

Designed, printed and bound in Great Britain, this high-quality edition consists of two beautifully produced individual hardbacks printed on New Langely Antique Wove woodfree paper, with red-and-white head and tail bands and red ribbon marker. The two books will sit within a specially designed box and lid featuring soft touch and varnish finishes. The whole product comes shrinkwrapped for extra protection.

Mark Lewisohn's biography is the first true and accurate account of the Beatles, a contextual history built upon impeccable research and written with energy, style, objectivity and insight. This extended special edition is for anyone who wishes to own the complete story in all its stunning and extraordinary detail. This is genuinely, and without question, the lasting word from the world-acknowledged authority.

That's a lot of dough and a lot of Beatles. But if you read the whole works, you will win every Beatles trivia contest, ever. Something to think about.

I'm a Beatles nut, obviously, and an admirer of Lewisohn's previous chronologies of the Beatles' career. But even I'm wondering if I can make such a long slog through the Beatles' pre-fame years.

The first pictures of Doctor Who: 1963

In celebration of the show's 50th anniversary, the BBC has posted some vintage pics of first Doctor Who actor William Hartnell and fellow cast members Carol Ann Ford (Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter), Jacqueline Hill (Susan) and William Russell (Ian).

The shoot took place in London at BBC Television Centre and the event was significant for another reason: It was the first time the four stars of Doctor Who’s first season had ever met!

Pop culture roundup: Batman; Jackie Lomax; crazy Star Trek captains and more!

Why didn't I have this when I was a kid? (Via Booksteve's 1966: My Favorite Year)

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Jackie Lomax, former singer of Liverpool's the Undertakers, died earlier this week. As a solo singer, Lomax was signed to the Beatles' Apple Records and benefited from some star assistance on his LPs, although none ever sold in great quantities.

Here's Lomax's version of George Harrison's tune "Sour Milk Sea," recorded in 1968. Harrison and Eric Clapton feature on guitar, Nicky Hopkins plays piano, Paul McCartney plays bass and Ringo Starr is on drums.

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Tweets:

Can't afford to get my newspaper delivered by iPad. What is that? $500 every morning?
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Rubbish! #gogodididonyc @TwoPlaysInRep pic.twitter.com/KWKY1PhHRB
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Now when people steal the new IPhone they're going to take your thumb too.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) September 18, 2013

Continuing to set the gold standard in comics preservation, IDW Publishing's Library of American Comics, in partnership with DC Entertainment, will release the amazing never-before reprinted adventures of Superman that appeared in the Sunday newspapers for more than twenty-five years. The strips will be releases in in chronological order in three sub-sets: the 1940s Golden Age, the 1950s Atomic Age, and the 1960s Silver Age.

The first volume in the Superman: Golden Age Sundays series will collect 170 sequential Sundays, from May 9, 1943 through August 4, 1946, beginning where the Superman Sunday Classic book by DC Comics and Kitchen Sink Press left off. These World War II-era stories feature work by legendary artists such as Wayne Boring and Jack Burnley.

"We're printing the series in an oversized 9.25" x 12" format," says editor Dean Mullaney, "so that readers can fully enjoy these glorious full-color tabloid Sundays."

The stories include the complete "Superman's Service to Servicemen" series, which ran from late Summer of 1943 until a few months after the Second World War ended. In these human interest tales, Superman responds to requests from men and women of the armed services, as well as their family members back home. In supporting troop morale, Superman travels from the Mediterranean theatre to the bleak Aleutian Islands to the steamy South Pacific. He helps a wounded Army Air Corps pilot return home to witness the birth of his twins; solves numerous romantic misunderstandings; checks up on mothers for their worried sons overseas...while simultaneously stopping enemy torpedoes, bombs, and bullets!

In a clever transition to the post-War world, there's a flashback to Superman's origin and Clark Kent's first assignment at the Daily Planet, followed by a thrilling inter-stellar saga in which Superman comes face to face with Queen Arda of the planet Suprania, who threatened to kill Lois Lane unless the Man of Steel agrees to become her King!

These Sunday strips represent an important era in the development of the Man of Steel into an international phenomenon. Each book in the series features an introduction by Mark Waid and covers drawn by Peter Poplaski.

Superman: Golden Age Sundays joins The Library of American Comics and IDW's line of archival DC classic newspaper strips, first started with Superman: Silver Age Dailies, which will continue into 2014, as well as the 1940s Wonder Woman and the 1960s Batman.

BBC Radio this week: Eddie Cochran; Atlantic Records; Hendrix; Keith Moon; Dr. Morelle, more!

Click the links to hear the following programs.

Eddie Cochran: Something Else A tribute to the pioneering rocker.

A Case for Dr. Morelle Classic detective series with Harley Street psychiatrist Dr Morelle, who uses psychology, criminology and dogged persistence to solve crimes.

Desert Island Disks Revisited Illustrator Quentin Blake discusses his favorite music.

Atlantic Soul A documentary on influential rhythm and blues label.

Hendrix at the Beeb A look at Jimi Hendrix's recordings for BBC radio.

I'm Keith Moon, What's Your Excuse? A documentary about the late drummer for the Who.

The Goon Show. Classic material from one of the all-time radio comedy greats.

The Man in Black. A creepy raconteur, played by Mark Gatiss, introduces spooky tales.

Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone. Strange and unusual sounds in music both old and new.