Recently I have been accused of “phoning it in.” Of not trying hard enough. People say I’m just hacking out another post in order to meet a Tuesday deadline.

Here’s the Hawkman theme!

Click the link below and listen.

Hawkman theme - John Gart

I apologize. Last Tuesday I shared a truly horrible record. I tortured my loyal readers and you let me know loud and clear. To make up for it, I’d like to offer this gem. It’s a real GFR (great, fantastic record). With a little luck it will take the bad taste out of your mouth from last week.

As you may have guessed, the song is “Linus And Lucy.” But just as those two Peanuts characters have evolved over the years (see chart above) so has Vince Guaraldi’s classic tune. I think you’ll enjoy this revved up version by Gary Hoey.

Click the link below and listen!

Linus and Lucy - Gary Hoey

On some Tuesdays I present to you a comics-related treasure that blows your mind, knocks your socks off, and makes you say “Wow, what a great, fantastic rekkid!” This is not one of those times.

This week I’d like to share one of the least catchy tunes I’ve heard in a long time. It’s a truly lackluster song, worthy of forgetting the moment you hear it. And the vocal is by Captain America himself! I would have expected better from Cap. Then again, you can’t be good at everything. Maybe singing is one talent that even a super soldier serum can’t help.

Click the link below and listen to a very young Captain America sing his mediocre song. Ugh.

Captain America - The Hit Crew

I can’t tell you about the subject of this week’s blog. Why? It’s a secret!

If you know who this is, then click the link below and listen to his theme song. But keep it on the D.L.

Secret Squirrel Show

It’s not often we get requests around here. Heck (yes, I said “heck”), we rarely get mail at all! And when that request comes from resident I.T.C.H. blogger Steven Thompson, you know we have to do whatever he asks!

Steve (yes, I call him Steve) pointed out that we haven’t yet shared Freddie McCoy’s piece entitled “Spider-Man.” I am correcting that oversight right now! Freddie not only offers a nice little jazz tune here, but the album cover sports one of my favorite Spider-Man images of all time, that famous pose from Sturdy Steve Ditko’s (yes, I called him “sturdy”) 1965 poster which measured a whopping six feet tall! (A bargain on eBay a while back for just $382.77.) This picture of Spider-Man brings back fond childhood memories. (Sadly, my six-foot poster was lost in a fire. If anyone wants to replace it for me, send it here to I.T.C.H. HQ.)

Imagine how great Spider-Man would look on your wall LIFE SIZE, then click the link below and listen!

Spider-Man - Freddie McCoy

Since Mattel recently announced their new line of toys based on the 1966 Batman TV show starring Adam West (47 years later!), we thought it was about time to present yet another version of the theme song, perhaps the most recorded tune in comics history. To go along with this version by The Jam, we’re spotlighting some of the various Batman toys that have been based on the classic Adam West portrayal. Enjoy!

After you’re finished drooling over these toys, click the link below and listen!

Batman Theme - The Jam

Long before Honey Boo Boo co-opted his name and became America’s Darling, there was a honey-loving bear called Boo Boo. As Robin to Yogi’s Batman, he is that rare breed, a trusted, loyal sidekick who is always standing by with an astute comment like “Aw gee, Yogi” or “The ranger’s not going to like it.” Holy hole in the donut, Yogi! Those are some pretty astute comments!

Although Boo Boo is Yogi’s second in command, I’ve always suspected he was the brains of the outfit. A lot smarter than he appears. If that’s true, and Yogi is smarter than the average bear, then Boo Boo is smarter than the above-average bear!

As luck would have it, there’s a song about Boo Boo. (What were you expecting, a limerick?) You can enjoy this obscure gem by clicking the link below.

Boo Boo Bear - Steve Vine and the Electras

To me, the best thing about Mr. Mxyzptlk isn’t that he’s a colorful, magical imp who can do anything until he is tricked by Superman into saying his name backwards and returned to the fifth dimension. The best thing is that his name used to be Mr. Mxyztplk before he changed it. (Too Jewish?) You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

This makes my head hurt.

Believe it or not, there is a song about Mr. Mxyzptlk. And it’s a swinging little tune! I understand if you spin it backwards it makes your record sound like “Up, Up And Away” by the Fifth Dimension. What a wacky world.

Click the link to listen:

Mr Mxyptlk

With temperatures in the single digits around these parts, it’s appropriate that we swing the ITCH spotlight on an Antarctic character. Someone who epitomizes cold weather. A cute cuddly kind of a character who just can’t get warm. A cartoon star who symbolizes mankind’s eternal struggle for survival in a harsh environment. A penguin! But not just any penguin. A close personal friend of Woody Woodpecker. Let me see. Hmm. Well, I’m stumped. Oh wait! Why not Chilly Willy? Of course. I should have thought of him sooner. But if I had, I wouldn’t have anything to write about.

Here are two Chilly Willy tunes! One is Woody Woodpecker’s introduction to Willy, along with Chilly Willy’s theme song. The other is Willy himself singing the same song. Compare and contrast. I need your papers on my desk Monday morning.

Click the link to listen:

Woody Introduces Chilly Willy

Chilly Willy the Penguin

Kids call these “headlights comics.”

While you wonder why, enjoy this song by the same name. Click the link to listen.

Phantom Lady - Dave Steffen Band