James Blunt

All James Blunt wanted to do was make an album. For himself. The singer-songwriter-musician says he didn't care whether anyone else heard it. So when his January 2005 debut, Back to Bedlam, rocketed to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, selling more than 2 million copies, he was ecstatic but overwhelmed. Seemingly overnight, the former British army officer was touring the globe playing to packed houses and performing on Saturday Night Live and Oprah. "I drink a lot more now, but I'm surviving," says Blunt, 32. "It's been a mad experience, but we're having a great time."

James Morrison's tastes for soul - the frayed, sweaty kind - sets him apart from all the others. He's one of several British artists (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy, James Blunt) to recently invade the U.S. pop charts. But with his new album - Songs for You, Truths for Me, the follow-up to his acclaimed 2007 debut, Undiscovered - Morrison wanted to redefine what "soul" means to him. "I wanted the songs to be the soul of the music," says the singer-songwriter, who headlines a sold-out show at Washington's 9:30 Club Thursday.

Downloaded singles 1.You're Beautiful, James Blunt 2.Check on It, Beyonce and Slim Thug 3.I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper), T-Pain and Mike Jones 4.Shake That, Eminem 5.Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield [ Courtesy iTunes] Downloaded albums 1.Sing-alongs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George, Jack Johnson and Friends 2.High School Musical (soundtrack), Various artists 3.Back to Bedlam (bonus video version), James Blunt 4.In the Sun -- EP, Michael Stipe featuring Chris Martin 5.For Me, It's You (digital version)

All James Blunt wanted to do was make an album. For himself. The singer-songwriter-musician says he didn't care whether anyone else heard it. So when his January 2005 debut, Back to Bedlam, rocketed to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, selling more than 2 million copies, he was ecstatic but overwhelmed. Seemingly overnight, the former British army officer was touring the globe playing to packed houses and performing on Saturday Night Live and Oprah. "I drink a lot more now, but I'm surviving," says Blunt, 32. "It's been a mad experience, but we're having a great time."

Jamie Cullum -- 9:30 Club / Grammy-award winning, singer, pianist and songwriter Jamie Cullum plays the 9:30 Club tonight and tomorrow. The British star's new album, Catching Tales, follows the multiplatinum success of his debut project, Twentysomething. The show features singer/songwriter Josh Ritter, whose latest album is Animal House. The 9:30 Club is at 815 V St. N.W., Washington. Doors open at 8 p.m. for both shows. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at 800-955-5566 or tickets.com.

JUST ANNOUNCED Lionel Richie -- DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on Nov. 3. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Eric Clapton -- Verizon Center in Washington on Oct. 10. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Several Species -- Recher Theatre in Towson on Nov. 10-11. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Lowen and Navarro -- Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis on Oct. 26-27. 410-268-4545 or ramsheadtavern.com. Steve Winwood -- Warner Theatre in Washington on Oct. 9. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.

TELEVISION 1.American Idol - Tuesday, Fox 2.American Idol - Wednesday, Fox 3.Desperate Housewives, ABC 4.CSI: Miami, CBS 5.60 Minutes, CBS FILMS 1.Ice Age: The Meltdown, Fox 2.Inside Man, Universal 3.ATL, Warner Bros. 4.Failure to Launch, Paramount 5.V for Vendetta, Warner Bros. SINGLES 1.Bad Day, Daniel Powter 2.Temperature, Sean Paul 3.So Sick, Ne-Yo 4.You're Beautiful, James Blunt 5.Be Without You, Mary J. Blige ALBUMS 1.3121, Prince 2.Soundtrack: High School Musical, Various artists 3.Back to Bedlam, James Blunt 4.The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, Barry Manilow 5.In My Own Words, Ne-Yo DVDS (SALES)