It's the boy's birthday...if he felt old at 33, past-it at 40, christ knows how he feels today.

And with the big 50 just five years away I wonder will Mojo, Q et al. give him a deserved tribute with other artists nominating their favourite songs of his, a lá the features on Weller, Morrissey, Bowie et al. when they reach a landmark in seniority. 

Hopefully by 2013 he will have fit in two more solo albums, and another one with his reunited group. Bit optimistic maybe, but considering he's been a "practicing songwriter" for 30 years now, he's got a bit of catching-up to do in the prolificacy stakes.