ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

POP/ROCK

Come Together: A record billed as the first original work featuring all four Beatles since the 1995 studio “collaboration” “Free as a Bird” will be released in England on Monday. The recording, “Free Now,” was created by Paul McCartney as part of a work called “Liverpool Sound Collage,” the soundtrack for “About Collage,” an exhibit by Peter Blake on display at the Tate Liverpool museum. The Pop artist is best known for creating the cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” “Free Now” incorporates clips of outtakes from Beatles recording sessions with other music, the sound of the Mersey River and interviews conducted by McCartney on the streets of Liverpool. McCartney described the track as a “manic Beatles single.” “It’s a new little piece of Beatles,” he said. “It’s more underground than what you usually hear from me, but I like to be free enough to do this sort of thing.” EMI is expected to release “Liverpool Sound Collage” in the United States in the next few months.

*

Golden Years: Rock star David Bowie became a father for the second time Tuesday, at the age of 53, when his wife, Iman, gave birth to a girl, Alexandria Zahra Jones. “The couple are overjoyed,” said Bowie’s publicist, Mitch Schneider. “David assisted in the delivery and he cut the umbilical chord.” Supermodel Iman, 44, was married to the rock legend (born David Jones) eight years ago. She has a 22-year-old daughter, Zulekah, from her previous marriage to professional basketball star Spencer Haywood. Bowie’s other child, who was originally called Zowie and has since changed his name to Duncan, was born to his first wife, Angie, in 1971. . . . In other baby news, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks and her husband, actor Adrian Pasdar (“Mysterious Ways”), are expecting their first child in April. The father-to-be said, “This is merely the first of 10 children.” Maines and Pasdar were wed June 24 in Las Vegas.

*

Whole Lotta Backache: Former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who is enjoying a career renaissance by touring with the Black Crowes, has suffered a back injury that has forced the group to scrap its current tour, organizers said. Details of the 56-year-old Page’s injury were not disclosed by his management, a spokeswoman for the tour said. Reuters reported that the British guitar hero was well enough to play with the Crowes on Monday afternoon during a taping of “The Wanton Song” for NBC’s “The Tonight Show.” The decision to cancel the rest of the tour was made soon after, the spokeswoman said. The cancellations affect eight shows that were to have started Tuesday at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine and continued through Aug. 30 near Houston. A statement said Page and the Crowes would try to reschedule many of the gigs before the tour’s next leg begins on Sept. 23 near Miami.

FILM

‘Tortilla Soup’ Begins Production: “Tortilla Soup,” a Mexican American version of Ang Lee’s “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman,” began production this month with Hector Elizondo starring as a chef and the single father of three young women. The romantic comedy stars Elizabeth Pena (“Lone Star”), Jacqueline Obradors (“Six Days, Seven Nights”) and Tamara Mello (“She’s All That”) as Elizondo’s daughters. Raquel Welch will star as Elizondo’s love interest. Set in Los Angeles, the film takes a lighthearted look at the trials and tribulations of the family. Playwright-director Luis Valdez was originally set to direct but was replaced by Spanish director Maria Ripoll, who helmed last year’s “Twice Upon a Yesterday.” The screenplay was revamped by Vera Blasi, who wrote Fox Searchlight’s film “Woman on Top.” The movie will be released theatrically by Samuel Goldwyn Films next year.

VIDEO

Free Video Rentals for Kids: In an effort to encourage children and parents to watch videos together, Hollywood Video is making a library of children’s videos available for free. Tapes will be available to customers on a first-come, first-served basis for the usual five-day period. Customers with Hollywood Video cards are allowed one free tape at a time, with no purchase or rental necessary. The available titles include “The Mighty Ducks,” “Air Bud,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Mary Poppins,” “Pinocchio” and installments from such popular multi-tape series as “Sing Along Songs,” “Magic School Bus,” “Rugrats,” “Teletubbies” and “Dr. Seuss.”

TELEVISION

‘American High’ Flunks: After just two weeks, Fox has pulled “American High,” the unstaged reality series that allowed students to document their senior year at a suburban Chicago high school. The series was pulled by Fox for low ratings; in its place tonight is a rerun of the animated comedy “Futurama.” R.J. Cutler, the filmmaker responsible for “American High,” told the Associated Press that he was disappointed that the 13-episode run was cut short but was optimistic that it would resurface elsewhere. “My surprise is going to be if we’re not in production for a second season very, very soon,” said Cutler, who was an Oscar nominee for the Clinton campaign documentary “The War Room.”

QUICK TAKES

La Jolla Playhouse’s new stage production of the 1967 movie “Thoroughly Modern Millie” will be led by Erin Dilly, recently of “Martin Guerre,” as Millie; Tonya Pinkins, of San Diego and Broadway’s “Play On!,” as Muzzy Van Hossmere; and Pat Carroll, the deep voice of Ursula in the Disney film “The Little Mermaid,” as Mrs. Meers. The show runs Oct. 15 through Nov. 12. . . . With tenor Placido Domingo officially heading the ship, Los Angeles Opera set a new record for first-day single-ticket sales. On Aug. 6, the company tallied $186,263 in single tickets. This number marked an increase of about 74% over the previous record of $107,177, set on the first day of sales for the 1998-99 season. . . . Red Hot Chili Peppers, DMX and Blink-182 have been added to the list of performers for the 17th annual MTV Video Music Awards scheduled for Sept. 7. They will join previously announced performers ‘N Sync, Eminem, Britney Spears and Rage Against the Machine. . . . NBC weatherman Al Roker will join his wife, Deborah Roberts, as co-host of Lifetime’s “Lifetime Live” today and Thursday. Roker will fill in for Dana Reeve, who is on assignment at the Democratic National Convention. “This will give America a chance to see that in public, like in private, I never get the last word,” said Roker. . . . Comedian Margaret Cho will host a Q&A; at Patriotic Hall in downtown L.A. at 8:30 tonight in conjunction with the Shadow Convention’s Youth Task Force. Admission, which is free, is first-come, first-served. Roseanne, Christopher Hitchens and Robert Scheer are slated to appear at 7 p.m. Thursday.