The approach you are considering may be easier than you think:
filter(str.isalpha, 'The Beatles - help - 03 - Ticket to ride')
'TheBeatleshelpTickettoride'
Hmm, I think this is a case where filter is significantly clearer than the equivalent list comprehension:
Py> "".join([c for c in 'The Beatles - help - 03 - Ticket to ride' if c.isalpha( )]) 'TheBeatleshelpTickettoride' Py>
Cheers, Nick.
-- Nick Coghlan | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Brisbane, Australia --------------------------------------------------------------- http://boredomandlaziness.skystorm.net -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list