TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where we post our “Question of the Month” and where you can send in a question about Tom and we’ll do our best to answer. To submit a question, please click on the “contact” link on the bottom right side of the page. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Better Late Than…Our July Question of the Month: What Obscure Song of Tom’s…
Sunday, July 8th, 2007Sorry, but Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away? Here it is July 8 and we just realized we forgot our Question of the Month. So here it is:
If you could choose just one now-obscure song of Tom’s — you know, one song that out of the thousands he’s already sung that no one seems to know he’s done — to be added to his show, what would it be? And why?
For the record, both moderators instantly named the same tune — Anniversary Song. Again, for the record, this was co-written by one of Tom’s early influences, Al Jolson, and is alternately called The Anniversary Waltz. When Tom sings it, there are no vocal calisthenics, just a straight-out beautiful performance that is quiet, moving and well worth cherishing. If you haven’t heard it, try to get a copy. You can find it on the albums Tom Sings the Ballads and Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow.
Please note, and we don’t mean to be cranky, we’re asking for one (1) song only. Otherwise, if we’d asked for a list, it would be too easy and there’s no fun in that, is there? So, please read the rules. Thanks!
July 8th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I know this isn’t really something Tom would sing today and I don’t know if he ever sang it in a show, but I’d have loved to see him do the song What A Party. It makes me feel happy whenever I hear it.
July 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Anniversary Song was a favorite of mine and one that made the cut for the 1999 MCI, Ltd. CD Tom…Sings The Ballads. I was asked and submitted a number of Tom’s ballads for this 15-track compilation. Two other favorites that didn’t make the CD selection are, Lover to Lover and But If You Ever Leave Me.
July 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am
All the songs from the very hard to get South African album Love Machine. I Guess You Know Me, Girl is one of my all-time favorites. The song was written by Paul Williams. I know Tom sang it at the concert he did with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in Canada and on the Midnight Special TV-show.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
My choice would be Romance of Love. It is from the Sincerely Yours DVD. It is Tom’s voice and an acoustic guitar……simply magic.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I Believe, Yiddishe Mama
July 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
But this is a tough question and I’ll have to go through all his music now! Guess I Believe and Yiddishe Mama aren’t really that obscure.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
How about Sonny Boy? That’s what I call obscure. Or, maybe, Purple Rain, Hey Joe or When A Man Loves A Woman.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Melvyn, did Tom do Hey Joe the Hendrix song or is it a different song?
Johan, did Tom record an album in South Africa or do you mean it’s only available there now?
Tell me, tell me, tell me.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Hey!
Hmm. Long Tall Sally. I love it. By the way, has he ever recorded it? He did it in This Is Tom Jones. Just loooove it! =)
And yes Marisa, I Believe is beautiful song
!
Olli,Finland
July 8th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
OK, kids, we don’t mean to be cranky, but it is around 114º F. (that’s 46ºC) here in Las Vegas and we must have rather short tempers tonight. Remember, we asked for songs Tom has recorded. He’s not, as far as we can tell, recorded When A Man Loves A Woman or Hey Joe. He has recorded Long Tall Sally, but it’s only been on Live At Caesars Palace as part of a medley. And, we feel compelled to advise you that Sonny Boy is an old, but not exactly “obscure” song. Again, it’s one Tom’s early influence Al Jolson sang in the 1920s that he and many others have recorded many times over the years. As for Purple Rain, anyone who thinks that is obscure hasn’t been paying attention. And Tom only did that on The Right Time as a duet with David Gilmour, not as a separate recording.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Me again. I think I’ll choose You’ll Never Walk Alone. He kicks that one out of the ballpark!
July 8th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
It is a song called The Bed. It is on the CD Help Yourself.
July 9th, 2007 at 4:34 am
How about Polk Salad Annie?
July 9th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I pick We Had It All from the Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow album. The tune is simple and beautiful at the same time. It shows the mellow side of Tom, and he sings it with such incredible sensitivity.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
To mharding: The album Love Machine contains some beautiful songs recorded in 1975/1976. This album was only released in South Africa during a tour. I don’t know the specific details, but I have the songs in my possession (lucky me)….Maybe somebody else has more details..??
July 9th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I pick Every Mile. The song was the original B-side of Puppet Man (Parrot release) in 1971. TJ nails the high note near the song’s big finish.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I pick Day By Day” which I think was on the b-side of Help Yourself.
July 9th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Mine would be I Don’t Think So on The Lead and How To Swing It CD. He sings that song in a very sexy way ! mmmmmm !!!!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:56 am
Georgia On My Mind from the album (I think) Help Yourself. I love the southern feel of the song through Tom’s voice.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I love Jim’s choice of Every Mile. It is absolutely fantastic. What a vocal performance! Although my choice was We Had It All, I actually was deliberating between those two songs.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
How about I Love A Rainy Night. It’s fun.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I would love to have Tom put Only Once into his live shows. It is an oldie but really goodie!!!
July 11th, 2007 at 3:05 am
“Why Can’t I Cry” in the album Delilah.
July 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
There are a couple on the album Don’t Let Our Dreams Die Young: I’ve Been Rained On Too and That Old Piano. I think it will have to be That Old Piano.
July 22nd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Kung Fu Fighting. The intro is awesome, and really shows off his voice.
August 11th, 2007 at 1:42 am
Sorry, I have to change my ONE song to I Don’t Want To Know You That Well. The lyrics tell the same story as Git Me Some and we are all melting and screaming over that one! This song needs to be remixed, a few lyrics changed “long slow dance” to “poppin’ it hot in ‘da club” and POW! A HUGE HIT! (Just keep Chicane away from it…he can carry this on his own)
September 6th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I can’t find whole song Little Lonely One