Tom Jones International

Here are Tom and his guest Sammy Davis, Jr. discussing what’s what about It’s Not Unusual. What’s really so interesting is their language; language that definitely dates this clip. Today, it’s just not the way people say things. Back then, though, it was just two cool cats rapping the way cool cats rapped.

This, as Tom notes in his intro, is from the first show of Tom’s second season in 1969 and the first recorded in the US. It’s fun to see Sammy Davis, Jr. and Tom singing It’s Not Unusual.

And, in 1970, Sammy was back, singing with Tom. They duet on two songs — the lovely show tune Love Is A Simple Thing and Burt Bachrach’s What The World Needs Now, which Tom also sang when Bachrach was on the show. This show is from 1970. Click here to watch Tom & Sammy sing about love.

Sammy Davis, Jr. is one of the “Legendary Performers” who will be seen on the soon-to-be-released second This Is Tom Jones DVD set. Please bear in mind that the video here is not of the quality you’ll see on the DVD.

Please watch this video of the national anthems at the fight before you read our editorial. And, at the bottom, we put an account of the incident written by Norm Clarke, the popular columnist for the Las Vegas Review Journal on Monday, December 10, so you’ll get some understanding of the local feeling.

Last night’s Mayweather-Hatton Undefeated event was big — huge coverage for months before the fight, lots of hype in two nations, an influx of Brits to Las Vegas that had every kind-of-authentic and faux British pub filled to bursting. And the celebrity count, as you saw and heard in the video, was off the charts.

Yes, Tom sang God Save the Queen and, introduced as a “legend,” was given a rousing welcome. The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Tyrese Gibson. The fight, as most people know by now, was won by Las Vegan Floyd Mayweather.

OK, those are the facts. But what happened at that fight is what prompted this editorial.

As is apparently their “sporting” habit, the UK fans booed the US anthem. Check out the video and please note the comments of the (British) announcer.

Now, we’re not saying The Star-Spangled Banner is a great song. It’s difficult to sing and kind of long. We’ll even admit that another of our patriotic songs, America, openly and straightforwardly uses the UK anthem tune. But to boo the US anthem? In the name of sport? Come now.

This brings us to our pet peeve about Tom Jones and, no, it’s not that he should change the setlist more often. It is the attitude reflected in the booing of our anthem. And, we want to be clear: We are not directing any ire at Sir Tom himself.

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This is, indeed, a strange weekend at the MGM Grand. It seems to be a mixture of good ol’ boy Dixie and a British colony. This is because both the big Mayweather-Hatton fight is set for tonight and the NFR — the National Finals Rodeo event that brings in more than 140,000 visitors during the first week or so of December — are happening. These are huge events but, of course, the show must go on.

Tom’s shows have been sold out, filled with fans of Sir Tom and Ricky Hatton. But, because of the rodeo, the Hollywood Theatre is double-booked with comic Rodney Carrington doing a 10 o’clock show after at Tom’s 7:30.

This means that the whole thing is a bit rushed, with the theatre staff saying it was because his show ends at 9 pm and the doors open for Carrington’s show a half-hour later.

So, with all this, how was Tom? He looked great, with a very sharp looking black suit with a lavender lining and his shiny leather shoes. Audience contact was was minimal and only two pairs of undies were tossed onstage. It was the same setlist as for the last year, but he really shined when he sang I’ll Never Fall In Love Again. Even for Tom Jones, it was extraordinary.

The audience went wild as always and lingered in the theatre (much to the chagrin of the ushers who were working very hard to clean up and clear out the place), so thrilled with the show that they didn’t want it to end. And, any quibbles aside, isn’t that how it should be?

Please let us know about the shows you saw at MGM this month.

These photos are from the December 8, 2007 performance.

Sammy Davis, Jr., Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin, Liza, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tony Bennett and — of course — Jerry Lee Lewis.

These performers will be featured with Tom on the three-disc edition This Is Tom Jones Volume 2: Legendary Performers coming from TimeLife February 12th (probably only in the USA on that date, but we’ll check that out).

Tom’s official website announced that Tom will sing the British national anthem at the Mayweather-Hatton fight tomorrow night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and explained to fans in England and Ireland how to watch the fight, so we thought we’d tell people in North America how they can do so.

The fight can be seen via pay-per-view on HBO tomorrow night beginning at 9 p.m., EST, 6 pm, Pacific. To order pay-per-view, contact your cable provider. In Las Vegas, the cost is $54.95 (if you order on the web) or, if you call the cable provider for assistance in ordering, there is a $2 surcharge. Or course, that’s with Cox here in Las Vegas, but it’s pretty much the same anywhere.

It will be rebroadcast in a week or so on HBO (probably several times in the coming weeks).

The two fighters are undefeated and the battle is being compared to the Rocky Balboa-Apollo Creed fight in the movies.

BTW, we heard the Spice Girls (in town for a not-sold-out concert) will be doing an anthem, too.

Tom opens tonight at the MGM Grand for two weeks and we’re anxious to learn what y’all think of the show.

We received this very thoughtful review of the closing show in AC from Maria who is, as she explains, a long-time fan who saw Tom for the first time Sunday.

It is a thoughtful and, to some of you surely, provocative, review. (Some of the issues she addresses are due to the poor nature of that venue and are not present elsewhere.) As Maria notes, it was not sent with an intent to offend and we hope it won’t be taken that way.

Maria is a first-time poster here and we welcome her.

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I have greatly appreciated the music of Tom Jones since the 60′s, especially the television performances on This Is Tom Jones that aired 1969-1971. There has not been and never will be anyone like Tom Jones. I saw Tom performing live for the first time on Sunday in Atlantic City. I regret to say that I was disappointed, saddened and entertained — in that order. Tom performed non-stop energetic renditions of some of his most popular hits, some more recent novelty songs, as well as a few old standards. Tom still has a magnificent voice and exceptional stage presence. Unfortunately his current show is not the most successful vehicle for the expression of the most compelling aspects of his music. These aspects are his phenomenal voice, his unself-consciously emotional and spontaneous style of singing and the personal connection that he can make with the audience member.

The band and backup singers were excellent but they were consistently too loud and the arrangements, especially percussion, were usually too intrusive for the full appreciation of Tom’s voice. Tom’s amplification was loud enough but somewhat electric-sounding.

The most disappointing aspect of the show was Tom’s performance style.
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We don’t want to nag, but we also don’t want anyone who was thinking of ordering a calendar to miss out, as there will be few (if any) extra copies printed. So:

All orders must be in by 12 noon EST tomorrow, December 6.

You can use the button at the right and, please remember, that all non-US orders must include $6 shipping & handling.

Thanks.

This time, Sir Tom is “cheeky” and he sings a tune called You Can Keep Your Hat On. Must really be a slow news day in Wales. Talk about a non-story! Thanks, Dre.

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You can leave your wig on, Tom tells fan

Dec 2 2007 by Nick Rippington, Wales On Sunday

IT looks like father time is finally catching up with Tom Jones.

Forty years ago the Welsh crooner created a shocking trend, when crazed female fans threw their knickers at him on stage at the Copacabana in New York.

But fast forward to the present day and Tom – now 67 – is getting a different kind of greeting from his loyal following.

On stage at a packed gig in Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula in California, tenacious Tom was belting out his numbers with his 11-piece band — and playing up his sex appeal at every turn.
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So far, Tom’s announced dates at the Hollywood Theatre of the MGM Grand are:

January 17 through January 30 and March 27 through April 9. Tickets are on sale now. Starting in January, tickets are $92.40, up from $75. Not cheap by any means but still a real bargain in Las Vegas and less expensive than many, many of the other venues Tom plays. The ticket price breaks down to $85 + LET (Live Entertainment Tax).

We’re certain — and hoping — there’ll be more to come.

We hope you’ll continue the discussion below about AC, but we wanted to post these photos taken after the show by Lois Gooding. The man is looking good!

You’ll find the photos in our Tom Then & Now flickr set.