Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
A Music Question For Tom Jones Fans — We’d Like Your Opinion, So Please Tell Us What You Think
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
Our website is, as many of you know, a volunteer effort the doing of which has brought great joy. But the hosting and other technical fees are out-of-pocket for us and some of these posts take a great deal of time that is financially uncompensated. We know some sites charge membership fees and use a password system that enables only “members” to long in.
So, in an effort to bring in some money without resorting to fees, we’re working with TimeLife* to offer some specials on CDs and DVDs to people who visit our site.
We want always to stay connected to Tom Jones, so we thought we’d surely offer some Elvis stuff, some Jerry Lee and lots of the music that Tom heard back in Wales before he began his career. You know, the rock n’ roll and R&B music that inspired him.
To give you an idea of what TimeLife offers, please take a moment or to and browse their website. Of course, in addition to music, they have loads of DVDs of classic television shows.
And to get an idea of the music Tom loved growing up, here he is with Jeff Beck, on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, January 1, 2003 singing Gene Vincent’s 1958 two-million-selling smash Be-Bop-A-Lula. (Obviously, they’re pictured here performing the song.)
So, please check it out and let us know the artists you’d like to find on tji.com. It goes without saying that there is no obligation to buy involved in responding.
*We know that TimeLife in Europe is a separate operation from the US company and, therefore, we cannot do anything yet about Europe, but we do hope to so, please, all non-US fans, let us know what you’d like.
Thanks!
August 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Gee, that’s easy, it would be Petula Clark, Jay Black and the Americans, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Vinton, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Connie Francis, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, the Platters, Henry Mancini and his Orchestra, Perry Como, Paul Anka, Jerry Vale, Herb Albert, the Tokens, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Jim Neighbors, and Wayne Newton… just to name a few.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I would like to see in addition to Tom, Hall & Oates. Smokey Robinson. Barry White. Thank you for all of your hard work.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am
If possible, please include Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, Sara Brightman, Céline Dion, The Carpenters, Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Lettermen, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Lawrence Welk & his Orchestra, the Ray Charles Singers, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Linda Ronstadt,Engelbert Humperdinck, Mario Lanza, Nat King Cole, The Drifters, Mary Martin, Shirley Bassey, the Righteous Brothers, Air Supply, Don Ho, B.J. Thomas, The Vogues, Jackie Wilson, Barry Manilow and Laura Pausini.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Just like to include to the list, if I may: The 5th Dimensions, Bonnie Tyler, Bobbie Gentry, Anne Murray, Electric Light Orchestra, Elton John, Vicki Sue Robinson, Sonny & Cher, Doris Day, Tommy Dorsey & the Tommy Doresy Band, Peter Certera, Zamfir, Richard Clayderman, Yanni and Liberace. Thank you.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
TJF: We know that pretty much all of the people you named — or at least a majority of them — will be in the TimeLife catalog. But Josh Groban is too new. Otherwise, even if we don’t offer the specific people, the link to TimeLife will allow you to search for your favorites.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It was mentioned in the copy to let you know of the artits we would like to find on the tji.com. Was that for artists in general, or on artists who performed with Tom Jones? I should have asked first. Time-Life has a great selection, but kind of price especially with their DVD-Box sets. If ever you could match their prices and offer a better rate through tji.com, I would definitely, when I am able to, purchase the DVDs, or CDs. Hope it works out for the tji.com to have its own secured online purchase site. While you are researching, see how you would be able to get the all of the complete episodes from the 3 Seasons of This is Tom Jones, all on DVD, packaged individually or in a specail box set. Now, that would be awesome.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
TJF No, it can be any singer. We looked at those who influenced Tom because we like them, too. So, we’ll start with the Elvis- and Jerry Lee-type stuff, along with R&B. The only This Is Tom Jones episodes available will be through TimeLife (although we may have some give-aways or raffles for charity of those already available) and, since we aren’t set up to process payment and it would cost more money to set such a function up, we’ll work with TimeLife. (Happily, as any of their software glitches present with the third DVD set are not solved.) We hope to be able to offer some kind of discount, too.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Sounds great, Thank you!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Thanks for finding ways other than charging a fee to support this wonderful site. I am sure I will buy at least one thing from TimeLife!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I would purchase Ruth Brown if available. Muddy Waters comes to mind too. Being a huge Elvis fan, I bought his records in vinyl, 8track, and eventually cassette. I put my foot down with Cds and said enough is enough. I have spent a fortune on Elvis music, so I only own the greatest hits in CD. I would however consider purchasing Cds that represent some of the lesser known recordings. The Ultimate Elvis Gospel CD is amazing, but does not include his complete gospel catalog. I would buy anything in the gospel category. I like the suggestion of Connie Francis and would like to add Brenda Lee to my wish list.
August 25th, 2008 at 6:42 am
All of these artists I see mentioned are great. If I was to browse on Amazon to look for I would not have been able to think of them. Now after reading all the imput I have new ideas about music I want to collect. But I will wait to see what TJI offers it’s loyal readers. And I look forward to the articles to discuss whats to come and the music TJI will offer. It will be great if we are able to shop on TJI one day.
August 25th, 2008 at 6:52 am
++++++++++++++ I have another request. Being that I am a singerand so many people are, I wold love to be able to find the karaoke music for some of these artists or, at least, Sir Tom’s.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Deborah: TimeLife doesn’t do karaoke, but we see it frequently on eBay. Try that.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I have the old LPs of many of these singers/groups I have listed. I assume they don’t have to be artists who influenced Tom,(?) but they influenced me!!! So, my list: Nat King Cole, greatest velvet voice; Elvis, since I never collected his music and I regret that; Little Anthony and the Imperials, a sound and look no group can achieve today, as did so many of the singing groups of that era; Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo, for obvious reasons; The Lettermen; Sam Cooke; The Four Tops; Clyde McPhatter; The Temptations; The Supremes; The Fifth Dimension; Taylor Hicks; Ruben Studdard….and Tom, of course!!
If any of you have never watched the Doo Wop series on public television, you might want to buy the series on DVD, and you can see the way they dressed and performed back in those good old days.
Good question,and certainly hope we can flood the forum with some buys from all of us. Thanks, Moderators, I search the racks in the music shops, and can never decide on their compilations because Tom is never on any of them, but would love Time-Life to produce a compilation with all my choices. ;o))
August 25th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Moderator – seems like a great idea. I don’t think I could possibly add any other acts to the lists above.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:52 am
What about Al Jolson I think Tom liked him.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
How about Mel Carter. Whatevr happened to him. He and Tom would be great together.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I already answered this question, but feel the need to comment also on Tom’s version of Be-Bop-A-Lula. This song that the moderator has shared has become my new favorite Tom Jones song! I can’t get enough of it. I would have no problem traveling and paying for a full price ticket just to hear and see (can you just imagine what he would do with it?) him perform this single song. Tom’s music reaches all of us in different ways, and I must say this one really moves me. Looking forward to the collaboration with Tower of Power on the song I Thank You.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I believe it was this song that Tom performed with a younger Brooke Shields on one of his shows. It was extremely cute, with Tom be-bopping with Brooke and a bunch of teenagers in a jukebox scene. Has anyone seen this on video?