Tom Jones International

Anita (“TJOnly”) arrived in Las Vegas last Sunday to see Tom at the MGM for the first time (not the first time she’s seen Sir Tom — just the first time she’s done so in Las Vegas). As you can tell from her story, she had a great time. If you were also here and haven’t shared the story of your trip, please do.

How does one describe perfection? The trip, the reason for the trip and the great new friend I made on the trip, have made this past week nothing short of perfection.

I arrived in Vegas on Sunday afternoon and Ellen, who was to become my new friend met me.

Of course, Tom was THE REASON for all this. Four fantastic nights (three front row and one 3rd row) of swinging, swaying, singing along, staring, cheering, and sore hands from non-stop applause. This man possesses an incomprehensible magic, not only his voice but his personality and interaction with his audience. I surely got my fix…the withdrawal symptoms are gone for now. Tom couldn’t put on a bad show if he tried.

I didn’t get to meet Tom this time, but got the next best thing. On night 3, he used my Valentine’s wash cloth to wipe his brow (love that lingering cologne). On night 4 I was able to give him my little gift. This was the highlight of my trip.

Before I left Orlando, I was shopping and thought I heard my name being called from a rack of men’s underwear. I looked over and there they were, red and yellow boxer shorts with SUGAR DADDY written all over them. They whispered “Buy me for Tom.” Now, how could I pass them up?

Tom was interacting with the audience between songs and I waved the boxers in the air. He came over and I handed them to him. He didn’t notice the writing at first, but then as he held them up he saw the “Sugar Daddy” and read it out loud. The audience was hysterical as Tom explained that Sugar Daddy was one of the songs on his new album. He then proceeded to hold them up in front of him a couple of times and said “Are these for me?” and I said, “They certainly are baby.” What a hoot!

After the show that night I went out to dinner and for a ride down The Strip. It sure has changed since I was there in ’78 and with all the construction continues to change. I look forward to my next trip to Las Vegas and am hoping to get some good seats for a couple of Florida concerts in April.

Almost forgot: I just love Tom’s new look…the grey looks fantastic, suits him. I can’t explain it, but he looks more real.

It was a fabulous trip and I know I’m lucky to have had the experience. Thank you, Tom!

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12:48 pm PST: At the US Figure Skating Championships Exhibition in Cleveland, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin just skated to Tom’s version of Kiss. They were cute…nice surprise!

Tom’s hair color (“gray” in the US; “grey” in the UK) is making news as he reaches the UK for some more promo work on 24 Hours. Of course, it’s not an original story — that would be too much like real journalism. No, it’s a rehash of yesterday’s AP story in the US with a huge helping of nasty thrown in. He’s toured internationally in the last six years and, in truth, the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM is smaller — but not cooler — than several of the places he’ll play (Terminal 5, HOBs, etc.) And, since when have two shows a night been “customary?” Anyone who’s seen Tom this month can assure you that the photos — as is the wont of these papers — were chosen to look especially unflattering. We Americans always feel somewhat less elegant than the Brits. Must be the accent because if you look at what passes for news there — the norm as opposed to what is the exception here — they should be ashamed.




It’s Not Unusual (to have grey hair at 68): Tom Jones stops dyeing his hair as he announces new tour

By Liz Thomas and Jenny Stocks/Last updated at 12:15 PM on 31st January 2009/The MailOnline

He’s already given up the garish clothes, the medallions, and even the facelifts.

Now Sir Tom Jones is ditching one of the last barriers to him growing old gracefully – the hair dye.

Ahead of his first major international tour for six years, the Welsh singer, who used to sport thick dark locks, has decided to go natural.

No doubt his fans will be somewhat taken aback when the 68-year-old takes to the stage with a shock of grey-white hair.

But Sir Tom, speaking in Los Angeles, admitted it was time for a change, saying: ‘I’ve just stopped dyeing my hair.’

He revealed his tour will begin next month, when he will embark on a series of 15 dates in small clubs across the U.S., a marked change from the packed arenas he’s used to.

Sir Tom is scheduled to tour Britain and Europe in a similar series of intimate gigs this autumn.

He also revealed he will not perform his customary two shows a night. ‘You’re working with tired (vocal) cords on that second show,’ he said.

And, in a admission sure to upset some of his female admirers, Sir Tom said he is no longer as interested when women throw their underwear on stage while he is performing.

‘I don’t capitalise on it as much as I used to,’ he said.

‘I used to pick it up and do shtick with it and all that, which I stopped doing because it was encouraging it.’

The move to stop dyeing his hair comes two years after his plastic surgeon advised him against having any more work done.

Sir Tom is said to have had operations costing £30,000 on his face, including an eyelift, teeth capping and fat removed from under his chin.

Tom and the gang recorded a World Cafe session in New York late last year. And, as you will hear, it’s really nice. The musicians all sound great and Tom is wonderful. It’s always striking when you listen to him talk how enthusiastic and pleasant he is. Clearly, he loves what he does and loves telling stories about his life. There’s no false modesty, just honesty and humor. And host David Dye — who knows his music — is right: Tom’s band is “terrific.”

First up, the teaser. • Next is Tom singing It’s Not Unusual. • The interview begins as Tom talks about Bono, Sugar Daddy, being alive and sings I’m Alive • Here, Tom discusses Elvis and sings If He Should Ever Leave You. • In this final segment Tom talks about Otis Redding, singing for men, being “born to sing” and, then, singing Give A Little Love.

The new (or, rather, version 2.0 of the 1998 Jeremy Piven series) Cupid debuts on ABC-TV March 24. The music for the promo is Sir Tom Jones singing Give A Little Love. Watch for it.

At 8 a.m. EST the Associated Press posted the following brief with a file photo from the Grammy Foundation Starry Night Gala in July. This versionis from the Evansville, IN, Courier Post.Note he talks about a European tour in the fall.

We’ve heard (as yet unconfirmed by tomjones.com) that in the next several days Tom will be including Poland among his travels.

Tom Jones will get intimate on new U.S tour

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Jones is taking his show on the road again.

The 68-year-old singer will launch a U.S. tour in February to promote his new album, 24 Hours.

Jones plans to play intimate clubs rather than sprawling arenas during the 15-date tour. And that’s not the only change this time around.

“I’ve just stopped dyeing my hair,” he said.

The white-haired Jones also said Thursday that he’s learned a thing or two after touring and performing for more than 40 years. For one, he no longer does two shows a night: “You’re working with tired (vocal) cords on that second show.”

And though women still tend to toss their underwear onstage while Jones performs, he’s learned to pay it little mind.

“I don’t capitalize on it as much as I used to,” he said. “I used to pick it up and do shtick with it and all that, which I stopped doing because it was encouraging it.”

Jones will open his tour on Feb. 24 in New York. A European tour will follow in the fall.

Since he released the hit It’s Not Unusual in 1965, Jones has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

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Other notes: We’ll be posting a special fan report from Las Vegas and, if you miss Tom on the radio, you can hear it here later. Also, we’ve said nothing about his Comic Relief song and video nor about the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. That’s because you will hopefully read only-on-TJI.com stories about them soon.

Just a teaser and hopefully it will happen: On November 6, after being told quite firmly by a United Kingdom TJ fan that the story posted on this site was wrong because the UK’s Comic Relief show is in March so “Tom couldn’t have shot a video for it this early,” we confirmed our story. However, scant hours after it was posted, the production company who did the video asked us to take it down until consent was given them to release it. So, to enhance the story that’s been all over the place I’m hoping to have some photos and an exclusive interview with someone deeply involved in the project. Stay tuned.

The title of Tom’s old country song is appropriate as, beginning tomorrow there will be several opportunities over the next several days to hear Tom Jones on the radio.

First up is World Cafe on NPR.

That show will be broadcast tomorrow, Friday January 30, at 2 pm EST.

To find your local station, check out the World Cafe website and scroll down to the bottom of the page where there is a station rundown.

Or, simply go to the WXPN website to listen to a live stream of the show.

Tom should be on during the first hour, 2 to 3 pm.

If you miss the show, you may be able to hear is again (“if permission is granted”) on the National Public Radio website.

Sir Tom will be in Europe for awhile in February and tomjones.com has announced some appearances in Europe:
Wednesday, Feb 4: BBC Radio 2 — Chris Evans, LIVE between 1800-1900
Thurs Feb 5: BBC Radio 5Live — Simon Mayo LIVE @ 1450
And, on TV, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, BBC1 @ 2200 (date TBA)

Dre reports from the Netherlands that he’s heard Tom’s new single there, Take Me Back to the Party “every day on the radio.” That’s good news. Bad news? The song is available only on the “international” version of 24 Hours and as a single only in selected countries.

The venue in Solana Beach (north of San Diego) is the Belly Up Club.

Tickets for the HOB in Cleveland go on sale Monday, February 3, at 10 am. If you have a Citicard there is a presale. Details at the link above.

Please remember that no announced dates are official until you see them confirmed on Tom’s official site. (This one is confirmed.)

From gunfighter.com comes this review: CD Review: Tom Jones – 24 Hours

Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. Tom Jones!

I’m cutting to the chase: Tom Jones has a lot to teach the current generation of pop stars. He sings with range that today’s singers can’t hope to match. He sings with control, he sings with emotion, he sings with joy.

This CD isn’t just good, it’s great. Jones hits the ground running and doesn’t slow down. Right out of the gate, Tom lays it down in grand, powerful style. At age 68, Jones sings like a man half his age. There are a couple of songs on this CD that I’m not thrilled with, but to tell you the truth, the whole is certainly much, much, better than it’s parts.

Here is the thing about Tom Jones that has endured through a career that has spanned four decades. Tom Jones sings like a man. Not just a man, though. Tom Jones sings like an alpha male. His style is sexually confident, and he is unapologetic about it. Tom Jones’ musical style is strong and his powers are completely undiminished.

If you are a fan of powerful, masculine, vocal tracks, delivered with a retro feel that is, at the same time, very much “today”, you’ll love this CD.

In today’s world of girly-man singers, it’s nice to know that at least Tom Jones still refuses to compromise.

Tonight is Tom’s last show at the MGM Grand. The crowds — with few exceptions like crowds all over the city — have been less than stellar, but the enthusiasm for Sir Tom never waned.

Among the celebrities spotted at his show were Tony Curtis (who attends just about every time Tom is here), Mary Wilson and much of the cast of Mad Men, fresh from their Screen Actors Guild Award for “Best Ensemble” on television.

Opening night glitches with the lighting and set list are long gone and the audience just enjoyed. A couple of people who regularly post to this site got to give Tom gifts — a towel to wipe his brow and (at long last!) a chocolate orange. Now he can find out what one tastes like.

The band and the singers were in top form. Tom looked and sounded great. It was a good two weeks. If you were there and haven’t already done so, please share your experiences with us.

This time it’s one disc, not a set of three. But, again, it will feature highlights from This Is Tom Jones in which Tom appears with, among others, the Bee Gees, John Denver, George Carlin (shown here) and Tim Conway. It runs 60 minutes.

The DVD will be available in April from TimeLife. As soon as pre-orders can be taken, the link will be posted here.

(Still wish they’d put The Right Time out on DVD. It was truly amazing to watch and, still today, it stands as a marvelous historic record — living history — of some amazing music and amazing performers.)

AND, a few weeks ago Tom’s return to Europe in February was posted here. Go to tomjones.com for confirmation and for some UK radio appearances. More to come soon.

The price of Tom Jones concert tickets are not out of line with what other performers are getting these days. But what many fans believe is out of line are those extra charges — variously called “surcharges” or “convenience” charges.

Two east coast fans who are otherwise thrilled beyond words that Sir Tom will be there next month wrote and called to express their disgust at Live Nation’s “ticket fee” of $14.75 (!) and Ticketmaster’s $9.45 “convenience charge.” And, if for some reason you must have the tickets mailed (highly unusual) it can cost up to $18 more.

Of course, if you can get to the venue to buy the tickets these charges aren’t a factor.

For the record, the top two tiers of seats as Asbury Park’s Paramount Theatre ($100 and $79.50) are no longer available. In fact, the $100 tickets were never generally available but were held for subscribers and VIPs.