Tom Jones International

Tom Jones — from the opening notes of It’s Not Unusual — has always done well with brass, drums and strong rhythms.

The brass and funk band Tower of Power describes itself as “100 proof, aged-to-perfection, ground zero Soul.” Tom toured with TOP in 2005. His voice and their horns on the song they did together on that tour were a perfect match.

Now, they team up again on the second track of TOP’s new album, The Great American Soulbook to perform the Sam and Dave R&B classic, I Thank You.

Tom has sung this in live performance and recorded it previously, but just this brief clip tells us this version is exceptional. The CD will be out next month.

(By the way, proof that Tom and Tower of Power fit together well may be found in the fact that both Herman Matthews and Bill Churchville played with TOP at times before they joined Tom.)

Among the others on The Great American Soulbook with TOP is Sam Moore from the above-mentioned Sam and Dave singing the soul classic Mr. Pitiful.

Here is 31 seconds of Tom Jones and TOP’s lead vocalist Larry Braggs — of course, along with the great TOP horns and drums — singing I Thank You.

¡Mil gracias a Ruben Luna!

This is the fourth (and last) post today, Sunday, — some days are slow, others not. If you missed them, be sure to check the three posts directly below that were put up earlier. You don’t want to miss any news!

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We’ll be seeing a lot of previews of Tom’s appearances in the US and, in fact, around the world, in the next several months. Just like the UK tabs harp on his hair color (and, isn’t it nice that a new photo is being used here?) in the US most people who write these listing previews — like this one from The Washington Post Express — tend to fall back on cliche and old news. They simply haven’t kept up with the Jones.

Hopefully, they’ll see Sir Tom and understand what he means in the musical landscape of the last 45 years or so.

Unusually Him: Tom Jones

Tom Jones WEDNESDAY: Guys, don’t take it personally if your wife is dying to go see Tom Jones. After all, this is the guy who sang She’s a Lady. Don’t worry. She’s not going to turn into a screaming, incoherent groupie. Probably.

The 68-year-old Jones is still quite the Sex Bomb, bringing his male pheromones all the way to the District and parking them at 9:30 Club.

If It’s Not Unusual reminds you of the first time you fell in love rather than that creepy scene in “Edward Scissorhands,” this is probably a concert you shouldn’t miss. Jones will perform some of his all-time classics, along with songs from his new album, 24 Hours.

Get out your posters, albums, and even and old T-shirts. Who knows? Maybe he’ll sign them. In lipstick. Swoon.

» 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; Wed., Feb. 25, 7 p.m., $55; 202-393-0930. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express’ Tahirah Hairston/Photo courtesy Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Before the Copa stuff, a note about today’s NY Times listing for Tom’s gig at Terminal 5. The writer, Amanda Petruisch, is clearly out of touch with her subject and is going for what she thinks is wit. Too bad: The artist deserves better and a newspaper ought to be current. It’s just stupid: “TOM JONES (Tuesday) The Welsh singer Tom Jones is as divisive a figure as any: some are drawn to his gold chains, exposed chest hair, booming vocals and singalong choruses (“It’s Not Unusual,” “She’s a Lady”), while others are moderately repulsed. At 8:30 p.m., Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street, Clinton, (212) 582-6600, terminal5nyc.com; $50. (Petrusich)”

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Tom Jones, Son of Welsh Miner, Digs American Country Music; Intense Young Singing Star Reminds Copa Audience of Its Pop Heritage

By ROBERT SHELTON/New York Times/February 22, 1968, Thursday

A former hod-carrier from Wales is currently carrying American music back to Americans of all ages at the Copacabana.

Tom Jones, one of Britain’s biggest singing stars, is making his New York cabaret debut and beginning his longest visit to the country from which he draws most of his music.

What is a nice Welshman doing singing American soul, country and pop material? “I’ve been fascinated with American music since I was a kid,” the curly-haired, massively built performer said in a recent interview. “especially Negro music and country music. Country music is very big in Britain. the songs have a lot of feeling and meaning and the melodies are simple. They are always about life.”

If past British musical invasions are any index, Mr. Jones stands poised to inform millions of American listeners about some fine things in their own pop-music heritage. He does his informing with the sweep of a master showman, the intensity of a man who believes what he is singing, and the charm of a star who knows he is bringing good looks, a beautiful voice and a commanding manner on stage.

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Today is Oscar day in the USA. Speaking of Tom Jones and movies, What’s New Pussycat? was nominated for Best Song at the 1966 awards. It was sung at the ceremony by — are you ready? — Lize Minnelli(!). It lost to The Shadow of Your Smile from The Sandpiper. Other nominees were The Ballad of Cat Ballou, The Sweetheart Tree and I Will Wait for You. Neither of the other TJ-sung title songs — Thunderball and Promise Her Anything — were nominated.

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Don’t forget the Comic Relief video — including Islands In the Stream — in the TJI.com Video Library. Full story in post below this one.

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Note to journalist Nathan Bevan: Remember what Ogden Nash said, “Tarring and feathering are too good for people who make puns. They should be drawn and quoted.” But any article that uses words like “thesping” and “celluloid” cannot — despite errors — be bad. Anyway, if they wanted another Welsh actor they’d have gotten, say, Sir Anthony Hopkins.

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Tom Jones, Rys Ifans and Rob Brydon in Welsh flick

February 22, 2009/by Nathan Bevan/Wales On Sunday

SEX cod Tom Jones will swap the leather trousers for waist-high waders to play a fisherman among a stellar Welsh cast in a brand new Brit flick.

The Voice of the Valleys looks set to angle a deal with producers to star in the upcoming crime caper The Codfather alongside other homegrown luminaries as Rhys Ifans, Rob Brydon and, in his first acting role, Dirty Sanchez’s resident wildman Matthew Pritchard.

It’s thought Ifans will appear as Barry who. along with a few mates, comes up with the fishy idea to smuggle £10m of drugs inside a consignment of cod.

The low-budget movie, directed by the relatively unknown Xavier Leret, will also feature Two Pints Of Lager and A Packet Of Crisps actress Sheridan Smith and former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison, last seen holding her own against psychotic cannibals in the indie horror The Cottage.

The movie will mark Tom’s debut attempt at thesping and his first celluloid appearance since playing himself battling alien stage invaders during his Vegas show in Tim Burton’s 1996 tongue-in-cheek sci-fi extravaganza Mars Attacks!

But while that star-studded line-up may have most Welsh film fans salivating, some pundits had their doubts, claiming that Tom’s casting had been done just for the halibut!

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As was noted on this site at the time (although some from the UK scoffed that a video to be shown in March in the UK wouldn’t be filmed four months out in the USA), last November Tom filmed a music video and recorded a single for UK Comic Relief with actors Ruth Jones and Rob Bryden. They play Nessa and Bryn on the BBC Britcom Gavin & Stacey, the story of a Welsh girl, Stacey, from Barry Island who marries Gavin, a British lad. Nessa is her best friend and Bryn, her uncle. If you cannot get the BBC, look for the show on BBC America.

The video takes place at the World Karaoke Championships in — where else? — Las Vegas. It was filmed in the Mojave Desert and at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino. It is a nine-minute production and also features Robin Gibb singing back-up on the CD. (The BeeGees wrote the song that was a huge hit for Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.)

Comic Relief’s motto is and they fund projects in the UK, Africa and other underserved countries to improve the lives of those who live there. The Red Noses, sported by those in the photo, symbolize laughter, something we need more of in this world.

If you want to buy the CD single and do not live in the UK, you can get it at HMV. At the moment is costs about $10, including shipping to the US. They say if the price goes down they’ll pass the savings on to the consumer. If you live in the UK, you can order it through iTunes UK or Play.com. One would assume that Comic Relief gets a portion of the proceeds no matter where it is ordered. You can pre-order now. It will be released March 9th. Note: This site makes no money on your purchase. It’s just such a good cause it cried out to post this information.

You’ll find the Comic Relief video — including Islands In the Stream — in the TJI.com Video Library. If you download it with RealPlayer Downloader you’ll find it to be high quality.

Comic Relief kicks off Friday, March 13, 7 pm (GMT) on BBC 1.

In 1992 Tom taped a six-episode music series, The Right Time It was a brilliant concept that was brilliantly produced by, among others, Tom’s son and manager, Mark Woodward. According to my TJI.com Calendar, today is the 16th anniversary of the show’s first episode on VH1 in the US.

As host, Tom performed, sang duets with guests and interviewed a variety of entertainers. Each episode of the series was devoted to a particular aspect of contemporary music: rock and roll, pure pop, spirituals and gospel, soul, Celtic-country, and a special with Stevie Wonder. Among the guests were Joe Cocker, EMF and, performing Prince’s Purple Rain with Tom, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour (photo right). The latter was a series highlight. Amazing. It was on youtube, but was taken down. That’s a pity. It would be amazing if the series were remastered and released on high-quality DVD. It was one of the best moments of Sir Tom’s career and deserves to be seen still today. (Perhaps a petition drive is in order?)

Critic Lisa Schwartzbaum talked to Tom for the March 19, 1993 issue of Entertainment Weekly.

The Tom Tom Club
Keeping up with Tom Jones — We talk to the swinging ’60s entertainer who’s suddenly hip all over again

The true Tom Jones fan knows this: You can take the man out of the tight pants, but you can’t take the tight pants out of the man. At 52, the Welsh grandfather prefers Miami Vice-like jackets and crew-neck shirts to unbuttoned-to-there Qiana. But he can still belt out a rendition of his 1965 hit It’s Not Unusual to dampen the palms. And of late, those moist hands are manifesting themselves in a whole new generation. The Jones Revival, fueled by his covers of Prince’s Kiss, EMF’s Unbelievable, and the Beatles’ Come Together, is now approaching the crescendo stage. In the past few months, Mr. Retro-Cool has appeared on Leno’s and Letterman’s shows, done gigs on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Simpsons (Marge thinks he’s a dreamboat), and performed with Sting in a March 2 rain-forest benefit at Carnegie Hall in a set that stole the show. And on Feb. 21 he hit the air with his own show on the cable music channel VH-1: The Right Time, a six-part musical tour through the evolution of pop music. Once again, Tom Jones is hot, hot, hot. So we visited with the pussycat to find out why, why, why.

A few years ago you put out a memo to your fan clubs saying, ”Hey, cool it with the undies.” What do you do with the stuff your fans throw on stage? I used to encourage it. If somebody threw some underwear on stage, I would pick it up, wipe my brow, ”’ello, ‘ello, da-da-da,” you know, do a whole thing using it as a prop. But that backfired. Now, I don’t take advantage of it. Wherever it lands, that’s where it stays. Except for toys. Because I have two grandchildren, you know.

What’s the kinkiest offering ever tossed your way? One time a woman threw a sequined jockstrap, because that year I was wearing sequined jackets. So I picked it up and said, ”Well, this is next year’s wardrobe.”

Click here to see another photo from 1992 and (more…)

Like all celebrities, when Sir Tom arrived at the Brit Awards Wednesday he was confronted by a wall of paparazzi. In one clip it shows him simply arriving at the event. In the other, the camera ran longer and you can see what happens when Tom — or any celebrity doesn’t stay long enough in front of the camera or doesn’t face a particular direction and it gets mean. Having been on the sidelines at red carpets (the latest Bette Midler’s opening in Las Vegas) I can assure you that the pushing, shouting and jostling are unimaginable. It’s amazing that anyone can keep smiling and moving along.

One website lists Tom, along with Halle Berry, as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday, March 5. Now, if he’d just do Craig Ferguson’s show, it would make a good thing great!

Thanks, Dre, for the videos.

Yesterday was all about the 2009 Brit Awards. So it’s only fitting that today is about Tom’s big night at the Brits six years ago, February 20, 2003.

The winners that year were: British Male Solo Artist Robbie Williams; British Female Solo Artist Ms Dynamite; British Album Coldplay:‘A Rush Of Blood To the Head; British Group Coldplay; British Single Liberty X: Just a Little; British Urban Act Ms Dynamite; British Dance Act Sugababes; British Breakthrough Artist Will Young; Pop Act Blue; International Male Solo Artist Eminem; International Female Solo Artist Pink; International Album Eminem: The Eminem Show;; International Group Red Hot Chili Peppers; International Breakthrough Artist Norah Jones; and

Outstanding contribution to music: Tom Jones

The BBC reported the next day: “Veteran star Tom Jones picked up a lifetime achievement award, dedicating it to his late mother — who died two weeks ago — and father.

“Robbie Williams paid tribute to him by video, saying his duet with Jones at the 2000 Brits gave his career a huge boost.

“Williams said: ‘I believe that my singing that duet with you was the catalyst for my career.

“‘If Tom Jones had not said yes to that, I would not be sitting here tonight congratulating him.’”

At the awards Tom gave a 11+ minute musical performance that covered his career and demonstrated why he won that award. He really sang for his supper that night! You can see it by going to the TJI.com Video Library.

Don’t miss the TJ videos from The Brit Awards posted earlier today in the two posts just below this!

What’s New Pussycat?, the fourth volume in the TimeLife This Is Tom Jones, DVD series will be released April 7.

List price for the disc will be $14.99, but it will be discounted if you buy it through TJI.com — and a small bit will go to help support this site.

Because amazon.com also discounts the price, we’re working with the good people at TimeLife to sweeten the pot for you:

Everyone who pre-orders it through TJI.com will be entered into a special drawing for a Tom Jones prize package. There will be three winners.

The pre-order link and details of the prize drawing will be posted here soon. Look for them.

Sorry, because TimeLife USA doesn’t ship to other countries, this offer is only good in the USA. (Of course, if you wish, you can get a friend in the USA to order for you).

Here it is, finally, for those not able to watch on TV, Tom presents the Brit to Duffy. Maybe someone can explain the scenery and, also, the complete lack of surprise on anyone’s part when the winner was announced. (But don’t forget the videos in the post below!)