Tom Jones International

TV NOTE: The Biography Channel is showing the 2005 bio of Tom. It will be repeated today. Check you local listings. It’s kind of lame (as he’s not interviewed and, in fact, he knew nothing about it being made) and it’s quite mean-spirited with nasty remarks about Gordon Mills. In addition, of all the people Tom’s associated with over the years, why did they choose E. Humperdinck, Chris Hutchins and Robin Eggar to talk? Surely, the producers could have found better “experts” than those who have axes to grind. If you’ve seen it, what do you think?

Today is the last day to enter the drawing to win a CD of music that influenced Tom. If you order the new This Is Tom jones: What’s New Pussycat DVD from TimeLife (link at right) you will be automatically entered in the drawing.

Meanwhile, here’s a song that is unreleased called But If You Ever Leave Me. This is not to be confused by similarly titled songs done by Barbra Streisand and Vince Gill or with the standard If Ever I Should Leave You from Camelot or with Tom’s song, If He Should Ever Leave You.

I’ve contacted people who may know its history and, when I find out (if I find out) I’ll pass on the info. If you know it, please share. All that’s certain is that it’s from a producer who saved such tracks

Listen and please share your opinion.

Lampie the Clown — or, Eric Swan, if you prefer — was Tom’s lighting designer from 1993 to 2004. While passing time in the lighting booth, he shot video of the show and he’s sent some to share.

Eric also answered the April Question of the Month (How do you describe Tom to someone who’s never seen him?) and his answer is really, really nice. He wrote, “I saw the section where you ask how to describe Tom to people who don’t know him. I worked for Tom as Lighting Designer from 1993 to 2004. I would say that he’s a man’s man. He can out drink anyone I know, including me. He knows the punch line of every joke you ever heard, and can tell jokes all night that you never heard. Doing a good show is important to him, but in ten years I never once saw him lose his temper. That said, I doubt he’d be afraid to take a punch, or hand out a few, if the situation warranted it. Like I said, a man’s man. I’m proud to have worked for him.”

The fist clip was shot one night in Europe just before Tom sang You Can Leave Your Hat On from The Full Monthy.

Eric explains: “The Full Monty video was shot when the British band was backing Tom…so I’d guess it was mid to late 1990’s. I’d have to dig pretty deep into boxes to find those old itineraries and show programs to nail it down. Like Tom says, ‘The memory is the second thing to go.’ Ian Thomas was on the drums, so it was before Graham Ward took over that position. It was in Glasgow, Scotland in 1998, soon after the movie The Full Monty became a hit. By thinking about when it was, I’ve created a doubt in my mind about where. I thought it was Scotland, but now I’ve got Belfast in my head. It was near the end of the tour, because I remember Tom saying that if they had done it at the beginning of the tour he’d have made them do it every night. I’m half sure he was joking. There was a photo in the local paper’s entertainment section the next day, along with the review, but I’m confident that this is the only video of the event.

“From left to right there was Kenny Dugan (stage manager), Rory (monitor tech), Simon ‘Fanny’ Franklyn (drum tech, but on later UK tours, stage manager). Behind Tom is Ed Ehrbar (monitor engineer), then an audio tech who’s name I don’t remember, Johnny Harper (lighting tech), Dave Nelson (backline tech, but now stage manager in the US), and all the way right, Cyril Thomas (guitar tech). ”

The second video, the Truckers Dance, was taken at the very end of the show in June 2003, at the Atlantic Pavilion in Lisbon. The truckers names are Mick Chester, Dave Harris & Tyrone Bramwell. And, Eric said, “That is indeed Sharon Hendrix, along with Christi Black and Darelle Holden. The truckers names are Mick Chester, Dave Harris & Tyrone Bramwell.”

There’s not a lot of Tom in the footage and it could have more clarity, but it’s terrific nonetheless and we’re so lucky Eric sent it. You’ll find it in the TJI.com Video Library. Enjoy it!

This is way off the subject, but as I was posting this I thought of Burt Reynolds’ appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Reynolds had just posed nude for Cosmo and they were discussing it. Reynolds noted that he’d used a baseball mitt to cover himself. Without missing a beat, Carson said, “Well, Burt, I’d need a catcher’s mitt.”

Tomorrow: If nothing that’s time-sensitive pops up demanding to be posted, some never-before-seen video of Sir Tom that you won’t want to miss. It is very funny. Really.

What is it with the mainstream daily papers these days? In Florida, with the exception Sean Daly in his TampaBay blog, Tom was either ignored except for a brief listing in the event section or written about with crap (yes “crap!”) about his panty-toting fans. The Miami New Times reviewer is different and I want to thank the reviewer, John Hood, who sent this himself. Thanks, also, to Gail and Dave who sent it. I just didn’t get to the computer before 9 am Pacific time to post it.

Review Preview:
Tom Jones Wows Miami Beach’s Fillmore Gleason

Yep, you heard correctly. Sir Tom swung into town over the weekend and left the Magic City’s most notorious Beach in a dizzy. Not that it’s unusual, mind you. After all, that’s what Tom Jones does. And it’s what he’s been doing for over four decades.

Saturday Night: Tom Jones at The Fillmore Gleason

By John Hood in Concert Review/Monday, Apr. 27 2009 @ 8:30AM/Miami New Times

Better Than: A time-capsule set to 1971

Of all the many remarkable things to be said about seeing Tom Jones stage these days — and trust me, there are many remarkable things to be said — perhaps the single most remarkable thing is how seamlessly the songs from his latest longplayer — 24 Hours — fit in with his collection of hits. In fact, many of the tracks seem to come from the very same peachy-keen playbook as his classics. And the best of them could easily have become hits of their own.

Naturally, last night’s show opener would’ve worked as well then as it does now. After all, it’s Tommy James and the Shondells’ I’m Alive, the B-Side to ’69’s Crystal Blue Persuasion, which makes it straight from Jones’s prime. But so would’ve the Bacharachian If He Should Ever Leave You, the bossa-tinged In Style and Rhythm and the swinging Give a Little Love, and Jones co-wrote all three relatively recently.

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Let me tell you from personal experience: When I go to review a show with pre-conceived ideas, I usually wind up getting it wrong because those ideas color my ability to see clearly. Thus, as a responsible journalist, I really try to keep an open mind and, when possible, do some homework before I go. Below is a fine example of a reporter who didn’t do that and, as a result, clearly didn’t know what she was watching and equally clearly didn’t appreciate it. Tom was at the venue Thursday and Regis Philbin and Don Rickles (who is hilarious) a day later. Compounding the crime, this chick seems to have gotten stuck on her column’s title, too. That’s bad — when you fall in love with your own words and they lead you astray.

Old School Special: Tom Jones and Regis & Rickles

by Leslie Gray Streeter/Palm Beach Post blogs/

If you’d sat in the audience at the Kravis Center Thursday and Friday and squinted real good, and not minded the lack of slot machines or people offering you free drinks, you may have thought you were in Vegas. In sort of a one-two-three punch, Tom Jones, and then Regis Philbin and Don Rickles, showed up to entertain the people old school style, with plenty of audience participation.

Of course, for each of our friends, that means something different — with Tom, it often involves panties. With Regis, it’s about flirting with senior citizens. And with Rickles…well, it’s about saying derogatory things about one’s ethnicity, religion or sexual identification, but then talking about everybody else’s, too, and maybe making you all laugh in your collective state of insult. (I thought he was funny. My guest disagreed. But at least Rickles didn’t, like some random old lady in the lobby after the show, assume that because I was black I would know the whereabouts of her home health aide, a 50-something woman she referred to as “my girl.”

Yeah. I’ll take Don Rickles any day.

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Some faded video from a decade or so ago provides some diversion. Here are two clips from Late Night With Conan O’Brien.

In the first, from 1995, Conan talks with Tom about the fact that Ahmet Zappa, one of Frank’s children, is a real fan, often talking about Tom and imitating him. Tom mentions that he recorded his cut on the Chieftans’ CD The Long Black Veil at the Zappas’ studio. (If you haven’t heard this distinctly Gaelic version of The Tennessee Waltz, you’ve got to check it out.)

In the second clip, from 1996, Ahmet — along with brother Dweezil — visits Conan’s show and does his thing. It’s funny. (That’s why I left the John Tesh-Black Sabbath bit in the video.)

You find the video in the TJI.com Video Library.

Tom’s at the Fillmore in Miami tonight. If you go, please send a review and photos.
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Sean Daly posted an interview with Tom a few weeks ago. This may be left over or he may have spoken to him before the Clearwater show. Wonder if Sir Tom ever wanders into Borders or Barnes and Noble to pick out a book.

What’s Tom Jones reading

By Sean Daly, Times Pop Music Critic/tampabay.com

Tom Jones, the 68-year-old Welsh wonder and indomitable panty magnet, still tours the globe 11 months out of the year. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for curling up with a good book. But before a recent gig at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, the Voice told us what good reads are waiting for him if/when he ever gets a much-needed rest.

What is on your nightstand?

I love history books, particularly British history. I just got Victoria’s Wars: The Rise of Empire (by Saul David), about the wars going on during Queen Victoria’s reign. Haven’t started it yet, but I plan to. I’m very interested in that time. Oh, and Tony Curtis just gave me a book.

Tony Curtis? What book did he give you?

Ha! He gave me his book (American Prince: My Autobiography)! Tony lives in Vegas. He comes to see me every time I’m there. He’ll come in that first week. I love just talking to him ’cause Tony has all these great stories. If you ask the man any question, the man will tell you a great story.

Poor Sir Tom. Poor Sir Elton. Poor everyone whose wealth dropped to the mid-nine figures last year due to the recession. Don’t mean to be flip, but things are tough all over. Most of the people whose status is unchanged on the annual Rich List for music are composers and directors and producers of music and musical theater. At the bottom of this post you’ll find a video that explains the list. (Don’t watch it if you object to the phrase “wrinkled rockers.” Shouldn’t that be, by the way, “wrinkled wrockers?”) Please bear in mind that this list is a “guesstimate” and includes only publicly traceable assets, not anything salted away privately. And, by the way, they’ve earned every cent but it’s so distasteful to probe like this. And, before you ask why it’s being posted here if it’s so distasteful, it is legitimate news about Tom, not tabloid speculation. But I still wish they wouldn’t do it.

Music millionaires suffer huge losses in Sunday Times Rich List

Patrick Foster, Media Correspondent/April 24, 2009/timesonline.com

Simon Cowell, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the producer of the Mamma Mia musical are some of only a handful of music millionaires to have weathered the economic storm and protected their wealth this year.

While most performers and producers have seen their fortunes nosedive by more than ten per cent, a select handful have escaped the worst of the recession, figures from the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List show.

Poorly performing investments and the slump in property prices have led to huge estimated losses, with Sir Elton John’s value down 26 per cent, Sir Tom Jones down 24 per cent, and Simon Fuller, the music mogul behind Pop Idol down 33 per cent.

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This is great news! The 40th annual award ceremony will be in Manhattan in June. Tom is so richly deserving of this award — and so many others. And it’s about time he gets this kind of recognition in this country where he makes his home and works so frequently. This is so exciting, isn’t it?

From NME/Apr 22, 2009

Tom Jones to receive Hitmaker award at Songwriters Hall Of Fame

2009 inductees include Jon Bon Jovi and Crosby, Stills & Nash

Tom Jones will be this year’s recipient of the Howie Richmond* Hitmaker Award at the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame 40th Anniversary Awards, it has been announced.

The Welsh singer will receive the award on June 18 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, and was chosen as the recipient due to his “exceptional staying power and accomplishments, along with his unique artistry.”

Previous Hitmaker Award recipients include Clive Davis, Garth Brooks, Chuck Berry, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Gloria Estefan and Diana Ross.

Inductees at this year’s Songwriter Hall Of Fame Awards include Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora; Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati of The Young Rascals; Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni*; and Stephen Schwartz.

The Towering Song this year is Moon River and the Towering Performance Award will be presented to Andy Williams.

—By our New York staff.

*Music publisher Howie Richmond was a co-founder of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni wrote Hair, now being successfully revived on Broadway.

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And here’s the story from Billboard. In it, the president of the organization says, “”Sir Tom represents the perfect choice as a recipient of our Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award,” Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman/CEO Hal David* said in a statement. “We are looking forward to applauding his exceptional staying power and accomplishments, along with his unique artistry,” and it also notes, “From 1976-1985 Jones landed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music chart. And in 2000, the single “Sex Bomb” from his 5 million-plus selling album Reload was certified by the IFPI as the most-played record on radio in Europe and No. 3 in sales.”
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(*Hal David, of course, is Burt Bacharach’s writing partner, co-writer of What’s New Pussycat.)

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And, in other good news for Sir Tom: Tower of Power’s Great American Soulbook album, which features covers of classic soul songs has entered Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3. It is the highest placing debut album of the week. The album has also entered the Soundscan Jazz charts for record sales at Number 6.

Again, please take a few moments to read the comments on the post below about Mary. And, if you haven’t read the post, you owe it to yourself as a Tom Jones fan to do that. The outpouring of affection for her is overwhelming — as both evidenced by the comments and by emails and calls I got Tuesday. And, please be aware that the comments are from people of all ages. Her story moved so many and I know she’s smiling down on us. May her memory be for blessing.

And, if you were in Sarasota last night, please let everyone know how you enjoyed the show.

Below is a terrific preview article by a writer totally “gets” Tom Jones. It is a pleasure to read. The photo is Anita’s from the Hard Rock in Orlando.
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Tom Jones Swivels into the Fillmore Miami Beach

Get ready for flying panties.

John Hood/Published on April 21, 2009 at 12:28pm/Miami New Times/Details: Tom Jones: Saturday, April 25. The Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $43.50, $53.50, and $73.50. 305-673-7300

If someone were to tell you the next pop superstar would be named after the bastard son in one of the English language’s first — and finest — examples of the novel, you’d probably scoff. If someone also happened to mention the book in question was more than 200 years old, 1,000-plus pages long, and divided into 18 smaller “books” of outlandish satire, you’d scoff even louder.

Then after you learned the story in question involves lust, larceny, and the kind of love only a harlot and her suitor could share, things might make a little more sense. So would the fact that the man about to be given the title comes off like some randy Edwardian fop. Such was the case, way back in 1964, when a man named Gordon Mills took a fellow Welshman born Thomas John Woodward and rechristened him for Henry Fielding’s immortal Tom Jones.

The rest, as they say, is pop music history.

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First, please take a few moments to read the comments on the post below about Mary. And, if you haven’t read the post, you owe it to yourself as a Tom Jones fan to do that. The outpouring of affection for her is overwhelming — as both evidenced by the comments and by emails and calls I got Tuesday. And, please be aware that the comments are from people of all ages. Her story moved so many and I know she’s smiling down on us. May her memory be for blessing.

But, as Mary was always anxious to hear about the latest Tom Jones show and see photos, so are all his fans. I know it’s difficult to find new ways to say “great,” “wonderful,” “amazing,” etc. But you don’t have to say it with new words. Any words that work to convey your experience will do and all the fans who visit this site are anxious to share that experience.

These photos are from the Daily Mail. With them is a story about the concert from an unnamed “reporter” that isn’t about the show. If they wanted to see “knickers,” they should have been at the Hard Rock and some other venues. Note that in the photo, Tom isn’t even looking at the thrown object. And the photos are clearly fan stuff shot with a poor camera or cell phone and sold to this agency. Probably whey there’s no byline on the story. Or, in fact, no real story. But they do retell the old “why I let my hair stay natural” story from Las Vegas in January. Slow news day in the UK? Whatever. To paraphrase Charles Dickens, in this case, the Daily Mail “is an ass.”

Aged 68 and still a Sex Bomb: Fans throw knickers onstage as Tom Jones performs in Florida

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