TJI is so pleased to end all the speculation and consternation and tell you that in December, instead of doing the MGM Grand gig, Tom will be recording in England. Don’t have any more details, but we’ll keep you posted if we can get them. (The MGM Grand is aware of this but, because they’ve never posted any kind of appearance schedule involving Tom in December, you’ll find nothing about it on their website.) Despite some naysayers, we can also tell you Tom will be back at the MGM in January. No speculation on what he’s recording, for or with whom he’s recording, but it’s nice to hear that’s what he’s doing.
Tomorrow TJI will have video of Tom at the MGM and, Saturday, news of a new piece of jewelry. So please be sure to stop by.
Tom’s last two nights at the MGM Grand were great fun. He was in a good mood — especially Tuesday night — and clearly enjoyed being there.
On Tuesday, as he was singing he had some trouble with his ear piece. “They call it ‘technology,’” he said as he fiddled with it. “I call it a pain.”
Hoping to fix the problem by jiggling the associated box sitting in the small of his back, he said, “Maybe we’ve got to put a shilling in the meter. [A reference to an outdated way of making electricity work.] Does anyone remember that?”
A bit later, as he was sitting down to do his soul thing he noticed one of his buttons undone. As he fixed it someone called out, “Take it off!”
He replied, “Well, they’ll all be open before the night ends.”
Then he began an a capella rendition of a country song recorded by many people, including Ernest Tubb and Merle Haggard called Who Will Buy the Wine. that goes, in part: “Not so long ago you held our baby’s bottle; But the one you’re holding now’s a different kind; And you’d never know whose lips you’ll soon be kissin’; Cause it all depends on who will buy the wine.”
When he was finished, he commented, “Country songs always get right to the point.”
{Yes, they do. Have you heard him sing Lady Lay Down?]
And so it went. Tom was responsive to the audience, smiling at those he knew and, to the chagrin of some other audience members, paying special attention to a visitor from New York. [To those who get annoyed by such things and who pass judgment, the only response is to tell them to grow up, give it up and relax. This man is an accomplished, consummate showman. He knows his audience and what will hold their attention. And paying attention to one member of the audience does this. One might think those who get annoyed with his taking time and paying attention to others in the audience are simply jealous. Correction! One pretty much knows they're jealous.]
A good time was had by all.
Closing night it was more of the same. A fan named Patti gave Tom a nice towel to wipe the sweat from his brow and chest, he returned it and she, in turn, gave the towel to Jessica who carefully nestled it in a plastic bag and carried it with her all evening, even to the other end of The Strip.
And, while it’s too bad he won’t be here in December, recording is a good thing. Who knows, maybe in 2010 he’ll make up the time with extra weeks in Las Vegas.
In the photos above from this run at the MGM, Tom’s showing us “this is it” during 200 Pounds and, obviously, taking off his jacket before You Can Leave Your Hat On.
And, on a personal note, I want to say that it was particularly great this time seeing friends I’ve made through TJI and getting to know some people better, thus turning acquaintances into friends. Hope to see you all in January….or March….or anytime soon.
Tom Jones has sung a lot of songs used in a lot of soundtracks. Of these, the most enduring is, of course, What’s New Pussycat? the Burt Bacharach-Hal David song Tom’s been singing for almost 45 years in his shows.
One of the people having a good time was Portia, a fan from the midwest with boundless enthusiasm for Sir Tom and with, one imagines, a very understanding spouse. She is also, I am happy to say, a regular visitor to TJI.com
