Tom Jones International

Tom Jones and comedian and TV presenter Jimmy Tarbuck go back a long way and are still reportedly very close.

Tarbuck, who went to school with John Lennon, did some famous comedy on This Is Tom Jones and has been highly successful on his own.

Here, as host of Live From the Palladium he introduces Tom. The latter sings It’s Not Unusual, Green Green Grass of Home and the heavily-promoted-at-that-time song, A Boy From Nowhere. Then, Tom, Tarbuck and some dancers team up on a rousing version of Johnny B. Goode.

It’s lots of fun and you can see it in the TJI.com Video Library.

Pat, once again, I owe you.

On April 18, 1975, Tom was among many entertainers participating in A Salute to Sir Lew Grade.

From the grand ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in New York City, the NY Chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences sponsored the event. It marked John Lennon’s last public performance. He sang Slippin’ and Slidin’ and the beautiful Imageine and joins the entire cast for a finale rendition of Consider Yourself from the musical Oliver! The performance is posted on youtube.

As I noted yesterday in response to a comment about this show, Tom has told the story of talking to Lennon at that event and how Lennon said he lived in New York, rather than any other city because he felt “safe” there.

In addition to Lennon and Tom, appearing on the show were: Julie Andrews; Ann-Margret; Lauren Bacall; William Conrad; Kirk Douglas; Goldie Hawn; Tom Jones; Gene Kelly; John Lennon; Shirley MacLaine; Charlotte Rampling; George Segal; Peter Sellers and Alexis Smith.

Tom sang a solo and also sang with Julie Andrews. A couple of people wrote after the video was mentioned that they couldn’t find it, so I posted it here. Bear in mind that it’s not great video.

If you cannot view it, let me know and I’ll send it to you.

If you can get to the O2 Arena on September 11, you should enter to win six tickets to the big show. Details are here.

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When the studio cast recording of Matador was released in 1987 in the UK Tom engaged in a TV blitz, making several appearances in March and April of that year.

Pat was kind enough to take her video tapes, convert them to DVD and send them to me to edit and share with you. In all, there are nine programs and, one at a time, they’ll be posted.

First up is Aspel & Company, hosted by Michael Aspel. It was broadcast on March 7, 1987. The other guests on the show were Julie Andrews (and, no, sadly, there’s no video of her singing with Tom) and actor Leslie Crowther (wearing glasses).

If they were new at the time, the questions asked of Tom are no longer novel but, as always, it’s great to see him. He looked and sounded great for the entire 27+ minutes he was on.

You can watch the show in the TJI.com Video Library.

[Moderator's Question: Do you guys actually watch these videos? Just curious.]

Hi: Someone who called herself (I am assuming it is a “her”) “anonamous” [sic] tried to post the following comment last night under my post on Tom opening at the MGM: “I am glad Tom Jones is ok too but all ur info is not from him and u dont ask him anything u here stuff and write it down.”

As she was a new poster her comment automatically went into the moderation queue. Obviously, I didn’t post it, but wrote her a note explaining why I wouldn’t, saying in essence that (1) I didn’t understand it and (2) I have neither the time nor the inclination to correct the grammar and spelling.

I suggested she try again when she can clearly explain where her info is from, why she is attacking what is posted here and, finally, how she knows that what is posted isn’t accurate.

I’m bringing this up because there seems to be a lot of turmoil in Tom Jones Land these days. Issues with the band/singers and the automatic assumption on the part of many fans that, because they read it in a Brit tabloid, he’s moving back to the UK seem to be getting people upset. There’s even argument elsewhere about the precise part of LA where Tom’s home is located because the British press persists in saying he lives in Bel-Air, even though he moved from that house a decade ago.

Yet, fans are arguing, discussing and getting nasty with each other over this. And it’s all so silly.

For the record, TJI wants no part of this.

If you want to know the rationale for some of the posts on this site and learn about the site’s origins and rules, check out About TJI.com.

Again, for the record, let me stress that I am in no way affiliated with the Tom Jones organization, do not work for them and am given nothing — tickets or access — by them. And I do not claim an affiliation.

When I can, if information is posted that’s not general knowledge, I’ll tell you the source (“an email from a UK fan,” for example) and, because I learned to do this as an investigative journalist, will always attempt to verify information. If I cannot, I’ll say so. I am very careful both because of my professional training and because I know people believe what they read.

What I am trying to say is that this site is done with the assumption that we are all on the same team: We are all fans of Tom Jones and want to learn about his professional life and career. Looking at other internet homes for fans of Tom Jones and some other very popular performers, when this site was started there was a conscious decision made not to host a forum or discussion group. This was done in order to avoid acrimony and ill-will among site visitors that is all too prevalent on similar sites/message boards/forums for entertainers everywhere. It’s a fact that fans are passionate. The idea here is to feed that passion while keeping it civil.

In due time there will be an explanation of why I do this exactly as I do and of some of the behind-the-scenes goings-on with TJI.com as so many — many! — of you have asked what happened to the domain name, etc.

For now, with the help of another fan I’m working on a special project that will be unveiled soon and hoping to continue to serve as a gathering place and newsroom for fans of Tom Jones.

Thanks for listening. To thank you properly, I posted another photo taken July 17 at Westbury. There are a lot of people, I know, who don’t like stage photos of Tom but, sometimes, we take what we can get. I think this is a good one. And thanks again for listening.

—Ellen

We all know how accomplished Tom’s musicians are. Each, in his own right, is known in the industry for talent and professionalism. If you need proof of that, you can, of course, check out TJI’s Behind the Scenes page with its bios of The Band & Staff Today. Even though it’s somewhat incomplete, even a cursory reading gives you a good idea of how gifted a bunch this is.

For further proof of the expertise of one band member, you can check out video from Late Night With Craig Ferguson, the CBS entry following Letterman on weeknights.

AT 12:01 am this morning, Charlotte, a fan from California, sent me an email noting that Herman would be on the show. What she didn’t mention was that he was playing drums with the amazing Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal, rightly referred to by Ferguson in his intro as “legends.”

The song is called She Caught the Katy. Because I wonder about stuff like this and I do the research, I can tell you that the “Katy” in the title refers to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (which has it’s own historical society website). It was written by “Yank” Rachell (who said, “I’ve had the blues so long they done turned into the blacks.”) It was reworked by Taj Mahal (No, “Taj Mahal” is not an entire group; it’s the great bluesman singing with Bonnie Raitt here.) and by the Blues Brothers.

If you want to know if Herman had a good time playing that night — it was taped June 15 in LA — just watch him at the end. Good stuff.

You can see the performance in the TJI.com Video Library.

Wikipedia tells us that “Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe’s death in 1984. They have been described as ‘the most illustrious, and the best-loved, double-act that Britain has ever produced.’In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, The Morecambe and Wise Show was placed 14th. In September 2006, they were voted by the general public as number 2 in a poll of TV’s Greatest Stars.”

Tom Jones — shown here with Ernie Wise (left) and Eric Morecambe — was one of many guests who appeared on the Morecambe and Wise Show (which, like Toast of the Town always being called “The Ed Sullivan Show,” was actually called Two of A Kind.) Other guests over the years included the likes of The Beatles and Elton John, among many, many more.

Both Dre and mharding sent a link to this clip. Luckily, mharding, clearly aware of the person with whom he is dealing (your moderator), sent the following clarifying note:: “Maybe I should explain a few of things about the Morcambe and Wise clip as it’s got quite a few in-jokes that may not travel well.

“When Eric says ‘Sandy Shaw – remember him?’ he’s pretending to get mixed up with the comedian Sandy Powell whose catch phrase was ‘Can you hear me mother?’

“Billy Cotton was a band leader who led The Billy Cotton Band Show on the BBC. His son was Bill Cotton too and became head of BBC Light Entertainment and was therefore boss to Morcambe and Wise.

Eric always accused Ernie of having short, fat, hairy legs and of wearing a wig although ‘you can’t see the join.’

“Kenneth Wolstenholme was a famous soccer commentator and was presumably mentioned as an opposite to Tom Jones and because of his funny name.”

This clip — finally available in its entirety — is from October 31, 1971. You can watch the it in the TJI.com Video Library.

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[Note: Here is a related photo sent in by mharding. You can read his explanation in Comment #3 below.]

As, thus far, it’s a slow news day in TomJones Land, TJI is posting something that that may be categorized as stating the obvious with sense of discovery.

Last week, after Tom opened at the MGM, I went to see comic Rodney Carrington, one of a group known, for lack of a better word (or, perhaps because it’s an accurate description) as “redneck comics.”

I reviewed his show for LasVegas.BroadwayWorld.com and, the next day did the post about the remastered CDs.

Then, I came across the photo posted here from the Radio Times, dated April 13-19, 1974 that was sent by a former fan from the UK. (The complete article will be posted at the appropriate anniversary.)

And, finally, yesterday’s post dealt with remasters of old albums and one song therein was the story of Running Bear..

Just reflecting on how so much of what we accepted years ago — and was totally acceptable then in most quarters — is absolutely unacceptable today. No one back then — headline writer or songwriter — meant to offend but, looking at it today, one can realize how things have changed. (And for the record, this does not imply any criticism of Tom.)

(But it is a nice picture of Tom.)

Just been thinking.

Several months ago a Vocalion label representative contacted TJI about these CDs. Then Norman, a UK fan, sent me a note about them. Before I posted anything I endeavored to find out if they are legitimate releases. The label, Vocalion, acquired the music through legitimate channels so these are, therefore, nowhere near the category of so many of those Canadian show releases that are, in essence, bootlegs. I wrote to the label, got samples of the CDs and they are really terrific, even though I’m one of those people who listens to 33s because I like that record-y scratchiness. These CDs are very well done.

One US fan named Tom — student of both recording and of Tom Jones music — told me he’d “never heard such excellent remastering.” Norman, the UK fan mentioned above (who is one of the three people who is so excellent about keeping those of us who don’t live in the UK informed about Tom’s activities and news of Tom there) bought the CDs and wrote about them (below).

You can order the CDs from Dutton Vocalion. The links are: Somethin’ ‘Bout You Baby I LIke and Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do; Close Up and Tom; and The Body and Soul of Tom Jones and She’s A Lady. Prices are £9.78, $16.39, €11.42, ¥1,563 + shipping. (For the record, TJI does not make a commission on sales.)

Here is Norman’s in-depth and very welcome review:

Vocalion Records have released 6 of Tom’s LP’s from the 70′s.They are: Tom (1970), She’s A Lady (1971), Close Up ( 1972 ), Body and Soul (1973), Somethin’ ‘Bout You Baby I Like ( 1974), Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do (1975)

The quality of these remasters is excellent and are well worth buying.

(more…)

Since 1965 Tom Jones has sung one particular song consistently and with great regularity. One has to believe that it is the very strong, very positive audience reaction that begins with the very first notes that keeps him singing it with such enthusiasm countless thousands of times.

So, here, from Australian TV back in the day (they say it’s 1965, but I’m not sure) is Tom Jones singing — you guessed it! — It’s Not Unusual.

As usual, if you cannot view it, drop a note using the “contact” link at right and I’ll email it to you.

[Moderator's note: I didn't have a camera tonight and, coincidentally, I was at the show with a very skilled photographer who also didn't have a camera. Mainly because photos are prohibited in the Hollywood Theatre. But one person I knew in the audience sent a photo and there are some I haven't posted from Westbury where Tom wore the same black jacket he wore tonight. What I'm saying is, only one of these photos is from tonight. And, posted together, clearly demonstrate the effect of the stage lights.]

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Tom’s show tonight was almost out of context. By that I mean that he seemed as pleased to be there as he is every January when he returns to the stage following the holiday break.

He looked and sounded great and the almost-sold out house loved him from the git-go. At one point, about two-thirds through the show, when he asks the audience, “are you all right?” I asked him if he was and he smiled and said, “Yes, great.”

Of course, that was clear from the moment he walked out on the stage. His voice was vintage Tom Jones and his movements lithe. Whatever ailed him seems to have been vanquished.

At one point, a long-time — but very short — fan who said she first saw him at Westbury when she was 13 (30+ years ago) tossed a handkerchief onto the stage. Tom picked it up, not at first realizing who had thrown it and spotted her standing with her ams outstretched indicating she was the pitcher. He asked her to stand up. She just stood. He asked again, laughed, then said, “Oh, you are,” and joked with her a bit. It was a nice moment that someone — who said she’d send it when she got home — caught on camera.

The set list is what we’ve heard over the past few months (with the exception of Glasto) and he is still not singing Never. Each time he sings Seasons, it just gets better and better.

Tom was clearly in a great mood and clearly happy to be here. I went to the show with a TJ virgin and she is already talking about going again. He just has that effect on people.

It looks like it’s going to be a grand two weeks and lots of fans will be here from lots of places. Of course, there are lots who cannot come, so if you see a show, please write about it. You can comment under an appropriate post or, if there is none at that moment, you can just drop me a line. There are plenty of photos from all over just waiting to decorate reviews.