Tom Jones International

We know that in Düsseldorf on Friday night Tom again changed the show. We also know that most people hope he puts The Boy From Nowhere back into the set list. Wherever he sings it, it’s a beautiful song and if people hear it at a show for the very first time, they will love it as much as those who already know it do.

But, when you watch video from Düsseldorf, you’ll notice Tom says he’s going to sing some country songs. So, he begins with the 1959 Jim Reeves classic that charted on both country and pop charts, He’ll Have To Go. Then he moves smoothly into his mega-hit Green Green Grass of Home. This is a pared-down version similar to what you hear in his Hammersmith Palais concert with Jools Holland and very much like Jerry Lee Lewis first sang it and Tom first heard it. Tom he tells the audience that these are done “In the same way as I used to when I was singing in the pubs and clubs in Waaaaaales….which is just with the rhythm section here because, in those days, that’s all I could afford. I even played a little guitar with them. But I don’t have to do that anymore.” As he’s speaking, he is clapping his hands in time to the beat and he begins singing softly. Of course, by the time he recorded Green Green Grass of Home he probably could afford just about anything he wanted.

This version is lovely, as is the third song in that part of the set, Save The Last Dance For Me. What I find odd, however, is that this song is in no way whatsoever a “country” song. It is, in fact, an R&B hit done first by the Drifters. It may sound like country and it certainly fits in with country, but it ain’t country. (And I’d bet anything Sir Tom could tell you who recorded it, who the lead singer was and when it was recorded.)

On the other hand, as the former editor of a country music magazine I am pleased that Tom is singing country. Last year when, for awhile, he sang the classic He Stopped Loving Her Today it was beautiful and beautifully received. It’d be nice to hear him sing Lady Lay Down, Darlin’ (the title song from his #3 country album) or some of the other songs he recorded when he was in his country phase. Well, this guy can sing anything….so much to choose from and so little time for a show!

The fourth song in the video — certainly not part of the country segment of the show — is You Can Leave Your Hat On.

The quality of the video isn’t as good as it might be, but the sound is passable and you also get a good idea of the new lighting design. Now, these are bigger arenas than we’re used to seeing Tom in but, as I discovered Friday morning, even the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand can be spruced up.

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

If you see Tom in Vienna tonight, please share your review/photos/whatever. And, if you haven’t answered the Question of the Month, please take a few moments to do so. Thanks! And, TJI must note that few, if any, shows are selling out these days. (One big exception is U2. Because I was wondering why those guys weren’t at the Arthur’s Day celebration in Dublin, I checked to see where they were. Turns out they were at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. My daughter Ruth was in the crowd of 84,000+ that broke the stadium’s attendance record that night. The record had been set in 1995 by Pope John Paul II. You cannot make us this stuff.)

First, here’s an interview Tom did Friday morning on GMTV in the UK. It is very short and wasn’t worth putting in the TJI Video Library. As usual, if you cannot view it, please drop me note using the “Contact TJI” link at right and I’ll send it to you.

Lucky us! Three fans sent us two reviews from Tom’s show in Dusseldorf Thursday night. First is Claudia (who posts here as “Chilean Pusssycat”). Then, you’ll meet Erik and Ralph who sent these photos from the show. The big news? A Boy From Nowhere is out and the Drifters’ hit, Save The Last Dance For Me. (Personally, I do like the Drifters’ song, but wish the other had been left in.)

From Claudia: My first Tom Jones’ concert!! First I have to say that I didn’t want to know the list of the songs, so many of them were a big surprise for me. The opening act, Florence Rawlings, was well-received by the public. Even though her songs go in a different direction I had to compare her with Joss Stone.

The Phillipshalle has a full capacity of 6,000 people and the concert was not sold out, I calculate 3000 people, however they hid the empty section with black curtains. The band came out to play and after the audience was “warmed up” Tom appeared. Sugar Daddy, Give A Little Love and In Style and Rhythm each got a good reception. The BIG SURPRISES of the night for me were Thunderball, Never (he explained what the songs really means), If I Only Knew and Burning Down the House, The last two really got people to dance, the percussion is very conducive to that. There were no changes on the clothing. All the songs were well-received, only with 24 Hours causing some people react with, “huhhhh????” (I must say that I was the first one who clapped in the hall as he finished the song). Tom sang three “country” songs, One of them was an acoustic version of Green Green Grass of Home that began with the band members singing a capella. The new version is really good a very emotional moment, Tom got a standing ovation after he sang it.

Before What’s New Pussycat I managed to throw him a red rose which he took and held inn his hand the whole song….I cannot believe it yet!! I think that after She’s a Lady half the hall was standing. The new versions of the songs are very “groovy”, with pre-recorded percussion, that got almost everybody to dance (I realized that some people didn’t like this “very modern style” and stayed on their seats with no reaction, but that was really a minority.)

After I heard them I can tell you: the new versions of Sex Bomb, If I Only Knew and Kiss are good, you just need to forget the old live versions and you love them!!!

For the rest of this review, the review from Erik and Ralph and for a new interview with Tom, just click to (more…)

G’morning! It’s almost 4 a.m. in Las Vegas and I just got home from the Hollywood Theatre at the MGM and I have a meeting at 11 a.m. So, tomorrow I’ll post video of Tom in the UK promoting his tour and news articles. Meanwhile, please enjoy these reviews!

Please don’t forget the question of the month below and, for those who mailed raffle ticket funds, please be sure to read the note at the end of the post below.

If you saw Tom in Dusseldorf, or will see him in Vienna, Frankfort, Rotterdam or Hamburg, please be sure to send reviews/photos/anything. (I know we have Rotterdam covered, guys!

Kim Lønberg, president of the Tom Jnes Danish Fan Club very generously shared his evening at the concert in Denmark. He sent lots of photos, including one of Tom’s dressing room door and of the buses that are transporting the show around Europe. (Tom, by the way, was dressed all in leather.)

WHAT A SHOW, MY GOD TOM JONES WAS FIT FOR FIGHT

Well, it all started when we came to Horsens and we got our tickets and backstage passes at the box office. I gave backstage passes to my wife, my uncle, of course to myself and also to my very good friend Stig Rossen, the Voice of Denmark .

At 8:15 we were picked up and taken to Tom Jones’ dressing room and — wait! — suddenly Tom Jones and his assistant Don Archell came in.We shook hands and my wife Inge and I (photo right got a big hug from Tom. We talked a little and I introduced Tom to Stig Rossen (photo left) who did Les Miserables in London for 10 years.

We gave Tom and Don some strong Danish beer, a bottle red wine and a tie with the Welsh dragon.

There was small talk while Florence Rawlings was on stage. I told him that I like the gray hair and beard as it looks more natural, and Tom said that he also likes it and it´s much easier to keep because it took to much time to colour it. Then he pointed at my beard and said, “Well you are also starting getting gray!“ Then, Tom Jones had to go and change to stage clothes and we go to our seats.

For more photos and a review from a new fan in Sweden of the show (more…)

It’s coming up to the TJI.com anniversary and — since this is a fan site — I’d really like to hear your requests for things you’d like to see.

Bearing in mind that there are trademark/copyright laws that must be obeyed, the October Question of the Month is:
What features would you like to see added to TJI.com?

On October 11 a new feature will be unveiled and other things on the site will be fixed. So watch for that and, please, send your suggestions.

Tomorrow we’ll have Kim’s review and photos from Denmark and a review from Eva in Sweden.

Note on the June raffle: Because I was stressed at the time and had an issue with PayPal about raffle money (you cannot sell raffles via PayPal), I did the donation to the charity without depositing any of the money I was sent by mail. It was on a tote sheet I kept, but I never deposited it. Someone — thanks, Jean! — has contacted me to say her check was never cashed. Turns out I’d moved the envelopes when I rearranged my old desk to make room for a new one at that same time. I’ll deposit all the checks Tuesday, October 6, unless you tell me not to. Meanwhile, the amount you sent was included in the amount sent to the charity. I feel like an idiot! Sorry!