Tom Jones International

In addition to Americans saluting their veterans on this November 11 Veterans’ Day, we Tom Jones fans can also mark the 45th anniversary of Tom’s recording of It’s Not Unusual.

On this occasion, I contacted Les Reed, OBE (pictured with Tom, below left) who co-wrote the song with Gordon Mills. As we’d been in contact occasionally up till now, I asked him for a comment on the song. He wrote:

“I would be delighted to say a few words regarding “It’s Not Unusual” and thank you for asking………

“45 years is a very long time for a song to remain so popular. My biggest regret is that Gordon Mills, my dear colleague, is not around to appreciate just what this song means to so many people. My saving grace is that every time It’s Not Unusual is played, I cannot fail to think of Gordon. We were certainly blessed to have been involved in such an iconic recording. May it last forever!!”

As noted, the song was written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills for singer Sandie Shaw, Tom Jones sang the demo and, even at that time, asked Mills if he could do it (he “had” to do it, he said). They had promised it to Shaw and, when she ultimately turned it down, Tom got to record it. It didn’t always sound exactly the way it did when it became a hit. To hear for yourself, check out the first studio version of It’s Not Unusual..

For some fun video and more info on the song, click here to (more…)

It’s been a very busy eight weeks or so with Tom on in Europe. There’s been lots of stuff to post and I was entertaining company and traveling for about 10 days. So I forgot the Question of The Month until today. (I am leaving Tuesday morning at 5:30 for a couple of days on the east coast on assignment for a magazine. Be sure to come back to TJI tomorrow (Wednesday) because it is a special day that will be noted with a special post. I cannot guarantee if a post will be up for Thursday but, if not, we’ll be back to normal on Friday. I hope.)

Anyway, Tom’s set list have been shuffled around with additions and deletions. So, aside from the “must includes” like Delilah, It’s Not Unusual, Green Green Grass of Home, Kiss, Sex Bomb and You Can Leave Your Hat On, the Question of the Month for November is:

Aside from the songs listed above, if you could add five songs to Tom’s show, what five songs would you choose? (Remember, just five!)

Mine would be A Boy From Nowhere, Baptism By Fire, At This Moment (a song for which I have an inexplicable weakness when Tom sings it), If I Only Knew and one great old one. I’m not sure of the last but tonight I happened to hear his live recording of Twist and Shout/Show Me and I love that.

I would just love something that wasn’t necessarily a hit but was so much fun for him to do that, just by him having fun, the audience did, too. Of course, my list is likely to change at any moment.

If anyone saw Tom in Basel, or will see him in Eastern Europe or Malta, please send reviews.

The Basel newspaper said, in German, that Tom brought a bit of Las Vegas to the city. The photo is by Stefan Rother from the paper,

First, in case you didn’t see in Sunday’s post, Herman Matthews is again taking up his career as a peanut brittle mogul. He used to make Li’l Herman’s Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle and then stopped for awhile. Now, he’s back doing it and it is a terrific product. Great candy, great gift and all from a great guy. Just click the link on the bottom of the sidebar at right to order.

Trumpeter Bill Churchville — an amazing musician with very impressive credentials that include everything from the Spiderman film soundtracks to Tower of Power to…..well, a whole slew of credits — will be debuting tonight as a member of the house band on the new TBS show, Lopez Tonight starring, of course, George Lopez. It’s on weeknights at 11 (10 central). Check it out and congratulations, Bill!

We — and when I say “we” it doesn’t mean I’m delusional and think I’m Queen Victoria; I mean “we fans” — got some terrific video from Jess and Nathalie.

Jess sent video of Tom in Paris Friday night singing Never and Nathalie sent his stunning performance of 24 Hours in Zurich last week.

As mentioned before, since I saw Tom sing the CD’s title track on Jools’ Holland’s TV show, I’ve thought that with the proper lighting (as on that show) it could be a highly effective stage piece. Two fans — one from the US and the other from the UK — stood in a hallway of the MGM Grand, and when I said that, loudly and angrily disagreed with me, literally yelling that I was “crazy” to think that and that Tom would ever put 24 Hours in his stage show.

Of course, in the end, I realized that fans like these, who only like overwrought love songs or songs that ooze sex, would never like — or, in fact, understand — anything this subtle, quiet and moving. So, while I will admit I am wrong when I am, in this case I am so happy to be right. It is a terrific rendition of a very moving song. Now, if they could just fit in The Hitter and put Seasons back and A Boy From Nowhere…….Ah, well, so many songs, such limited time.

Now, feel free to disagree, but I don’t get the lighting on Never. Despite what Tom says, this could be interpreted as an amazing love song about two people. He says it’s not; it’s about his voice. Fine. But why is the stage lit to look like a church when he sings it? What do those “stained glass windows” signify? Just asking. Please feel free to answer.

Anyway, you can watch the these videos in the TJI.com Video Library.

Thanks Nathalie and Jess! We all appreciate it!

Herman Matthews, the world’s best drummer, also makes Li’l Herman’s Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle, the world’s best peanut brittle! And you can get some. Just click the link on the sidebar at right (under the eBay link) and order. It’s terrific this time of year, makes a great holiday gift and you know the chef! What’s better than that? Give it a try! (For now, Herman tells TJI, sales are to the US only. That will change shortly.)

For a change I’ll start with the few negative things about yesterday’s show: First the audience. Tom could have played in front of a fish tank most of time and gotten the same reaction! Geez, those people were glued to their seats, no way to get them on their feet.

Martine, Jess, I and a couple of other people here and there were the only ones to try and get up. OK, security was also a problem as they kept jumping at anybody who tried to stand up but the people were also quite sleepy. I mean the man is singing his a… off in front of you and you just seat there motionless? Duh… Only when he got to Sex Bomb did they finally get up.

There were a couple of great ovations though, but seating ovations which is quite an innovation.

Then, the sound wasn’t the best I’ve heard recently with quite metallic high frequencies, a bit hard on the ears.

And, finally, Tom was looking a little tired and sounding a bit hoarse when he spoke — not when he sang though, his voice was wonderful then. I’m always amazed at that, by the way. He can be quite hoarse when he speaks and still sing perfectly. Amazing pro. He didn’t tell most of the little jokes he usually does, totally skipped the age one, for example, and interacted very little with the audience except to acknowledge a girl here or there (he can’t help himself, can he?) or a Welsh flag.

There were quite a few Welsh people in the room yesterday they must have been quite surprised at the quietness of the crowd. He also answered a man who asked for a song from Reload, I didn’t hear what the guy said but Tom said “Oh yes, but they don’t know it so…” talking about the band, I guess. Also when a girl called “I love you” he answered his usual “I love you too. Now stand up and let me see what I’m gonna love.” Always cute.

Now, the good parts and there are many of them. Again, Tom’s singing voice was really great and that’s only because I’ve heard him in out of this world shape recently I would say he was a little tired. There were some magical moments when you just feel how much of his heart and soul he puts in his singing you just can sit there and gasp and tear your hands apart clapping when he stops.

Never, 24 Hours, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, He’ll Have To Go…. Absolutely beautiful.

Another change in the duet, Abbie was back front again and sounded more relaxed than in Cardiff. I don’t know if they have decided they would alternate between Janet and her or just play a little trick to Tom who seems to be wondering every time which one will be coming to sing with him.

There was a really cute moment in the end during Sex Bomb when two very little kids — a little boy around three and a little girl around two were carried up to the stage by their Dad and offered a “gift” to Tom. The little boy actually ran on the stage to get to him. You know Tom and kids. He visibly melted.

There were quite a few celebrities attending the show yesterday: Mireille Mathieu, Sylvie Vartan and I don’t know if you know him but also Dany Brillant. They were seated just behind us, 2 rows away and I spotted Mireille Mathieu dancing in the end, quite cute. So we were sort of in the VIP sector.

All in all it was a great show and again the few minor negatives were in relation to the other shows I’ve seen recently and were really minor. I certainly hope we won’t have to wait another six years to see Tom here again!

Jess sent TJI this photo and a brief review of Tom’s show in Paris Friday night. TJI should be getting more material — photos, video and, maybe, other reviews — from this show. I stuns me and makes me very happy that fans, no matter where they are, think of other fans and of sharing experiences with them immediately after the show. This photo, for example, was sent via iPhone. (I love the movement she caught.) Thanks to Jess and the other two people she went with whom, I hope, will also send stuff. Meanwhile, her first reaction was:

Sir Tom gave a good performance but a few things weren’t as good as they should have been:

The French audience is too lazy. They don’t dance, clap or scream. The new band is OK, especially on He’ll Have To Go and Save The Last Dance, but I miss the old band — drums, brass section, back up — I miss them! Tom messed up Take Me Back to the Party when he mixed up the lyrics but he was sweet and laughed. His set list was the same as in Cardiff and most of Europe. He seemed tired to me, as hé didn’t chat much between songs but his voice was definitely here. He’s the best !

From November 2 in Milano —

Here’s Tom doing his closer, Take Me Back To the Party in Milano Monday night.

It is not by any means good video, but he does joke around about his “tight” pants (that step looks awfully high) and you can hear how he closes by thanking the band. It’s a bit different than we’ve heard before.

You can watch it here.

At any rate, you know the drill:

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.

If you get BBC America and like the very funny Rob Brydon (who did the Islands In the Stream video for Comic Relief with Tom) he’s on the Graham Norton show tonight, Saturday. Check local listings.

Back from Zurich where I saw Tom on Tuesday night. The show was just amazing. Tom is in such incredible vocal and physical shape those days, and in such good mood it’s really wonderful to see him so happy on stage.

He literally blew me away a couple of times on Tuesday with some incredibly beautiful notes, not only high notes but some so deeply felt moments I just found myself almost chocking forgetting to breathe listening to him. Just amazing. I know I keep saying that but it is true.

The crowd took a little while to warm up but first showed some participation during Delilah then the excitement built up and almost everybody jumped to their feet and started dancing during She’s A Lady. Tom encouraged us by saying “You can get up and dance if you wish”. From that moment on most of the people stayed up and danced.

Some funny moments: after Delilah he started saying it was a hit from the 60s and at that time he had a “little competition” with Peter Alexander who was also singing it, in German though. Then he said, “but as it goes…” and made a little sign to mean “I’m the winner” LOL Then after I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (the last note on that one was one of those magical moments) he started the little age routine “I first started singing it when I was 26. Then when you get to 46 it gets a little harder… All right 56… 66?” you know that one, but then he added “When they ask me how old I am I’m always going “well er… 50 something…60 something….” But now I’m 69. And that’s a number I’m definitely sure to remember.” We were rolling on the floor laughing. He added for those who hadn’t caught it “there was a joke in there if you’re wondering”. Too funny.

After singing Too Many Lovers he stopped to say the chorus very slowly and articulating and that chorus says “Too many lovers and there ain’t enough men in the world” for those who don’t know it (and I heard a “aaahhh, that was it?” from a lady on my right LOL). Then he said, “Now how could I know about that? But I sing it anyway”.

After I’ll Never Fall in Love Again a man started crying out loud, and Tom couldn’t hear what he was saying. I couldn’t either and can’t even tell if the guy was talking in English or German. Anyway, Tom said “Whatever you say the answer is yes…. Could be embarrassing though, I don’t know”.

Then at the very end when he introduces the band. Now, Chris, one of the keyboard players who also plays the guitar, uses a special portable keyboard with a strap which he wears around his neck like a guitar for the last songs of the show. The thing sounds like an electronic bass, not an electric one, slightly more electronic. Anyway, when Tom got to him he said “Here’s Chris on the…. Er…. Whatever this is.” LOL

The show is very sharp and in place, Sugar Daddy was completely right, Stoned in Love and Sex Bomb perfectly in place and all of it working very very well. The only little glitch were during the duet with Janet, Tom came in early and then laughed and said to her “you’re right”. Always the perfect pro and the perfect gentleman:)

Seeing him again on Friday in Paris and then… I don’t know. The sooner the better:)

Note: Nathalie tells TJI that the woman singing with Tom is Janet Ramus and that the order of two songs has changed. Tom sings Mama Told Me Not To Come first and Burning Down The House second.

Here’s an article about Sir Tom in English from the Budapest Times, Nothing new, or much worth reading by a fan who’s read a great deal about him, but he will be performing there on a very significant day, Wednesday, November 11.

Rumor or Reality? TJI has heard that Tom will be at the MGM Grand for one week in January — the 21 through 27. Tickets are NOT on sale yet and, until you see them on the MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theatre website don’t bother calling. Just check each day and, remember, until tickets go on sale, this is just conjecture — or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information. It is not fact until tickets are on sale and/or it’s on the official site. Please, don’t make any definite plans until then.

A TJI Fan Calendar Note: I was pretty amazed/disappointed/amused yesterday when I got a note from someone explaining that she is going to “boycott” the calendar this year because of something Tom’s management — and, by extension, she implied, Tom himself — did that annoys her.

What she claims they’ve done (which they haven’t) isn’t the issue. The issue is that, for some reason, she believes that this site has any affiliation with anything official. I wrote back to her making it clear that this site is totally and completely independent. I do not get any kind of compensation from Tom Jones Enterprises or Valley Music. So, by expressing her displeasure in this manner she hurts only me.

I understand the economy, believe me. And, if you’d like a calendar but cannot afford one, email me and we’ll work it out. But the calendar is the only way by which I seek financial support for the site. Some people have very kindly used the “donate” button to send a contribution and that’s great. But it is the calendar that is done specifically to meet expenses.

So, please, understand that I am not the person to contact if you want a decision made about anything, unless it’s a decision about this website. For me to do this site and the calendar takes an incredible amount of time and thought. (This woman who wrote also said she appreciates the work I “and the others” do. There are no “others,” just some wonderful “Friends Through Tom” who help when it’s needed and have helped for three years or so) I am not asking for charity but, if you are visiting the site with any regularity (as this woman says she does) then please consider supporting it. To those of you who already have, my deep appreciation.

(And, by the way, I was just loaned a treasure trove of photos from the 70s that I’d bet you’ve never seen. Many will be in this year’s calendar. And a real pro worked on the cover photo Wednesday night and it is simply unbelievable!)

—Thanks, Ellen

Thanks for listening. Now, here’s Cristiano’s brief review of Milano. The photos are his, too.

People! I’d like to say one thing: Have you ever seen a theatre like The Arcimboldi? Three times bigger than the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand, upside down? Well, I’ve witnessed that!!! Tom was in a very good shape last Monday, trust me. If you have seen him at the MGM, like me….well forget what you believe to have seen… He was like Superman! He sings, dances, runs and jumps like an excited kid!

During last songs fans in the theatre were crazy — standing up from their seats and dancing, running under the stage. Tom jumped down to stay closer to his crowd…It’s been amazing. There were a lot of young people who used to sing his songs=2C even younger than me (and I’m 29). The set list was the same as at the other concerts. The only song missing was I’m Alive.

What’s He Up To? Tom participated via video in honoring Jonathan Ross when he was presented with the Music Industry Trusts’ (MIT) award Monday evening in London. Also participating were U2 and Will Smith. George Michael hosted and, yes, Russell Brand attended. Tom also donated items auctioned last month at an event hosted by RSA Insurance that raised £12,000 for the disability charity Motability at its Autumn charity ball auction held at Liverpool’s Holiday Inn.

Even the most casual TJ fan knows he is from Wales and, if one didn’t know that, the lilt in his voice wold be an easy giveaway.

Of course, this post would have been more appropriate when he played Cardiff October 9, 10 and 11 but, I’d guess anytime is a good time for a tip of the hat to Tom’s roots in Wales. At the left is a photo of Pontypridd railroad station taken from the Graig (a section of the town) and, at right, a screen shot of Tom taken during a 2009 BBC interview by Matthew Stadlen where he talks about his childhood in Pontypridd. Note: It is an audio interview.

Finally, because theirs is a beautiful duet, and it’s appropriate in this post, here from her TV show in 1988 is a rendition of Green Green Grass of Home performed by Tom Jones and Dolly Parton.

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.

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then this post speaks loud and clear. Tomorrow, we’ll have a tribute to Pontypridd….with photos, a beautiful duet and Tom’s own words. Meanwhile, enjoy these photos!

I don’t know if it is true, but I was told by someone that Tom is going to be on Italian TV. If you see him, record him, hear about it, etc, please send me an email. Thanks!

Moderator’s Note: For some reason, when I made the BBC Radio Ulster interview go live the other day, it didn’t. That is now fixed and you can listen to it here. Sorry for the confusion. As noted in the original post, “On October 21, a few days before Tom played in Belfast (see Adam’s review of that show, below) Alan Simpson interviewed The Voice on BBC Ulster. And, please, as soon as you notice an error, send me a note so I can address it immediately!

“The 16+-minute interview covers a range of topics: (1) Arthur’s Day, (2) playing Las Vegas as opposed to playing, say, Belfast, (3) that Welsh lilt, (4) listening to other bands (5) Robbie Williams…..lots of stuff. ”

Below is part of a final review of August’s Outside Lands Festival that appeared yesterday in The Beach Resident, Granted, Tom doesn’t do “marathon” shows on the order of Bruce Springsteen and the audience in Las Vegas is fairly well mixed, but those are quibbles compared with the entirety of what he writes.

Writer L. Paul Mann, who also took the photo here, says of Tom, [After several acts on Friday] “it was back to the Sutro stage for what became the highlight of my day: a set by Tom Jones. The promoters were asking for band suggestions when I corresponded with them last year about their inaugural event. I mentioned that I’d just seen Jones perform in Las Vegas and would love to see him perform in front of a younger audience. Playing a shorter set than his legendary marathon shows, Jones wisely started with a few hard-rocking tunes, before settling into his more mainstream hits. This near septuagenarian still has one of the strongest voices in the music business, at times wailing like an [sic] young Robert Plant and at others adopting a deep, gospel-inspired baritone. The fans went wild, throwing dozens of pairs of underwear — both male and female — onto the stage.”

To promote Tom’s appearance two weeks from tonight in Malta, the local paper has a rather distasteful rundown of his career and personal life. I won’t bother posting it, as there’s nothing in it but old facts and rumor, but the venue in Malta looks lovely and you might, perhaps, consider the Hotel Phonecia. They have some packages that include show tickets that you’ll want to check out