TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where we post our “Question of the Month” and where you can send in a question about Tom and we’ll do our best to answer. To submit a question, please click on the “contact” link on the bottom right side of the page. Looking forward to hearing from you!
TJI Question of the Month For January
Friday, January 1st, 2010
Happy New Year and May 2010 Be the Best Year Ever!
Of course, this is an odd time of year. We look to the future and make resolutions about how we will behave. We also reflect on the past. With that reflection on the past in mind, we have our TJI.com Question of the Month for January:
What were the circumstances that led you to become a fan of Tom Jones?
Here’s my story: Of course, I knew who he was and knew his music. One day my friend Paula called and asked if I wanted to go to the Westbury Music Fair to see him. “Sure,” I said. “Why not? How much are tickets?”
She replied, “Seventeen dollars but I think if we join a fan club we can get better seats.”
That’s what we did. I found a fan club ad in the local Pennysaver publication (remember them?), we split the dues, joined and got third row seats. We had a blast. Several days later I called the fan club president to thank her and she asked if I drive. When I said “yes,” she asked if I’d drive her to shows in New England and Atlantic City if I wasn’t doing anything else. So, for a couple of years I transported this lady around to shows, got to meet Tom several times and, always, had lots of fun. A few years later, when he was in his country phase I was managing editor of a country music magazine so I was aware of what he was doing and liked it. Then, real life intervened and I didn’t see him for many years — until I went to the show at the Apollo in March 2004. I was again a fan (and, no! I didn’t move to Las Vegas to see him more often!). I cannot help but smile (sadly, I’m afraid) when I think of that $17 ticket price. And people were complaining then that the price had recently gone up from $12.
Come back to TJI tomorrow when, hopefully, we’ll have video from the Jools Holland New Year’s Eve Hootenanny.
January 1st, 2010 at 5:39 am
I became aware of Tom when “This Is Tom Jones” aired in the U.S. My husband had just been drafted into the Army and I spent my nights looking forward to Tom’s weekly show. I remember once asking my husband not to call me when Tom’s show was on. I also remember asking him if I could spend the money to see him live in concert. I attended his concert at the Cincinnati Gardens in May, 1971; I sat in the “Gold Circle” seats which cost $25. After my husband was discharged from the Army, our first vacation was to Vegas and to see Tom at Caesar’s Palace! I’ve seen him well over 100 times since; the tickets are more expensive; his hair is grey — but, his voice and stage presence are still fabulous!
January 1st, 2010 at 5:55 am
I honestly cannot say what triggered my passion for Tom Jones. I had stumbled on this web site and had joined an East Coast Fan Club briefly a few years back. Hubby and I decided to go to Atlantic City for a show. Well, needless to say I was HOOKED for life. Seeing Tom and his geat band and singers opened up a whole new “Tom Jones” world for me. I have made some wonderful friends through Tom and will continue to be “addicted to Tom” forever!
January 1st, 2010 at 6:38 am
It’s been a while, but I think my first exposure to Tom Jones was watching Ed Sullivan, I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8. Then of course, I heard his records on the radio and in 1969 when his TV show aired, I was about 11 or 12, as Linda says, I was hooked. I sat in front of the TV to watch every move and every song. I bought all his music that I could, asked for it for my birthdays, Christmas, etc.
After his show went off the air, TV changed and even though I remember great music from the 70′s, I missed Tom Jones, seems I drifted away, I got married and later divorced, you know how life changes. I never stopped loving TJ or his music though.
All the years I have been a fan, I never got to see him in person until a couple years ago. I would have loved to see him back in his heyday in the 70′s, but I can say he still is as great to me as always. He’s older, I’m older, makes it special to think he has been entertaining people like me, for most of my life.
I am still anxious to see him on TV and I check in on this site regularly to see whats going on and where he will be. By the way, Ellen, thank you for all you do with this site!
January 1st, 2010 at 7:56 am
Like Linda, I’ve been “addicted to Tom forever”!! I first became aware of Tom through TV (the Ed Sullivan Show in ’65. I was only 9 yrs. old and obviously too young to see him perform in person at that time, but my dad would buy all his records for me and, a few years later, I would get my weekly Tom “fix” by watching his “This is Tom Jones” show. As the years went by, and Tom’s TV and radio presence lessened, I lost track of him for a while, but I always regretted that I’d never seen him perform in person.
Fast forward to the early 70′s….I was on vacation and happened to spot an ad in the local paper about Tom appearing at a venue in Latham, NY, not far from where I was staying, so I decided to go, and about 5 minutes into the show I was completely hooked all over again!! For the next 10 years or so, I went to several shows a year…usually at the Westbury Music Theater in New York and Resorts in Atlantic City. In 1987 I was lucky enough to get backstage after a show at Resorts to meet Tom – took a photo with him (which I framed and which is still proudly hanging on the wall in my home!) and got his autograph. I was so nervous that to this day I still can’t recall what he said to me – if I didn’t have the photo as evidence, I’d wonder if it was really all a dream…LOL!!
Unfortunately, it’s been many, many years now since I’ve seen Tom perform (life just seems to always get in the way), and sometimes I’d think that it was perhaps just as well…I’d often wonder how the “new” Tom could possibly compete with my memories of Tom in person back in his heyday during the 70′s and 80′s…but from what I’ve read and seen on this site (THANK YOU ELLEN!), it looks like not much has changed. He may be older and grayer now than he was back then (aren’t we all?!?), but he still has a voice and a stage presence unlike anyone else! I am soooo glad that I discovered this site this year. It’s now one of the first sites I visit each day, and I’ve so enjoyed catching up on all the news, reading the fan reviews, and most especially, watching the video clips. One of my goals for 2010 is to try and see Tom perform at least once more, so I will be faithfully following this site for any news of appearances in the New York area. Thanks again, Ellen, for all the hard work you put into this site – it is so very appreciated!
January 1st, 2010 at 8:26 am
You will (maybe) laugh at this one. I was watching Ed Sullivan with my husband and this chap with a pony tail came prancing out when Ed Sullivan said his name. The name meant nothing to me and I said to Bob “who is that creep” – he started to sing “Delilah” and I screamed “that is the song I hear every morning on the radio and I love it”. I never paid any attention to who was singing it. Well Tom went from an instant creep to an idol of mine. And from that day forward I pay attention to the names of the singers on the radio.
January 1st, 2010 at 10:24 am
I’ve mentioned this story before but I’ll repeat it. In the early years of TJ’s career I was aware of him but he didn’t thrill me. I was a Stones/Beatles fan who thought ‘What’s New Pussycat’ was one of the dumbest songs ever (still do). Then came 2000 and my first trip to Vegas. It was my birthday and to top off the Vegas experience my sister-in-law debated on whether to take me to see Tom Jones or Wayne Newton. I think she looked at it as joke but once Tom bounced on the stage and began to sing I was hooked for life. WOW, what a voice, what a show, what a man! Once you have seen a live TJ performance there is no turning back. To this this day I thank god that she didn’t buy tickets to see Wayne Newton.
January 1st, 2010 at 10:43 am
Susanne….I’m so glad your sister-in-law took you to see Tom instead of Wayne Newton! I’ve seen both, and while Newton did put on a good show, he has nothing on Tom in either vocal ability or showmanship. There’s simply NOTHING like a TJ performance! (Oh, and I completely agree with you – as much of a TJ fan as I am, I simply cannot listen to “What’s New Pussycat”…has to be one of the most inane songs ever written. I think I read somewhere that even Tom thinks so…LOL!!)
January 1st, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Thank God there is You Tube!!! I was one of those young girls on the 90′s who danced with “Sex Bomb”. At the end of 2008 I was melancholic and wanted to have that song on my PC so I started to listen it every day on You Tube…then I look to the right and there were more videos of TJ “what about the live version? can this guy really sing?” so I clicked on the “Live in Cardiff” shows and of course you can imagine my impression to hear that voice and that band.
January 1st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Good question Ellen,ha,well i got into Tom Jones about 3 years before he had the dyed beard. My dad who is a Big Fan of Elvis brainwashed me by listening to the king since i was no age,then abouy 2000 or maybe before that i got him an Elvis book for his birthday so iread it before i gave it to him and there was a whole chapter from the king praising the voice who to me was some old singer from years ago,i was wrong!!!My friend had the Reload album so i asked to swap for a s##t Will Smith cd i got in a car boot sale so we swapped and my god could that old man sing so from there i have got every cd i could find from australia to japan rare or hard to find and the same with dvds and whatever else i could get. Seen him live 9 times from Ponty to Royal Albert Hall to Belfast. But 2009 would be my best year in March me and my dad went to Vegas for my 25th to see him front row, loved it, then October me and my girlfriend went to Cardiff where i had th pleasure to get meet and get drunk with Sir Tom, just got a new phone today with internet on it so can check TJI on the move…..my rant is over good luck and happy new year.
January 1st, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Hey Brian what is that “meet and get drunk with Sir Tom”?? Really?? Super experience!
You all have very nice and funny stories!
January 1st, 2010 at 3:47 pm
yeah i bumped into Tom in a bar after his show and asked for a photo with him then sat for a hour drinking wine and telling him my life story,ha,such a gentleman, i tryd uploading my photos but my email is messing about.
January 1st, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Around the age of 4 or 5, hearing him sing “She believes in Me” on the Live in Caesars Palace video tape my parents had rented and thinking he did a good job of a song I knew was Kenny Rogers’. For the longest time afterward, I asked my father to rent the video over and over since there was a video store right around the corner from his job. Finally, a few years later, I had my own copy when my parents bought it for me.
January 1st, 2010 at 7:22 pm
When his TV show “This is Tom Jones” started, I was 14 and had just started to collect records and pay attention to current bands. My mother would tune in his show each week, and ask me to come watch with her. At the time, despite my liking his theme song “It’s Not Unusual” that I’d hear from a distance each week, I wasn’t interested. After the show’s first season had ended, I was out record shopping one day. I saw his album “Live in Las Vegas” (his current album at the time) being displayed as one of the current top hits, and decided to take a look. I noticed the album included the song I liked “It’s Not Unusual”, and also included other songs that I liked by other artists, such as “Yesterday”, “Hey Jude”, “Danny Boy”, etc. So, I decided to take a chance on this album. I figured if I didn’t like it, I could give it to my mom.
When I played it, I was overwhelmed by his talent. I’d never heard anything like this before. I remember playing the song “Yesterday” over and over so many times, that it’s amazing I didn’t wear the record out. The emotion he conveyed was amazing. The power and range of his voice. His versatility. the perfect pitch and timing. The great orchestra backing him up. The great songs. It was perfect. It suddenly made all my other records seem second rate. I told my mom, “He is great. I am watching his show with you from now on”. That was the beginning of my being hooked.
I quickly bought all his records, saw him in concert for the first time in June of 1970 at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD. He was unbelievable! I’ve seen him many times since. In 1971, my dad had won 2 tickets to see Tom Jones at the Shady Grove Music Fair in Gaithersburg, MD(which no longer exists). He gave the tickets to my mom and I. There was a total of 10 winning tickets. Part of the deal for the winners was to meet Tom backstage before the show. He was doing 2 shows that night, and our tickets were for the 2nd show. We were allowed to go backstage a few minutes before he was to go onstage to perform his second show. My mother was an artist, and she had drawn an amazing pencil sketch of Tom, taken from the cover of his “Tom” album in 1970. My father had framed it, and she got many compliments on it. She brought it with her so that she could show it to him. I brought the cover from his most recent album at the time, “She’s A Lady” to have him autograph it for me. I’ll never forget that my mother had insisted that I give the pen I brought with me to her, because she was afraid I would lose it. She put it in her purse. When we were backstage and Tom came out, my mother was grinning ear to ear and literally couldn’t speak! She held the picture up real high for him to see, and he looked at it and said, “It’s very good”. I walked over to Tom and asked him for his autograph as I handed him the album cover. He politely asked me for a pen. I looked to my mom and asked her for the pen. The music was starting and my mom was frantically fumbling through her bag, but could not find the pen. Then the announcer said the magic words, “This is Tom Jones” and he couldn’t wait any longer. Tom said to me, “I have to go out now, but if you catch me later, I’d be happy to give it to you.” Well, we never found the pen and I never got the autograph. I never let my mother forget that one! Anyway, we had a great time. Then, when his album “Live at Ceasars Palace” came out, it reminded me of the whole experience, because it was basically the same show.
There are many artists and groups (mostly from that era) that I like very much, but from the first time I really listened to Tom Jones, he has been number one. I don’t think there will ever be another like him.
January 1st, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I heard him on the radio and fell in love when I saw him on his TV show. Even though I was only 15 and wouldn’t have known what to do with him, I still knew it would be worth my right arm to find out. I don’t think I ever outgrew that feeling. I kinda lost track of him for a while but then here came the internet and wonderful websites (this one is the best) and suddenly I could find out about my man again. Woohoo!! I was raised by a very, very strict religious aunt and I had to sit on top of the TV to change the channel in case she came in because his music was definitely not acceptable but fortunately she was usually busy and I got to watch the whole show. I always held my breath waiting for the concert at the end of the show where he sang and DANCED!!!!! I have been very fortunate these last few years and have been able to see him 5 times–twice in Atlanta, once in Charleston, once in Biloxi and once in Vegas. Can’t wait until I see him again and feel like I am 15 once more……………Happy New Year Everyone
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 am
At the age of 11, my friend and I went to see Tom in the local bingo hall which is in the town of Neath South Wales.I was surprised I was allowed to go as the show started at midnight,hence the first song he sang was “In the midnight hour”and I was hooked and still am 46 years on.Years later I worked for a lady at her home and mentioned I had seen Tom at the Empire,but I could tell she did not believe me.However, weeks later she told me that a friend of hers had something signed by Tom, and when I asked her where did she get it from she replied The Empire!
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:35 am
In the summer of 2005 I went to see him as a gift to my boyfriend at the time who liked Tom Jones. i could’nt care less who he was lol. As soon as he opened his mouth and sang I turned to the boyfriend and said “are you kidding me !!!” I was hooked from then on.
January 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 am
I was in Vegas 25 years ago, with my boyfriend (now husband), we bought tickets to Tom Jones just on a whim trying to do something other than gamble. I left that show a changed woman, not only was he the sexiest, most beautiful man I have ever laid eyes on, his voice took me to a place I had never been to before through music. I have since seen him at least 25 more times, and had the unbelievable good fortune to run into him after a concert, get my picture taken with him, and have a really nice conversation with him. His music helped get me through many rough times in my life, my mothers death, troubled marriage, arguments, worries, I just put Tom on my CD player and I am whisked away. PERFECT QUESTION ELLEN!!!
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:32 am
It was that Sound that came out. That was it, listening to the radio one morning many years ago 1965, I could not believe my ears! who is that man, of course I and most everyone thought he was black,I just had to find out who this person was so exciting to listen to what a voice. Over the next few months I heard him more and more over the radio, then I found out he was going to be on TV (Ed Sullivan) . I saw him for the first time on Eds’ show and thought he just sounded great, every song he sung just got better. Wow, every night when he had is TITJ Show on I would sit in front of TV with my dinner and watch him and his guests.
I think that his TITJ Show really showed me how versatile he was musically not to mention how good looking he was to boot!
Over the years, joining his Fan Clubs, getting as much info about him as I could was fun and did I get to meet such wonderful Fans, I still have so many friends now that started as fans that I met. Many years have gone by, but you know that wonderful sound just keeps getting better. I will always love him as the Man and Entertainer that he truly is. I Never get enough, so come on by Tom
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:40 am
Being an admirer of Jools Holland as a musician/piano player,I purchased some of his CDs, one of them being with Tom Jones. I loved it! It’s one of my favorites; I’ve worn it out, because I play it so much. Last summer(July 2009),Sir Tom was giving a performance at Ravinia in Illinois, a beautiful outdoor concert park that I go to alot during the summer. So, out of curiousity, I thought I would check out Tom Jones to see if he sounded as good live as he does on the CD. I got one of the last seats in the pavilion(in the middle of the middle section) and went by myself. When I got to the park, I was stunned to see how packed it was; people were jammed together on the lawn like sardines, not a patch of green to be seen. The pavilion was packed; there was a sense of excitement just below the surface that I didn’t understand – yet. Of course, by the middle of the concert, I was hooked! I left that concert so invigorated and overwhelmed, I couldn’t sleep. What a Voice, what an Entertainer, what a Man! Thank God for this website and your hard work, Ellen!
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I found Tom Jones about ten years ago. I was 44. I was listening to the radio trying to find a good station when I heard him singing, “Whats New Pussycat”. I of course knew who he was and thought, “What a cute song, and he really does have a beautiful voice”. I then bought a CD of his earlier songs and that was it. I was and am hooked. I wish I had become a fan when he was still doing meet and greets. I’ve seen him in concert five times. I can only afford to see him when he’s on the east coast. I have his picture taped on my kitchen cabinet and pictures around my computer. My dream is to actually meet him one day. I think I’d rather meet him then win the lottery!!!
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:31 pm
tom was on elvis vegas show talkin tonight it was on bbc you can watch it on the bbc i player. should watch it.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Brian: As has been noted before, those players from TV stations are only good in the country of origin. Even people who saw the show on BBC in other countries cannot watch it on the BBC Player unless they’re in the UK. TJI is hoping to get a copy of it to post. If you have one please write to me privately.
January 4th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Hi all! Happy New Year!
Let’s see. I remember seeing the film “Tom Jones” in 1964, in the
movie theater, and then hearing of Tom Jones the singer, about the same time. Odd, I thought. But then, I discovered that he had a great voice, and saw how gorgeous he was (Ed Sullivan Show).
However, I didn’t get the full impact until his TV show. I remember just stopping in my tracks to watch him sing and MOVE.
To see him dance in those “painted on” black leather pants was too much to take. I was young and almost embarrassed by his sexiness, but I didn’t take my eyes off the TV either!!!
Then, who remembers what happened after that. Life happened. I got into jazz (real jazz, please) and when I went to Vegas in 1973,
I saw Elvis.
But, in Oct.2003, Larry King had Tom Jones on his show and couldn’t
contain his excitement. “Can you believe it, here is Tom Jones,
he’s never been on the show, etc.” He’d say that after every break!
Well, my jaw dropped at how gorgeous Tom looked and how candid and open he was. How old was he now? No matter, the sparks flew and I was hooked. I got “Reloaded” and other CD’s and surrounded myself
with his rich and passionate voice. He sounded the same to me–
old songs and new. The next thing was to see him. Pechanga Casino
(near San Diego, where I live) was it in May 2005. When he came
out on stage, all I could say was–”he’s so-o-o handsome”. At the time he had the dark hair and the manicured beard (which I liked).
He was tanned, fit and beyond sexy. (“muscle and man”, as the song goes). I was sitting dead center in the 5th row, and he was singing directly to me!! (of course!).
I love to hear him while riding in the car on a long trip (say to
L.A. or Palm Springs). With the music blaring and the windows down, it’s “Love Me Tonight”, “Let There Be Love” (yeow!), “You’re My World.” Etc. His voice evokes a sense of Freedom in me.
Since 2005, I have been to 8 concerts, seven in California and
one in Elizabeth, NJ–when visiting relatives. (sorry, gotta go
and see my idol.)
So, I would love to see him in Vegas (and you, Ellen), and, of course, meet the man. Oh, to have been in NY, (Westbury) and
the “meet and greets.” And yet, I’m glad to be seeing Tom as
he is today (I was smack up against the stage at the Belly Up), grey hair and all. The fire is still there and that is an inspiration to me, as an artist. He is my muse.
January 4th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I remember it like it was yesterday……….Although I knew who Tom was and aware of his songs, TV series, etc., I had never seen him live. I was at my girlfriend’s hair salon in Queens, NY sitting in the back of the shop. She had the radio on and they were advertising Tom’s tickets for Westbury Music Fair. The year was 1980 and he was supposed to be at Westbury in May. When the announcement came on the radio, my cousin and I looked at each other and without hesitation, she called to order tickets. Of course, we were sitting in the second to last row, and midway to the performance, a man sitting to our left had a heart attack. A man no less. The show stopped and Tom got off the stage while paramedics worked on the man. Eventually, the show resumed, but all of us in that back section were too upset to continue enjoying the show. In the playbill at the theatre, they had a number to call for joining a fan club. I called and the rest is history. I’ve been to Atlantic City numerous times, Framingham, MA, Warwick, RI, Wallingford, CT, Valley Forge, PA, and of course, Vegas twice, once in 1981 and once in 2005. Most of my traveling went on in the 80′s and I can honestly say, it was the best time of my life. The excitement was unreal – packing, unpacking, standing on line to get into the show, THE SHOW, seeing Tom in the lounge or the restaurant after the show and we mustn’t forget the backstage visits. I remember one specifically in RI where Tom was in a trailer and there were five of us in there with him, ALONE. His manager at the time, Lloyd Greenfield had stepped out and was knocking on the door of the trailer for us to let him in. Boy, we did not want to let him in at all! But being that future backstage visits were at stake, we opened the door. I have beautiful memories and they got me through some tough times as well. Long live Sir Tom!!!!!
January 4th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
I first heard Tom On the Ed Sullivan show in 1965 and fell in love immediatly. I began to buy all his records and attended his concerts at the Valley Forge Music Fair when ever he was there. I never missed a This is Tom Jones show and at one time took my three daughters to see him at the old Latin Casino in New Jersey. We had a ball and since my father knew the owner at that time we were right up front.My daughters and I have remained hugh fans and we have seen him many times since then, mostly at the casinos in Atlantic City ,New Jersey and Dover Delaware. There is no greater performer than Sir Tom and I check this site every day for news of Tom ( THANKS ELLEN ) I had an album with a picture of Tom and a women toasting each other on the front. It was called TOM IS LOVE and I have always thought that it was a great name for everything that was and is Tom. To my daughters and myself it will always be TOM IS LOVE.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
ok wel my 1st experience of tj was in my friend lauras house a few years ago, i should probably mention here that im brians girlfriend … anyway the song was black betty and he was playing it so loud we could hear it over the music we were playing! me and brian have since got together and moved in. ihave to admit brian has definatley converted me, weve had such a great year, brian took me to cardiff to see tom in october which was the most amazing night ever!!! ok 1st of all the concert itself was unreal, absolutely brilliant, we even got close enough 2 throw up our thongs which wed bought earlier, but even better stil i had got chatting to a girl in the loos who told me were tom had been drinking the night before. a few hours later and there we were siting having our pics took with the voice himself!!! not many 19 year old girls can say theyve met tom jones but i can, ican even say i kisse him !!! BEST NIGHT EVER!!!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
So when I was 10 Tom’s show came on, I immediately fell in love, when he came to the Boston Garden I had to see him. It was strange being 11 in the audience of older screaming women, but my eyes were glued to the stage. My friends always made fun of me for liking Tom, they were crazy about Bobby Sherman
and David Cassigy..where are they today!!!! Eventually I stopped keeping up with Tom. About 2 years ago I hit a really bad patch in my life, while in a record store I came across Tom, I picked up a cd, and fell in love again…I got all the cd’s and having Tom back in my life has really brightended up my days. Last year for my 50th birthday I went to Vegas to see Tom, it wss incredible, I sat in the front at the tables near the stage and was mesmerized. He was amazing!! And I don’t care what anyone says , he did smile, wink and sing just to me (OK only for a second) Things are still a little rough but a Tom on my IPOD transports me to another time and place. I didn’t find TJI until after I went to Vegas, or I would have loved to meet you Ellen. Thanks for all you do!