Tom Jones International

An article about Atlantic City in the Baltimore Sun quoted Jeff Vassar, president of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Bureau, who said: “Ten years ago, you saw the same acts rotating through Atlantic City all the time,” he says. “As much as I like Tom Jones and Don Rickles, they appeal to a much older audience. Now, Atlantic City is taking a much younger approach. We’ve got Carrie Underwood, Nickelback – you wouldn’t see acts like that 10 years ago.”

OK, Mr. Vassar, let’s get honest here. Among the mix of entertainers in AC this year are: Engelbert, Frankie Valli, Dion, Michael Bolton, Neil Sedaka and, the only one who’s sold out thus far is Jeff Beck. Clearly, Mr. Vassar is being less than honest….perhaps the reason is that the casinos aren’t offering as many multi-night engagements and are offering a lot less money. (And, by the way, since when does Michael Bolton appeal to a young crowd?

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On April 15, Mullocks Auctions in Shropshire (UK) will include some TJ memorabilia in it’s auction. Here’s the story and it’s amusing….imagine not wanting to take any old job! …imagine not being absolutely honest with a government official! Note, too, that the spellings (scepticism eg.) are left here as in the original. The story was in several UK papers and I posted the best version. But, honestly, hasn’t enough time elapsed to let it go and just regard it as a quaint curiosity. Hasn’t Tom Woodward proven he’s a hard worker? Jeez! Wouldn’t it be great if Tom could acquire these books (well, of course, he could acquire them) and frame the relevant pages?

Tom Jones jobcentre records reveal staff scepticism
Documents up for auction show 60s civil servants were not too impressed with young singer chasing big break

Steven Morris/Monday 8 March 2010 13.07 GMT/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/08/tom-jones-employment-jobcentre-records”>Guardian

He went on to sell many millions of records across the world, but employment office records suggest the civil servants who dealt with Tom Jones before he made it big were sceptical and perhaps a little jealous.

Found in a skip and now up for auction, the records include pointed remarks that mock him for signing on rather than signing autographs.

The notes also reveal that he preferred not to do shift work because it interfered with his burgeoning pop career and, it would appear, donned dapper outfits when he attended the employment office in his native south Wales.

One comment from the employment office in December 1963 states: “He does not want shiftwork but I believe the reason for his not liking shifts is because he is a member of a vocal group which is supposedly an amateur affair.

“From the number of adverts one sees in the local press, however, it seems that this group has a good thing going … from the way he is able to dress, it would seem that Mr Woodward’s [his original name] little hobby is highly lucrative and this would also account for his non-enthusiasm in securing employment.

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“Consider and submit as soon as possible to anything which wouldn’t dirty his fingernails! Nothing on offer at present …”

By March 1964 there is this comment: “No change in employment position but his vocal group is contemplating turning professional within next month or so …”

A month later a civil servant noted: “His group has still not turned professional but they are in close contact with Decca Records and are awaiting notification as to when they will record their next record.”

The final entry, written on 3 July 1964, makes interesting reading with the benefit of hindsight: “Claimant showed me a letter from Decca Studios confirming a recording session had been arranged. He has been talking about ‘going professional’ since April but he is still signing the UR [unemployment register] and not autograph books.”

The records, contained on six buff-coloured cards, were found in a skip some years ago. Richard Westwood-Brookes, from Mullock’s auction house in Ludlow, Shropshire, which is selling the notes, said: “These cards were rescued when the records were computerised. They are a wonderful look at the beginning of a glittering career when Tom Jones was trying to make a living from his singing. It shows how he did a number of manual jobs and also received some unemployment benefit.

“There are also some quite acerbic and sarcastic remarks made by the civil servants about him. The records set quite a scene with attractive Tom Jones in his tight trousers and smart clothes on one side of the desk and the civil servant on the other.”

The notes mention that Jones suffered from TB. “It’s amazing to think that such a voice came from a man who had suffered from the disease. Tom Jones is a huge international star and these records are highly collectable,” Westwood-Brookes said.

Sir Tom Jones turns 70 this year. The auctioneers hope the records will sell for thousands when they go under the hammer on 15 April.