Tom Jones International

Chart Update: Praise and Blame is #32 on the UK Top 100 album chart and #35 on the Scottish charts.

First, a note: Gail has written TJI saying that at the Friday, August 6 show at the MGM Grand a fan took photos of her and her mother with their British flags. With permission, they were on the stage after the show. She was hoping, since the photographer had asked her about TJI, that the pictures might have been sent to me. They haven’t. But, if you are the photographer, please email the photos using the “contact” link below right and I’ll pass them on.

So, for today we have about 12.5 minutes of a half-hour interview Sir Tom did on Jazz FM Radio in the UK with presenter Anthony Davis (with Tom at left) that was broadcast July 29. Oddly, Jazz FM is not an FM station and, also oddly, the entire interview was not posted. This is a jazz outlet, so there’s a bit of Satchmo’ and Sir Tom gives his definition of the term “jazz.”

And, after a couple of views and four requests, I’ve decided to post this season’s thus-far “wow” performance on the UK show X Factor. It’s a 50 year-old Irish grocery store checker named Mary Byrne singing a stunning rendition of I (Who Have Nothing). Check it out here. And look for a big smile from Simon Cowell. (The other judges are Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and, on this episode, seated between Walsh and Cole is guest judge Katy Perry. Producer and judge Simon Cowell is bringing the show to Fox in the USA next year. This episode was recorded in Dublin.

Personally, Tom’s version (especially the updated one he did on Mr Jones) is still my favorite but I think Byrne’s take beats Shirley Bassey’s by a mile.

As usual, if you cannot play it, drop me a line using the “Contact TJI” link at the bottom right and I’ll email it to you.

And the radio interview? Of course, you can listen to it in the TJI.com Video Library.

Finally, a bonus: Sunday night the Primetime Emmy Awards celebrating the best in primetime American television, were broadcast.

For the last several years the Emmy Awards have gotten very low ratings and, I’d guess, this was the producers’ attempt to recoup. You’ll especially enjoy this clip if you watch Glee and, since it is broadcast in so many countries worldwide, I figured there’s be a good chance you are familiar with it.

For an award show it was spectacular and it got started on a high note that was maintained throughout the entire three hours.

I loved this number, just smiled the entire time it was on and I thought, even though it’s not TJ-related, it’s worth posting. I think it’d be great if Sir Tom were to do a visit to Glee as Madonna, NPH, Kristen Chenoweth and lots of others have done.

You’ll recognize the evening’s host, Jimmy Fallon (it was on his show that Tom played with The Roots band), and lots of others, including many from the cast of Glee and cast members from 30 Rock (Tina Fey), Mad Men (John Hamm), Lost (Jorge Garcia) and others, including Tim Gunn from Project Runway,

I hope you enjoy this performance set to Bruce Springsteen singing the terrific, rousing Born To Run as much as I did.