Tom Jones International

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Since the topic of the last post was The Lead and How To Swing It, I thought I’d continue the topic with this post.

When the album came out, Tom of course promoted it, as in the post above. Thanks to TJI’s good friend Vince, here’s a video of Tom on E! Entertainment Television’s E! News Daily in 1994.

There’s the explanation of how the album got its title and an explanation of the “class” the individual track producers had to take before working with Tom. It’s a fun 90 seconds and one only wishes for more of these kinds of interviews to come soon. Real soon.

Click here to watch Tom Jones on E! Entertainment Television’s E! News Daily in 1994.

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In January, 1995, Tom was promoting The Lead and How To Swing It and was co-host of the January 30 American Music Awards show with Queen Latifa and Lorrie Morgan.

In an interview about his new album, he was compared to Tony Bennett. From the perspective of 2011, the interview above is interesting for several reasons. It’s great to know that both Tom and Tony Bennett are still going strong. On September 26, 2011, at age 85, Bennett had his first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Duets II, the oldest artist to reach #1. Clearly, people of all ages enjoy his work which is, also clearly, heavily promoted in the USA.

The January 30, 1995 article, from a newspaper in Washington State, said:

Jones, like Tony Bennett, is going through something of a late-in-life career renaissance, as he’s being pitched to a younger audience. The difference, as Jones sees it, is that Bennett — although performing duets with some of today’s pop stars — hasn’t really changed his style. He’s still, essentially, the same pop-jazz crooner.

“With me, it’s wider spread than that,” says Jones, who has adapted to today’s musical currency. “It’s more rock — if I go into a rock club, I’m doing most of the new album on stage. It’s aimed at a younger audience; it’s not just doing what I did in the 60′s, which is what tony Bennett is doing.”

Hence, the hip-hop (and rap!_ on Rise Robots Rise’s If I Only Knew, the edgy guitar lines on Wolfgang Press’ A Girl Like You and other, modern-styled productions. The Lead… on Interscope, the label co-founded by ace producer Jimmy Iovine and home to Nine Inch Nails, is a soulful rock/R&B record with an emphasis on the uptempo. Some progressive rockers, some traditional ballads.

For the rest of this interview and a video from the 80′s, please click here to (more…)

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No official word from Tom’s official website, but it is all over the place — including websites that are usually updated by an artist’s representatives — that Tom will be a coach on The Voice, the TV show that is coming to the UK. Also on the panel will be Will-i-am from the fabulous Black Eyed Peas. Kylie Minogue is rumored to be the fourth coach on the panel. Such a lineup would surely bring new audiences to Sir Tom. The Voice originated in the Netherlands, then came to America. It’s also seen in the Ukraine, Mexico, France and will begin airing next year in India, Portugal, Israel, Ireland and Spain, among others.But, still Tom’s involvement isn’t officially official until it’s on his website.

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In 1998, Space, the band from Liverpool, teamed up with Cerys Matthews, lead singer of the Welsh alt rock band Catatonia, to record The Ballad of Tom Jones.

The song went to number 4 on the charts and Tom was apparently delighted with the tribute, playing it before and after his shows.

The following year, Tom released his huge hit duets album Reload and he repaid the favor by asking Tommy Scott, lead singer of Space, and the group to join him on the track Sunny Afternoon, by Ray Davies of the Kinks.

Reload was the biggest album of Tom’s entire career, reaching number 1 on the UK charts in both 1999 and 2000.

To see the video of The Ballad of Tom Jones and, following that, Tommy Scott joining Tom onstage to sing Sunny Afternoon please click here to go to the TJI.com Video Library.

If you plan to order a 2012 TJI Fan Calendar, please don’t forget to get your order in soon!

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On August 25, Dre sent a news brief that I posted about Rod Stewart’s daughter Kimberly naming the daughter she had with Benecio Del Toro, Delilah. Today, the Daily Mail, in a story about the child, said, “Kimberly admitted she had named her daughter after Tom Jones’s 1968 song Delilah.” There are lots of girls named Delilah but, really, naming a child after a cheating woman in a song? I like the song with its unbeatable melody but, really?

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Like so many people who achieve Tom Jones’ level of fame and accomplishment, he mixes with others who have done the same. These others include Elvis and Sinatra. Of Sinatra, Tom’s often been quoted saying, “Not to be a name-dropper but Frank Sinatra once told me: ‘Tom, you don’t have to hit everything hard. If you keep hammering everything, you’re gonna hurt yourself.’”

He knew Elvis much better and I found this quote I’d not heard before. Discussing Elvis, Tom said, “He didn’t become worldly. He was always in his own world, and enjoying it. When that worked, fine. He wanted guys around him, wanted to create his own thing, which was a simple life. He loved to play football and he had his own team. But because he was Elvis Presley, no one wanted to tackle him hard.”

And, an of-repeated quote from Tom about Sinatra: “Not to be a name-dropper but Frank Sinatra once told me: “‘Tom, you don’t have to hit everything hard. If you keep hammering everything, you’re gonna hurt yourself.’”

Anyway, because so many TJ fans are Elvis fans, here is rarely seen 1960 video from 1960, just after Elvis got out of the Army, of Sinatra singing Elvis’ hit Love Me Tender and Elvis doing Sinatra’s big hit, Witchcraft.

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Tom was a guest on Dolly Parton’s TV show, Dolly! episode 14 of 17 in 1988. Other guests were Lee Majors and Paul Rodriguez.

Tom and Parton sang Green Green Grass of Home together and, IMHO those are two of the very best voices in popular music, so it’s a real treat. Then Tom did a medley of his hits — She’s A Lady, Delilah, What’s New Pussycat, Without Love and It’s Not Unusual. The quality isn’t great, but it sure is nice to hear Without Love again. (Thanks, Chas!)

Moderator’s Sidebar: When I brought Ruth Brown back to meet Tom at the MGM in 2004, they talked for 90 minutes. At one point, she asked him, “Do you know who sang Without Love originally?” Tom promptly replied, “Yes, Clyde McPhatter.” Ruth then said, “He was the father of my oldest son.

McPhatter, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was by the way, an original member of the Drifters and had lots of hits on his own, including Money Honey, A Lover’s Question and Treasure of Love.) That son, Ron McPhatter, is a terrific singer who has both his parents’ talent, performs across the country. Look for him.)

You can watch the Parton-Jones video in the TJI.com Video Library.

The random quote: Finally, I came across this quote and the people I read it to thought it funny. The context is, clearly, a discussion of the stuff people throw on the stage and/or give Tom as gifts. Tom said, “It’s one extreme to the other. I’ve had a lot of crosses and Bibles given to me but then one woman made a ceramic penis – she figured that’s what mine looked like, I suppose.”

The photo at left was taken at a fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel in London for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) where a documentary about the organization was shown for the first time on Friday. Almost £1 million was raised, In the photo, from ThisIsSussex.com, Sir Tom is shown with septo-optic dysplasia sufferer Anna Barham,who took part in the film, and Anna’s dad Gary and mum Jayne.

Her mother told the newspaper, “”She wasn’t sure who Tom Jones was, but she YouTubed him and loved that he can sing properly. Because she can’t see him it’s not about his age. She finds a lot of modern pop music offensive to her ears as they sing out of tune.”

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On September 28, 2006, Tom was in New York, joining the best of the rock and country universe — to perform in a tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis that, ultimately, was released on CD and DVD and was, also, featured on the PBS series, Great Performances. Tom was on the PBS show and the DVD.

In October, 2006, when the CD was released, TJI asked Where is Tom Jones?

In that post, TJI noted, “The show was to celebrate Lewis’ 71st birthday and the release of a new album, Last Man Standing. The title comes from the fact that Lewis is, in fact, the last of the Sun Records “Million Dollar Quartet,” made up of Sun artists Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Lewis and Elvis (who had left Sun and was then with RCA). They happened to be in the studio together one day and the recordings that came from that casual session — a mix of rhythm and blues, rock ‘n roll and gospel — were preserved and ultimately released as, of course Million Dollar Quartet” (photo left of, from left, Lewis, Perkins, Presley and Cash).

“Lewis’ new album has duets with Bruce, BB, Mick Jagger and Ron Wood, Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Robbie Robertson, John Fogerty, Ringo, Merle Haggard, Kid Rock, Rod Stewart, George Jones, Wilie Nelson, Toby Keith, Don Henley, Buddy Guy and Kris Kristofferson.

“It’s a great recording. But you know our question: Where’s Tom? He’s got to be Lewis’ biggest fan and there’s no better voice around. He knows the material. He should have been there.”

On the DVD of the show, Tom joins Jerry Lee in two songs, Green, Green Grass and End of the Road. One more was performed at the actual show that wasn’t included in the DVD.

The sound isn’t the best. I did as much as I could to fix it but it’s probably from a phone or portable recorder. Click here to listen to the outtake — Tom and Jerry Lee singing Funny How Time Slips Away.

For some rock ‘n’ roll memories you may share — even though they’re not about Sir Tom — please click here to (more…)

Responding to the newspaper story (post below) about Tom and the UK TV show The Voice, a statement on his website posted yesterday was titled “Important Announcement: The Voice” says:

“Contrary to today’s announcement in The Sun newspaper and other media, Sir Tom is NOT confirmed to participate in the upcoming BBC series The Voice. We can say however, that he has been approached by the producers with an invitation, and he is looking at the various elements of the offer in the context of his already planned activities for 2012. Any reliable announcement about The Voice will be made here.”

Whomever wrote that statement for the official website did not read The Sun article correctly. In fact, it looks like the person only read the headline. The Sun haedline did say Tom “is set to star” in the show but the story under that headline said — very clearly — that “Tom Jones is in advanced talks” with the producers.

I tend to believe that and guess we’ll be seeing an official announcement from the producers. This has happened before with other announcements (Remember Tom’s alleged Las Vegas show dates in December 2009?) and, unfortunately, it seems the official site is sometimes the last to confirm anything. But they get upset when anyone else gets a story first.

A decent reporter, however, would have tried to get a comment from Tom’s camp and, failing that, would have noted the failure and cited the source for the story But, TJI at least, did categorize it under “Rumor or Reality.” One hopes, too, that these 2012 plans will be made public soon and that they do include North America.

Now — Recalling a pleasant memory just for fun: One of the songs that Tom did awhile ago was particularly well-received. When he did it at the MGM, even the ushers and servers could be seen dancing with abandon (or by themselves) in the aisles. It is probably one of the most fun and popular numbers he ever did.

Here’s a video of Sir Tom in Chile in 2007 singing I Like The Way.

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Something for people who like sports — specifically, rugby — and Wales and Australia: Tomorrow (Friday, October 21), Wales plays Australia in a battle for third and fourth place in the World Rugby Cup. Now, I’ve never been to Wales but intend to go and have heard from so many people how beautiful it is and how nice the people are. I have been to Australia and can say the same. Wales Online today has a tongue-in-cheek rundown for the Rugby World Cup you can check out here. It’s called Thirty reasons why Wales is better than Australia (not including rugby).

You can comment on this post. Comments were accidentally closed. I apologize and hope you will comment. Thanks!

Breaking News! The Sun reports that Tom will sign to be a panelist on a UK TV show next year. The Dutch producer, John De Mol is wildly successful around the world and this appears to be his next huge success. The paper’s report is very nasty — as is the habit of UK press when discussing Sir Tom but, probably, if the report is true, the money will likely compensate for the nasty remarks. But, really, the “housewives” favorite? I am not a “housewife” and he’d be my favorite. (At least they didn’t write he’s bound to be the “ladies’” favoriet:))

Tom Jones set to star in The Voice
October 18, 2011 | By GORDON SMART, Showbiz Editor

VIEWERS of new telly talent search The Voice will need warnings not to adjust their colour settings.

Mahogany singer Tom Jones is in advanced talks to join Jessie J as a judge. That’s a lot of leather trousers.

A source says: “Tom is close to committing. He has almost 50 years experience in music so he’ll be able to give contestants decent advice.

“Jessie J will attract younger viewers but Tom’s bound to be the housewives’ favourite.”

The BBC1 show, launching next year, will feature “blind auditions” where judges don’t see what hopefuls look like.

It was dreamed up by Big Brother creator John De Mol and has been a hit in the US, with Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera as judges. The Beeb want a US pop star and a record exec to complete the new UK panel.

Simon Cowell – fuming about The X Factor’s ratings slump – might be worried.

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Finally! Time to leave the She’s A Lady nonsense behind.

A video was posted on youtube from Australian singing group Noiseworks shows Tom singing with two of the group’s members. It happened on an excursion boat in Sydney Harbor in 1991. The video is not too good, as it was a tape transfer, but the point is clear. You can click here to see Tom and Noiseworks singing Detroit City.

It is obvious that the three of them — Tom and the guys from Noiseworks — are having lots of fun.

It is also obvious that Tom Jones, left to his own devices when he does not have to be on a schedule or comply with publicist or management demands is — like so many other top-tier performers — a nice guy who understands what he means to fans and that a bit of attention from him can be a lifelong memory. For years, Tom has appeared to enjoy exchanging words with fans, taking photos, signing autographs.

Do you have any stories/anecdotes that illustrate this point? If so, please share.

Thanks to PR for pointing out the link to the flickr photos below was broken. It is fixed now.

Someone wrote to yahoo answers and asked the following: (Note: This person’s specific reason for asking is not the issue and, even though the lyrics are out of order, the point is made.)

“I’ve been hearing Tom Jones’ song She’s A Lady on an ad on TV a lot and so it got me thinking about the lyrics. They’re quite sexist when you think about it haha! Like these lines:

Well she always knows her place
She’s got style, she’s got grace…
Well she’s never in the way….
I can leave her on her own knowing she’s okay alone, and there’s no messing…
Well she never asks for very much and I don’t refuse her…
She can take what I dish out, and that’s not easy…
Well she knows me through and through
She knows just what to do, and how to please me.

“This is what he’s describing as a “lady,” like the perfect woman. “Well she’s all you’d ever want.”

“I wonder if men truly long for this type of person?”

People who have been reading TJI for awhile are probably aware that your moderator finds this song loathsome. I read the above and just sort of said, “DUH!!!” Of course I believe it’s sexist. And I never understood women — and I’ve known many — who hear the song and choose to believe Tom is singing directly to them. Ick. Remember, it’s from Paul Anka, the perpetrator of “she’s having my baby, what a lovely way of saying how much she loves me.” Really.

What do you think? (Hopefully, some men will answer, too.)

The photo here is from (finally) the BT Olympic Ball in London on October 7. You can find it, along with several more, in the TJI.com Flicker set, Sir Tom At Festivals & Special Events. (Thanks to Chas for sending the link.)

The photos show a man who looks healthy and is definitely very happy doing what he does, don’t they?

Happy Birthday, Ruthlet!

Below is an article about a woman who wants to bring tourism to Pontypridd via recognition that it’s where Tom Jones was born. I’ve also been corresponding with Gill, who is trying to get the local council to put up a plaque in Tom’s honor. When she finds out how to get that done, TJI will join her effort. Now, I did find a “Tom Jones Bus Tour” online, but the woman who’s proposing the “TJ Experience” says she’s not a TJ fan but it’s a way to bring some tourism dollars into the town. Good idea. To one who can really afford it, the projected cost doesn’t seem to be a great deal. Anyone volunteering? How about holding a fundraiser? Say, an auction of TJ memorabilia. (Oddly, I have so much — special magazines, music, stuffed animals — and was just thinking of getting rid of it. I’m sure I’m not alone.) That’d be a good cause, right?

Also, it’s well worth noting for you Americans out there that I by first learned about the woman who wants to create this TJ Experience by reading about her on a Portland, Oregon-based website for Americans from Wales for those Americans of Welsh heritage. It’s called Americymru.net.

‘I want to bring the Tom Jones’ experience to Ponty’

by Robert Weekes | Pontypridd Observer | Oct 13 2011
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IT’S not unusual for people to associate Pontypridd with international singing sensation Sir Tom Jones.

But with no statue, shop or shrine in sight, there is little to celebrate The Voice’s unrivalled success in his hometown.

That could be about to change, as a Graig woman has made it her mission to a create a legacy on Sir Tom’s green, green grass of home.

Louise Rees thinks the town is missing out on a huge opportunity to bring business to Pontypridd, while paying tribute to The Voice.

The 48-year-old’s innovative project is to create The Tom Jones’ Experience – a whole host of exhibitions and activities in a bid to attract visitors from across the globe.

Louise said: “The idea is to have a cafe or bar, a shop with official merchandise, including merchandise from other Welsh artists, writers and bands, an exhibition area and a statue.

“There would also be tours of the area with links to existing attractions such as the Heritage Centre.

“There would also be a bit of fun with games like Sing Along with Tom.

“He’s got no real legacy in Pontypridd and I think it’s a shame because he’s such a huge star all over the world.

“I believe we need to celebrate our local successes and build on them.”

Originally from Barry, Louise has approached Sir Tom Plc with her idea and said they liked it.

She said: “At the moment it’s in the very early stages, I’m trying to get a consortium together and look for a suitable venue.

“The early indications from Tom’s company are that they would consider being involved in such a venture if it were correctly established.

“We need a decent size building, around 300 square metres which would cost around £40,000 in rent.

“It will cost a lot of money and will take several years to get up and running but there’s no point in doing this unless it’s done properly.

Louise, who has worked in community regeneration for the University of Glamorgan, believes the project could revitalise Pontypridd and bring thousands of fans to the town.

“The idea is to form it as a social enterprise with profits going to projects that promote children and young people’s participation in arts and music in RCT.

“I believe it could revitalise Ponty and bring many thousands of fans to this area thus increasing footfall and economic development for hotels, B&Bs, bars and restaurants as well as shops.

“Barry did really well out of Gavin and Stacey and I don’t see why Ponty shouldn’t do the same with Tom.”

Surprisingly, Louise doesn’t count herself among one of Sir Tom’s millions of fans.

She said: “I’m not his biggest fan to be honest. When I was younger I was more into The Clash but I’ve bought some of his albums and have to admit he has had some great songs over the years.”

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From a UK real estate website that the first house Tom bought when he was a success is on the market. In terms 21st century house prices it doesn’t seem too expensive.

The former home of Welsh crooner Tom Jones – he of the hairy chest, tight trousers and hysterical knicker- throwing female fans, is for sale.

It’s a 60s modernist house in Shepperton … must have looked very cutting edge at the time. Lots of celebs bought them … Marlon Brando n, Julie Christie etc becuase they were near the film studios. Originally sold in the mid-1960s for £7,695 each – a very high figure at the time considering that the average price for a three-bedroom house in London was then only £3,500. Now cost £397,500!

If you missed Monday’s post (just below) about TJI’s 6th anniversary, please read it.I want to be sure that each of you knows how much, how deeply, I appreciate your support.

I apologize for the lame post, but I have been busy seeing movies as I am now on two screening lists so I can write reviews. (Tonight was The Thing, tomorrow The Skin I’m In and last night was The Big Year. I passed on Footloose. When the movies open in Las Vegas, you can read my reviews here. And be sure to see Moneyball and — yes! — Real Steel.

As we know, Tom headlined with BT Olympic Gala last Friday and, oddly, the only things from that event that’s surfaced — aside from some tweets about how terrific he was — is the photo at left of him performing. Thanks to Dre for finding it.

The photo is from TOTkat.org,a blog about health and nutrition that is well worth reading.

My sense is that there’s a reason that the UK Olympic Committee didn’t want to publicize the event (bad choice of date, perhaps?) but it is really strange. Anyway, it’s great that Sir Tom was so good.

Note: I will try to do better with posts over the next several days but I have company from out-of-town this weekend who is coming because he wants to see Elton John with me (new show at the Colosseum alternating with Celine and Rod) and we haven’t seen each other in more than a year. But, really, I will try. Then, my sister is making her annual Las Vegas pilgrimage so she can see Jimmy Buffett — who, apparently, one cannot see in Florida, where she lives — and we have a full schedule that week beginning the 21st. My priority is, of course, finishing the calendar.