Tom Jones International

From The Voice UK, K.T. reports that, “The show was great! Tom looked very good in a grey suit.” More after tomorrow’s taping.

In 1997 Tom traveled to Israel and was interviewed on Israeli television before his first show in Eilat, a beautiful seaside resort. Among other things, the interviewer asked Tom about singing My Yiddishe Mama.

The show rejoined Tom live on stage to televise his performance of Delilah.

Although Tom doesn’t say he’ll sing the song in Israel, he clearly thought it was “called for” and did exactly that.

Click here to listen to Tom sing My Yiddishe Mama in Israel in 1997. It is a beautiful song and, since he recorded it in a nightclub early in his career and, most recently, in a huge venue in Australia, it takes on a new, different poignancy when sung in Israel.

NEWS! It’s been announced that the 2000 Brits duet of Mama Told Me Not To Come that Tom did with The Stereophonics was voted the nation’s favorite Brits duet in a poll of the public. There’s no great video of that, but you can pick one from youtube here.

Also, the embedded video below may be down as from time to time the official Brit Awards site is updated for the awards today. But, when it’s been unavailable, it’s come back relatively quickly. So, keep checking or just leave your browser on the page and it’ll be there.

The photo top left is the first official photo of The Voice UK judges panel in place on the set. It was released Monday. Of course, it’s the same set as elsewhere. And don’t the judges look serious?

Moderator’s note: The event February 18 honoring Muhammad Ali on his 70th birthday and benefiting the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center was amazing.

In addition to Ali and his family, there were lots of friends — Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Sean Combs, Cee Lo Green, Lenny Kravitz, David Beckham, Kris Kristofferson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Chazz Palminteri, Robert Davi, Larry King, Common, John Legend, Sammy Hagar, Slash and Joe Perry….the list goes on. The big surprise for Ali was the closing performance. It was Stevie Wonder (photo left). A wonder-ful evening for good causes. (And, yes, it’s a pity that one man we know wasn’t there.) The gala will be aired next Saturday, February 25, on ABC and ESPN. Check local listings.

Nine years ago today, Tom Jones was given the Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Both the award presentation and Tom’s performance that evening are accessed with the links below.Previously, the likes of U2, the Bee Gees, Elton John and the Spice Girls (!?) had won it.

The 2012 Brits are tomorrow. Sir Tom will likely not be there as he is not listed anywhere among those expected to attend. Then, again, he wasn’t listed to participate in the BAFTA’s either. Here is the 2003 Award presentation by show hostess Davina McCall. It includes tributes to Tom from Jonathan Ross, LuLu, Gaz Coombes, Moby, the Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake and Tom’s own tribute to his parents. You can watch the tributes to Tom, see him get the award and hear his speech here.

And here is a link to Tom’s entire performance at that event.

Tonight I am covering a very special event — a gala to benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas and the Muhammad Ali Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Ali is being honored on his 70th birthday by this very worthy charity. In attendance to perform or pay tribute to The Champ will be Stevie Wonder, Samuel L. Jackson, David Beckham, Larry King, Ken Jeong, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Common, Lenny Kravitz, Sean Combs, Anthony Hopkins, John Legend, Chris Cornell, Cee Lo Green, Joe Perry, Slash, Terrence Howard, David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Jim Brown, Randy Couture, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rowland, Dave Koz, Robin Leach, James Gandolfini, Steve Schirripa, Chazz Palminteri, and Sammy Hagar. From the world of boxing will be Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Tommy “Hitman” Hearns. It promises to be so exciting and I know — and I have never before presumed to say what I think Sir Tom would like — but I am positive he would love to be there. Don’t you agree?

Relatively few people (260 in all) have seen this, so I thought I’d post it:

In 2010, after Praise and Blame was released, Tom did a number of promotional appearances.

Here is a 30-minute interview Tom did with Tim Leinhard, host of a German-French culture show on television. Most of the questions and answers are familiar to long-time fans — stuff about Elvis, preventing dehydration (something Tom knows well from all those times in Las Vegas) and a questions about the “best time of the day” for Tom. Can you guess what is answer was? Bet you can.

He also touches on why recordings are necessary and what the “real thrill” is in his work. We also hear again about how Tom prays and what he prays for and where God is found.

For the record, once again, the first time Tom came out with his hair “au natural” was in January, 2009. The photos on TJI were carried in publications around the world. It was — remember? — big news.

ONE MORE VIDEO FROM THE BAFTA AWARDS: After he sang Thunderball at the British Academy Awards Sunday night (post below), Sir Tom introduced the evening’s host, Stephen Fry. (As has been mentioned here before, Fryused to be Hugh Laurie’s comedy sketch partner and they were hilarious. Numerous clips from their show, A Bit of Fry and Laurie are on youtube. They are worth checking out.)

When he reached the stage, Fry spoke a bit about Tom and the song he did. Click here to watch Stephen Fry talk about Tom’s performance.

You can see his entire funny opening by going “>here.

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The next round of The Voice UK will be done on Wednesday, February 22 at 16:15 and Thursday, February 23 at 15:45. You can order free tickets at The Applause Store.

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You can order Tom’s new 45 record now at Third Man Records. The record costs $6 + (moderate) shipping. It will be out March 5.

New Photos! The photo here is of Tom at the BAFTA Awards Sunday, February 12. There are 13 more for you to see in the TJI.com flickr set, Pap Shots. Check them out. They are at the top of the page. There are more than 1,000 photos on the TJI.com pages there.

Fan’s Favorite Music Videos:

On February 1, you were asked the TJI.com Question of the Month. It was a request that you tell us what your favorite TJ video is. Of course, as always happens, several of the 50 responders named songs for which there is no video, only audio. And others repeated songs previously named.

Out of all of those, I put together two videos — each with 10 songs — called Fans’ Favorite Videos — Part 1 and Part II.

Part I contains: A Boy From Nowhere, At This Moment, Daughter of Darkness, Delilah (1967), I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (1967), If I Ruled he World, Kiss, Long Tall Sally, Love Me Tonight, Move Closer, Resurrection Shuffle

In Part II you’ll find: She’s A Lady, Sometimes We Cry, What Am I Living For, Burning Hell, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, Memory, The Reason, Till, Delilah (2011)

There is more than one hour video. It took quite a while to do the videos and get them posted. Hope you enjoy them!

You can watch them in the TJI.com Video Library.

Moderator’s Note: My Valentine’s gift to you all — in the form of two videos of fan’s favorite songs — will be a day late. Had a wonderful Monday but was so busy with work, I couldn’t get the post done. The videos are ready to go and will be up for Wednesday. Happy Valentine’s Day.

You can order Tom’s new 45 record now at Third Man Records. The record costs $6 + (moderate) shipping. It will be out March 5.

Sir Tom Jones (photo here taken on the pre-show red carpet) opened the 2012 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards in tribute to 50 years of James Bond films.

Before the show on the red carpet, Tom was one of the people who was filmed as he paid tribute to Whitney Houston.

On the red carpet he also talked about talked about what the Bond theme meant to him.

And, according to The Sun:
Tom tells Adele to do Bond theme
By GORDON SMART, Showbiz Editor |Published: February 10 at 01:37

TOM Jones is pushing for Adele to do the theme tune for Skyfall.

The singer, who opened the Baftas with his own James Bond theme tune Thunderball, said: “I was 22 when I did the Thunderball song and it changed my career and was a huge honour.

“Not that she needs it but Adele would be the perfect choice for doing Skyfall.”

If Adele is a no-go, Tom could do worse than rent out his pipes again for another Bond song.

The crooner did a brilliant job of performing it at the Royal Opera House last night.

Video: Wearing a wide-lapel tuxedo, with his halo of white hair (seeming to look whiter than it really is in the very bright yellow stage light) and great tan, Sir Tom looked terrific.

And, when one sees him these days — even sort of at a distance on television — the miracle that is The Voice is vividly obvious. He is a miracle. Tom always says his voice is “a gift from God.” It is. But the second gift her was given is longevity. His voice may have changed, gaining depth, but it is still miraculous that, at age 71 he can sing as he does.

Tom was greeted with tremendous applause and, as he sang. During the thunderous applause at the end, the camera lit on, among others, people with whom he has a film connection. There was George Clooney (Tom’s music was used in Intolerable Cruelty, his 2003 film for the Coen Brothers); Tim Burton, director of Mars Attacks! and Dame Judi Dench, M in the Bond films.

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Just have to say that Tom should have been at last night’s Grammy Awards. McCartney and Bennett were there and were greeted with major applause. Hopefully 2012 will bring Sir Tom the kind of recognition he deserves in the US music business, work that is promoted in the US and the recognition he deserves all over the world.

Sir Tom Jones sang Thunderball Sunday in London at the annual British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards in tribute to 50 years of James Bond. The show will be telecast on BBC America tonight, February 12, at 8pm EST. I’ll have it posted on TJI (if my new TV syncs with the DVD recorder) by 6pm PST — if he is, indeed, on first.(Surprised that OFFICIAL Tom Jones didn’t announce the appearance so fans could tune in. Guess that means no surprise appearance on the Grammys tonight.)

The news that Whitney Houston died Saturday, February 11, at 48 is, indeed sad. When she toured Australia at the same time Tom did, she had an awful time, having to leave the stage and drawing jeers from the crowds. Nonetheless, recordings of her beautiful voice in her prime will live forever. Someone posted in a chat room that Tom Jones said admired her singing and often said he wanted to record with her. I never heard or read that but, when one thinks about it, one realizes that she was one of the few whose voice had the power to keep up with his. RIP.

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Please don’t forget to check out Tom’s new recording of Evil below and to join the others who have shared their opinions of the work. And don’t forget to check back Tuesday (midnight Pacific Time) for the Fans Favorite Videos.

Preparing and posting the video of the songs you requested in response to the February 1 TJI Question of the Month took four hours on Friday. Had to get it done to go live on February 14, as promised, because I wouldn’t have had time to do it otherwise. Lots going on and I wanted to keep my promise.

Speaking of going on…..or, going off…I was saddened, but not surprised, to learn that this is the last season of House. I’d known of Hugh Laurie’s work — mostly as a comic actor — long before the show went on the air, and I really liked it. In fact, I was as interested in his album because it was his, as I was in the fact Tom was a collaborator. I’ll miss House but I have the feeling it will live for a long time in rerun-land.

This isn’t great quality video or audio, but below is a brief video done by Virtual Festivals.com at last July’s Isle of Wight Festival.

Click here to listen to a short interview at the Isle of Wight Festival, July, 2011.

Update: February 10 — From Spin comes the review by Mark Horgan, below, complete with wrong info about Jezebel and a lame attempt at sarcasm and/or humor that comes off flat:
Jack White’s collaboration with 71-year-old crooner Tom Jones could have gone one of two ways. Jones’ entry in Third Man Records’ Blue Series of 7-inch singles could have ended up as a stripped-down bid for world-weary gravitas, in the style of Rick Rubin’s productions for Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Or White and Jones could have stuck to a rough ‘n’ ready garage-rock format not unlike the series’ previous installments involving Stephen Colbert, John C. Reilly, and the, um, Insane Clown Posse.

Happily, White and Jones chose Door No. 2. Jones’ White-produced cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s Evil aired on BBC Radio yesterday (via Consequence of Sound), and it’s a brawny, horn-smacked garage-soul stomper. Jones’ full-throated vocal has not a hint of cheese, and the backing band swaggers with enough cigarettes and whiskey to re-open some long-lost Southern dive bar. With a new version of Jones’ own 2002 cut “Jezebel” on the flip, the single arrives on March 5. Time to revisit Jones’ back catalog? Well, we’d really rather make fun of his chest hair.

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Whitney Matheson writes in in USA Today:
If I weren’t fully awake before I heard Tom Jones’ new single, I certainly am now.

Next month the 71-year-old crooner/sex bomb will issue a Jack White-produced track on White’s label, Third Man Records.

Jones’ version of Howlin’ Wolf’s Evil features The Raconteurs’ Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence and My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel.

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Post Update: February 9 — 2 Items:
1. Because the quality of the sound on the recording I posted isn’t good, and Third Man Records has posted it, you can listen here:

2.RELEASE DATES & AVAILABILITY: re-sales for Tom Jones Evil b/w Jezebel will be available on the Third Man website starting Monday Feb. 13th.

100 limited edition Tri Color 7”s will be available at Spillers in Cardiff, Wales (“The Oldest Record Shop In The World”) on the UK release date of Saturday, March 3rd. Check their site for location, hours, etc…

50 Tri Color 7”s will be inserted in random mail orders, per TMR standard practice...

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Evil, recorded by Howlin’ Wolf, written by Willie Dixon, was unveiled for the first time, played on Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio 1 show at about am today (Thursday) GMT. OFFICIAL Tom Jones announced it would be played. So, thanks to Management for that.

[What I don't understand is why they posted they "will post the Radio Player tomorrow, however we can’t guarantee that residents outside of the UK will be able to listen back to the show." The BBC keeps shows available for one week and Management knows — I am positive — that it's the video player that's only available in the UK. Radio shows can be played anywhere in the universe where there's an internet capability.]

Please note, this photo in color is so badly lit that it’s all yellow (after all, the light in a radio studio is not the same as light in a photo studio) so I converted it to grayscale. Still not really good, but it’ll do.

Stephens said the record will be released on vinyl and digitally (in the UK) more than one week after the originally announced release date. We’ll try to clear that up.

Here are the lyrics:
If you’re a long way from home, Can’t sleep at night.Grab your telephone, Something just ain’t right.

That’s evil, Evil is goin on wrong. I am warnin ya brother, You better watch your happy home.

Well, long way from home and,Can’t sleep at all. You know another mule, Is kickin in your stall.

That’s evil, Evil is goin on wrong. I am warnin ya brother, You better watch your happy home.

You better catch him, Cause somethin wrong, In your home.

Well, if ya call her on the telephone, And she answers awful slow, Grab the first train smokin, If you have to hobo.

That’s evil, Evil is goin on wrong. I am warnin ya brother, You better watch your happy home.

If you make it to your house, Knock on the front door, Run around to the back, You’ll catch him just before he go. That’s evil,Evil is goin on. I am warnin ya brother, You better watch your happy home.

Please bear in mind, this song (and Jezebel) are from what OFFICIAL Tom Jones dismissively called “a side project.” It is NOT from his new album with Ethan Johns but, even so, doesn’t deserve to be thus dismissed.

(Moderator’s Opinion (you knew I’d have one, didn’t you?) I love it! Jack White and his musicians are genius. I didn’t like Burning Hell, at all and, even though comparisons are odious, I believe this one’s league’s better, even though it’s kind of in the same vein.)

What do you think?

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New York Magazine, — your moderator’s favorite — has the following on their Vulture Blog:

(CAPTION FOR PHOTO AT LEFT) GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 26: Jack White from ‘The Dead Weather’ performs live on the Pyramid Stage during Day 3 of the Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2010 in Glastonbury, England. This year sees the 40th anniversary of the festival which was started by a dairy farmer, Michael Evis in 1970 and has grown into the largest music festival in Europe. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Sir Tom Jones performs at The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2010 supported by Novae at the Royal Albert Hall on November 17, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

When Jack White recently announced plans for his very first solo album, it offered several historically inclined bloggers an opportunity to reflect on just how many collaborations Mr. White has taken on over the years. Jack White likes new and unexpected friends! And that enthusiasm has not abated in advance of his upcoming Blunderbuss, which is due April 24. Tom Jones recently contributed a track to “Third Man Records Blue Series,” a collection of singles produced at White’s Nashville studios (by the man himself), and as he sometimes does, White hopped onto the recording himself. The result, a rowdy cover of Howlin Wolf’s “Evil,” is a very solid argument for making friends and then inviting a giant horn section to come play while you hang out with said friends. Enjoy!

When Jack White recently announced plans for his very first solo album, it offered several historically inclined bloggers an opportunity to reflect on just how many collaborations Mr. White has taken on over the years. Jack White likes new and unexpected friends! And that enthusiasm has not abated in advance of his upcoming Blunderbuss, which is due April 24. Tom Jones recently contributed a track to “Third Man Records Blue Series,” a collection of singles produced at White’s Nashville studios (by the man himself), and as he sometimes does, White hopped onto the recording himself. The result, a rowdy cover of Howlin Wolf’s “Evil,” is a very solid argument for making friends and then inviting a giant horn section to come play while you hang out with said friends. Enjoy!

If you haven’t answered, please don’t forget the TJI Question of the Month in the post below. Thanks to those who have already answered. We will have a good video, I bet.

This is a photo from a collection calling itself OffiCIAL Tom Jones Flickr Group.

Does this photo look “official” to you? Or does it look….um, stupid? Or juvenile? Or insulting and obvious ? Whatever, this crap has been posted for almost four years and, despite the fact that Tom’s Management is aware of this — has the link — it still sits on flickr, calling itself “official” and no one cares.

Why does it bother me? Well, I’ll tell you — yes, Tom Jones is thought of by many people as sexy. that’s been his trademark and he’s had a lot of fun with it. Terrific.

To me, the very bad, very amateur collection of photos posted there don’t deserve the “official” tag. (Although, in fairness, I admit I did find a very good one of Herman Matthews and sent him a copy.) I, for one, don’t want that designation and never have. But the fact that they are allowed to get away with calling themselves official — and you know a lot of the members from comments elsewhere (for some reason they still list one dear friend who passed away 11 months ago) means someone is asleep at the wheel.

Even Management might find it appropriate to step in an not allow these idiots to represent them by saying they, not Management, are official.

Tom Jones deserves better, doesn’t he?

Yeah, it is a graphic, unsophisticated and unsubtle depiction of Sexbomb, but one wonders who thinks this is funny and who believes that it deserves the title “official.”

The video I posted was done in four parts by a fan in Israel named David. He’s posted lots of Tom Jones stuff but these, fr a change, don’t have him talking about the music. He clearly put a lot of care and time into his project and it does total more than one hour of music video. You can check it out in the TJI.com Video Library.

On Saturday night I went with friends to see Engelbert in Primm, about 40 minutes west of Las Vegas.

There, as at any TJ show, I met fans from around the world, people who have been following Enge’s series of one-nighters. Primm gets most of its audiences from California’s Imperial Valley (Baker, San Bernadino, etc.) and, for Las Vegans, Primm, which straddles the state line between California and Nevada (it used to be called “State Line”) is also the closest place to buy lottery tickets because there’s no lottery in Nevada. (Is that because the Nevada state government doesn’t approve of gambling?) There are also major great outlet stores there.

Anyway, the show was wonderful. It was terrific hearing Engelbert singing all the favorites like After The Loving, Release Me, Quando….all of them.

After the show we were welcomed backstage. If the guy with Enge in the photo at right looks familiar — doesn’t he? — it’s because he’s a Tom Jones tribute artist. His name is Harmik and people actually thought he was Tom (clearly they haven’t seen Sir Tom in several years).

We were fortunate to be given — without asking — front row seats. When the fan chosen from the audience was being escorted by security up onto the stage so Enge could sing to her, she passed Harmik’s seat, looked at him and shouted, “I love you, Tom!!” It was funny.

Backstage after the show was, as always, a very cordial affair, with good food, good drink and good company. One of Enge’s sons looked at Harmik, extended his hand and said in all seriousness, “It’s good to see you, Mr. Woodward.”

You may recognize Harmik because you’ve seen his show. You may also recognize him from a video he did with the real TJ. That was the first time he’d actually met Tom and he was ecstatic. Check him out in the video of Tom Jones International. (Harmik’s the guy wearing the same suit as Tom who’s not Tom Jones.)

If you missed the first reports from the recording of The Voice, check the post below.

Kat, a very devoted TJ fan,spent a great deal of time putting together a Chinese horoscope for Sir Tom Jones, born in the year that is just beginning — the Year of the Dragon. Kat also created the wonderful symbolic art at the top of the post. With many thanks to her, TJI invites you all to read:

SIR TOM JONES
Born 7th JUNE 1940
The year of THE DRAGON
Chinese name; L’ong.

Ranking order: Fifth; Season & principal month — Spring, April.
Hours ruled; 7am to 9 am 9am.
Direction: East/southeast
Corresponds with western sign: Aries
Element: Wood.
Yin/Yang; Yang (positive)

Dragon Poem:
I am unquenchable fire,
The center of all energy
The stout heroic heart
I am truth and light
I hold power and glory in my sway
My presence disperses dark clouds
I have been chosen to tame the fates.
I AM THE DRAGON

Dragons have the following characteristics;
They are excitable and possess strength; success; enthusiasm; pluck; good health; sentimentality,

Dragon’s sins may include; rigidity; mistrust; infatuation; volubility; dissatisfaction; stubbornness.

According to legend many years ago Buddha summoned all the animals in the kingdom to his side. Only twelve showed up. The Dragon was the Fifth one to appear to Buddha and, to compensate the dozen animals that answered Buddha’s request, they were each awarded a year in the Chinese calendar, and the years were assigned in the order that the animal appeared to Buddha.

The first was the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and finally the Pig.

For the people of China the Dragon is a national emblem, he symbolizes the emperor or the male, a symbol of power and strength. Those born in the year of the Dragon are said to wear the Horns of Destiny.

The Dragon is the splendid and magnificent leader of the carnival who brings with him four great blessings, long life; virtue; harmony and wealth.

For the rest of the Dragon horoscope, to learn of other famous people born under the sign of the dragon and to discover the relationship between the Dragon and Gemini, please click here to (more…)