This Is Tom Jones debuted on February 7, 1969. It featured a Tom Jones totally in command of his material and, very obviously and charmingly, in awe of, and delighted by, many of his guests. When the the first of the three DVD sets (seven DVDs in all) of the show came out in April, 2009, they turned out to bring back wonderful memories. It’s difficult to believe it was 43 years ago, isn’t it? Below is a review of the DVDs — devoted fans may see them differently — and some info about the DVDs and ordering them. Enjoy!

A Hip Shaker in His Prime, Among Hip Friends

By GREG EVANS| Published: April 13, 2008 | New York Times

Stevie Wonder with Tom Jones on an episode of the 1969-71 variety show This Is Tom Jones.
Photo: Everett Collection

If there’s another singer who could credibly share a stage with the likes of Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder — and come through with dignity intact, as Mr. Jones did more often than not in his 1969-71 television variety show — please contact Simon Cowell ASAP.

With episodes (actually partial episodes, even better) now available in several DVD sets,This Is Tom Jones unearths some vintage pop nuggets that, if not as history-making as Elvis on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” at least recall a time when popular music was an infinitely more unruly contest than it’s become in the 21st century. Proof? Take a look at Joe Cocker, in his snarling, disturbing, full-on spastic mode, then watch June Carter Cash, looking and sounding so authentically country that she makes a joke of Reese Witherspoon’s perky portrayal in Walk the Line.

Divided into two three-disc volumes, Rock ’n’ Roll Legends and the more mainstream “Legendary Performers” (a single-disc Christmas-theme volume is hardly worth mentioning), the episodes have their share of dated production numbers and kitschy mod fashions. (Check out the skin-tight sky-blue spacesuit Mr. Jones wears while singing Fly Me to the Moon.) But music, straight up, is the draw here.

In the solo mini-concerts that end each episode, Mr. Jones, whose popularity among the casino crowd holds strong today, occasionally reduces his mostly female, mostly old-enough-to-know-better audiences to near Beatles-at-Shea hysterics. His sexed-up, hip-shaking performances of his hits (It’s Not Unusual, Delilah, What’s New, Pussycat?) remain vital, Watusi moves notwithstanding.

But it’s the duets that steal the shows, whether comfortable (Mr. Jones with the ever-relaxed Mr. Bennett), compatible (an enraptured Mr. Jones with his idol Jerry Lee Lewis) or downright odd (that would be the

Tom and Janis sang Raise Your Hand.

Each guest also performs without the host, with the brash rockers generally outdoing the more traditional popsters of the “Legendary Performers” set. The Who, even in a black-and-white kinescope (the only available version of the episode, a shame given the fine color prints of the others), are all adolescent vigor and vinegar slamming through Pinball Wizard, while a radiant Aretha Franklin, soaring on I Say a Little Prayer, and Stevie Wonder, on the threshold of his most innovative work, can break your heart with the depth of their young genius. By comparison a hippiefied Bobby Darin, tame Diahann Carroll and pre-Cabaret Liza Minnelli, all on the Legendary Performers set, come up short.

Speaking of short, the running time on these discs is too often inexcusably skimpy, particularly on “Legendary Performers.” The original hourlong (including commercials) episodes are whittled down to an average of 30 minutes or so. Fine, since few will miss Minnie Pearl’s routine from the Cash episode, and fewer still would clamor for more comedy from the Ace Trucking Company (a baby-faced Fred Willard and Bill Saluga, that guy who did the “You can call me Ray” bit notwithstanding). But some of these discs contain barely an hour’s worth of material, and extras are few and far between.

At least Mr. Jones, tanned and fit nearly 40 years on, provides new introductions to the “Rock ’n’ Roll Legends” episodes. (Who doesn’t have time for another “Keith Moon nearly fell off the stage” story?) But he’s absent from the “Legendary Performances” discs. If Johnny, June and Jerry Lee don’t merit some backstage gossip, who does?

Queen Latifah, Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan hosted the 1995 American Music Awards.

That’s Welshman Tom Jones, an entertainer who refuses to join the Over-the-Hill Gang.

Jones teams up with country music’s Lorry Morgan and rapper Queen Latifah to emcee the three-hour ABC broadcast of the 22nd annual awards, which cover the full gamut of popular music — country, soul, heavy metal, hard rock, rhythm and blues, rap, hip hop, you name it.

Jones has been there, done much of it. He has refused to become a museum piece, stuck in the nostalgia of the ’60s. Oh, he’ll still sing the oldies for the grandmothers who once threw their panties onstage. But he also updates hepertoire.

His re-emergence began in 1988 when he recorded the Prince tune Kiss with the British avant-pop group, the Art of Noise. It restored Jones to the charts and his video won an MTV award.

“Since I made Kiss and got records back in the top 40 again, the general public is rediscovering me,” he said.

Based in Los Angeles since 1976, Jones plays 200 dates a year, averaging 10 months on the road. Doesn’t that get a bit tired for a 54 year-old?

“No,” he said emphatically. “Being on stage is physical, but it’s not as physical as being an athlete. I can still do what I’ve always done.”

“I have a guy here in the house in Los Angeles, a gym in my house in Wales. I’m in there most days, trying to keep it together.”

Doesn’t he get tired of singing It’s Not Unusual and other chestnuts after 30 years?

“No, I don’t, because the audience keeps them alive,” he insisted. “I don’t sing them in the shower anymore. If I was in a club and they asked me to get up, I would prefer to do stuff that I wouldn’t ordinarily do — a blues song or a country song.”

“But if I go to see somebody like Jerry Le Lewis, whom I’ve always liked, and he didn’t do Great Balls of Fire, I’d say, ‘What’s up?’ I feel the same way. The big hits I always keep in. Delilah is always there, Unusual is always there, The Green Green Grass of Home, What’s New Pussycat? the big ones are always there.

“It’s funny, because I have a new album out. I do most of the album onstage, plus the old songs, and they all seem to work. I slip the old songs in amongst the new ones. The old songs are still powerful; they don’t seem dated to me.”

He never tired of travel, he claims, “except if I get physically tired. I’m just getting over a cold now. I had a bit of bronchitis when I got back from a British tour…I never take long periods of time off. After about two weeks, I want to get back.”

Thomas Jones [sic] Woodward has been on the move ever since he left his hometown of Pontypridd in 1963. Songwriter Gordon Mills convinced the young singer to try his luck in London with the name Tom Jones, cashing in on the popular Albert Finney movie. Mills and Les Reed wrote It’s Not unusual for him, and that’s all it took.

He received a Grammy as Best Newcomer in 1965, and tours of Europe and America consolidated his fame. His tight pants, gyrating hips and adoring fans launched a thousands quips by TV comedians.

This is Tom Jones became a TV hit in Britain, and an ABC show ran from 1969 to 1971. Jones became a fixture in the Nevada sin spots and in concerts around the world.

And the beat goes on.

“In the ’70s, I was doing a lot of shows in the States, things like Madison Square Garden and the L.A. Forum, 20,000-seaters,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Labour government got in and the taxes went nuts. So I thought, ‘I’m making my living basically in America and then taking the money back to Britain for no reason, just for staying there a couple of months.’

“So I settled here, my son married an American girl, and I’ve got two American grandchildren.”

Five and a half years ago, Jones and wife Linda were staying in a Cardiff hotel during a British tour. “It seems strange staying in a hotel when we come back to where we lived,” she remarked.

So they bought a house and periodically return to his roots in the hills of Wales.

Will.i.am praises his ‘igloo-cool’ fellow The Voice coach Tom Jones

TellyMix.co.uk | January 27, 2012 | by Matt Scott

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am has praised his fellow The Voice panellist Tom Jones, describing the Welsh singer as ‘igloo-cool’!

The 36-year-old rapper gushed about him in an interview with The Mirror, stating: “Tom Jones is a frickin’ legend. He’s like ‘Damn, man, let me tell you all about the time me and Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra hung out.

“And then the time I partied with Elvis, we were rocking’.

“I love working with him, he’s too cool. Tom Jones is like igloo-cool.”

He also had kind words for the other two coaches, describing The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue as ‘dope’ and ‘talented’, and adding that he’d like to make a song with ‘fresh’ talent Jessie J.

The Voice UK, which will be presented by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates, launches on BBC One in the Spring.

It’s nice to know that the hundreds and hundreds of people who visit are a lot smarter and heaps nicer than Goo Moo. As your moderator, I want to say loudly and clearly and emphatically that I appreciate each of you.

The show, they were told, will be on the air in March but no date was given. They apparently fell a bit behind schedule that first day — but it is TV where that does happen — and KT said that she’ll send more details later — check back later today — but that “Tom looked great but nervous. Tom got the first girl who was on to coach. She’s a very intense singer.”

On Saturday, KT said, “Tom was more laid back and looked even better than the first night. He wore black jeans, a black jacket, black jeans and boots. Security was very tight with security people planted in the audience. They said they’d track down anyone who posted anything on Twitter and FB.The audience was full of fans and they cheered every time he said anything. Tom also said, since Etta James had died Friday, he wanted to find someone like her.”

“This time they talked more to the contestants. We saw nine singers this time. Each coach is allowed to pick 10 singers. Tom has one duo and the rest are all girls.”

Meanwhile, according to the Irish network RTÉ the coaches — Tom Jones, Will. I. Am, Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue — performed together.

The coaches on The Voice UK formed a supergroup to launch the forthcoming BBC talent show, according to a report.

The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue, Jessie J, Tom Jones and will.i.am teamed up to perform a version of the Black Eyed Peas hit single I Gotta Feeling, according to The Sun.

Their performance took place during auditions at the BBC Television Centre in London on Thursday, an onlooker told the newspaper.

The source said: “It was incredible to see such big names in music perform together. Hopefully this has set the bar for the rest of the show.

“Everyone was jumping out of their seats and dancing along. It was really exciting. The whole concept seems to be very different from The X Factor, which will be very refreshing.”

The Voice UK is expected to air on BBC One in the Spring.

It’s a perfect song to mark the beginning of the show. I saw the Black Eyed Peas do it in October 2009 when they opened for U2 here in Las Vegas. You can listen to the original and judge for yourself if you agree that it’s a fine number. Click here to listen to I Gotta Feeling.

Maybe the next party song they do as a group can be the number from 24 Hours that Tom used to close his show in 2010, Take Me Back To The Party.

The first chance to get FREE tickets to see Tom on The Voice! The dates are Wed 18th Jan 2012 – Time: 13:15; Thu 19th Jan 2012 – Time: 13:15; Sat 21st Jan 2012 – Time: 13:15; Sun 22nd Jan 2012 – Time: 13:15. You must be 18 or over to attend. (I believe these are the dates the show will be recorded, not broadcast.)

If you can be there, you may want to visit the Applausestore.com for free tickets to The Voice. After you register, just move your cursor to the right and click The Voice on the list of shows. More dates will be announced soon. (Thanks, Chas)

First, let’s take a moment to think of Elvis Presley on this day that would have been his 77th birthday. He lives on through his music and we’re still so fortunate that he shared it with us!

Their fans know Tom and Elvis were great friends — singing gospel together and gaining inspiration from each other.

Their friendship is part of the reason we’ve been given such wonderful gifts of music from each of them.

We are, indeed, fortunate, aren’t we?

MORE NEWS! The record — yes! the vinyl! — Tom recorded with Jack White will be released on March 7 and will be available digitally on iTunes the same day. Come back for the next post (Tuesday) for more news about that. (By the way, you can see Jack White Monday night in the USA on American Pickers on the History Channel. It’s on a few times, so check listings.)

So, of course, with a release date announced, this recording happening and we apparently don’t, in this instance, have to wait for the “OFFICIAL” word that it’s true. Though dozens of news organizations have carried stories about this. OFFICIAL Tom Jones is still touting those recipes (in which you learn that the “ingredient in pork shank” is — wait for it! — “pork shank”). You’d think they’d care more about discussing a much-anticipated recording than telling his fans what Sir Tom enjoyed eating last year. Really.

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Tom Jones ends his 42-year love affair with Las Vegas

Wales On Sunday | 8 January 2012

HE’S made everything from the Statue Of Liberty to part of the Orient Express disappear, but now David Copperfield has gone one bigger – he’s made Sir Tom Jones vanish from Las Vegas.

The award-winning US illusionist has taken over from the Voice Of The Valleys’ resident Vegas slot –putting an end to the legendary Ponty singer’s record-breaking 42-year run.

But, for the legion of fans who’ve made the pilgrimage to Sin City to catch Jones in action since his 1969 debut at The Flamingo Hotel, the biggest mystery is why the singer seems to have voluntarily given up his crown as The King of The Strip.

“People would literally come from all over the world to see him here and they just can’t get their heads around why this decision’s been made, I know I can’t,” said Ellen Sterling, the Vegas-based journalist behind the online US fansite dedicated to the star, www.tomjonesintl.com

“The Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand is a wonderful, intimate venue and would always be packed out for Tom. It was much more than just your standard gig experience too, because you could rub shoulders with Tom by the hotel pool and in the restaurant or casino.

“He’d always be very accessible and would happily pose for pictures, sign autographs or just have a chat – he’d would never fail to be polite and welcoming.”

And Sterling estimated that Sir Tom’s tally of Vegas appearances since that first late 60s foray probably ran into thousands.

“I once counted all my ticket stubs from 2005 to 2010 and figured out Tom was doing roughly about 10 weeks there each year, that’s about 140 shows every 12 months,” she said.

“In August 2010, the last time Tom came here, the tickets were $92.50 – but even then the majority of his 14-night stint was sold out, with the remaining shows close to the 700-seat capacity. So it’s not like he was failing to do good box office business.”

However, there is speculation that the move could be a further attempt to reinvent Jones’ credibility and image away from that of the medallion-wearing, hen-party favourite.

It was announced late last year that Sir Tom would be a “mentor” on new BBC talent show The Voice.

The 71-year-old performer recently ditched the hair dye to embrace his natural grey look, as well as taking a new musical direction on his 2010 album Praise & Blame.

It was also announced this week he would be teaming up with former White Stripes frontman Jack White to cover the Howlin’ Wolf song Evil.

“Put it this way, I don’t think anything that happens in Tom’s career happens by accident, everything is subject to careful thought and planning and I’d imagine that’s the case here too,” said Sterling.

“Ultimately, only those who manage Tom’s career can say why this has happened, but I know there are lots who’ve been deeply saddened by the news.”

And the sentiment was borne out by many of the subscribers to Sterling’s website.

One, calling herself SusannePDX, said: “Tom has callously tossed aside his old band (Jones ditched his veteran backing group for a younger model in 2009) and now us. Happy New Year Tom!”.

Meanwhile, Cyndy Stiff wrote, “This is heartbreaking. Tom is so loved over here and I just feel like he or his management have turned their backs on all of us.”

Another posted: “Stunned and saddened, my Vegas trips were the highlight of the year,” while one Llantrisant-born Californian called Shirley recalled first seeing Jones live in his early days at Wood Road Working Men’s Club in Pontypridd.

“We could only afford to have one night out a week and we always made it one of the nights Tom would be singing somewhere,” she said.

“Since moving abroad though, I saw Tom at the MGM almost every time he played. He’s been part of my life for so long and I never thought that would end.”

Jones’ management were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Jack White and Tom Jones collaborate. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Jon Furniss/Getty

Big News! This is in every online music site that deals with this kind of music and lots of newspapers. It’s great for Sir Tom and can go a long way in reestablishing a very credible presence for him — no more “crooner” perhaps? — in North America.

For example: from Rolling Stone.com January 5, 2012 6:45 PM ET:

Jack White to Collaborate with Tom Jones
It’s Not Unusual singer joins White’s Third Man Records 7-inch single series

The latest collaborator in Jack White’s unusual arsenal? None other than Tom Jones, the contemporary Welsh crooner behind such pop hits as “It’s Not Unusual.”

Jones will join White’s Third Man Records in its Blue Series, which has pressed special one-off 7-inch singles from Insane Clown Posse, Stephen Colbert and other guest artists. Jones rerecorded Jezebel, a track from his 2002 album Mr. Jones, and also tackled the blues great Howlin’ Wolf with a cover of Evil.

A release date for his Blue Sessions disc has not been announced, but the sessions went well; White reportedly said of the 71-year-old pop icon, “He impressed the shit out of everybody.”

Meanwhile, White’s Third Man has also reached a business deal with Document Records to reissue the blues label’s albums on deluxe vinyl. The first release will be a compilation featuring early 20th-century blues musicians Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell and others.

If you are not familiar with Jack White, Rolling Stone says: “Weird and passionate, with burning eyes and an old man’s sensibilities, Jack White spent the 2000s going from promising garage-rocker to international rock star. He was one of the most important guitarists of the decade — on the strength of his forcefulness and ingenuity rather than virtuosity — as well as a great conceptualizer and a top-flight songwriter who could draw on a seemingly bottomless bag of riffs and melodies.” You can also check his official website, White Stripes.com.

Moderator’s Note: Of course Tom was impressive. According to the Third Man Records website: Singers and bands that are traveling through Nashville, are invited to stop by to record one or two songs at Third Man Studio to be produced by Jack White. The songs are then, as soon as possible, made available on 7” vinyl and digitally on iTunes. The cover photos are taken in Third Man’s “blue room” photo studio/live venue.

The first thing I bought that White produced was the Loretta Lynn album, Van Lear Rose. It was wonderful and, as someone who really loves vinyl, I love the idea of a 45! Of course, we’ll have to file this under “Rumor or Reality,” but I’m sure it’s true and it will show very soon up on OFFICIAL Tom Jones, as it should.

So, what do you all think of this?

For a vintage 1980s article about Tom’s allegedly favorite recipe/meal, please click here to

From OFFICIAL Tom Jones, January 4:

Whilst Tom was performing in St. Petersburg recently, he visited the Dickens Pub where he enjoyed a meal of Bavarian style Pork Shanks with Bacon Lentils, courtesy of proprietor James Wheeler.
We thought we’d share the recipe with you, so you can enjoy a meal that Tom has too!

Bavarian style Pork Shanks with Bacon Lentils à la Dickens Pub
Port Shank Ingredients: Pork Shanks
Marinade: Lager Beer, Garlic, Salt, Worcester Sauce, Honey, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage.

To Prepare: (This is a time-consuming recipe!)
1. Bind the shanks in cling-film (Saran Wrap in USA) or cooking twine to hold the meat to the bone during the first cooking process.
2. Poach in slightly salted water for 3½ hours, then allow to rest for another ½ hour in the un-heated liquid.
3. Remove the bindings from the cooked shanks, drain & place them in the beer-herb marinade solution for at least 6 hours.
4. The shanks will need a further 20 minutes in the oven at around 170 C.
Tip: Splash the marinade onto the skins at the end of this cooking process in the oven to add caramel flavours.

Bacon Lentils Ingredients Lentils: Brown, Green, or Le Puy (75g per person); Bay leaf;
Following ingredients as much as desired – to taste: Bacon, Onion, Garlic,Thyme,Butter

To prepare:
1. Boil same amount of water (/stock if desired,) as lentils. Add lentils, bring to boil again then cover and simmer with a bay leaf for a further 20 minutes.
2. Cook the chopped bacon, chopped onions, garlic and thyme in a deep casserole pan. Until browned then add butter to the mix.
3. When the lentils are cooked add them to the casserole dish and mix with the rest of the ingredients. The butter will help to spread the flavour through the lentils.
4. Add a table-spoon of double cream to the bacon, onions and, garlic and mix, before the lentils finally join them. (Tablespoon/person).
5. Make sure the lentils are warmed through. Ladle into shallow bowl dish, place the pork shank on top, serve and enjoy.

Stories like this were quite common before the late 1980s. Magazines and newspapers were always telling readers about the secret home life of a star, a favorite recipe or anything to make a reader believe they could live like a star because, after all, movie stars, singing idols, TV actors are just like us, aren’t they? It’s not, of course, that entertainers didn’t do things mere mortals did, but no way did they live the same kind of lives. Here’s an example of that originally posted on TJI in July, 2008 but, as long as we’re talking recipes:

Johna Blinn had a newspaper column called Cooking With The Stars. Obviously, she’d feature recipes that were allegedly the favorites of celebrities of the day. (We can find records of recipes of Woody Allen, Natalie Wood and — remember him? — Caesar Romero, among others.) Here’s one “from” Tom Jones in 1981 — curried chicken.

The interview, One must say, has a ring of truth to it, but who actually gave her the interview is open to question. And we know Brits are among those who, in general, tend to love curries. But, can we imagine Tom Jones serving up a “heaping plate” of curried chicken delight “Welsh-style?”

Tom Jones with his newly signed Flamingo contract, 1968.

Tom with Mary Pascale the first time she came from New York to Las Vegas to see him perform.

In today’s (January 29th) Las Vegas Review Journal Weatherford writes about “Two Las Vegas Legends” leaving The Strip, comic Shecky Green (“forced”) and Tom Jones (“retiring voluntarily”). He tells of an issue with Greene’s last appearance here and then says:

But some fans of Tom Jones claim that barring a last-minute miracle, 2011 will break the eternal sex god’s streak of performing on the Strip every year since 1968. It should be said that Jones has played only a handful of U.S. shows this year, but here in town David Copperfield basically took over the MGM Grand theater Jones has played for years.

Would it rub salt in the wound to mention that age-old rival Engelbert Humperdinck returned to the Strip this year after an exile in the suburbs?

Moderator’s Note: So unless Tom shows up in the next two days and plays a public gig in Las Vegas, the book on his record is closed. That is so sad because fans come to see him there from around the world — literally “from around the world” — and Tom has said many times that enjoys playing Las Vegas.

*NOLA=New Orleans, Louisiana

There are two (2) calendars remaining for sale. If you want one, please hurry!

Tom’s official site commented on the story that he’ll be doing a sitcom next year. The “exclusive” story in The Sun said in part:

“The 71-year-old — famous for being pelted with knickers while on stage — will be fought over by a number of women of a certain age.

“The new show, provisionally titled King Of Neds, will air on Sky Arts.”

From Tom’s official site Tuesday comes a comment:

TJ.com Comments on The Sun’s “Tom Jones to play ageing lothario” Article

December 13th, 2011 | By TomJones.com

Regarding the article published in The Sun newspaper on December 12: this is a piece full of misinformation and inaccuracies. Check this space early next year for an announcement about this exciting project from Sky TV.

Moderator’s Note: One might assume that Management was upset about remarks in the article about Tom’s personal life. Also, I know for a solid fact that Tom’s management does not like any announcement about his career that does not come from them. While that may be understandable, in today’s world it’s pretty difficult to contain news of general interest. As a journalist and a publicist (I don’t ever write about what I publicize) I am very, very aware that the person who releases the story has most control over it. Right now, this story is controlled by the tabloid press. That’s why a professional publicist who knows how to deal with such breaks may well be very a necessary addition to the Mnagement’s team.

Whatever, if the show happens with that cast, Sir Tom is in good company. Brenda Blethyn is a terrific actor, seen in Secrets and Lies, Little Voice, A River Runs Through It and many other films of note. Steadman, too, (The Singing Detective) is also an award-winning actress. It should be terrific.

It is also worth noting for TJ fans in the USA that a sitcom series in the UK is not an entire 32 week season as it is here. There, a season is six or seven weekly episodes so that, at least, is good news.

Finally, which Jones? Yahoo UK& Ireland asks “Who’s your favourite Tom – Jones or Hanks…?” You might want to cast a vote for Jones. He didn’t do well in the first eight responses. There are a couple of days left to answer.

Tom Jones @ 1969

On November 20, 1968, at 5:30 a.m., an explosion in a West Virginia coal mine was so large it was felt 12 miles away. At the time there were 99 miners inside. Of those, 21 managed to escape and the other 78 were lost. Of those who died, 19 bodies were never recovered.

Talking about the disaster the following January, Tom Jones said, “My father was a coal miner. He didn’t seem to mind, but I wouldn’t do it. As soon as I made some money, I tried to get him out. He wouldn’t listen. He was the father and didn’t believe I could support him and my mother — and my own wife and son — by singing. So I got my mother to work on him; he quit. He just learned to drive a ca. It’s a good time they having, but he still talks about the old mining days as though he missed them.”