Tom Jones International

This is from Free Times, an alternative arts newspaper. Even if we don’t agree with his review of the show or Tom’s need “to retire his stage act someday soon.” the writer makes some interesting points about the next generation. Is there anyone else out there today? In the next generation? What do you think? (And, for the record, we don’t want to think about Tom retiring.)

Tom Jones House of Blues Friday, Nov. 25

Tom Jones kicked off the second show of a three-night House of Blues stand singing Tom Jones International, a newer, techno-funk ditty about, well, himself. The chemistry of that ridiculous self-promotional song and the rest of the evening demonstrated how a 65-year-old guy gets away with acting like a rock-hipster sex symbol: do whatever you do with relentless passion, but don’t take yourself too seriously, and make the changing times adapt to you, and not vice versa. He delivered a trademark recipe consisting of his own hits (Delilah), soulful rock covers (Mama Told Me Not to Come), libidinous raps (Sexbomb) and the occasional sentimental song about mom (Green, Green Grass of Home). His fiery, tight, 11-piece backing band was polished enough to be classy but not sterile or artificial.

Women’s panties twirled like lassos above the crowd as Jones swiveled his hips and belted out tunes in a way that proved soul transcends skin color. A middle block of slow numbers dragged on a bit too long, but Jones interjected a rousing What’s New Pussycat? to revitalize the final stretch. His under-90-minute set concluded with a thundering Kiss, using a nearly identical arrangement to his recorded version of the Prince tune, complete with Art of Noise song fragments.

While he still pulled off his “sex bomb” shtick impossibly well for his age, there’s no hiding that Jones will be forced to retire his stage act someday soon. And unfortunately, no one new has really surfaced to move the tradition of charismatic, Sinatra-grade male performers into the rock era. What’s the closest thing we have to a new Tom Jones? Harry Connick Jr.? Ricky Martin?!? Unpromisingly, the best contemporary equivalent to wild, sweaty, larger-than-life showmen is obscure cult artists like Quintron.

Jones is already booked well into 2006, and hopefully he’ll be able to return to Cleveland someday. If not, the lucky attendees at his three House of Blues dates at least had a blast experiencing a legendary performer one last time, and with that, the end of an entertainment era.

— Michael David Toth

In October, Annamarie and Dale traveled from the UK to be married in Las Vegas. On their wedding night they had front row tickets to see Tom at MGM. They’d written to his management to ask for a meeting that night. Here’s what happened:

On our wedding day we went to see Tom at the MGM Grand and someone from Tom’s management came to us before the show to say that Tom was not meeting anyone backstage that night, but gave us a signed photo of Tom.

That was nice but things got better. As we left after the show, we saw Tom getting into his limo. He recognised us because we were wearing our wedding gear and we had been sitting on the front row. He asked us to go back inside where we had a chat about the wedding and a few photos. Annamarie even had a kiss!

It was a great end to a great day.

Dale & Annamarie

LIGHTING CEREMONY

Santa and Tom Jones will kick off Winterfest

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Friday, November 25, 2005

Every holiday for 21 years, Clevelanders have looked forward to the official Public Square lighting ceremony, parade and Santa’s arrival.

This year, the 22nd annual Winterfest Lighting Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday with animated holiday classics on a JumboTron video screen.

At 6 p.m., Santa will arrive on the square to lead the crowd in carols and the lighting, and then the parade with more than 50 horse-drawn carriages. Among those joining Santa will be singer Tom Jones, this year’s parade grand marshal. Fireworks will follow.

Revelers can take part in other activities in and around the square, including a choral performance with the Singers Club of Cleveland in the Old Stone Church and the all-female a cappella choral group Bravuras from Hathaway Brown performing on East Fourth Street.

For more, visit www.cleveland.com/winterfest.

P.S.: Here’s a photo of TJ at the parade taken, as you can see, from a TV news report. A bit blurry, but he looks festive, doesn’t he? If you have a better photo, please send it on so we can post it. Thanks.

Let me start by saying I love your website. It is awesome, great, and looks like you have dedicated a lot of time and energy to it. I enjoy visiting it.

I saw Tom in Westbury Sunday night, November 13th. I had the aisle runway seat and was in the second row from the stage — awesome seats. He is just getting better and better, although I wish he would switch some of the songs and maybe get a new outfit.

But I love him and his voice he is amazing and a gift from God. I could see him every night in concert and never get bored.

There was a man there who was on the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars that Tom was on in 1965. I think he said his band’s name was the Jive Five. All I know that the man name was Beatrice Best. He stood up and everyone clapped. There was also a woman in audience the saw Tom perform in a pub in Pontypridd in 1957 and that was intresting. I was thinking, “OMG, I was not even born yet,” (LOL) but Tom seemed to enjoy her story.

Maggie

Long Island

Hello Ellen and Ursula,

Great site you’ve got there. I’ve been a fan of Tom Jones for many years, and finally had the opportunity to interview him (by phone) for a feature that ran in Delaware’s News Journal over the weekend. Let me know what you think, and feel free to add it to your site.

Keep up the good work,

Joe Szczechowski

P.S. It was a great show — first time I’ve seen him live. I was very impressed. If I have time over the weekend, I’ll post a review to your site.

Tom Jones escapes his lounge image

By JOE SZCZECHOWSKI

Special to The News Journal 11/13/2005

Tom Jones has always had an image problem. Even as far back as the late ’60s, when early hits like It’s Not Unusual, Delilah, Help Yourself, and What’s New Pussycat sold millions of records, younger fans who knew Jones mainly from his ABC television variety show saw him as a throwback to the Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra-style singers their parents liked.

The hits kept coming in the ’70s, but the singer, whose on-stage gyrations would elicit screams (and sometimes undergarments) from the females in his audience, couldn’t shake the Las Vegas lounge singer label. Then, sometime in the ’80s, a funny thing happened — Tom Jones became cool.

Perhaps it was because Jones, born Thomas John Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, never took himself or his overwrought persona too seriously. Or maybe it had more to do with his undeniably powerful voice and a musical repertoire that included pop, rock, soul, R&B and country. In Britain, contemporary artists had started acknowledging Jones as an influence. It’s Not Unusual was re-released and became a hit again. In 1988, he collaborated with British techno-pop group The Art of Noise on a cover of Prince’s Kiss. The song became Jones’s first worldwide Top 40 hit in more than 10 years, and the accompanying video won the “Breakthrough Video” MTV Award.

At age 65, Jones, who performs in Wilmington on Thursday, is still dealing with image problems. He may be older, but he’s far from an oldies act. These days, he has a harder time convincing American record companies than fans of that fact.

“With me and other entertainers of my age, unless you’ve been selling records continuously, record companies in this country are frightened to take a chance with you,” Jones says.

As an example, he points to his 1999 British release, Reload, a collection of collaborations with artists like Robbie Williams, the Pretenders, Barenaked Ladies, Van Morrison, and Simply Red covering songs like Burning Down the House, Lust for Life, and Never Tear Us Apart. The Reload album sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, but was never released in the United States.

“I thought we were bound to do a deal with an American company, because it had been successful everywhere else,” Jones says. But still they came up with excuses. I was told that there were too many European artists who were not known in the States on the album. We did have offers, but they weren’t good enough. We didn’t feel that they were going to put enough effort behind the CD, and we just didn’t want to put it out for the sake of putting it out.”

As a compromise, Universal Records released Reloaded: Greatest Hits in 2003, a 19-song retrospective that included six tracks from Reload, and a mix of old and newer hits.

“Universal got behind it because of the classic hits that are on there, so I think it was a good way to introduce some of the newer things that I’d recorded that a lot of the American listeners hadn’t heard,” Jones says.

Jones continues to record albums that American fans have to buy as imports. His most recent are 2002’s Mr. Jones, which was produced by the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean, and last year’s Tom Jones and Jools Holland, a blues collection featuring the ex-Squeeze keyboard player. Recent releases by Paul Anka and Neil Diamond aside, among his contemporaries Jones’ continued productivity is a rarity.

“I like a lot of modern music,” he says. “I like a lot of new producers. So it’s something that I listen to. When I hear a great-sounding record, I want to know who produced it. That’s why I want to work with modern producers. That’s why I did a CD with Wyclef Jean.”

The Mr. Jones sessions also marked the first time in his 40-year career that Jones co-wrote some of his material.

“I need suggestions,” he admits. With Wyclef, he would suggest something, and then bring it out of me. He would say, ‘I’ve got an idea for a groove, an idea for a song.’ Then he would explain the concept to me and ask me to put it into words.”

Jones believes the key to his success is that he has never tried to emulate another singer, no matter what style of music he sings.

“I’ve been influenced by a lot of singers, but I’ve never tried to copy anybody,” he says. “When It’s Not Unusual first came out, it was being played in this country on black radio stations, because they thought I was black. I wasn’t trying to sound like any of the great blues or soul singers. I was doing it in my own way.” Because of his eclectic taste in music, Jones has always enjoyed working with other artists.

“When I had my TV show on ABC in the late ’60s, early ’70s, ABC realized that I could do all kinds of music, and I could do duets with all styles of music artists,” he says. “ABC was pushing for more middle-of-the-road people, and I was always pushing for rock singers. I got my way, because the TV show was successful. So the idea of doing collaborations with different artists started then.”

Jones says that R&B singer Usher and rap star Nelly have expressed an interest in working with him. “It could happen,” he says. “I could do a CD like Reload with American artists. Who knows, it might even get a record company interested.”

Remember when this sign spontaneously burst into flames? Does anyone remember the story?

After two long years, Tom came back to Long Island, to Westbury or, as it’s now named, the North Fork Theater at Westbury.

He was there for three nights and it was great.

At different times he added Great Balls of Fire, Linda Lu, I (Who Have Nothing), Thunderball and Without Love.

They were such amazing shows. I have seen Tom in that venue since he was first there in 1971 and I have gone to every show since then.

I really don’t remember ever seeing the audience at Westbury as excited and appreciative of Tom’s talent as they were this year.

As an added bonus for me, my sons and their ladies came to the show with me one night and they just couldn’t get over how great Tom is.

Mary

Long Island

Honeymoon in Vegas or The First Time I Saw Tom Jones

It was June 1971. I was newly married to my first husband – coincidentally also a Gemini named Tom (and quite a “sexbomb” at the time) – and we were driving through Las Vegas from the Midwest on our way to our new home in beautiful Burbank, California.

We had agreed that we would not stop in Las Vegas, but merely drive down the famous Strip, as we were running a day or two behind schedule. All that changed when I saw the sign in front of Caesar’s Palace announcing that Tom Jones was there. We had a car full of stuff and a three-month old puppy with us. We were not able to stay at Caesar’s because of the dog, but were able to check into a small motel that was directly across the street. After sneaking the puppy into the motel, wrapped in a baby blanket, we went to Caesar’s and were able (joy!) to purchase tickets for Tom Jones the next night. What a rush!

Since we were both pretty young — I was just 21 years old — we were not wise in the ways of tipping to get good seats. I’m still amazed that, without tipping, we were seated in front of the stage, just to the right of center.

Well, as I said, I was on my honeymoon and very much in love with my Tom. I was so excited to see my first Vegas show. I was thrilled that it was my favorite singer. I had all his albums. He was the only singer not from Motown who I listened to on a regular basis. (My friend Kathy and I used to watch TJ’s show on television before we’d go out and party for the night. He sure did put us in the mood to have fun….)

The music came up. My heart was beating very fast. Here I was in Las Vegas, with my new husband, seeing my favorite singer. Life was good.

Now, I should say that I’m usually known for my composure and level-headedness. I’m not one to scream or act out. When Tom Jones walked out on stage, all the color drained out of my face and my heart was racing. I had met and dated several celebrities in my single days as I worked in concert promotions at a top-rated radio station. I could care less.

However, when Tom walked out on stage I had a completely uncharacteristic reaction. I didn’t know who I was. Just his mere presence elicited a completely unfamiliar reaction in me. When he started to sing, I actually felt like I would faint. My husband Tom was laughing at me. After Tom Jones sang Hard to Handle he stopped and looked at me. He actually came over to where I was sitting and asked my husband if it was okay to give me a kiss. He pulled me up out of my seat and kissed me like I had never been kissed before (by a stranger, anyway). It was a moment I will never forget. The rest of the show seemed to be suspended in time. I kind of floated through the night. That was the beginning of the spell — the spell of the voice, the music and the man.

Thirty four years later, I am still a fan. His voice still has the same affect on me as it did the first time I heard him. Whenever I am a little down, I take a ride in my car and crank up Tom Jones. His voice goes straight to my heart and cheers me up. He’s better than Prozac.

I was one of the people who worked on Tribute to A Legend, the hardcovered book fans who belonged to Jones the Voice wrote and published in a limited edition for Tom. It was a great experience to meet him at the presentation on November 13, 2004 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.

His very enthusiastic “Well, thank you very much!” and his interest in the book made every minute working on it worth it. The fans should be proud of their contributions of stories and photos as Tom was very appreciative.

Without further ado, let’s get down to the juicy stuff: my experience meeting the peerless Tom Jones.

We were called backstage and had to wait for a couple of minutes outside the door. At one point, we were told that Tom specifically asked to meet with us first, before he met with the others waiting to see him. What an honour!

Tom was receptive, gracious and interested in the book. He listened intently as Keith Cooper, owner of JTV described how the book came to be. TJ held the book, read the cover, commented on the photo, and glanced through the book as much as he could (with that line-up of people outside waiting to meet him). He quite liked the pictures and, when told about the controversy about one particular photo, seemed surprised.

“Ooh,” he said, looking at the photo. “I must have been singing a really sexy song.”

He is absolutely charming.

I didn’t feel very nervous, I just didn’t know what I should say (and asked my friends approximately 956 times in the two days prior “What should I say?!”) As it ended up, Tom is so lovely and friendly in a gentle way that I just shook his hand and said “I am so pleased to meet you!” Perfect.

His smile lit up the room, very genuine. His voice is so deep and resonant, I could feel it as much as hear it. My first impression was his size and build. He is so fit and has very broad shoulders. Ladies, to say he is masculine is an understatement. He is groomed impeccably, and has gorgeous skin.

He doesn’t look like his pictures at all, if that makes sense. He’s drop dead gorgeous and has such a sparkle and depth to him, it’s intoxicating. His eyes are so blue and I noticed his eyelashes are lush, crisp and dark as I looked up at him. Tom has a warm and friendly demeanour and is definitely worthy of all of our love and affection. He’s one in 6.4 billion, there is no one else like him on the planet. I want to say I was quivering to the very core of my being but that would sound ridiculous.

Don Archell and Sandy were kind enough to take group pics for us after we presented him the book. We stood together while everybody took a picture on each camera. After a minute or so standing with my arm around his back, and my other hand on his arm, my heart was pounding and I couldn’t contain myself. I blurted out “I’m having fun!!” and he laughed. Very cool!

His show on Sat. night was great, the show on Sunday night ROCKED! The band and back up singers were excellent, as usual. I love the way he can sing different songs from four decades, back-to-back, and the passion with which he delivers them. Nobody connects with their audience like Tom Jones. I have only seen him perform live four times (all in 2004), and I can’t wait until my next opportunity.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this IS Tom Jones.

Dear Ursula and Ellen,

My dad David and I met Tom Jones this past Friday at his show in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He could not have been nicer and we were so ecstatic. The show was excellent. His voice is still so strong and we had a wonderful time. This was the 4th time we have seen him and it’s always a great show!

You guys have a great site! Keep up the good work!

Sincerely, Meredith Cooper