Fan Fare
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
New Greatest Hits Dual Disc to Be Released
Thursday, January 5th, 2006CD Universe has announced a new Greatest Hits CD/DVD due to be released on January 31st.
If you get it, please let us know what you think.
Note: We’re not sure if this is authorized by Tom Jones Enterprises, so we have no idea of the quality. Just wanted to let you know it’s out there.
January 6th, 2006 at 7:47 am
Just had a look at the track listing and it seems to be one of those compilations from the early 80s Canadian TV series that I love to hate!
Alarm bells ring whenever I see Do Ya Think I’m Sexy or any duets with the likes of Cybil Shepherd. These albums are often passed off as ‘live’ shows rather than dodgy old audio transfers from early 80’s TV, or else they are sold as ‘Greatest Hits’ which I’m sure a lot fans assume will be a compilation of the original studio recordings. Also the musical arrangements in these shows were often bizarre with disco beats and synth sounds piled onto songs that weren’t suited to that kind of musical makeover.
Tom recently said on this site that the series wasn’t “very good,” so you don’t have to take just my word for it! His official site posted something a long while ago warning of “unofficial recordings.” Although Tom doesn’t get royalties from these recordings I’m sure they’re legal releases (just the result of a bad contract in the 80’s). The problem I’ve always had with them is that they were nowhere near the standard of production you expect from one of Tom’s shows. Productions like The Right Time, For One Night Only and Live at Cardiff Castle are a different matter.
By the way, fans of Tom’s sequin jackets in this series should note that the disc has a DVD on the reverse according to the ad!
Bye!
January 10th, 2006 at 7:47 am
MHarding is right on (and very funny too!). We have a couple of DVDs of the Canadian shows and they are downright comical to watch. A particularly excruciatingly one has just duets with mostly one-hit-wonders from the 80’s. The upside is they have some gems if you can hang in there: the one with Tina Turner — she is so amazing! She was practically the only one that could compete vocally AND /w stage presence on the same level with TJ. The sequin jackets…. ’nuff said. The backup dancers… one must see the humour lest one becomes immediately ill. LOL
On the upside tho, since I’ve only admired TJ seriously for the last few years, it is fabulous to see how he looked when he was younger. He is still a powerhouse, but back then — WOOHOO! He is/was gorgeous, sexy and fabulous and the DVDs do give me a chance to see him in a completely different light, as it were :)) I actually like his voice better now than back in the day - go figure.
Jonesin’ for Tom,
Fay
January 15th, 2006 at 12:08 am
How many times and how many ways will Tom’s TV show from the early 80’s be packaged AND repackaged? Come on already. How about NEW stuff? Like: One Night Only; the Pontypridd concert from 2005; the ENTIRE TJ & John Farnham concert; the concert shot at House of Blues in Cleveland, OH Nov. 2005.
January 15th, 2006 at 10:48 am
To be fair I don’t think it’s TJ Enterprises that are rereleasing all this old stuff. Because Tom doesn’t get royalties from the releases there’s a free-for-all in which distributers left, right and centre can make a bundle on releasing his old material without paying him.
You’re right though, I can’t believe how many versions of these compilations we continue to see, often divided into different musical styles (blues collections, funk, country, etc), sometimes as duets albums to cash in on Reload and even sold as live Las Vegas shows.
I’d like to see the full Ohio show on DVD too.
February 10th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
PLEASE give us something new to watch. I look at the old DVD’s while I workout and I need to see Tom as he performs now, not twenty years ago. From the information that was gathered, the age of the fans of Tom are the people with the means to buy music. Come on, give us something to buy. I love Tom but I am tired of watching him from years back.
February 10th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
I saw Tom for the first time in ‘71, and have recently rediscovered his amazing appeal. I need to make up for lost time, so I would love to see all the older things along with more current preformances. Old or new it really doesn’t matter, because I just can’t get enough. Problem is so much of it is not available in the U.S. I know many of these things can be found on line, but not everyone is comfortable with giving credit info or the rate exchange. Why can’t we walk into a U.S. stores and easily find Tom? We are not talking about an oldies act here, we are talking about THE TOM JONES! Where is the respect he deserves? The market is there, and we have money to spend, please give us more outlets to do so.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:27 am
I would really like to buy a DVD with his new show at the age he is now! Please Tom I think you are missing a great marketing opportunity! He is at his best right now! We love you TOM.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:52 am
The DVD’s Live at Cardiff Castle and An Audience With Tom Jones are the most recent ones that I have purchased and they are wonderful. They are both in the 2004(?)range (Tom without beard). As the moderators here on the site suggest, look on eBay and amazon.com to find these. They are well worth your research.
February 16th, 2006 at 8:25 am
I ordered both on ebay and Amazon and had to return as they were not Zone 1 (U.S.) can not play on DVD in U.S. Amazon states they do not have any Zone 1 in stock. SO beware. I hate to receive something by mail, get excited when I receive and then not be able to use it. Especially TOM JONES!!! Would love if TJI would get Tom to sell his wares on their website!