Tom Jones International

JONES TO REVEAL ALL

…SIR TOM JONES is planning to expose the most intimate details of his private life in a new autobiography this year (06).

The Welsh crooner wants to clarify the many rumours surrounding his sexual exploits — and publishers have plunged into a bidding frenzy for the rights to the book.

An insider says, “The bidding for the rights has passed the GBP1 million mark and Hodder looks the favourite to get them.”

(19/02/2006 14:22 — from contactmsuic.com, not always a reliable source)

What a difference a day makes!

The Nokia was alive and pulsating with excitement Wednesday night. The crowd was younger, hipper, and knew what they wanted, and what they were about to get, long before Mr. Jones stepped onto the Nokia stage for the second of two satisfying sold out shows.

Tom immediately responded to, connected with, and sprinted off hand-in-hand with his atypical robust revelers. For a place as whisper quiet as the Nokia can be, this audience proved that no amount of bunker like insulation could contain the collective, sustained squeal and zeal of the moment. In response to his appreciative audience, Mr. Jones spent more time in the care and feeding of his noticeably younger devotees. He spoke easily, and his usual joke-like quips had an almost first time freshness about them.

We also noticed, at long last, that there’s a more updated Tom Jones video ad playing on the large digital video screen outside of the Nokia. Let’s hope this new footage makes its way to the MGM in Las Vegas as well. The “jumbotron” screen on the Strip has been begging for such a change. We applaud the update.

With cat-like instincts Mr. Jones handles NYC as easily as he does any venue, large or small anywhere in the world. Continue to let our applause cradle your compassion, Mr. Jones. You’re the best!

Upon departing the Nokia, one is immediately swept up in the frenetic flow of the nightlife that is Manhattan. With “The Voice” still in our heads and our feet, we danced out into the NY night for a slice of “Sal’s famous” with extra mozzarella.

Taxi!

Scoop… out!

What used be a movie theater is now a superb venue for live music called the Nokia Theatre. With their latest digital cell phones encased in a massive glass display as you enter the theater, there’s no mistaking that Nokia hasn’t forgotten to remind you that they mean (to get your) business.

This venue is both beautiful and somewhat odd (having been a movie house). I suppose it’s difficult to raise the roof in a room that sits below street level, supporting the massive and very expensive office and retail space above it. The Nokia’s location is about as prime as prime gets! Walk out of its doors and you are on Broadway! A few more steps and you are smack dab in the middle of Times Square. Why, I think I’m having a sort of Mary Tyler Moore moment!

Last year Tom Jones sold out four nights at Irving Plaza, a fifteen minute subway ride from Times Square. Irving Plaza, though still a wildly successful live music venue, can’t hold a candle to the amazing acoustical quietness of the Nokia. There wasn’t a rude echo to be heard during Tom’s show Tuesday night. That took a little getting use to, and what a pleasure it was!

Mr. Jones was once again in excellent singing form. His voice was large, commanding, and easy to hear in the Nokia. He received a very warm reception from the NYC crowd at the start of the show. After the first song, the NY audience and Mr. Jones were like old friends who had come together once again, and all was well.

There was one male fan who had a front row seat. He was truly a Tom Jones fan. From the first song of the night, to the last, this fan was exuberant in his enjoyment of the music. He rarely sat down. Tom didn’t seem to mind though as it was obvious that the gentleman was a true fan who was moved, literally, to stay with Mr. Jones step for step, song after song. For the record, the man did sit during a ballad or two.

Mr. Jones went through his show, as he usually does, giving himself to each song. His ballads were especially powerful this night because of the intimate sound created by the extraordinary acoustics, and a crack sound man who expertly dialed Tom in perfectly within just a few songs.

The setlist has been consistent during this run which started February 9th at the State Theater in Easton, PA. The three new songs Tom has added to his set list are sung solo, no back up vocals.

It is:

Tom Jones International; Momma Told Me Not To Come; Who Will The Next Fool Be; Delilah; Help Yourself; We’ve Got Tonight; She’s A Lady; If I Only Knew; St. James Infirmary (new); Love Letters (new); Glory Of Love (new); 200 Pounds of Joy; End of The Road; What Am I Living For; I’ll Never Fall In Love Again; Green Green Grass of Home; What’s New Pussycat; You Can Leave Your Hat On; Sex Bomb; It’s Not Unusual; (encore) High Heeled Sneakers; Kiss.

The Nokia was sold out tonight. Tomorrow night is no exception. This is a great venue in one of the most amazing destinations in the world. What a treat it was to bear witness, yet again, to the power of “The Voice”. Let me not forget to mention Tom’s band and back-up singers. They are fabulous and flawless! The entire show continues to be a smorgasbord for the senses.

Scoop… out!

OK, we admit it, we’re waaaay behind the times when it comes to certain music and musicians. Example? Here goes:

In 1998, Chicago-based Welsh-born musician Jon Langford (who played with the Mekons and Waco Brothers) did an album called Skull Orchard for which he did the cover art (shown here; see explanation below).

One of the songs on the CD is Tom Jones Levitation, an homage to his fellow Welshman in which Tom is not knighted but, rather, crowned King of Wales.

Talking about the song in 2001, The Village Voice described, “…the reverent, ethereal waltz-time of Tom Jones Levitation (’Where we come from,’ said [Langford], the Chicago transplant [from Wales] ‘Tom Jones always wins the popular vote. He doesn’t need a junta.’) Langford has also recorded a version of Delilah that is available on iTunes. He sings Delilah in his shows, he’s been quoted as saying he does so “because it’s the Welsh national anthem.”

Called a “Renaissance Man” by a newspaper there, Langford has a solo art show featuring his album covers at the Rogue Buddha Gallery in Minneapolis running through March 18.

The paper, Pulse of the Twin Cities, notes, “Tom Jones Levitation depicts the beloved Welsh entertainer hovering above a cruise ship in the form of a gigantic mindless balloon.”

Whatever…it’s still interesting, we think. Sort of.

There’s not much out of the ordinary to report from the Wilkes-Barre show.

Mr. Jones is such a consistent professional. The shows are somewhat predictable in that you can count on him to take the audience from the start of the show, and lead them to their ultimate frenzy before the last note is played.

The Kirby Center was sold out. The audience was very attentive (as usual), but somewhat reserved in their responses at the start of the show; as if they weren’t sure what to expect. This didn’t stop Mr. Jones from doing what he does best. He connected fully with the audience half-way through the show to the point where he threw in an extra song [Editor's Note: It was Elvis' All Shook Up] at the start of his Jerry Lee Lewis- rock & roll segment. By the end of the show the audience couldn’t get enough of Mr. Jones. They pined for an encore and, of course, they got one.

The security detail at this venue was a little larger and more intimidating than usual (bald-headed muscular clones in black suits or Secret Service on steroids). When the first pair of panties flew onto the stage, “big security guy” was quick to remove the “offensive material” from the stage.

Alas, I fear that many women went home with the extra pair of panties they had intended to leave for their favorite gyrating crooner. Perhaps their husbands later benefitted!

Mr. Jones left the Wilkes-Barre audience wanting more. Now that’s a proper exit!

Scoop… out!

[Editor’s Note: Here is a newspaper review of Tom’s show in Wilkes-Barre.]

We have a new reporter on tomjonesinternational.com.

“Inside Scoop” will file reports for you from some of Tom’s shows, bringing you the unique point of view of a person who has seen the man perform many times in many places.

Scoop’s first report is from Torrington, CT where Tom played Saturday, February 11 (photo above) and, no, for the record Lois the fan/photographer is not Scoop. She is just kind enough to let us use her photos.

[Editor's Note: Whenever possible, we'll add links to newspaper reviews of Tom's shows to our site. Since Scoop mentioned those shows, we've added links to reviews from Torrington, CT and Wilkes Barre, PA to our Inside Scoop page.]

Of course, feel free to comment on and, even, ask questions if you wish and, perhaps, Scoop will answer them.

If you’re a long-time fan, you may enjoy some vintage photos (like the 1982 shot here of Tom and his former guitarist/MD Mike Morgan ) on the updated Back In the Day pages which will continue to be updated and with more photos added as we get them.

The joint was sold out.

The fans were very excited. Tom received several standing ovations during the course of the show (especially after What Am I Living For and I’ll Never Fall In Love Again).

Perhaps a record number of panties were “delivered” to the stage. By show’s end there were an estimated 60 pair littering the stage, along with several rose bouquets, assorted hotel room keys, and a book, which came flying onto the stage and slid into Tom’s foot getting his attention.

The book stayed on the floor until the encore. Tom picked it up, signed it and, remarkably, returned it to the fan who had thrown it a half-dozen songs earlier.

By the end of the show the ladies were flooding the aisles on both sides of the stage. It was almost too much for security to handle. Mr. Jones was indeed in his element.

All three shows in the northeast have been enthusiastic successes. When Tom gets away from Vegas, it’s a whole new and exciting ball game. The weather is affecting the east coast in a big way. The tour is in Wilkes-Barre PA tonight and headed into NYC tomorrow. Not sure what to expect. We’ll see what develops.

Scoop… out!

[Editor's Note: Here is a newspaper review of Tom's show in Torrington, CT.]

TOM JONES (Tuesday and Wednesday) The newly knighted Welsh pop singer Sir Tom Jones learned a lot from American blues and soul, and he seems as amused as anyone by his long-established image as a sex symbol. Whether or not anyone hurls valentine-patterned lingerie during these concerts, he’s still got lung power and a long string of hits to exercise it. 8 p.m., Nokia Theater, 1515 Broadway, at 44th Street, ticketmaster.com or (212) 307-7171; $65 to $85 (both shows sold out). (Jon Pareles)

Again, if you see this show, in this very new venue, please tell us about it.

From the website of the Warner Theater in Torrington, CT, comes the following promotional blurb:

Tom Jones Saturday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. With his full-throated, robust baritone style, the legendary Tom Jones has gained scores of faithful fans! His generation-spanning hits include It’s Not Unusual, She’s a Lady, What’s New Pussycat, Help Yourself, Delilah, Prince’s Kiss, and Randy Newman’s classic hit for the Oscar winning soundtrack The Full Monty, You Can Leave Your Hat On. Always in step with the times, Jones has collaborated with Art of Noise, the Cardigans, Chrissie Hynde and most recently, ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean. It’s easy to see why the Boston Globe proclaims him as, “the coolest person on earth.”

If you see the show, please tell us about it.

(Thanks, Laura) 

February 7, 1969: The weekly TV music variety show This Is Tom Jones premieres in the U.S. on ABC-TV.