Tom Jones International

Since it’s more than a month till the next scheduled TJ concert, we thought we’d have a bit o’ TJ Fun.

Here’s a photo taken of Tom at the end of the August 22nd show at the MGM in Las Vegas.

Now, depending upon your point of view, it’s either a great shot of a consumate performer about to bow, secure in the knowledge that he’s, once again, hit a home run. Or….

…..it’s a less-than-flattering shot that one person said “seems as if he was caught imploring someone for something….maybe a new shirt.”

This difference of opinion led to a discussion of possible captions for the picture. What would your caption be? Do tell.

Shirley, a California resident who grew up in the town next to Ponty, and has written here before about meeting Tom and being a fan since the days in the local pubs in the early 1960s, tells us about her impression of the three Las Vegas shows she saw.

Las Vegas August 2006.

Sunday, August 21: I arrived on Sunday evening and, due to delays with security at the airport, I had to go straight to the concert at the MGM. I met some ladies I had talked to over the internet over the years, Ann from the UK and Nathalie from France which was quite delightful. Las Vegas was hot and teeming with tourists but the reason I was there was to see Sir Tom Jones!!!!!
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From the South Wales Echo (Be aware that in the story the quote is an old one from his website after the AC cancellations in July. And his official site has nothing. So take it for what it’s worth — which is probably nothing.)
Sir Tom - no show no cause for worry

Aug 29 2006/David James, South Wales Echo

“Legend Sir Tom Jones has reassured fans he is in the best of health despite cancelling concerts.

“The star was forced to scrap two dates in Atlantic City last month due to infected vocal chords.

“And he was forced to postpone two dates in Monaco because of a chest infection. But Sir Tom said: ‘Singing with chords that are not healthy can cause further serious damage. Otherwise, I’m in good health and all is well.’”

Note: Please, folks, it’s vocal “cords,” not “chords.”

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Tom had to cancel two sold-out shows at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club. The reason for the cancellation was given as a “chest infection.”

Tom closed in Las Vegas on Wednesday and was to fly to Monte on Thursday for the shows.

As we did when he had to cancel two shows in AC last month, we wish our Tom all the best for a speedy and full recovery. If we hear any more, we’ll let you know.

Note from August 18 & 19: Tom is unbelievably energetic and the audiences these nights have been incredibly responsive. One thing that was great to see was the couples dancing. Usually at the MGM there are women who get up and dance but at these shows, lots of people (including Don Archell) were dancing for much of the show. It was terrific.

Now, back to August 16:

Tonight’s main event in the Hollywood Theater boasted nothing new — no new songs, no new patter and only one item — a rose — thrown onstage. But it was still one of those magical nights. Tom was electric, the band and back-up singers phenomenal and the audience hot.

Maybe it was the great seat in a booth level with the stage so the impact of the entire show was apparant and the audience response seen much more clearly than from the very front. But, whatever it was, no one was still. Patty from Long Island and Linda from Cincinnati danced (as did Ellen) for much of the show. People were singing along, screaming at the end of each song and Tom responded to it all.

In short, it was a wonderful, extraordinary show and the reasons fror that cannot really be defined. Our only hope is that every person who goes to see Tom gets to experience such a show from a — the — master showman. All in attendance tonight were lucky to be there.

Speaking of new songs, we hear a standard from one of Tom’s very first (if not the first) album is being added. But, after tonight, it doesn’t really matter because on nights like this Tom Jones, no matter what he sings or how often he’s sung it, can do no wrong.

—Ellen

The photo here from tonight’s show may not be the best quality, but you get the point anyway, don’t you?

Now on eBay you can bid on an official tour jacket owned by a musician named “Mike” who was part of Tom’s 1984 tour.

Bidding starts at $299 and ends August 22 at 11:08:55 PDT.

As you can see, it has an embroidered TJ signature next to a daffodil and a Welsh dragon embroidered on the right arm.

There are more photos on the auction page.

Note: There was one bid and the jacket went for $299 to “sweetvegan.”

First, it was great to see Tom back in his Hollywood Theater home. He looks great and sounds terrific. After his illness in Atlantic City, it seems as if he’s taking extra care of his voice — drinking lots of water and using lots of lozenges.

Now, for the news: Word around the MGM Grand is that there’s lots of rehearsing going on during the day in preparation perhaps for new material to be unveiled toward the end of the month in France or on the UK tour in October. We hear there may be some old favorites brought back and, even, a chance of a change of stage outfit during the show.

Also in the works, we hear, is new merchandise. There’s still no TJ CDs or merch for sale and hasn’t been for months and months.

Can’t wait to see what happens. Stay tuned.

The Review: The Atlantic City addition of With These Hands with an updated arrangement is now a permanent part of the show replacing Who Will The Next Fool Be? Otherwise, the show is the same as it’s been and tonight there was no interaction with the audience, but we’ve got to say that it was so wonderful to see Tom again that the content of the show didn’t matter much.

The New Policy: We had a problem with a ticket return as the box office people said there is a hotel policy prohibiting any returns the night of the show. As this was contrary to usual and customary practice as we’ve come to know it at the MGM, we objected, tried to reason, spoke to the supervisor on duty — all to no avail.

This happened on August 11, a Friday. On Tuesday August 15 we had a long conversation with the hotel’s box office manager and the issue is being resolved. We will let you know the exact policy when we hear about it.

Meanwhile, we sold the extra ticket for the August 11 performance to Ken, from Orlando, a TJ virgin who’s “always been a fan” and was near the theater because he was “considering seeing the show.” We convinced him and he had a grand time. When we told him we’d post a review and write about him, we asked for a comment.

He said, “Every man should see Tom Jones because he’ll learn a lot about women when he does.”

—Ellen

With Tom set to open at the MGM in Las Vegas tonight (and lots of our friends from Europe and across the US due in during the next two weeks to see him), here’s news from the Press of Atlantic City

Tom Jones Chips
Resorts recently unveiled limited edition $25 Sir Tom Jones gaming chips at the casino. The release coincided with his performances at Resorts recently. Jones did not perform two of his shows that weekend because of illness. His chips are available at gaming tables.

Our comments: Kind of cool, but we wish they’d used a different photo. FYI, the chips are already on eBay for “buy it now” prices of $34.99 and $45.99 plus shipping.

Although illness forced Tom to cancel his last two AC shows, he did perform two shows at Resorts July 27 and 28.

Luckily for us, Lois Gooding caught some of those moments. Here’s a small sample. The six photos she got are posted at our flickr set, The Many Faces of Tom. Just scroll down to the bottom of the set.

Two red-hot performers pick up steam onstage

July 18, 2006/ BY MIRIAM DI NUNZIO Staff Reporter/Chicago Sun Times

It’s pretty safe to say that somewhere along the road in her lengthy career, Etta James undoubtedly performed in some dark, steamy blues joints that were as hot as the Ravinia pavilion was on Sunday night.

Hot is an understatement, for when James took the stage along with a smokin’ seven-piece band behind her, it was a sweltering 95 degrees at the outdoor venue. It didn’t seem to faze the 69-year-old, who added a few degrees to the mercury with a sizzling hour-long set.

Svelte and smashing in a black pantsuit and black cowboy boots, James laid into a torrid One More Day and later punctuated the mood with the soulful lament of I’d Rather Go Blind. And her signature song did not disappoint, as James delivered a deliberate and sensual At Last, sung with authority by a lady who has indeed finally “found a dream [she] can call her own.”

As befitting a grand blues diva, James ended her set with some high drama, writhing through the torchy A Lover Is Forever, then returning her mike to its stand and reciting the last, nearly inaudible strains of the song as she walked slowly off stage.

A half hour later, it was a different mood created by a 66-year-old Tom Jones, who delivered a 90-minute set rife with blues, rock, pop and funk. Oh, and plenty of sweat. Literally.

Looking a bit trimmer these days (”200 pounds of heavenly joy” he would sing later on in the night with the Howlin’ Wolf classic 300 Pounds of Joy), Jones was soon a victim of the weekend’s insufferable heatwave.

Soon after he hit the stage, Jones began to sweat profusely. Change that — he melted before the eyes of the sold-out venue. Tomsweat flowed from every pore on his face and chest until his shirt was shrink-wrapped onto his torso. Tomsweat rained down from his elbows, from his head, his eyeballs, his hands. The front row got a veritable shower of the watery substance every time the chuckling Jones wiped his face and shook off his outstretched, drenched hand. Many an artist would have shortened the set or displayed nary a smile in the face of such an ordeal, but Jones just smiled and went on with the show because a pro knows the show must go on.

Jones kept the night moving, peppering the program with the greatest hits (Delilah, What’s New Pussycat? She’s a Lady) and some nice surprises, including the rowdy piano-driven boogie-woogie take on Jerry Lee Lewis’ End of the Road, and Stoned in Love, Jones’ new techno/dance single (released only in Britain) that got pretty much everyone up and dancing to its contagious disco rhythm. You Can Leave Your Hat On and Sex Bomb just kept the vibe going.

The obligatory lingerie made its way to the stage throughout the night, as the youngest of young ladies — squealing twentysomethings — paid proper homage to the king of all things unmentionable.

And somewhere on a bathroom scale today, Tom Jones has to be 10 pounds lighter. He left it behind on the stage at Ravinia.

If Tom were to add a 20th century standard to his act — as he often did in the early days and on early albums — what do you think it should be?

We’re talking songs like Autumn Leaves (which Tom used to cite as a favorite) and My Way (which he used to sing) with, of course, updated arrangements when that’s appropriate.