Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
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.
Reviews of the TITJ DVD Set….One From A Critic For A Major News Outlet! Please Send Yours, Too
Monday, June 25th, 2007Amazon’s begun shipping so you should get your copies soon.
Finally, a high-circulation newspaper, Long Island NY’s Newsday had a known writer/reviewer do a review! Some random quotes: “…to say that Jones delivered would be an understatement.” “Tom Jones - rock and soul god! Seriously. There’s evidence now on DVD shelves that, before the strong-voiced Jones was a swoon-inducing showroom star, this Welsh coal miner’s son could kick out the jams with the best of them. Make that the best of the best. Aretha Franklin. Janis Joplin. Joe Cocker. Stevie Wonder.”
You get the idea, it’s a rave from a long-time TV critic in a major national newspaper that is in the top 20 of US newspaper circulation.
And, here’s another review of the DVD set. This guy gave it an 8 out of 10.
We’re really hoping to see it reviewed in even more widely read, credible pubs like Rolling Stone, People, ET and the other 19 of the top 20 newspapers, for example. Not so much because their reviews have more credibility but because they are read by millions of people.
And, of course we would love your reviews — often the most credible of all.
June 25th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Was the rehearsal footage broadcast within the show? That’s strange. Sounds really interesting though. Would have been great if they’d had lots of photos from rehearsals as extras and blagged some backstage home movie footage from people who were around at the time.
June 25th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I just finished watching the 3 DVDs and I loved them! I was a very young child when it was on TV but do remember watching the show with my family. Tom looked a little stiff and uncomfortable at first but by the 2nd season he was really “in the groove.”
I loved his little commentaries before each episode and I LOVED the interview at the end of the 3rd DVD (I can see myself watching that many times over!) I think this DVD set really brought out his intelligence, his wit and of course his unparalleled talent! No matter who he sang with, they couldn’t hold a candle to “The Voice!” I hope TimeL ife releases more episodes in future DVD sets.
June 25th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
The rehearsal footage is scant — just Tom (in a light purple tank top) going over his numbers with Burt Bacharach. Looks kind of stage-y. They had to know there were cameras there and, in fact, it was part of the show that was broadcast with Bacharach. Tom’s anecdotes are the closest the project comes to being anything less than tightly controlled. Outtakes would have been great. Those are always engaging. Maybe next time?
June 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I have been waiting for this for a long, long time! Haven’t we all? I am very happy with the product. My only wish is that they were the complete hour-long shows. As far as I am concerned, I want to experience the shows complete, as I saw them. You do have the “music only” option if that is what you want. I do not agree with the criticism of too much Its Not Unusual…that was simply the opening titles of the show. Every TV show repeats a standard signature tune and opening titles, and the opening of This is Tom Jones is a precious part of my childhood. I want to see it at the front of EVERY episode. I hate to admit this, but I actually built a T-O-M out of construction paper and popsicle sticks!!
(I think I was 9 years old at the time) And I remember being ticked off at that cheesy effect they used instead of the TOM set when the show was shot in America. Ain’t that Good News ultimately was a better opening after a while. But the music is fantastic, as I knew it would be. I just want more, more, more. Thank you Time-LIFE! (By the way, I am from Long Island.)
June 29th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I agree that experiencing the complete episodes would be great! Today you can get many t.v. series in their full episode versions on D.V.D. like Seinfeld or The Sopranos. They could’ve saved a lot of effort on editing when fans love every tiny morsel anyway.
I’m from Long Island and I’ll never forget Mom taking me to see Tom at the Westbury Music Fair! However, I’m starting to fear I’ll never meet him in person…and all I want to do is give him one little lap dance…KIDDING! (sorta).
June 29th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Well, Jeff, Marisa and all those other fans from LI and The City — All we can say is those were the days, weren’t they? Westbury was (and still is) a great venue. Tom would play for a week or so, sometimes two shows a night. And the fans in that part of the country? Just great! Let’s hope he plays there again this year. There’s still room in the schedule around, say, Thanksgiving when, hopefully, he’ll have a CD to promote. (Well, a girl can dream, can’t she?) — Ellen
July 6th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Hello TJI.com!
I just bought “This is Tom Jones! Volume 1: Rock & Roll Legends” at Wal-mart yesterday, for a great price of only $25! The artwork on the box, DVDs, and the pamphlet inside was B-E-A-UTIFUL! On Disk 1, the stars were fantastic, a younger Richard Pryor made me burst into laughter. And other stars like “The Who”, and “The Moody Blues” were also fantastic. I loved Tom’s On-camera introductions before each episode, he must have had a blast going through his old TV series again. And the bonus features were great including an “interview” with Tom from the 1970s. Disk 2 was the least appealing to me out of the 3, but nothing is bad when it has Tom’s face on it! It had no Bonus features, but the show was still amazing! Disk 3 was great! Bob Hope was absolutely hilarious! And the Stevie Wonder songs and duets with Tom were so beautiful. I liked how you could choose between seeing the US version, and the UK version on one of the episodes. I was amazed listening to Tom’s 30 minute plus interview, his stories are great, he should write his own book, and put it on audio!
The only question I have is:
The box says Volume 1: Rock & Roll Legends Is there going to be a volume 2?
I hope somebody could answer that question.
Truly yours,
Jared Kennen The World’s Youngest Tom Jones Impersonator [im only 13!]