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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.
Tom’s CD: Bono’s Song, Edge’s Guitar, “one of the world’s great soul singers”
Monday, July 16th, 2007Addendum, July 20: As we’d hoped, the participation of Bono and The Edge in this project is drawing attention from U2 fans which, naturally, means attention to Tom. The Variety article was posted today in English and French on U2France.com and on @u2.com in the US. We are sure it will be on more U2 fansites soon.
Following our posting of the link to the article about Tom (below) and our taking exception to a few minor errors, or omissions, in the article, we got a note from Phil Gallo, associate editor of Variety. He wrote, “Thanks for the link — and criticism. Here’s more info on the new album.”
And he sent the link to this article we posted here (which had the photo below of Tom in his “Monkey” suit at the Diana concert).
We are thrilled to learn that Bono wrote one of the songs on the new CD and The Edge is playing guitar. And producer Steve Greenberg spoke the words that make our hearts sing: “It will be a creative adult album.” It will be worth the wait.
July 16, 2007
More Tom Jones: Aping the Monkeys
Tom Jones has already recorded three songs for his first album for S-Curve, including one penned by U2’s Bono and featuring guitar work by the Edge.
Jones is working with the same team that helped shape Joss Stone’s albums, specifically Betty Wright and Mike Mangini.
S-Curve owner Steve Greenberg said they intend to drive home the idea that Tom Jones is one of the world’s great soul singers. “This pushes him in several different directions. In 1965, he was a raw R&B singer that might have emerged as England’s answer to Otis Redding. Of course his career went in a different direction, but we’re placing him back at that crossroads.”
One of the first tracks recorded is a cover of the Arctic Monkeys’ I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor. Rather than emulate the Monkeys’ recording, for Jones’ version they used Eddie Floyd’s Big Bird as a rhythmic base; Jones unveiled his version at the recent Concert for Diana.
Greenberg said the album is not limited to deep soul ballads and will not be a Motown tribute or a duets disc. “It will be a creative adult album.” There is no release date penciled in.
Click to read more about Betty Wright. Eddie Floyd had the original hit with Raise Your Hand and a stellar career with Stax Records that caused him to be very influential. He wrote Big Bird as a tribute immediately after hearing of Otis Redding’s death. Grammy-winner Mike Mangini was one of the producers on Stone’s CD
July 17th, 2007 at 7:25 am
This is sounding good. An album that returns Tom Jones to his R&B roots including a song penned by Bono has to be worth the wait. Tom is an amazing soul singer: for example I have just been listening to the version of I’ve Been Loving You Too Long that he performed on “TITJ” and it is stellar. (He also did another great version on The Right Time.) He is brilliant and I do so hope that this album will finally get the message out to the masses (not to mention the music biz in general) that there is so much more to him than Delilah or Sexbomb. My dream is never again to see the words ‘Tom Jones’ and ‘crooner’ written in the same sentence thereby curing the frequent bouts of hyperventilation with which I am presently afflicted……….
Thanks so much for keeping us informed!
July 17th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Thank you, Steve Greenberg. It’s about time we had new adult music. I am so tired of listening to the oldies stations. Sir Tom is the one to lead the way!!
July 17th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Paula is right on! Do you know…is this CD to be released in the USA?
July 17th, 2007 at 11:18 am
SusannePDX: Maybe we’re just cockeyed optimists, but we do think that with Greenberg in the picture it might happen. Our optimism is tempered by the fact that other work that should have been released here was not….but we hope.
July 17th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I will be waiting for Tom’s new CD with anticipation second only to seeing him in person and the recent release of TITJ on DVD at long last. Personally, hope to hear some goodies like Git Me Some (or along those lines) on this CD. I agree totally with Paula, songs like I’ve Been Loving You Too Long still have the same power today as when originally done. Great, great news!!!
July 17th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Git Me Some!
July 18th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Not since the release of Reload have I been as excited about an upcoming CD.It is so refreshing for someone in the music business to understand how incredible “THE VOICE” Tom Jones is. Talent-wise and vocally no one can touch him. Many many thanks to Steve Greenberg. Now let’s get out there and make this CD a hit for the two men when it is released
July 18th, 2007 at 8:41 am
I can’t wait for the CD as I love I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor and what a bonus if they included Git Me Some! We would all go around with permanent smiles on our faces.:) I wonder what the cover will look like — of course, gorgeous, if Tom’s face is on it! Maybe his management will use that as a new marquee photo? Let’s hope…
July 18th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Tom Jones is so cool he’s smokin’ hot ; )) Should be a GREAT album!
July 19th, 2007 at 5:55 am
Exciting! I, too, am loving the new song and hoping for Git Me Some as well. Can’t wait for its release!
July 20th, 2007 at 6:20 am
WOW! Thanks for giving me something else to look forward to! This new CD sounds AWESOME - just like Sir Tom!!!
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:08 am
Can’t wait for this one to hit the stores— long-awaited, but sounds like worth the wait. This is what sounds like Tom Jones taken seriously. Hope the promoters are ready do justice to this release. That is what Tom Jones deserves. Can’t wait! I’m so excited!