Tom Jones International

We want to wish all our Welsh friends a very happy St. David’s Day. We know it falls on March 1, but we’re looking forward to reviews from Tom’s New Zealand concert (which, is actually on February 29 in most of our time zones) and we have a new Question of the Month ready to go. Thus, the early wish.

---

When Gill S. from Wales commented on one of the posts about the New Zealand concert that she wished Tom would be in his birthplace for the holiday, we mentioned March 1, 2005, celebrated onstage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

That Tuesday night was cold and nasty outside. The Hollywood Theatre had, uncharacteristically, lots of empty seats. A fan had made a card to give Tom to commemorate the date and congratulate him, as that day was exactly 40 years since It’s Not Unusual hit number one.

The card was made of two pieces of white oaktag taped together. On it was a message in Welsh and a wish for continued success. It was decorated with a Welsh dragon. The photo accurately shows the size of the card.

Tom came out and did the opening, Tom Jones International, and, as he does all the time, moved right into the next song. Before the third number, he picked up a leek and a daffodil from the stool where he keeps his water and his Vocalzones.

He walked to the front of the stage and explained to the audience that it was St. David’s Day and the leek and the daffodil are symbols of Wales.

At that point, the fan who made the card and another fan sitting with her at table 5, stageside center, stood up and gave Tom the card.

He read the message on the outside and explained to the audience what March 1 meant in his career. Then the fan who made the card asked him to open it. He did and inside found messages written by scores of people; messages that had been collected from the audience and the staff at the Hollywood Theatre in the hour between the doors opening and the beginning of the show.

He was clearly moved by the card and the messages and, we were told by someone who visited with him backstage that night, he read all the messages and said repeatedly how surprised he was that people remembered the date. (But we know that’s what real fans do.)

We wish Tom and all our friends from Wales — and in Wales — the happiest of days.

Again, not worth a separate post, this brief article from the Dominion Post in New Zealand is all old stuff. It would be nice if those who write about concerts actually wrote about the music, wouldn’t it?

Panting for Tom

The Dominion Post | Monday, 03 March 2008

There was no shortage of undies at the Mission concert, writes Kathy Webb.

The girls with knickers on their heads and over their jeans would have seemed unusual anywhere else.

But at a Tom Jones concert — where that sort of thing goes — they hardly raised an eyebrow.

And only the crowd partying up the front would have seen whether any of the knickers actually made it on to the Mission Estate stage — in Tom Jones tradition.

There was no doubting the 25,000-strong crowd at Hawke’s Bay’s biggest annual party was out for fun on Saturday night despite a limit on how much they could drink.

There were men in black curly wigs a la Tom Jones, wearing Welsh flags, loud shirts and chest medallions; there were “sex bomb” T-shirts and flashing devil-horns.

The baby boomers turned out in force, some in designer finery and carrying Fortnum and Mason hampers. Others opted for a more casual look of *jandals and tight T-shirts pulled over bulging bellies into which they shovelled hot chips.

Some sat at picnic tables on the flats, but most perched on blankets on the slopes, thankful for a mild breeze and overcast skies.

The glo-stick-decorated crowd was into it from the start. First up was When the Cat’s Away, then rocker Jimmy Barnes, followed by Jones, who responded with chat to his enthusiastic reception.

It was the 16th concert at New Zealand’s oldest winery, and organisers’ strategy of limiting how much alcohol each concert-goer could take through the gates, paid off for police and St John Ambulance, who in past years have had to deal with drunken fights, vomiting and drunk people falling down the hill.
(more…)

On February 13 we asked the above question. It was probably way too early to do that, so we’re asking it again.

Meanwhile, if you aren’t the type to scroll down the page to check out any comments that have been added, you might want to look at the original post to see what people said. You can add your comments here, as comments on the February 13 post are closed.

We offer this with no comment:

Booze limit at winery concert

6:00AM/Sunday February 24, 2008/New Zealand Herald

An alcohol limit has been placed on next Saturday night’s Mission Estate Winery Concert, starring Tom Jones and Jimmy Barnes, because of incidents of drunkenness and disorder at past concerts.

Sport and Entertainment operations manager Garry Craft said the Mission Concert was a unique event in letting people bring their own alcohol. But this year they would be limited to two bottles of wine each, a dozen cans of beer, or 10 pre-mixed drinks.

---

If you wish, you can check out Jimmy Barnes, the other act on the bill at the winery.

…because we reported that Curly Putman, who wrote Green, Green Grass of Home died at the age of 77.

He did not, as was pointed out to us in a very nice note from his son, Troy.

Putman, is a prolific songwriter, member of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, and had a slew of hits and awards. His songs include He Stopped Loving Her Today, and My Elusive Dreams. Tom performs the first in his show now and recorded the latter early in his career.

He wrote Green, Green Grass in 1965 and Tom’s version was released in 1967. The song sold an estimated 10 to 12 million copies. Since then it’s been recorded by 600+ singers and in every language imaginable.

Born in Alabama, Putman, lives in Tennessee. A news report this week about Putnam being honored by the Alabama legislature said, “Putman recalled that getting someone to record the song was difficult because the subject of the song dies and people considered it morbid. Even Jones was reluctant at first. But, as Jones noted in a letter he sent for the event, it became his ’signature song.’

“Putman said he was surprised the song became an international hit because he thought it was a ‘down home-type song’ that wouldn’t have broad appeal. He said it remains his favorite song ‘because of the popularity all over the world.’”

It’s always amused us that this song, written about the US south, has been adopted as a third anthem (the second being Delilah) by the people of Wales. Guess Sir Tom has quite a bit o’ influence in the land of his birth.

We must note that He Stopped Loving Her Today, as sung by both “Jones boys” (as Tom says) is one of the most moving, beautiful songs around. A surprise twist, but a simple, lovely story.

You can hear Tom talk about the song on the BBC Wales website (the source of this photo of “some Welsh grass”), along with more than 20 other TJ interview clips.

We wish Curly Putman, a long life of good health, love and good music.

February 20: The Late Night At the Club story was in a local column in The Dallas Morning News. It’s written by Alan Peppard, who never mentions what the meal was.

---

February 21: Forgot to add yesterday: There was also a note in Peppard’s column about the fact people claimed to hear Tom singing when he was in the loo. There was much speculation on some fan websites about what he was singing. One fan — who we believe deserves a prize for cutting through the nonsense that was posted — neatly put an end to speculation by telling us last night that he must have been singing With These Hands. Can’t think of a better answer, can you?

---

Late night at the Club

It’s been more than 30 years since Tom Jones used to hang out in Vegas with Elvis Presley, but at 67, he still keeps Vegas hours.

Last weekend, the singer arrived at the Club in the Centrum just after 11 p.m. and sidled up to the bar for some Dom Perignon with some companions.

Once the entertainer was seated in the dining room, chef Vincenzo Indelicato and managing director Enam Chowdhury prepared a special meal to accommodate the Welsh singer’s well-known love of British food.

Apparently, Tom liked it.

When he left the Club (after 3 a.m.), he asked that Enam personally deliver another meal to him the next night at the Meyerson Symphony Center, where he was playing to a sold-out house.

---

Tom Jones jokes, gyrates his way into hearts at the Meyerson

12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, February 19, 2008/By JOY TIPPING /The Dallas Morning News

Did you notice that cloud of steam rising from downtown Monday evening? That would have been the heat wave stirred up by Tom Jones, who proved once and for all at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center that “bringing sexy back” is for the youngsters: He never lost it, thanks very much.

Tom Jones can still bring the sexy during his shows.

The pants might not be quite as tight as they were during his ’60s and ’70s heyday – Mr. Jones spent most of the evening demurely clad in a simple black suit, with just a hint of a sparkly shirt and silver chains peeking out. And a mere two pairs of ladies’ … erm, undergarments … were tossed onto the stage.

But Mr. Jones’ blistering Welsh baritone is still strong, and when he brought the suggestive moves late in the concert, the sold-out audience of nearly 2,100 came to its feet and matched him hip-swivel for hip-swivel.
(more…)

After the second fan sent us this we decided to post it, mostly for the photos. It’s from what the writer, who never gives her name, calls “a blog about a dissertation writing, photo taking, music listening, daughter mothering, mojito drinking, soccer refereeing, coffee consuming, athlete appreciating, university instructor.” While many fans may not like it, and we think she messed up the lyric, we don’t think she’s totally incorrect. But, clearly, she’s never been at recent shows where women in their 20s tossed dainties onstage or where younger women flashed Tom. And the photos (although she missed the magic shot) aren’t bad. We’d credit the writer-photographer if she’d given her name anywhere.

FEBRUARY 16, 2008

“Truth be told, I just want a little….”

These words were sung by Tom Jones last night in Oklahoma: “Truth be told, I just want a little….” Yes. That’s what he said. And that’s what he meant. Uh huh. Women were screaming, and swooning, and singing along. The song goes on (paraphrased), “I don’t want to be your boyfriend, I don’t want to spend the night . . . . truth be told, I just want a little.” Uh huh. Women threw their panties. Yes, they threw their panties at a 67-year old man. But then, they were in their 60s, too.

Part of me was creeped out. Part of me was intrigued.

While I expected to snicker at seeing Tom Jones in person, I was quite impressed that a 67-year old man could still sing as he does. The moves? Well, not quite as smooth, but those can be ignored. (Note to Tom: moonwalking and kicking out in front of yourself like Michael Jackson does? Not a good look. Stick to singing.)

My mother was a huge Tom Jones fan in the 1960s. Huge. She would walk around the house singing “What’s new pussycat? Whoa whoa whoooooo.” However, while I wasn’t close enough to the stage last night to verify, there is a rumor of a sock collection (collection: those rolled up socks have to be changed out, no?) — uh, huh, yea — and rumors still of insured chest hair, but truth be told: it was a fun night. Kitschy. And fun.

Tom’s 1970 US tour schedule — typed, mimeographed and distributed to fans by Parrot/London, his stateside label — had a major first on it. For, it was on Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, that Tom Jones played New York’s fabled Madison Square Garden. At left is a 1970 photo. Perhaps he’s heading to a gig?

We’re told that Tom was the first solo act to do a concert at this most famous venue. We couldn’t find proof of that anywhere. If you can, please let us know.

Whether or not he was the first solo singer to have his own show at the Garden, you’ll certainly note that at that time Tom was playing huge arenas across the North America.

If you were at any of these shows, please tell us about them.

Thanks, Holly!

One of the Las Vegas alternative publications took a look at celebrity, at some of the press and — oh, yes — used Tom’s alleged chest hair insurance as a starting point. (For the record, A. Baldwin may be a metrosexual, but he is not merely “lightly downed.”) Hope you enjoy this as we did and just laugh.

---

Pop Culture: Insuring celebrity misery

Las Vegas Weekly/February 14, 2008/by Greg Beato

Tom Jones’ chest beard is just the beginning

Leather-throated lounge dinosaur Tom Jones is 67 now, which means his famous chest beard is at least 50, possibly 55. Cosmetically, it still resembles a pec thatch of, say, 30, but 55 is 55, and thus, when the U.K. tabloid The Daily Mirror recently reported that the hirsute troubadour had taken out a $7 million insurance policy from Lloyd’s of London, it seemed plausible enough. After all, what if Jones’ chest beard suffered a stroke, or needed a hip replacement, or fell prey to some other malady? Without insurance, it could end up bankrupt, homeless, begging for quarters and cigarettes on the dirty streets of Bel Air.

Talk about a story too good to fact-check! Or, from a publicist’s perspective, too good to deny. After all, it’s not as if the bellowing, Kennedy-era hipster is a gossip-page fixture these days, and with a new album in the works, a playful reminder that Jones is still extant, still furry enough to qualify for PETA protection and still bringing the man-cake by the pound while simultaneously sending it up with a roguish wink couldn’t hurt, right?

Alas, when other newspapers picked up the tale, Jones’ chest-beard people quickly issued a denial. “No such insurance policy exists or has ever been considered. We assume this is just the Mirror having a bit of fun and hope no one takes this kind of ‘reporting’ seriously,” an announcement on his official website declared. Lloyd’s of London confirmed the policy’s nonexistence. Apparently the whole thing was just wishful thinking on the part of some nostalgic reporter longing for the days when publicity stunts involved more than a drunk-driving arrest, or a month-long bout of detox at Promises, or a painstakingly advertent flash of celebutante nether-flaps.
(more…)

People are writing to tell us their new DVD sets have arrived. Please share your thoughts about it with us. Does it live up to the title This Is Tom Jones: Legendary Performers? We’re looking forward to hear what you have to say.