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.
Did You Get Your DVD Yet? What Do You Think? (Part Deux)
Monday, February 25th, 2008On 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.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Yes you asked way to early - I haven’t received mine yet, hahahaha
February 26th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I agree with your review, but you were too kind. I loved Sammy & Jerry Lee, but it was all kind of choppy. On the other hand, some vintage Tom is better than none at all. So I do recommend it to every fan.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
“I think Tom could have been one of the greatest operatic singers that ever lived had he had classical training. I have never heard such a powerful and tuneful voice in my life as a musician. When we rehearsed you could hear his voice over the full orchestra. His pitch was total on every note and his feel for time and phrasing impeccable. I know musicians from all styles had great respect for Tom. I have heard him sing the blues with a voice like Howling Wolf and B.B. King put together. The man is a total natural and very few people have that kind of talent.” This according to Big Jim Sullivan, the very gifted musician who worked with Sir Tom on “This Is Tom Jones” and during his concert tours of the early seventies. Big Jim’s elegant presence is featured briefly on This Is Tom Jones: Legendary Performers three DVD set.
Having the opportunity to see Tom Jones’ musical performances, in color, from the pivotal years of 1969-1971, is always a unique joy. Tom’s performances in this latest compilation, like the ones in the previous two compilations, are phenomenal. I would have preferred the complete shows, especially all of Tom’s performances, of course. I hope that a complete chronological set of all the complete shows becomes available in the future. That would be an event. I was disappointed that there were no extras or commentary from Tom or from anyone else involved with the show or with Tom’s work. It was interesting to compare the look of the recordings made in England with that of the American recordings. The English look is more raw, crisp and live-feeling, while the American is softer and a little less live-feeling. The graphics of the physical package are good to very good. The photographs chosen for the back of the fold-out (which is the first thing you see inside) and for the thin booklet are not very good. The booklet is not especially comprehensive or informative.
This Is Tom Jones was a ground-breaking television program for several important reasons. It presented an imcomparably talented and appealing host and most of the best performers of the second half of the twentieth century from the English-speaking world during a pivotal period in the cultural and technological history of the world. So far, the three part presentation of This Is Tom Jones in DVD does not convey, through the graphics and written material, this television program’s trans-continental, trans-generational and musical significance.
As always , it’s fascinating to watch the dramatic reactions that Tom’s performances elicit from various audience members. I think this is well beyond a momentary sexual thrill from a sexy musical performance. I feel that the depth of feeling that Tom expresses in his powerfully evocative performances ignite the lifeforce of the observer, whether it is an adult female, a child or an adult male human being. Witnessing another’s strong life force expressed with such abandon, joy and vulnerability, is very thrilling. It reminds you that you also want to express your feelings with such freedom and so unself-consciously. It ignites your wanting to express your feelings and your talents equally as fully. For the few moments that we are living this realization through Tom’s musical demonstrations, it’s not so much that we want to be close to him, I feel that we actually want to BE him.
Getting back to how Big Jim Sullivan described Tom’s unique talent. Now that we’ve had a chance to see these performances from Tom’s very early career again or for the first time, it’s interesting to see how the expression of his talent developed. In that regard, I feel that Tom’s admirers break down as follows. About one third has loved everything that Tom records and performs. About one third has done some cringing and has had some disappointments regarding some of Tom’s musical choices and performance style, considering the elegance and range of abilities demonstrated on his television show. About one third of Tom’s admirers had been ambivalent.
I recently saw the disappointing film of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and kept imagining Tom Jones’ voice and persona wrapped around that role. Tom’s countryman the opera singer Bryn Terfel performed the role in 2002 at the Chicago Lyric Opera. The following is a quote describing his voice in that role. “Bryn Terfel is a true bass-baritone - rolling out sonorous, ominous rivers of sound…” I have also imagined Tom’s voice wrapped around the age-appropriate sophisticated music of Cole Porter, the sensuality and drama of tango and more unmined blues from America as well as evocative melodies of blues music from other world traditions.
In conclusion, Tom and his musical expressions were and are a gift to countless music appreciaters around the world. Whatever he has chosen, and will chose to do in his quest to express his love of music and his joy of sharing his humanity through music, we are all grateful.
March 1st, 2008 at 5:55 am
Wow! Great review Maria! Thanks for posting!
But Tom AND Alan Rickman in Sweeney Todd? That would be too much for my poor heart! LOL
March 6th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Boy, Maria, I couldn’t be more in agreement with those 4th and 5th paragraphs of yours. You’ve reflected in 4 exactly what happens to some of us with Tom Jones and I was never able to put it into words. Congratulations. I’m in the middle group you talk about in the 5th. —Marciano