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.
A TJ Vignette (& A Tour Update Of Sorts)
Saturday, March 15th, 2008March 18: A fan took our suggestion and emailed Tom’s management last night, saying: “Please post Sir Tom’s schedule for the second half of 2008. Many fans have to make travel plans in advance. Thank you.”
The reply came promptly this morning: “Thanks for your email. All confirmed tour dates are on the website. Best wishes”
So, there you go. Just check tomjones.com
Today’s Daily Mail carries an excerpt of an autobiography by Anne Nolan, the oldest of four singing sisters who enjoyed success in the UK and in Japan following the 1978 release of an album with their covers of 20 Giant Hits. Their success ebbed and flowed but some of them, with their daughters are still performing. You can find some of their stuff on youtube.
Meanwhile, she briefly writes about encounters they had with Tom and, then, Engelbert.
…We also toured South Africa with Rolf Harris (Moderator’s Note: An Australian entertainer) that year. On a visit to our Cape Town hotel’s sauna we bumped into a near-naked Tom Jones. He was tall, tanned and very sexy: a real man.
We sat and talked music like true professionals, but as he stood to leave his towel accidentally fell to the floor. Stupidly, we averted our eyes.
A singer who shared Tom Jones’s reputation as a ladies’ man was Engelbert Humperdinck, whom we supported for two weeks in New York in 1977.
But, unlike Jones, who was natural, down-to-earth and hadn’t lost his Welsh accent, Engelbert had acquired a mid-Atlantic twang and gave the impression he believed his own publicity.
He didn’t flirt with us, probably because he had enough women throwing themselves at him.
March 15th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Is it just me or is there a real effort to bash Engelbert on this site whenever possible? I understand everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I, like many other TJ fans am just a big a fan of Engelbert. Recently, it seems with this post and a previous one from an old review at Westbury, Engelbert is getting bashed more than usual. There’s room for everyone in the music world and even if we think one personality is better than the other, I think we can all agree the music stands on its own and that’s all that should really matter.
March 15th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Vince:Yes, we hate to say it but it’s just you.
If you look over the published material on Engelbert where he and Tom are mentioned in the same story, he always seems to come out poorly compared to Tom. No, it’s not us. We’ve both seen Enge in person and at least one of is eagerly awaiting his return to Las Vegas to see him again.
As for there being “room for everyone in the music world,” well, if you read our site, you’ll realize you get no argument from us. We’ve touted (and been soundly criticized for so doing) performances by Manilow and Tony Bennett and, given a chance, we’ll tell you to be sure to see Bette Midler at Caesars Palace. Recently we’ve been to shows with Eric Burdon, Chubby Checker, Peter Noone and some others. And we’re both Elvis fans and saw him, too. So your accusations are totally baseless.
As for any “Tom vs. Engelbert” bias — all we can suggest is you refer to news articles about the latter. Frequently he talks about “not having socks in his pants” and makes derogatory remarks about Sir Tom. We think Tom can take the heat and doesn’t need us to defend him. In fact, when the subject comes up on other online forums and chat rooms, we tend to skip it because discussion of such nonsense is a waster of time.
We really don’t mind honest, well-founded criticism. But you just reacted without any facts. And, by the way, Engelbert has a good website.
March 15th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
TOM’s towel fell accidentally on the floor??? - hahaha - sorry but I cannot get this picture out of my mind now
March 15th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
BeBe: Thanks, BeBe! We shared that laugh and that’s exactly why we posted the article. If that picture will get you through for a week or so, go for it!
March 15th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I didn’t mean to ruffle any feathers here. I have read your opinons on other artists on this site. I also already know about Engelbert’s good website. I’m also sure there have been articles comparing both of them where the reviewer liked both of them or just Engelbert. It just seemed like you were going out of your way to point out negative things written about Engelbert with the recent posts. I can see how you don’t like his remarks about Tom, but I think he does it just to be silly. There has been lots of praise from him about Tom in interviews throughout the years, including his recent DVD so I’m sure he has no ill feelings towards him. I’ve been a big fan of the site. Sorry my original comments came out harsh. I’ve got a bad cold and guess I need some TJ and Engelbert music to feel better
March 15th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
No problem, Vince. But you hit a nerve because, not too long ago, if anyone mentioned Elvis on one of the TJ boards it was grounds to get barred from posting, even though so many TJ fans began as Elvis fans, And it seemed to us when we began reading the forums and boards that the unwritten rule was no mention of Enge in a positive light. The Robert Christgau reviews from Newsday that we posted are just samples of things we came across and save to post because they are worth noting. We actually have a “slow TJ news” file of things to post when news about Tom is slow.
We must say, Vince, that we really appreciate your contributions to this site, and your photo, and hope you continue to post. We also hope you feel better quickly.
—Ellen & Ursula
March 15th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Isn’t about time that Tom’s people release an updated schedule?
March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Tom Jones is #1 for me. #2 is Engelbert.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Vince, I’m sure TJI.com doesn’t mean to bash Engelbert. They just want to post any news about Tom. I think its just because Tom & Engelbert had the same manager for many years that they are compared a lot in the same writeups. Personally, I don’t care for Engelbert so I’m not surprised when I read articles where Tom comes up on top and Engelbert comes up short. Thats my preference but I respect others opinions.
Bebe, I’m with you…I can’t get that picture of the towel “accidentally” falling out of my mind! :-0
March 16th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Ellen and Ursula - this picture will get me through till my next TJ FIX
March 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
SusannePDX - High Five my sister - hope to meet you again in VEGAS
March 17th, 2008 at 5:27 am
I’m with Greg (#7) - let’s get an update on Tom’s schedule, so we can plan our lives accordingly. Come on Management, this is important stuff!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Greg, Carol: Our suggestion is that you write to one of the addresses on the contact page at tomjones.com for any management questions. Good luck.