Tom Jones International

With thanks to AF, who chimed into all the discussion on this site about Tom’s thoughts and feelings about living in the US, with this 1977 article from a US publication that should make his feelings crystal clear. (It is reproduced with the type as it appears in the original.) We have reason to believe these feelings are still true today — and the article doesn’t even mention the fact that “it never rains in California,” so a sun worshipper can really love it there. He’s as Welsh as can be and he loves his American home. Thus, the two Toms — the Gemini who is deeply, forevermore Welsh and the one who loves living in the USA — peacefully, even happily, coexist.

British tax emigre TOM JONES is $urviving $ucce$$ very “handsomely,” thank you, in the good old U$A. Ensconsed in his Beverly Hills manse, Mr. Pussycat just purred about the good life in his chosen country…

“In America, if you have money in the bank, and a nice home, and you’ve proven yourself, people see you as that. Three years ago, I was living on St. George’s Hill, in Weybridge, England, and I couldn’t join the golf club there because I was an ‘entertainer.” I thought it was all so stupid. The upper class people in Britain still like ‘breeding.’ If you don’t come from a first class family, there will alwasy look down on you.”

In TOM’s case, they would have had to look beyone “the green, green grass” all the way down to one of the biggest holes in Britain — TOM’s father was a coal miner in the Welsh town of Pontypridd.

TOM, who is still married to wife #1, says, “I consider myself lucky because I got married before I got into show business. My wife and I got to know each other so well that we can now survive anything — even success. LINDA understands. She is not on my back all the time. I go on the road and come home when I want. I get a lot of freedom“

And isn’t that what the U.S. of A. is all about?

Yes, we say it again and again — Tom is great. We know that. We also know it’s difficult to define what makes him so.

Tonight, the night before he closes this run at the MGM, we sat with our good friend from the UK (a good friend we met thought tji.com) and two women from San Francisco, long-time fan Debbie and her cousin Amy. Sitting at table 5, they had a ball, loving every minute.

Also in the audience was an assortment of women of all ages who had never seen Tom before. Of course, it’s nothing new that he he was smokin’— he most always is. But to see these women who appeared to be well into middle age, dancing in the aisles, cheering and having a ball, was terrific.

While it’s nothing new, we have to say that once again we were struck by the magic that is Tom Jones.

You see, this man, after all these years, has the amazing, probably singular, ability to make every woman in his audience feel beautiful, sexy and desirable. And, mostly, the men who accompany the women get a real kick out of it sensing, somehow, that they’ll reap the benefit of it all. It is, in addition to his voice, his gift.

Tom gives the gift of happiness and it is a rare gift. We should cherish it and the person who gives it.

Once again, we must say we’re lucky to have had the Tom Jones experience. Please share yours with us.

Tom’s jacket is like that because the photographer caught him in motion. There’s nothing wrong with the hem or the tailoring.

Tom began the last four days of his amazing 16-day run at the MGM Sunday night and he was — need we say it? — really terrific.

The audience was into the show and it was lots of fun — he appeared to be having a really good time.

Once again, the audience was filled with Brits. It’s good to know that the strength of the US dollar is actually benefiting some people, even if they’re not from the US. There was a couple in their 60s who had never seen him before, two young guys from London absolutely taken with him and a group of four guys here from Cambridge for a bachelor party who really liked the show. And that was just at our table and the two closest to it.

Note On November: This economy is causing the venue, like so many venues in a very hard-hit Las Vegas entertainment landscape, to make some changes. They’re adding several one-week stands (Donny & Marie, Wayne Newton, Craig Ferguson) and, as in Tom’s run here last December, when he’s here October 30 through November 12, his show will go on at 7:30 pm, with Rodney Carrington doing a 10 pm show.

We just hope that that group of shows isn’t forced to be as rushed as they were last year when the schedule was like that. And we also hope that the December shows still happen.

At any rate, Tom’s been great. We’ve said before that we cannot think of any other singer of his quality — including Pavarotti, Bocelli and, even, Caruso — who can deliver the high caliber performance he does night after night. Sixteen shows in a row is truly a gift.

The Voice that is Tom Jones is a miracle and we’re so lucky to be able to see and hear him, aren’t we?

If you haven’t already done so, please share your Las Vegas experience of this run.

We’ve all seen this now-iconic photo of Elvis watching Tom perform in Las Vegas. But an Elvis blog has another story to add.

Quoting from the book Elvis: Word for Word by Jerry Osborne, the site founder and moderator says:

“You are probably familiar with the way Johnny Cash opened his concerts. He would walk out on stage, go to the mike, and say, ‘Hello, my name is Johnny Cash.’ Elvis Presley was obviously aware of this mannerism, because he opened several of his live shows a very similar way. That’s right. Elvis walked on stage and announced, ‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Johnny Cash.’ I guess he found it a good way to break the ice and get beyond pre-show jitters.”

Osborne notes others as whom Elvis introduced himself, including Wayne Newton (who, Elvis said, has a “brother fig”) 12 times. Then, he notes:

“As far as is known, only one other performer received more than two mentions by Elvis. His friend Tom Jones inspired at least four funky introductions. On August 28, 1974, Elvis introduced Jones who was sitting in the audience at the Vegas Hilton. Elvis told everyone to catch Jones’ show opening at Caesars Palace the next night. The ones who did, received a special treat when Elvis surprised Jones and came out on stage, too. For the next three nights, Elvis opened his own show by saying, ‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Tom Jones. You came to the wrong place.’ Near the end of 1975, Elvis said, ‘Welcome to the show. You know who you are…and I think you know who I am…Tom Jones, you’re right.’”

Tickets for Tom’s Sunday, July 13 concert at Humphreys By the Bay in San Diego go on sale tomorrow (Saturday, May 17), 10 am, PDT. As its name implies, the 1,400-seat theater is located outdoors on gorgeous San Diego Bay. If you’ve never seen San Diego and/or are close enough to get there — or love it as we do so it’s worth a trip — you should try to go.

The venue makes going, and staying there, easy by offering a range of packages that include dinner for two in Humphrey’s restaurant, two tickets in rows 1 through 4 for the concert and overnight accommodations for two in a beautifully appointed guest room or suite at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn & Suites. Dinner is selected from a special Dinner Show Menu in Humphrey’s restaurant. After purchasing Premium Packages, you must call Humphrey’s restaurant (619-224-3577) to make dinner reservations and Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn & Suites (619-224-3411) to make hotel reservations. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours prior to the show.

These packages can only be purchased by phone (619-220-TIXS) or online at the link below.

There is no presale code, but there is plenty of opportunity for fans who order early to get a great seat.

Click here to order:

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A Note on Tom at the Trump Taj Mahal, Fri. August 1, 2008 & Sat. August 2, 2008: Despite what the Taj website says, tickets are on sale next Saturday, May 24, at noon EDT via ticketmaster. or by phone, 1-800-736-1420, or in person at the Taj Box Office. For box office hours and more information call (609) 449-5150. There is no presale.

Thursday at the MGM was — like Tom’s jacket — hot.

The man had the audience in the palm of his hand and they loved him. We were sitting with some people from Wales. Margaret told us her husband David was “really” the fan. By the end of the evening it would have been difficult to distinguish fan from not-a-fan in that couple.

To our left was Keith, a California guy who hadn’t seen Tom before. By the end of the show he was hooked. He just smiled throughout the evening.

In fact that might be a description of the entire audience — long-standing to fairly new to TJ virgins. It was (to bring back a phrase or two from a few years ago) a complete love-in.

We preferred — as did SusannePDX in an earlier comment — the white jacket to the red. But that has nothing to do with how Tom looks in white vs. how he looks in red.

It is about the play of the intense colored lights. Under them, the white stays white. The red turns all sorts of different shades in the red family, from the true red when he first comes out, to orange, to paler red…

…On the other hand, it is Tom Jones and he does look great. And we loved the black slacks. They look terrific whether he’s standing, moving or, simply (and maybe best) sitting on a stool and singing.

Of course, he sounded great, too. After he sang I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (which he has noted would be a good epitaph for him because “I never will, will I?”) he said softly, chuckling, “I sang that when I was 24….and then when I was 44….” as he let the thought trail off to laughter from the audience.

Several people commented on the band. The guy next to us couldn’t get over the interplay between Tom and Herman. “They’re really having fun up there, aren’t they?” he asked.

Yes, we’d bet they were, everyone else on the state was and the audience was, too. And that’s what it’s all about — the great music, the great voice and audience basking in the presence of today’s greatest voice and his assemblage of amazing musicians and singers.

We are truly blessed to have them in our lives. And we hope each of you has the chance to see the red jacket and the white jacket and decide for yourselves which is the favorite.

We ran this photo in an uncharacteristically large size because we just like it. Hope you do, too.

The presale for Tom’s July 3 show at the Nokia Theater at Grand Prairie TX begins tomorrow, Friday, May 16, at 10 am CDT.

The pass code is “pussycat.”

Tickets must be bought through ticketmaster.

Sale to the general public begins Monday, May 19, 10 am, CDT. Tickets are $39.50 to $75.

Good luck!

Note: At the moment, the info on the Ticketmaster website is incorrect, as it says the presale both begins and ends May 16, at 10 am. We hope they’ll correct that.

If you prefer to buy in person, you can find Ticketmaster locations near you here. To order by phone, click here.

It has lots of errors — incorrect song titles and biographical disinformation — but this review of Tom in AC from jambase.com also has lots of praise, even though some of it isn’t too clear: “Jones commanded us to watch as a mirrored ball suspended from the ceiling high over head in the grand theater shined like artificial starlight in a planetarium, the vastness of outer space brought inside as light rained across the room for Sex Bomb, a great get up and dance song. The audience responded with moves of their own, and Jones responded with I Like The Way You Move and closer Prince’s Kiss. Little could be smoother or sexier.”

Anyhow, this review also has some good photos by Rod Snyder. If you want to see them, you’ll find them at photonet.com.

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Words by: Bobby “TP” Coleman | Images by: Rod Snyder

Tom Jones :: 05.03.08 :: Harrah’s Casino :: Atlantic City, NJ

At Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, in a very proper theater seating about 1300 people, a velvet curtain concealed the stage as bright light peaked out and sound washed over the room. After a moment the curtain rose and the eleven-piece band appeared in small groups across the stage underneath a video screen showing images of outer space, Earth and the moon. We saw the topography of their surfaces and then a motorcade, as Sir Thomas John Woodward, better known as Tom Jones entered, giving us the thumbs up to begin our revels.

The Welsh singer, whose career began with Beat Boom stars Tommy Scott and the Senators in 1963, started the show by asking the audience to Raise Your Hand as he took us across the threshold of time, through space, into a musical journey spanning 40 years. Second song, Help Yourself, composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the musical “What’s New Pussycat?” nostalgically transported me back to 1965. The carefully produced and polished show highlighted the individual band members and their talents. The sound is big, fresh and clear.
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The photo here is of Tom’s Bellagio, special order, five time-zone watch. There are very few of these in the world. David Beckham owns another of those few. A fan asked the other night to get a photo of it and, with the diamond glitter and the flash, this is the best we could do. The five circles you can see near the bottom of the star are the time zones. Below is a small story about a minor incident at Monday’s show. The thing that is striking, of course, is Tom’s kindness — and the thought that so many other fans have wished they could try it themselves. And, finally, there are ticket-ordering links if you click the “read more” link.

The show at the MGM last night (Monday) featured a somewhat subdued crowd but it was a solid show. While nothing was tossed onstage, one audience member tried valiantly to put herself on stage with Tom.

She was named Pat and came from Texas; petite, white-haired and around 80 years of age. She was seated at Table 9A, next to the stage, and had come to the show with her daughter and son-in-law who gave her the trip for Mother’s Day.

When SusannePDX came to take the fourth seat at the table she spotted a handbag on the otherwise empty fourth chair. “This must be my seat,” she said. “No, it’s not,” Pat replied. “Well, that’s what my ticket says,” countered SusannePDX.

“Well I need that seat. I need that seat to get up on the stage.” She then began to laugh and SusannePDX realized she was joking and she could have her seat with no problem. The woman said, “You think I’m kidding? You think I won’t do it? I’m crazy.”

SusannePDX sat next to Pat. As Pat watched the show, kept grabbing SusannePDX in her excitement. At rest, Pat sat with her hands clasped on the stage. The first time Tom walked near to her, she beckoned him with her little finger. He laughed and winked.

But it didn’t end there.
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We are so grateful to the fan who gave us these photos. Don’t know exactly when they were taken, but it was one night since Thursday.

The wonderful thing about seeing Tom Jones — whether for the very first time or for the fifth time in as many days — is that you are guaranteed great audio. Always. Tom’s voice is indescribably, breathtakingly amazing. If he were to have an off night, it would still be leagues better than most singers having their best night. It is always a privilege to hear him.

Of course, as many people have commented, the visuals aren’t bad, either.

Starting with last Thursday night’s show at the MGM Tom has changed his look. As you can see here, it’s black slacks, black shirt (no change there) and — Sunday, at least — a white jacket. He alternates that with a red one.

Where other men may look like waiters in a white jacket, Tom looks great. The tan, the diamond jewelry (catch his Bellagio clock — er, watch — one of only five in the world) and the contrast of black against white looks terrific.

We sat next to four guys from Denver, all in their early 20s who wanted Tom to sing Stoned In Love. (They love the song and their response proves again that it was too bad that it wasn’t released here with any kind of publicity, as it would have likely been a dance hit.) Anyway, they were spending a great deal of time during the show texting (and no usher bothered them or asked them to put away their phones). When asked why, they explained with great enthusiasm, “We’ve gotta tell everyone how f***in’ great he is!”

And, we have to add, one of the nicest things about the World of Tom Jones is the fact that fans can, and often do, become good friends. We were able to celebrate two fans’ birthdays this week, laughing, dancing (who can resist I Like The Way?) and just enjoying the great shows and the great company. If you have been at the MGM this month, please share your review.