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.
Sir Tom’s Headed To New Orleans: Here’s His Take On A Big Easy Classic
Friday, June 27th, 2008
After shows tonight and tomorrow at a casino in Lake Charles, LA, the gang’s headed to New Orleans for two shows at the HOB Sunday and Monday.
We can say unequivocally that Sir Tom Jones is at the head of the class when it comes to singing the music indigenous to that city. He did a lot of that stuff — blues, R & B, and so on — in his eponymous CD with Jools Holland. Here, on a Parkinson’s show in September 2004 is their fabulous version of St. James Infirmary Blues, one of our very favorites from that collaboration. Tom and his own terrific musicians did this for awhile in his show. We miss it.
St. James Infirmary Blues became popular in the US with a 1928 version by Louis Armstrong. It’s based on an English folk song called The Unfortunate Rake, the story of a sailor who, as a result of his consorting with prostitutes, dies of venereal disease. In the ever-Puritanical US the cause of death became over-indulgence in drinking and gambling.
The location of a real St. James Infirmary is in dispute, but many favor London — either in what was a workhouse or what is today St. James Palace.
At any rate, it’s a great song and Tom and Jools do it proud. (And, doesn’t Sir Tom look grand?)
Sorry it’s so small, but it had to be crunched to fit online. It was on youtube but, now, it’s gone or we’d have linked to it. It is, by the way, a QuickTime video.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Sir Tom’s version of this classic is a master class in how to deliver a song: it’s just sensational.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Oh yes - I wish I could go to New Orleans and see TOM in the HOB this weekend - Thanks for the clip I missed it on youtube - TOM singing the Blues is heaven on earth
June 27th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
While we don’t wish to appear obsessive and/or compulsive, we cannot help but point out that in the recording Tom sings the lyric, “…the usual crowd was there.” That’s the way an American would sing this American song. In this video, performing live in the UK, he sings it like a true Brit: “…the usual crows were there.” Odd — but very human.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Thank you so much for the clip. Tom was great and just like Paula said {sensational}. Flo
June 28th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Tom never misses a beat and still sounds as clear as a bell.
June 29th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Loved the clip. Tom’s the greatest!
June 29th, 2008 at 9:40 am
We are going to New Orleans for the Monday night show. Can’t wait to see him there. The only thing I am not sure of is the tickets are all standing room only.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Oh WOW! Thanks a lot for that! I adooooore this song! I had never seen it live so this is a big treat! It’s my all time favourite album that one! What better place to see this than the HOB, I wonder if they’ll be playing it.