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.
Tom Jones Video: Compare And, Please, Give Us A Break!
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
We took some criticism because we said the fan videos from HOB (to which we linked in a July 3 post) and the video from the Murray the K (posted just below) show were bad. We were told by one fan that we’re too critical and that “fans would wholeheartedly agree that ANY footage of Tom, good, bad, bizarre, horrible quality, or crappy old video, it doesn’t really matter! We love it all!.”
This person also suggested we were angry that were weren’t the first to post the 1965 video. Of course she has no clue that we’ve often posted stuff that can be seen elsewhere. (For the record, we held the video for several days so we could do the research we wanted to do about the show where it was used and, because we have “real” lives, that takes time.)
Meanwhile, we agree with her that fans will watch anything. Once. But we don’t think so little of fans that we assume anything at all is acceptable in the long run. Especially if you want to watch it more than once or download it to add to your collection.
The HOB video posted on youtube to which we linked caused way too many people on the tj.com forum to believe the audience was rude. They weren’t. It was video that looked to be shot with a cell phone that did justice neither to an enthusiastic audience or what attendees report was a terrific show.
This fan who wrote us totally missed the point (or was looking for an argument or, perhaps, posted the HOB video herself). Like the HOB videos, the Murray the K video from 1965 was really bad.
To realize how bad that 1965 video on youtube and on this site were compared to what is possible, just check out this
13-second clip from the same show.
The one above isn’t great, but it’s leagues better than the first one and clearly supports our point about quality. Hopefully, we’ll have the entire higher quality video to post soon.
For the record, we would have posted this fan’s comments but because we get so many comments from people who have never posted and many of them are appalling, we’ve gotten in the habit of checking every new poster to ensure as much as we can that they’re legit before we post their comment. In this case, we haven’t gotten finished checking so we thought we’d just go ahead, tell you what she said, and respond.
Thanks for putting up with our rant,
Ellen & Ursula
This is a RealPlayer video. Click on the link and wait a few seconds. If you have RealPlayer installed it will play. Be sure your sound is on and that you can see the video screen on your screen. On ours it comes up behind the browser window, so we have to move the browser out of the way (or you can minimize the browser before you click on the link). The photo is Tom performing at the Atlanta Ballroom, Woking (UK), February 26, 1965.
And, of course, we’re still very, very grateful to Lois for sending the original video.
July 5th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I took a video at the Strawberry Festival with my new hard drive camcorder…but it was the first time I used it at such an event and I certainly couldn’t have brought the tripod. I got about 15 minutes of passable video, for my enjoyment and those of my friends. I hope my future film making efforts will be better…after all my cousin was a successful cinematographer and his son still is…but I guess it’s not in the genes. I guess my point is that it is difficult to get a good video under those circumstances for an amateur, but if it is really bad I wouldn’t put it online for the world to see. I do, however, applaud the efforts of fans.
July 5th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The difference is quality is clear and I hope we get to see the full song in better quality real soon Meanwhile, we appreciate all the time you put into TJI.com and all the info that we get as a result!
July 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Thanks for posting this snippet — much better for my viewing pleasure! Plus, I wouldn’t call you ladies “angry” by any means. You provide us with good, quality news about Sir Tom without all the superfluous garbage that shows up on the Forum pages at tj.com. There. I’ve said it!
July 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I find intelligent criticism refreshing but “dull grumble’ boring and annoying
but most of all a fansite should be fun and informative - a way to bring the artist closer to the fan - A forum should be a way to communicate with others unedited and with the freedom of speech 
July 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
BeBe: We wholeheartedly agree with you about the purpose of a forum and about what a fansite should be. But, we believe that most of all each should stick to the subject at hand.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
This site rocks, as do ELLEN & URSULA!! Keep doing what you’re doing, I love this site as so many others do. I know that what I see and read and see here is going to be the best and most credible information about TJ and that means a lot to me. Thanks!!
July 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Would it be possible if someone could kindly resave the file clip and have it formatted for the Window Media Player? I so much would appreciate it, and I would very much like to see the early show on Tom Jones performing “It’s Not Unsual” once again. Thank you.
July 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This site is streets ahead of the competition not least because of its judicious editing and careful moderation. You can’t have it both ways: if you want a classy product that is a fitting tribute to Sir Tom and treats both him and his fans with respect, then it has to be run by people who are mindful of what is posted. That’s what we get here. There are plenty of other places where unedifying gossip and snide comments are par for the course. I know where I’d rather be.
July 5th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I have yet to get a decent still photo much less a video, so I appreciate it when other fans are generous enough to share no matter what the quality. And I also appreciate all the work Ellen & Ursula put into this very special forum.
July 5th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I agree. I have tried several times to take some great pictures. Most of the time I’m being tapped on the shoulder and reminded I’m not permitted to take pictures. I have a few, but they are far from great. I’ll keep trying — I’ll be back in Vegas in August to see Sir Tom.
July 5th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
What I am reading here is not really about Tom Jones…but competitiveness between two forums!!!! This should not be the case, if anything forums should comlement each other!!! To me this is childish. This is a waste of time!!!! We should all just love SIR TOM JONES!!!! If this does not get posted then there is no freedom of speech in this forum!!!! I do thank you for the excellent history of Rock and Roll.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Misty:
Please, please, reread what we — the forum moderators — wrote. We have never said anything negative about the forum on tj.com, nor will we.
As for freedom of speech, again you are wrong. Just as Sir Tom Jones’ management owns their forum and can close discussions (as, we believe, they have), so we own this one. It is not an issue of freedom of speech, but an issue of our site’s discussion degenerating into all sorts of personal issues about the participants and about Tom Jones’ personal life. We categorically will not allow that. As both site owners and fans, we find it ugly and distasteful.
We want to welcome more people, not drive anyone away due to the nature of what’s posted here.
If you don’t like it, we’re really sorry. But this site, like the tj.com forum, is not subject to any federal First Amendment/freedom of speech constraints. We try to be guided by decency while allowing opinions to be expressed. For the record, as an award-winning investigative journalist, Ellen is particularly keen on freedom of speech and knows that topic well. It doesn’t apply here.
We have stated clearly and often that we will not allow the kind of discussion that killed the original tomjones.com forum. And we won’t. No one was attacking you or that forum and we object to your attack on our site. From what we read of the comments here about the official forum, the people who posted those comments seem upset about some of the threads on that forum. They are, we believe, entitled — just as you are entitled to be upset by what they said here.
We’re deeply sorry you do not like what some people say here, and that is your prerogative. We’re sorry when any fan doesn’t like it as we do try to strike a balance and please everyone.
At tji.com we do the very best we can for all the fans and those who choose not to visit our site and/or participate are certainly free not do so so. But everyone is welcome.
(And, we thank you for your compliment on the stuff about Alan Freed and Murray the K. It was a great time to grow up in the metropolitan NY area, wasn’t it?)
—Ellen & Ursula
July 5th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I have reread and understand now. I was not attacking your forum at all. I have come here many times and found a lot of informative information I did not know about Tom Jones. I do understand your editing of postings. Tom’s private life is his own. Yes, it is hard to please everyone, but I try.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Ellen and Ursula, as I have commented many times in the past, this is the best Tom Jones website that exists. I know how dedicated and passionate you are about it and I really appreciate it. As a matter of fact, sometimes when I’m running late for work and I have to decide whether to eat or check out your website, I’ll forgo breakfast just to get my TJ fix! As far as the videos go, I couldn’t access the one posted above but I do agree that the other 2 weren’t good. Maybe you should put a bug in Tom’s management’s ear about making a DVD of one of his performances. The one from the Hollywood Bowl last year would have been a great one to see. Thanks for all you do.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:26 am
WOW! What a wakeup. I must say I am fascinated with all of this hullabaloo about an OLD video. I must also say that I LOVED it, good quality or not, because I had never seen it and because anything with Tom on it is “good” in my eyes. But that’s OK, if others choose to criticize it, hey that’s OK too. I wouldn’t argue about it, but then unless forced, I tend to avoid conflict and confrontation. I’m really good at it when I have time to think what I want to say, but always seem to come out 2nd verbally. You know, one of those I should have said.
In what I read this morning (and I have read it numerous times) I do not believe that TJI was criticized at all, as a matter of fact I see the opposite with the slamming of TJ.com, not by Ellen and Ursula, but by others, which I think is uncalled for. I have NEVER seen any criticism of this site on TJ.com. (I could be wrong, I don’t read every single thread or comment). Yes, I am a very regular contributor to TJ.com and I come here and enjoy this site also. We all have a common interest in Tom…so why do we have to come on these sites and stir up controversy, most of it having nothing to do with him?
Thank you Ellen and Ursula for letting me have my say and for the memories of the Brooklyn Paramount, Alan Freed, Murray the K, the submarine races (I was so naive about the submarine races that my then boyfriend (later my husband) had to explain it to me…and swinging soirees. We did have fun back then.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I still would love to see the clearer version of the video where Tom Jones is singing “It’s Not Unusual,” at the same time feeding the animals popsorn. Precious! Unfortunately, I’m unable to open up the file and don’t have the proper media to open it. Please repost the link in a Windows Media Player format. It’s only the way I’ll be able to see it. Thank you.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I agree with BeBe.This site is great and brings all fans together with the chance to air your views and to see what other fans think.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Hi, We saw Tom in N.O. July 1. He was amazing. I think he sings better and looks better now than the last time I saw him in Vegas one year ago. I love this site. I hope to see you in August when we see Tom in Vegas. You gals are the best…………