The photo of Oscar vs Tom with the green curtain is priceless.
I think in my family we all enjoyed Tom's persona and his hanging out with the Rat Pack in Vegas and singing with everyone on his variety show. But you're right that he didn't really have a musical vision and was all over the place. I don't even remember him much after the sixties.
Tom doing the dishes? My Welsh friend said that Welsh men were stuck back in the fifties ten years ago, so I'd guess Tom would not have known how to wash a dish.
Though I do for you and at at a non-sneezing distance for Oscar’s looks, I have no soft-spot for Tom Jones.
This takes me back to my Fulbright year, living in a “bed-sit” in Cardiff.
Last call at the pubs was 11, but drinking clubs—open on weekends—could serve booze and have live entertainment until 2 a.m.
One was right behind my bedroom. I didn’t realize that until 4 days after I’d signed the lease.
For my entire “academic”year, every weekend meant local would-be Tom Joneses belting out his most ardent hits at max volume until the wee hours Then the bottle cleanup.
I never forgave him for all those sleepless nights.
I love your mom's "Ewww"! Meanwhile my mom, in-between stacks of Parrot label Englebert Humperdinck albums, would get some Tom Jones in there, many years later she moved over to "eww, what was I thinking?!" when I shared my TJ cds with her that I was digging.
A few years ago he put out a couple of CDs of gospel tunes, which reminded me that he has never just been a sex symbol. The problem is that he isn't always matched with the kind of music he deserves to sing.
Great post! As a kid I saw Tom Jones as a sweaty ladies man! My mother loved his music and I've come to really appreciate his voice and swagger. "It's Not Unusual" is one of my all-time favorite songs! I still put it on workout playlists. It's got so much great energy!
As you know, I too am a ToJo fan. Just curious...what did you think of the Long Lost Suitcase album produced by Ethan Johns? I thought his version of Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues" was mind blowing. I got to interview The Man in person for the album, and he did not disappoint.
I thought all three of those Ethan Johns records had their moments, and Tom as usual sang the shit out of them… but at the same time, I did not really dig the overall vibe and approach, which felt overly and unnecessarily serious. I far prefer “Vegas satyr with a three-day boner” ToJo to “penitent sinner” ToJo.
His son was also the one behind the press release sent out circa The Lead and How to Swing It which discouraged women from throwing their panties at him while he performed, claiming that Tom didn’t like it and wished that they would stop. I caught Tom on that tour, and you could see his hand shaking every time some panties were lobbed onto the stage — he wanted to pick them up so badly, but didn't want to get chewed out by his kid. Finally, one fan landed her underthings on his shoulder, giving him no choice but to grab them... and mop his forehead with them, of course!
The photo of Oscar vs Tom with the green curtain is priceless.
I think in my family we all enjoyed Tom's persona and his hanging out with the Rat Pack in Vegas and singing with everyone on his variety show. But you're right that he didn't really have a musical vision and was all over the place. I don't even remember him much after the sixties.
Tom doing the dishes? My Welsh friend said that Welsh men were stuck back in the fifties ten years ago, so I'd guess Tom would not have known how to wash a dish.
Hahaha — I figured as much!
Though I do for you and at at a non-sneezing distance for Oscar’s looks, I have no soft-spot for Tom Jones.
This takes me back to my Fulbright year, living in a “bed-sit” in Cardiff.
Last call at the pubs was 11, but drinking clubs—open on weekends—could serve booze and have live entertainment until 2 a.m.
One was right behind my bedroom. I didn’t realize that until 4 days after I’d signed the lease.
For my entire “academic”year, every weekend meant local would-be Tom Joneses belting out his most ardent hits at max volume until the wee hours Then the bottle cleanup.
I never forgave him for all those sleepless nights.
I can't blame you one bit...
I love your mom's "Ewww"! Meanwhile my mom, in-between stacks of Parrot label Englebert Humperdinck albums, would get some Tom Jones in there, many years later she moved over to "eww, what was I thinking?!" when I shared my TJ cds with her that I was digging.
A few years ago he put out a couple of CDs of gospel tunes, which reminded me that he has never just been a sex symbol. The problem is that he isn't always matched with the kind of music he deserves to sing.
I always kinda wished that The Vanilla Fudge would have taken on ‘It’s Not Unusual’ in their inimitable style.
Ooh yeah - I could totally hear that! On a much different tip, the Dells’ version is quite good.
Great post! As a kid I saw Tom Jones as a sweaty ladies man! My mother loved his music and I've come to really appreciate his voice and swagger. "It's Not Unusual" is one of my all-time favorite songs! I still put it on workout playlists. It's got so much great energy!
TJ was always my worst nightmare. His voice was on all the radio stations. My distaste knew no bounds. So glad when he was OVER!!!!
Given my mom's reaction, I'm not surprised you felt this way!
As you know, I too am a ToJo fan. Just curious...what did you think of the Long Lost Suitcase album produced by Ethan Johns? I thought his version of Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues" was mind blowing. I got to interview The Man in person for the album, and he did not disappoint.
I thought all three of those Ethan Johns records had their moments, and Tom as usual sang the shit out of them… but at the same time, I did not really dig the overall vibe and approach, which felt overly and unnecessarily serious. I far prefer “Vegas satyr with a three-day boner” ToJo to “penitent sinner” ToJo.
I hear that. Three albums were too much. His son had a lot to do with that "reinvention." He needs to work with Harry Styles!
His son was also the one behind the press release sent out circa The Lead and How to Swing It which discouraged women from throwing their panties at him while he performed, claiming that Tom didn’t like it and wished that they would stop. I caught Tom on that tour, and you could see his hand shaking every time some panties were lobbed onto the stage — he wanted to pick them up so badly, but didn't want to get chewed out by his kid. Finally, one fan landed her underthings on his shoulder, giving him no choice but to grab them... and mop his forehead with them, of course!
Love Tom's movie song, "Promise Her Anything," another example that Bacharach could rock when he wanted to.