Tom Jones

6-4-08 Tom Jones

LP 13 SMASH HITS DECCA UK SKL 4909

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CD BEST OF DERAM JPN POCY-1001

LP GOLDEN HITS, THE DECCA UK TAB 2

LP GREATEST HITS PARROT US XPAS 71062

LP GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME DECCA UK SKL 4855

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7" LITTLE LONELY ONE / THAT'S WHAT WE'LL ALL DO CAPITOL NL HF 289

LP LIVE AT THE TALK OF THE TOWN DECCA UK LK 4874

CD LIVE IN LAS VEGAS DERAM DE 820318.2

CD RELOAD V2 JPN V2CI-57

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I saw Tom Jones live at the Hollywood Bowl a few years ago – it was a very fun show. And I confess to being very fond of his 21^st century identity: “Tom Jones International”! And the single “Sex Bomb” is a lot of fun, too.

But a look back at his catalogue – and there are definitely some interesting items there. For example, after he got famous – EMI / Capitol Holland re-issued an ancient recording “Little Lonely One” – originally released by “Tommy Scott & The Senators” – and recorded / produced by Joe Meek! And, of course, the mildly inappropriate non-US cover of the “A-Tom-Ic Jones” LP, of him singing in front of an atomic blast (I have an NZ copy).

People uninterested in his history should definitely check out “Reload” – where Mr. Jones duets with a wide variety of contemporary artists (the Japanese CD has some live bonus tracks!).

What prompted today’s blog was that I finally got around to listening to the “Live In Las Vegas” CD on the way to work this morning. 48 minutes of prime late 60’s T.J.! It’s a really good recording – bet it would sound good on a huge stereo, turned way up! I bet not many 60’s live albums sound this good – with the notable exception of “Harry Belafonte At Carnegie Hall” from 1959 – now THAT’S a great live album!

It will be curious to see how long Mr. Jones can last. The Hollywood Bowl show was fairly high energy – and by now he’s got to be near 70! Too bad his “Mr. Jones” album made with Wyclef Jean didn’t see US issue. Now that’s a funky piece of work (my GF has a copy).

Remember the rumor that the M*nson family had Tom Jones on a ‘hit list’? Yuck! And think of what a boom Tom Jones has been to the women’s under-ware industry! All those panties thrown up onto the stage!

I remember watching both the Bee Gees and Arthur Brown on the “Tom Jones Show” on TV, towards the end of the 60’s – where are all of those on DVD?

Thanks for the music, Mr. Jones!