Tom J.

uwe · September 08, 2010, 10:57:00 AM

I always thought that he was more than cougar fodder, but didn't know he would ever be able to make the turnaround. It seems he now has, imagine Johnny Cash hitting the note:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pop24?v=Z7XZXn3bhMo&feature=pyv&ad=6724100845&kw=tom%20jones&gclid=COGu1vCj-KMCFUYqDgodOneTJA

Highlander · September 08, 2010, 12:10:20 PM

Now, I'll give you that he has a voice, a very recognisable one at that, but will this CD survive the test of comparison to the Rick Rubin produced Johnny Cash works...?

I never saw Cash perform but Jackie did and I envy her for that...

A musician that plays with soul will know all about the "note" and Cash hit that "note" many times but probably never more so than in that cover of Trent Reznor's song... I can think of no better epitaph to a career...

"... everyone I know, goes away, in the end..."

Pilgrim · September 08, 2010, 12:32:25 PM

Tom Jones' voice is finally showing its age and roughening a bit. IMO he's one of the most dynamic singers of our age...just love what the guy does. I liked his TV show, too. He does have more "top end" in his voice than Cash did.

uwe · September 08, 2010, 04:15:38 PM

For the record: I love JC, bum notes or not. I've got all his Rubin-produced albums. I was just describing Jones' voice on that particular CD. He was always a technically better singer than Cash and had a wider range, but his stuff lacked emotional credibility. This new release is different. But Johnny Cash is unsurpassed.

godofthunder · September 08, 2010, 05:01:31 PM

Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on September 08, 2010, 12:10:20 PM
Now, I'll give you that he has a voice, a very recognisable one at that, but will this CD survive the test of comparison to the Rick Rubin produced Johnny Cash works...?

I never saw Cash perform but Jackie did and I envy her for that...

A musician that plays with soul will know all about the "note" and Cash hit that "note" many times but probably never more so than in that cover of Trent Reznor's song... I can think of no better epitaph to a career...

"... everyone I know, goes away, in the end..."

The first time I saw this I was speechless.....................................it hit real hard a more moving performance I can't think of.

eb2 · September 08, 2010, 09:17:10 PM

I had seen Johnny Cash live, post American Recordings around 1996, and he was a pro. Great show, tight, no over-reaching. He knew what he could do, and did it.

Tom Jones is a different animal altogether. I suspect he was always capable of doing anything well, and his potential to be a real deal RnB/Memphis Soul/Rock singer was always squelched by the schmaltzy side. When he could have gone to Muscle Shoals he went to Vegas. But he always went for the safe and commercial version - say a more real take on the Pat Boone angle. All rock is commercial, but sometimes it is far more overt. I would even say his first couple of lps were more about good singles than getting the old ladies hot. This looks like more the same mindset though. It is like a marketing guy got hired and told him he could do a disc like Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin. For a guy whose idol was Jerry Lee Lewis, he sure went on a different angle. Or as Swamp Dogg said, "I ain't selling out, I'm buying in!"

All that aside, he was a better and more genuine bluesy singer than a lot rock people, such as the hideously over-rated Janis Joplin.

Dave W · September 08, 2010, 09:33:35 PM

Quote from: eb2 on September 08, 2010, 09:17:10 PM
... such as the hideously over-rated Janis Joplin.

Someone needed to say that. Better you than I.

I liked Tom Jones' and Johnny Cash's old songs. As in 1975 or earlier. This stuff leaves me cold.

uwe · September 09, 2010, 12:37:59 AM

What's interesting is that the first track on JC's last posthumous work "Ain't no Grave (gonna hold my body down)" is actually co-penned by Tom Jones and thus must have been already lying around for a couple of years prior to this new release (where it is also featured). I think something like this has been in him for a while. But of course Rubin's resurrection of Johnny Cash as an icon has proven inspirational for a whole bunch of people such as Neil Diamond, Kris Kristofferson and Cat Stevens. Nothing wrong with that "less is more"-approach.

Chaser001 · September 09, 2010, 07:01:18 AM

I saw Tom Jones in concert when I was a teenager. I've never been a fan, but it's hard not to appreciate his distinctive voice.

Highlander · September 09, 2010, 12:11:31 PM

Quote from: godofthunder on September 08, 2010, 05:01:31 PM
The first time I saw this I was speechless.....................................it hit real hard a more moving performance I can't think of.

With you there, Bro...

EB2 mentioned Muscle Shoals and I was reminded of an album I picked up in my Duane Allman completist phase that I kept because it was a great LP in it's own right by a young lady called Lulu... most people thought I was nuts until they listened to it...

as an aside, finally got Ton Ton Macoute by Johnny Jenkins on CD today... gonna enjoy playing that one... Shoals and Allman links, with a peppering of work by Berry Oakley, too...

Tom Jones has always epitomised that slick Vegas world but it would be interesting to give this a listen, the follow up will be the one to watch...

eb2 · September 09, 2010, 04:15:25 PM

Try this too.

And he started out nicely. Gibson bass content as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-Monp42hqw&feature=related

godofthunder · September 09, 2010, 04:42:25 PM

Not for nuth'n the band in the '64 clip is smok'n !!!!!! Bassist makes great use of that EB2 !

gearHed289 · September 10, 2010, 09:29:10 AM

Quote from: eb2 on September 08, 2010, 09:17:10 PMAll that aside, he was a better and more genuine bluesy singer than a lot rock people, such as the hideously over-rated Janis Joplin.

She's like fingernails on a chalk board to me. ANYWAY....

My mom was a big Tom Jones fan. And wadda ya know? My dad was a dark haired, hairy chested man named Tom. LOL! Love his voice. My VERY earliest musical memories are of listening to him and Herb Alpert.

Kinda feel bad for kids growing up listening to their mom's Britney Spears crud.

Highlander · September 10, 2010, 10:30:24 AM

My daughter grew up listening to Lemmy and Jason Newsted and Geddy Lee and so on...

Barklessdog · September 10, 2010, 12:04:48 PM

The newer Tom Jones videos left me cold. I thought his Prince comeback fit him better than blues. Nothing like a firebird with slide AKA Johnny Winter.

QuoteA musician that plays with soul will know all about the "note" and Cash hit that "note" many times but probably never more so than in that cover of Trent Reznor's song... I can think of no better epitaph to a career...

One of the most amazing music videos ever.

I turned on TV and saw some tiny old guy who looked a lot like my deceased father. It turned out to be Eric Burdon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYA061KR0Uk&feature=related

Sounds a bit flat but maybe he always was and did not notice?

Tom J.

Chaser001