Caught some of the Tom Jones Soundstage concert on PBS the other day and it brought back a fond childhood memory of running through my parent’s album collection and throwing what looked interesting on the turntable. Check out that album cover! Screams old school cool doesn’t it? I vividly recall watching the album (Tom Jones Live In Las Vegas on Parrot Records) spinning, entranced by the green and yellow parrot on the label going round and round in circles as Jones belted out hit after hit. Sure, I liked some of those other cuts but for me, “Delilah” is the showstopper.
I do listen to a ton of different music and I’m generally a rock dude but man, Tom Jones has such style, charisma, and a supreme voice that’s hard to dislike. “What’s New Pussycat”, “It’s Not Unusual”, “Green Green Grass Of Home”, “She’s A Lady”, even his cover of Prince’s “Kiss” are all fabulous tunes featuring that remarkable and commanding roar that stops you in your tracks. But “Delilah” is it for me as far as overall dramatics, delivery, music, and lyric go- listen to those stabbing and swinging horns! Check out the drum fills! And listen to that powerful voice! It doesn’t get any better.
As per the Sounstage show, the man still has that power and stage presence and as someone who likes to sing on occasion, serves as a bit of a vocal inspiration for me as I get a little older myself. Oh yeah, just read that Tom Jones is 76 years young, which is the same age as my dad! I can only hope that I can be half as cool as both guys at that age 🙂
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Loved this! Dad looked at it. You know dad, never says much, but he laughed. Also, I want to know who you are! Where did you come from? What kind of language are you speaking? You are so music savvy! Wow! I read through your blog to the end. Listened. Is this where Ian get’s his get-up-and-go-wild? Where has mom been during your musicality education? All I remember is loud noise coming from your bedroom when you were a teenager. I am terribly impressed with your lingo!! You are very gifted. I knew I raised you right, but this is a whole new avenue in your life that I haven’t trod.. A very large and wide road of pure fun sounds like. You and bro, what musical nerds you are!!!!!!
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Well, gotta echo Mom there, we are ridiculously off the wall musical nerds, haha! But, yeah, like you it started with that revolving parrot label on the turntable as a little kid, but damn, I was too young to understand how truly awesome that guy is! A great singer but an even better entertainer. I think only Elvis pulled the ladies better than TJ, haha!
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Should have covered this one too 🙂
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