Praise & Blame Press Quotes No. America

Tom Jones

Praise & Blame

Press Quotes No. America

“On Praise & Blame, that gutsy Northern soul voice sounds righteous and true”.

Billboard

“This is soul music at its best. Tom Jones has changed from a set of vocal chords ready to please a crowd of old ladies to a serious recording artist.”

No Depression, The Roots Music Authority

“Take those hats off and launch them in the air for one of the most uplifting, career-topping albums anyone could have released, regardless of age”.

Jason Draper, Yahoo Music, 9/10

“The performances are delivered from the gut and don’t disappear from the jukebox of the brain very soon. The same people who set the bar decades ago for so many of today’s acts to measure up to are still making a lot of today’s best music.  Praise & Blame raises that bar just a little higher”.

American Songwriter, 4*

“A faultless batch of songs [that] brings out the best in this veteran singer’s artistry. Johns lays down a resonant sonic foundation that is an ideal framework for Jones’ newfound gravitas”.

Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 4*/4

“His vocals are heartfelt and haunting…one hundred million albums later in a career that’s spanning nearly half a century and the best is still yet to come.  Mesmerizing”.

Blogcritics.com

“Leaves no doubt about how good Jones is”.

People Magazine, Critics Choice, 3.5/4

“Jones’ instrument has fire and brimstone—enough to make this elder statesman sound more virile and alive at 70 than ever”.

Jim Farber, New York Daily News, 4/5*

“He’s managed to make himself something highly unusual for a man at this stage of his career: unclassifiable. Unpredictable. Tom Jones is no joke”.

Ken Tucker, NPR Music

“A batch of gospel, blues and rockabilly songs so raw and pure that every impassioned note and every percussive beat hits the heart.  This is tom Jones’ creative edict”.

Mario Tarradell, The Dallas Morning News, Grade A

“With Praise & Blame, he’s reached deep and tapped into the real stuff. Impeccably sympathetic, haunting and rawboned…amid its grim-yet-joyous ecstasy, Jones gives no hint that his reinvention is anything less than a legitimate bid for salvation—artistic, personal, and even eternal”.

Jason Albert, The A.V. Club, Grade B+

“One of the most surprising albums of 2010…his astonishing interpretive talents have never been more believable”.

Dave Burger, The Salt Lake Tribune, Grade B+

“The instrumentation, the vocal work, and song selection are absolutely perfect”.  Praise & Blame may be Jones’ crowning achievement”.

Surviving the Golden Age, 8.5/10

“The singer revels in gutbucket and gospel, delivering 12 emotionally charged sermon-songs with raw-throated abandon”.

Entertainment Weekly, Grade B+

“One of the most intriguing albums Jones has made”.

Ottowa Citizen

“The song choices are impeccable, all propelled by Jones’s remarkable voice, still a marvel of quaveriness and bluster and sinew after all these years”.

The Washington Post

“ The dude is aging with elegance and grace. Praise & Blame is a raw, raucous, gospel-drenched, soul-infused marvel”.

Brian Baker, Scenic Alternative Newsweekly

“Praise & Blame” is sung by a Welsh hero still in full possession of a big voice. It’s sparse and hot and powerful…you can almost see a Southern heat coming off it.  His voice works these songs expertly. Seriously”.

Ryan White, The Oregonian

“Praise & Blame doen’t come from left field so much as it soars in from an entirely different ballpark. It’s a field of dark, disturbing dreams, where the 70-year old Jones shuns a 45-year pop career for a spiritual journey”.

Jon M. Gilbertson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Constantly emotive and impeccably crafty”.

Austin Music Source, Grade B+

“A soul-stirring collection of rootsy spirituals belted out by a pop legend with readjusted priorities”.

John Soeder, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Grade A

“It’s actually kind of flawless”.

Ed Masley, Arizona Republic, 4*/5

“Is it possible that Tom Jones, at age 70, is only now using everything he’s got to his best advantage? Praise & Blame puts the focus squarely on the voice, which not only retains all its dynamic range and muscle but exhibits, in its maturity, a refined sense of nuance and grace”.

Jeff Tamarkin, The Boston Phoenix, 4*

“You gotta love Tom Jones. And gotta hear his new album. Throughout, Jones sounds amazingly in his element…whether whooping it up or repenting his sins, he sounds like a man who has found his calling – again. Hallelujah!”

T’cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazzette, 4*/5

“What the hell is that recording doing being so damned awesome? This is a beautiful record. It is unsettling, touching, and inspiring. Listen to the full 40-minutes straight through—you’ll not be disappointed. In point of fact, it really doesn’t matter who made this record—just that it was made”.

Arkie Bermiss, The Perpetual Post

“Both subtle and powerful”.

Jim Sullivan, Boston Herald, Grade B+

“The fine, estimable Praise & Blame…is the sound of an artist making music without having to worry about cementing his legacy or answering to a fickle generation tied to his music, which is why Jones’ music is as important as any new quaking band’s. [It’s] a gift to the ears partly because…it reminds us that it’s not only music made by young people that pulls us together”.

Dave Bidini, National Post (Canada)

“A stirring album of real heart and soul, and full of the kind of music Jones was made to make. It’s by far the finest album of his career and one that finally does his superb voice true justice”.

Alan Channer, Christian Today, 5*/5

“Wow…damn good work”.

Jeff Spevak, Democrat and Chronicle.com

“Definitely one to put on your must-buy list, a really good combination of artistry and spirituality which opens up a whole other side to Jones”.

Carol Anne Szel, Goldmine Magazine ‘Pick’, 4*/4

“What Praise & Blame really reminds me of is a dark, smoky little bar where the Saturday night band that plays the deepest, most soulful, down-home blues late into the early morning turns into the church band and choir after a little coffee and a shave.  Come Sunday, there’s not a 7^th or 9^th note in earshot but the power of the Gospel makes the church windows bow in and out in time to the music. A surprising and strangely satisfying musical outing by a master vocalist still very much in command of his instrument and talent”.

Jeff Markunas, CWG Magazine, 3.5*/4

“Praise & Blame is worlds away from any music he’s recorded over the years.  He’s hitting a stride and sounding rather dignified, and that’s something to hear”.

Jewly Hight, Relix

“With spare arrangements that highlight his still-astonishing pipes and clear love of the material, it sounds like Tom Jones has come home”.

Peter Chianca, Wicked Local, Boston

“It’s stunning…in every case his voice is framed by unpredictable arrangements.  Jones rocks, but with a refined sensibility, a delicacy that creates mesmerizing sound portraits. A soulful, reflective record in which Jones roars and whispers and exhibits surprisingly good taste.  [This is] a lean, muscular, explosive recording that I can’t stop listening to. And so the only thing to do is listen to it again. And again”.

Robert Trusell, The Kansas City Star

“The 70-year old delivers a praiseworthy effort”.

People Magazine, Recent Raves, 3.5/4

“Genuine…profoundly soulful”.

Kansas City Freepress

“Praise & Blame is steeped in the sound of juke joints, heaven and hell, the devil and death….and much of the time, Great God Almighty, he pulls it off! A triumph of re-invention”.

Entertainment News Video

“So imagine my surprise when I was overtaken by the compulsion to play his new record a dozen times the first week I heard it. Praise & Blame is a dark, charging record, defiant and menacing.  His voice is hoarse, forceful and convicted. Simply stated, the record is a tremendous accomplishment, channelling the ravages of aging into an artistic statement…a statement representative of rock music itself—a medium capable of producing the rare but devastatingly profound statement”.

Dave Tomar, The Perpetual Post

Praise & Blame UK Press Quotes

Tom Jones

Praise & Blame

UK Press Quotes

“Jones is a man with a passion for roots music that runs several fathoms deep.  [Here] he has eschewed the sheen of his most famous recordings in favour of dirt and red-raw honesty.  This is a man tapping into his very heart and soul to deliver a performance of uncharacteristic tenderness and undeniable human frailty….sailing into uncharted waters as he convincingly seeks redemption and a sense of peace”.

Julian Marszalek, The Quietus

“Honestly, it’s super”.

Drowned In Sound

“At last, a brilliant new album that offers depth and soulfulness…it’s what his might voice is made for”.

David Smyth, Evening Standard (London), 4*/4

“Wonderfully right. Praise & Blame is love without the mockery…it’s lo-fi garage soul superness”.

The Fly. 4*

“Striking, tender and exhilarating”.

Clash Magazine, 4*/5

“Tom cashes in on hidden depths…CD of the Week”.

The Scotsman

“Grand…it’s a blistering album, and at last Jones the artist is the match of Jones the entertainer”.

Michael Hann, The Guardian, 4*/5

“It’s an extraordinary achievement.  Here he is left naked and bleeding raw, bereft of showbiz blandishments.  Praise & Blame is clearly on of the best albums of Jones’s entire career”.

Andy Gill, The Independent, 5*/5

“Crisp, earthy and a perfect vehicle for that still most powerful of voices. Raw and remarkable…this is the most gripping, honest and brave record that the great Tom has ever made”.

The Sun, 4.5*/5

“Jones’s delivery has rarely been so convincing. At points his vocal is so smoulderingly smoky it sounds like a cigar factory inferno.  An impressively accomplished album…his best effort in years”.

Time Out, London, 4*/5

“It’ll be mostly praise and very little blame….an album that is sheer class”.

Daily Express, 4*/4

“[This] unvarnished Americana with the Voice’s sternum-quacking vocals hits the spot”.

Ldcovic Hunter-Tilney, Financial Times, 4*/5

“Powerful vocals….natural and real”.

NME, 8/10

“Praise & Blame shows the good sense in Jones…his enthusiasm for this project is palpable. Spare, fluent and tasteful”.

Kitty Empire, The Observer

“He has made a great record, raw and alive with a love of music, shot through with emotional veracity and vital performances. He genuinely deserves his continuing success”.

Neil McCormick, The Telegraph

“Raw and emotional, a powerful journey…an immaculately compiled release, his voice as deep and resonant as ever”.

Music Week, ‘Album of the Week”

“Delivered with due reverence, turning on the power when required but never edging into showbiz.  Few singers with a popular background are going to emerge with an album as remarkable as this during 2010”.

Mojo, 4*/4

“70-year old Jones has finally matured, delving into his musical heritage, and delivering a stunning album. Anchored by a voice that sounds more impassioned and dignified than ever; poignant at times, exhilarating at others, Praise & Blame marks an exciting new direction from a national treasure”.

Clash Magazine, 8/10

Read Americymru's Excellent Review of 'Praise & Blame'

No one is a bigger fan of Sir Tom Jones than I am. I know, I know. That’s bold and clichéd talk, especially from a 38 year old American guy who’s never hurled any form of undergarment at the man (several Welsh Flags, yes. . . but panties? No.) But suffice it to say that I was beyond excited to learn late this past summer that Sir Tom, now 70, was releasing his 39th studio album, mysteriously titled “Praise & Blame.” As I waited in line (ok, it was just me), I was already relishing the long drive home, and rockin’ out at embarrassingly high volume levels, to a whole new slate of poppy, upbeat, feel-good tunes from “the Voice.” I have never been so glad – to be so wrong. Sir Tom’s latest effort is unexpected . . . and unexpectedly brilliant. And I don’t mean that as a slight to his storied catalogue of work (after all, I sing in a tribute band to the man – told you I was a big fan). I guess I was expecting a continuation of his previous, and well-received, effort “24 Hours” (released Nov. 2008), which was a modern pop album full of fun, and brass. However, right from the start, you know “Praise & Blame” reveals a more soulful, mature “Voice.” This is a ‘different Tom,’ one we’ve not heard before.

“Praise & Blame” was recorded live in the studio, old school style – and you can tell. In homage to his former peers, and the masters of his era (Sinatra, for example, always preferred to record this way, with the band alongside him, in the studio), each track easily moves and breathes, almost organically. Sir Tom’s interplay with the (stellar) musicians and backing vocalists is natural, and apparent. This recording style yields a tangible honesty to the tracks that meshes perfectly with Sir Tom’s raw, graceful vocals throughout. But let’s jump in and tackle the rest of “P&B” track by track . . . .

“What Good Am I?” – track one immediately grabs you with its soft, slow, deliberate tones. Sir Tom introduces you to “P&B” ’s soulful journey with this Bob Dylan cover, in almost a confessional whisper, asking the title question with a prayer-like quietness. It is gently haunting, and yet powerful in its self-introspective honesty.

“Lord Help” – Sir Tom picks up the pace here, in this blues-rock spiritual. One of a very few flat out rockin’ numbers on the album, here Sir Tom sends a prayer for help to all the world’s sinners, gamblers, and “war-torn people of this land.” On this one, I was able to seriously crank up the volume and rock out, on that long drive home. Sir Tom really shows off his range here, belting out the highs in the chorus, harkening back to piercing notes of yester-year hits like ‘Thunderball,’ and ‘Till’, that only “the Voice” can pull off.

“Did Trouble Me” – the third track here, really cements the tone for the rest of “P&B” as the main attraction is not the heart-wrenching vocals, but the intense, exposed emotional honesty of the lyrics, as Sir Tom reminds us that his God “in the whisper of the wind, in the rhythm of song . . . . will trouble me with a word or sign, like the ringing of a bell in the back of my mind.” This is an utterly beautiful, soulful ballad, and I never thought I’d say that of song that so prominently features a banjo, but there it is.

“Strange Things” – the fourth track is a traditional spiritual in a sort of rockabilly arrangement – I warned you that this album wasn’t a mod version of “what’s new pussycat?”! More upbeat, the band is great here, but (unbiasedly) not as great as “the Voice.”

“Burning Hell” – this cover of the Johnny Lee Hooker classic was the only song I’d heard before purchasing the cd (which I actually bought twice, as my brother stole my cd, so I bought it again on iTunes . . . you’re welcome, Sir Tom.) It’s one of the standout, rockin’ and best tracks on the album, and the one Sir Tom has most often selected to perform in promoting “P&B” on the daytime, and late night TV circuit in recent months. In true blues’ style, Sir Tom grittily belts out “maybe there ain’t no Heaven / maybe there ain’t no Hell,” accompanied only by the drums and a loud, sexy, skuzzy guitar sound. The “rock-out” quotient is high here, as well. The spiritual introspection on “Burning Hell” also continues as Sir Tom asks, “when I die, where will I go? . . . somebody please tell me.” As the journey through the rest of the tracks on “P&B” continues, the quest for an answer to this question continues . . . .

“If I Give My Soul” – this cover of a Billy Joe Shaver song, is my favorite track here. Sir Tom (perhaps a little too) perfectly captures the tortured soul of a man, at the end of his life, replete with regret, standing before Jesus literally with his “hat clutched in my hand.” Only in this track are you reminded that Sir Tom is anywhere near 70 years old, as he fills this song with the heart-breaking, soulful delivery of a man who’s wasted days and loves that he’s begging his Lord to restore. The emotion here is real, and when he sings “if I give my soul, will my son love me again?” . . . well, if that doesn’t bring a tear, or at least move you even a little bit, then please report to the nearest emergency room immediately.

“Don’t Knock” – Sir Tom lifts the mood here, and gives your box of Kleenex a break, with a lively spiritual track that Jerry Lee Lewis would’ve been proud of. The musicianship, and choral backing are first rate.

“Nobody’s Fault But Mine” – this track is more quintessentially bluesy, and is spiritually akin to the tones of “If I Give My Soul,” as Sir Tom’s tells us that if he loses his soul, it ain’t “nobody’s fault but mine”, as he “had good lovin’ in my home,” and “I gotta Bible in my home,” etc. Sir Tom credibly continues “P&B” ‘s spiritual confessional here, in this stripped-down blues number.

“Didn’t It Rain” – one of the better examples of the exposed beauty that is “the Voice” at 70. His interpretation and delivery of the ‘Noah-esque’ lyrics is characteristically unique, and moving.

“Ain’t No Grave” – no disrespect to the late, great Johnny Cash, but Sir Tom’s version here – although in a similar arrangement – is far superior. Not the best track on the album, but very well done and maintains the spiritual continuity of “P&B.”

“Run On” – the 11th and final track on “P&B” is a straight-up, undeniably catchy blues song (also previously covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis, and many others). When Sir Tom cuts lose in an early chorus and belts out the sinners’ warning, tell “the rambler, the gambler, the back-biter, tell ‘em God Almighty’s gonna cut you down ,” you can’t help but feel the sheer joy and power in “the Voice.” Yeah, he’s still got it, and then some.

At this stage of his career, Sir Tom’s voice lends itself perfectly to the selections on “P&B,” showing he’s still got a knack for picking winners, and is wise enough to play to his strengths. His still-powerful voice rumbles at the lower registers with a credibility and gravitas unmatched by anyone in the ‘biz’ today – maybe ever. And when you match this with the soul-piercingly-deep and introspective spirituality that the lyrics on “P&B” offers, then you just might have Sir Tom’s best album ever. I know, I know. . . that’s bold talk for a 38 year old American guy, who can’t even read music. . . but it’s definitely worth your time and a listen. You might just discover a whole new “Voice.”

Read the review here at americymru.com

TOM JONES TO PERFORM CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ‘PRAISE & BLAME’ IN ITS ENTIRETY AT CELTIC CONNECTIONS

Celtic Connections 2011, sponsored by ScottishPower

13^th – 30^th January 300 events, 18 days, 14 venues

Sir Tom Jones is to appear at Celtic Connections this January in an exclusive one-off show as part of Glasgow’s annual folk, roots, traditional and world music festival. A musical icon and living legend, Tom Jones will perform his latest album Praise & Blame – a highly acclaimed collection of gospel, blues and spiritual songs – at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Monday 17^th January. This very special performance is supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Tom Jones will join a stellar cast of globally renowned artists already announced for Celtic Connections 2011, which is sponsored by ScottishPower. His performance is part of the festival’s major gospel strand, which also features the likes of Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Bettye LaVette.

Praise & Blame is a back-to-roots collection of American gospel, blues, traditional and country songs, which features material sourced from the likes of Mahalia Jackson, Bob Dylan, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, John Lee Hooker and Billy Joe Shaver. Tom Jones will be backed by a six-piece band for this exclusive Celtic Connections appearance.

Donald Shaw, Celtic Connections Artistic Director, said:

“Tom Jones is a true musical icon, and we are honoured to be able to bring him to Celtic Connections. This January, the festival pays tribute to the influence of the great gospel tradition, and Tom Jones’ performance of his stunning gospel, roots and blues album, Praise & Blame, forms part of this strand.”

Councilor George Redmond, the Chairman of Glasgow Life, said:

“Generations of music fans will be looking forward to watching Tom Jones at the Royal Concert Hall. From the Welsh valleys to Vegas and everywhere in between, he is a musical powerhouse and I’m sure that Glasgow’s music fans will enjoy what is destined to be a memorable performance.”

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said:

"Glasgow is fast earning its stripes as a major event city, and artists of this caliber provide it with an ideal platform on which to reach a world wide audience. This performance by Tom Jones will not only enhance Celtic Connections but will also reinforce the city’s credentials as Glasgow: Scotland with style.  Our aspirations for major events are to be the first, the only and the best and Tom Jones fits the bill perfectly."

The Celtic Connections programme was launched last month, with other festival highlights including The Waterboys: An Appointment with Mr Yeats, Rosanne Cash, Grant Lee Buffalo, Fran Healy, Richard Thompson, Zakir Hussain, Cheikh Lô, Fiddlers’ Bid, Treacherous Orchestra, Lau, a one night only Love and Money reunion, and Forever Young – A 70^th Birthday Tribute to Bob Dylan featuring Rosanne Cash, Josh Rouse, Kris Drever, Tim O’Brien, Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire and more.

The festival, which was named Best Cultural Event at the prestigious UK Event Awards last month, runs from 13^th – 30^th January with around 300 gigs, one-off collaborative shows, ceilidhs, talks, workshops, free events and late night sessions taking place in 14 venues across Glasgow.

Tom Jones will perform Praise & Blame, on Monday 17^th January, 7:30pm at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Main Auditorium.

Click here to for full line-up and ticket information

Tom Jones Sings for War Child at the BSME Awards

The British Society of Magazine Editors had their annual awards ceremony on 10th November 2010 in London.

On the evening Tom Jones performed 5 songs for War Child; 3 songs from Praise and Blame and 2 from his past repertoire, receiving two standing ovations.

War Child are an international charity that protects children living in the world's most dangerous war zones. They currently work in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda and D.R. Congo.

Watch Tom's Perormance on BBC1's Children In Need

On Friday 19th November the BBC hosted their annual Children In Need charity evening. Tom Jones was one of the live performers on the show, which raised over £80 million pounds for the charity.

Watch Tom's performance of 'Give A Little Love' and 'Didn't It Rain' from Friday nights show here...

Tom Jones Visits Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London

On Monday 1st November Sir Tom Jones received the Music Industry Trust Award (MITs), which recognises outstanding achievement in the UK music industry.

The MITs supports two charities, Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust (which includes the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology) and to date has raised £3.7 million.

To mark this recent achievement in Tom's career, he visited the Nordoff Robbins music therapy centre in North West London to learn a little more about what Nordoff Robbins is all about.

Nordoff Robbins is the UK’s largest charity that specialises in transforming the lives of children and adults constrained by illness, disability, trauma or isolation, through the power of music.            The charity brings music's transforming power to children and adults in need, through the delivery of music therapy services, music and health projects and community music projects, as well as education programmes and research.

During Tom’s visit he met Fiifi and Frankie and joined them in their music therapy session.

Fiifi is 9 years old. He has global development delay and does not speak. Music therapy offers him a space where his non-verbal communications form the basis of flexible, shared music making with the therapist. It also encourages him to sustain interactions for longer.

Frankie is 8. He also can’t speak and has a diagnosis of autism. Although he does not have speech Frankie uses his voice very expressively and also communicates with eye contact and gestures. He is often energetic and likes to wonder around the room but music seems to help calm him and he can sit and listen for more sustained lengths of time now. Frankie has become more aware of the musical interaction since he began coming to music therapy.

Tom spent the afternoon with Fiifi and Frankie, playing instruments and singing to them. He was astounded at how positively they responded to music and enjoyed seeing their reactions to the sound of his voice.

Tom said: “Having an opportunity to visit Nordoff Robbins and meet some of their clients, including Fiifi and Frankie, was a real honour.                                                                                                     Many of us feel the power of music and know the important role it plays in our daily lives, but no one more so than Fiifi, Frankie and all the other kids and adults helped every day across the country by Nordoff Robbins. I got to see first hand how music therapy actually works—how it reaches people in a very deep way. I got just a glimpse of the internal world these boys live in, and at the same time I could see them responding to what was going on in the session—it was magical. Music in any form is the most powerful of all the communication tools—we all experience sounds in a unique but shared way. I saw how these boys could hear, and how they responded, and how progress could be made in a really meaningful way.”

David Munns, Chairman of Nordoff Robbins and Chairman of the MITs Award committee said: “Tom Jones is one of those rare beings, a timeless entertainer, a great guy, who clearly loves what he does, and whose talent appeals to successive generations. Tom is Mr Cool, one of the world’s greatest singers and performers and we are extremely proud and honoured that he is the 2010 recipient of the Music Industry Trusts Award.

“Tom’s visit to our music therapy centre in London was a great opportunity for him to see first hand the difference music can make to the lives of many thousands of people both young and old constrained by illness, disability, trauma or isolation, working with Nordoff Robbins therapists everyday to make a positive difference to their lives.”

The lovely photographs below show Tom on his visit, having fun with Fiifi on the piano.

Photography by Simon Webb

Tom Jones Raises the Roof at The Union Chapel

Last night Tom had the pleasure of playing MENCAP's Little Noise Session at The Union Chapel, Islington.

Curated by BBC Radio 1's  Jo Whiley (picture above), Tom was supported on the night by James Blake, Lauren Pritchard and The Ting Tings.

It was a fantastic night, with superb music raising the roof of the chapel and raising money for the brilliant work they do at MENCAP.

Stay tuned for more pictures to follow.

Listen to Tom's Fantastic Interview with Simon Mayo on BBC Radio 2

Listen to Tom's fantastic interview on Simon Mayo's BBC Radio 2 show on Monday 15th November.

Listen from 0:59 minutes to hear She's A Lady, Run On, Didn't It Rain and a great interview.

Click here to be taken to the BBCiplayer

Mark Lawson Talks To...Tom Jones. Watch the BBC 4 Interview Here

Mark Lawson talks to the iconic singer Sir Tom Jones about his life in and out of the limelight. Jones reflects on his modest upbringing in a coal mining community from the early pub tours in his native south Wales to achieving international acclaim - and the accompanying pressures of fame. Since the 1960s Jones's unique voice and charisma established him as the quintessential pop star and sex symbol with hits such as It's Not Unusual and What's New Pussycat? After a succession of number one records, he moved to the USA where he hosted television shows and toured tirelessly. For five decades he has remained one of the most recognisable voices in popular music. Given his success at 70, a new album and new image, Sir Tom shares some of his most memorable life experiences and his dreams for the future.

Click here to watch the interview via BBCiplayer

Tom Jones Honoured with MITS Award

Sir Tom Jones has been handed a Music Industry Trusts' Award in recognition of his 50 year musical career.

Past recipients of the MITS include Sir Elton John, Beatles producer Sir George Martin and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Director Tim Burton presented this year's prize and was joined by comic Rob Brydon and singer Cerys Matthews at the awards ceremony.

Watch the BBC News report here

Stars Salute Tom Jones In London

Kelly Jones of rock act Stereophonics and Cerys Matthews sang for fellow Welsh artist Tom Jones as the veteran singer was honored with the Music Industry Trusts' Award - the MITs - in London. Jones - or Sir Tom Jones to use his formal title, since his knighthood in 2006 - was recognized for his contribution to the music industry over the last 46 years. His second single "It's Not Unusual" went to No. 1 in the U.K. in 1964 and No. 10 in the U.S.

Celebrity fans including director Tim Burton and his wife Helena Bonham Carter turned out for the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel last night (Nov. 1), as well as George Martin, TV presenter Rob Brydon, musical theatre performer Michael Ball, shadow chancellor Alan Johnson and numerous executives. Organizers sold 1,100 tickets for the event, which raises money for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust, which helps to support the BRIT School for the Performing Arts.

The MITs Award was first staged in 1992 and has raised a total of £3.75 million ($6 million) since then, with organizers hoping the 2010 event will take the running total above £4 million ($6.4 million). As well as ticket sales, the money rolled in from raffle tickets and a digital auction where diners could bid for items such as signed lyrics by Amy Macdonald and Sharleen Spiteri via a handheld device.

But the most dramatic fund-raising element of the evening was the live auction. The original signed artwork to Coldplay's "X+Y" album went for £4,500 ($7,200) - to the band's booking agent Steve Strange of London-based X-Ray. A John Lennon and Yoko Ono perspex and plastic sculpture, which was commissioned by Lennon and was originally sold in 1981 to Kate Bush, went for £14,000 ($22,440) last night. It was donated by Bush.

Jones himself donated a gold and diamond ring - apparently given to him by a "gangster's moll" in New York - which sold for £9,000 ($14,425) to Tim Burton, who out-bid his wife.

Burton presented the award to Jones and revealed he had been a fan since childhood. "He's inspired so many people and I've seen him in concert so many times, and he just gets better and better," said Burton, who cast Jones in the 1996 film "Mars Attacks!"

Friend of Elvis

Given Jones' longevity, there were plenty of stories and notable events to recount from his career. A film tribute featured Priscilla Presley recalling how Jones and Elvis Presley inspired each other musically when they became friends in the '60s, and lyricist Don Black described how Jones actually fainted after he hit the final note on "Thunderball" on the first take, which was the version used for the recording.

Kelly Jones had a hilarious story from a dozen years ago about how he went back to his flat with Tom Jones for a singing session after an evening out. The neighbor upstairs eventually went down and told Kelly to stop playing records by Tom Jones at high volume.

Kelly Jones also performed acoustic versions of "Summertime" and "Sea Of Heartbreak" while Cerys Matthews sang a reworked version of "She's A Lady," written by Paul Anka and recorded by Tom Jones. It was Jones' highest charting U.S. single, hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.

Tom Jones said it was "wonderful, wonderful" as he received the award and the 70-year-old admitted he was "stuck for words." Rather than talk at length, he told the audience he would prefer to do a "few songs" and he was joined by the Tom Jones Band on versions of hits including "It's Not Unusual," "Kiss" and "The Green Green Grass Of Home."

Jones also performed songs from his latest gospel-flavored record and 39th studio album "Praise & Blame" (Island) - which hit No. 2 on the U.K. chart in the summer - and he was joined by Matthews on "What's New Pussycat?" from the 1965 film.

Kelly Jones sang and played guitar on a rousing rendition of "Mama Told Me Not To Come," which the pair recorded for the veteran singer's 1999 hit album "Reload."

Previous recipients of the award include Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Lucian Grainge, George Martin and broadcaster Jonathan Ross.

The evening was sponsored by Ingenious, PPL, PRS for Music and Spotify.

By Andre Paine

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