The Sunday Times 100 Best Records of The Year

51-v1AbOBnL._SL500_AA300_The Sunday Times Culture Magazine posted their 100 Best Records of the Year yesterday (09/12/12) and we are more than happy to report that 'Spirit In The Room' came in at Number 12 (out of 20) in their Rock and Pop category. [...]

Win Tickets to see Tom Perform at Arthur's Day in London

We are giving away 25 pairs of tickets to see Tom perform live at the Guinness Arthur's Day celebration at Senate House in London on Thursday 27th September.

For your chance to win tickets please send an email to tomjonescontest@gmail.com with your name and telephone number. We will then select 25 names at random and those 25 people will each win a pair of tickets. The contest closes at midnight on Tuesday 25th September and the winners will be contacted in the morning of Wednesday 26th.

This is for a show in London next Thursday evening (27th September - 8pm-11pm) so please only apply if you are able to go.

Good luck!

Paint The Town Black on Arthur's Day

51-v1AbOBnL._SL500_AA300_On Thursday 27th September, Guinness and like-minded music fans will paint the town black as Arthur's Day comes to Great Britain for the first time ever.Tom, will headline a spectacular live music gig in London’s Senate House, alongside Wretch 32 and other guests who will be revealed closer to the time. Paying tribute to the man behind the pint, Tom will also make a surprise visit to one of 25 pubs, in and around WC1, celebrating Arthur’s Day for an exclusive intimate gig and to raise a toast ‘To Arthur’. Music lovers celebrating in one of the local pubs will also be in with a chance of winning tickets to the extraordinary Senate House event. [...]

BBC Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park

51-v1AbOBnL._SL500_AA300_For anyone who wasn't lucky enough to see Tom in Hyde Park on Sunday, you can watch the entire set here!

Friday 21st September - BBC4 - A Tom Jones Takeover

51-v1AbOBnL._SL500_AA300_On Friday 21st September Tom takes over BBC4 with an evening of superb music.Starting at 9pm with a repeat of the critically acclaimed, 'Imagine: Tom Jones - What Good Am I?', where Alan Yentob meets Tom in the midst of the release of 'Praise & Blame'. With contributions by fellow entertainers including Jools Holland, Sandie Shaw, Robbie Williams, Cerys Matthews and Kelly Jones.

Following that at 10pm is the hugely anticipated 'BBC4 Sessions' recorded at the LSO St. Luke's in London a couple of weeks ago. This is a session not to be missed - a session of folk, country, gospel and blues that have dominated Tom's last two albums. There’ll be a rehearsal-room vibe as Tom performs with a band led by his record producer, Ethan Johns. [...]

Choose your Favourite Tom Jones Track Live On-Air on BBC London Tomorrow Afternoon!

We have a treat for all BBC London listeners tomorrow afternoon. Robert Elms will be chatting to Tom on his BBC London show tomorrow. Robert will play 4 Tom Jones tracks... one picked by Tom and the other three will be chosen by listeners.

Listeners will have the opportunity to call between midday and 12.30pm with their favourite Tom Jones track. They’ll be looking for people with a good story or particular passion to go with their track choice, so dig deep in the memories!

From all the calls, BBC London will choose 3 listeners to go on-air between 1pm and 1.30pm, so you need to be available and happy to talk on-air ☺ Station/frequency is BBC London 94.9fm Call 020 7224 2000 (between 12 and 12.30 only).

Good Luck!

The Guardian Q&A: Tom Jones 'My fancy dress costume of choice? Dick Turpin'

Tom Jones was born Thomas Jones Woodward in south Wales in 1940. He left school at 16 and married his wife Linda a year later, just before the birth of their son Mark. In 1963, he joined his first band and two years later his career took off with It's Not Unusual, his first hit in the UK and US. He went on to have success with the classics Green, Green Grass Of Home and Delilah. He has sold more than 100m records. He was one of the coaches on the TV talent show The Voice. His latest album is Spirit In The Room and next week he releases the single (I Want To) Come Home. Tomorrow he performs at Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park. When were you happiest? When I was able finally to get out of bed when I had TB – after two years.

What is your greatest fear? Being locked up in jail.

What is your earliest memory? I can see the kitchen in the house where I was born – so think I was in a high-chair having some nosh.

Which living person do you most admire, and why? The Queen, for her loyalty and determination.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Bad sense of time – on the clock, not in music!

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Bullying.

What has been your most embarrassing moment? I was in the toilet somewhere on the M1, sitting with my trousers down, and some girls jumped over the door.

What is your most treasured possession? My voice.

What would your super power be? Immortality.

What makes you unhappy? Not being able to sing.

What is your favourite smell? The scent of a woman.

What is your favourite book? The Rise And Fall Of The British Empire, by Lawrence James.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice? Dick Turpin.

What is the worst thing anyone's said to you? "I heard you were paid off." Early in my career there was a rumour that I was paid not to play at some club – which was not true. It still rankles.

Cat or dog? Dog.

Is it better to give or to receive? By giving you receive – it's a good deal.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Winston Churchill, both of my grandfathers – whom I've never met – John Wayne and Boudicca.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Any and many swearwords.

What is the worst job you've done? Twelve-hour shifts in a paper mill.

When did you last cry, and why? When I listened to one of my [The Voice] team members sing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being knighted by Her Majesty.

What keeps you awake at night? Knowing I have to get up early.

What song would you like played at your funeral? I haven't given it any thought.

How would you like to be remembered? As a helluva singer.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Don't make decisions when you've had too much to drink.

Where would you most like to be right now? Wherever I am, breathing and well.

Interview: Rosanna Greenstreet guardian.co.uk, Friday 31 August 2012 22.59 BST

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/aug/31/tom-jones-singer?INTCMP=SRCH

Update on the Release of 'Spirit in the Room' in The US

We wanted to write this post as we've had a lot of enquiries about when Tom will be performing in The States and if 'Spirit In The Room' will be released over there. The reason there has been little activity in North America is because our US label, 'Lost Highway' closed its doors and therefore left us without an American distributor. We are however in the process of finding a new label for Tom in The States and will have 'Spirit In The Room' released asap.

With the release will come a tour, so please bear with us as we are making every effort to get Tom performing back in The States.

We value all of our fans worldwide and are especially grateful to you guys in the US for your continued commitment to Tom. It is very important for us to know how our fans are feeling so thank you to everyone who has got in touch.

News on a US release is imminent, so please watch this space!

Spirit In The Room: ***1/2 Philly.com Review

Spirit in the Room (Island ***1/2) Even when he became a big pop star and the quintessential Las Vegas showman in the '60s, with hits such as "It's Not Unusual" and "What's New Pussycat," Tom Jones was a more than credible singer of blues and R&B. It's a talent he revealed again on 2010's great, gospel-drenched Praise and Blame, and more recently on his Jack White-produced cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Evil."

On Spirit in the Room, the 72-year-old Welshman tackles bluesman Blind Willie Johnson's "Soul of a Man," but he also ventures into different territory. Most of the material comes from contemporary songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, and Joe Henry. Jones shows the old sexy strut on Wait's boastful "Bad as Me," but mostly he takes an understated approach that reflects the stripped-down but evocative arrangements. The mood is often autumnal or reflective, but thanks to Jones' unerring and worldly-wise interpretations, the performances still pulse with spirit.

By Nick Cristiano

http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-12/news/33168149_1_antibalas-afrobeat-pop-culture

,

Contact Music - Spirit in the Room Album Review

,

51-v1AbOBnL._SL500_AA300_Tom Jones has been in music for over 50 years but he is just as active as ever even now that he is in his 70s. New album, 'Spirit in the room', follows on from Jones' hugely successful 2010 album, 'Praise and Blame.' It picks up where that album left off with full focus on the Welshman's unmistakeable voice as he makes his way through another selection of tastefully chosen covers. Ethan Johns, known for producing Kings of Leon, is once again in the chair after he produced 'Praise and Blame' which was a collection of Blues and Gospel songs.[...]

Tower Of Song Single Review - QTheMusic.com

Count it as a blessing Tom Jones has cast aside his predilection for legacy tarnishing trash, once happy as he was to shoot out ie. Sex Bomb. Now in Johnny Cash-esque, showbiz-pro-turned-flawed-blues-missionary fashion Jones recasts theLeonard Cohen classic Tower Of Song. It's a serene, albeit not-too-dissimilar reproduction, carried off gracefully by Jones' resounding gravitas and "golden voice."

 

BT London Live & Osborne House Shows CANCELLED This Weekend

Unfortunately, due to a chest infection with Bronchitis, Tom  has regrettably been forced to cancel his upcoming shows this weekend at the free concert at the BT London Live event on Saturday 28th July and at Osborne House, Isle of Wight on Sunday 29th July. We are sorry to all the fans who were looking forward to seeing Tom, but sadly there is nothing we can do.

Refunds for Osborne House will be available from point of purchase.

Please contact office@tomjones.com for any further queries.

 

FINAL WEEK OF COMPETITION!!

The final week of the competition where we are giving away 4 sets of 4 Tickets to see Tom Jones live at ‘BT London Live’ in Hyde Park on Saturday 28th July is here.

The day is a a combination of multiple state-of-the-art screens and concert quality sound systems that will show all of the London Olympic 2012 action. Plus sports participation activities, live music and cultural entertainment. Tom will be headlining the day and these tickets are for entry to the event and entry to the ‘Golden Circle’ to watch Tom’s performance.

For your chance to win a set of tickets we’re asking you to make a youtube video of yourself/friends or family members miming to one of Tom’s latest singles.

This is the final week of the competition and we’re asking you to recreate a video for ‘Tower Of Song’. You can use whatever equipment you wish to use, just upload the video to youtube and send us the link to: tomjonescontests@gmail.com

You have until Friday 27th July to enter your video.

We’ve created a lyric video to help you on your way, simply click the image below.