{"id":115314,"date":"2016-03-21T09:00:02","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=115314"},"modified":"2026-06-07T09:19:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T13:19:32","slug":"all-hail-tom-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=115314","title":{"rendered":"All Hail Tom Jones"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nTom Jones, Priscilla and Elvis Presley<\/i><\/p>\n

\nIf you’re not ready to celebrate Tom Jones, this post will be extremely confrontational. <\/p>\n

I have always loved the man with no apology, and not just because he and Elvis were good friends (see above). I’ve linked to Tom Jones performances multiple times here (the medley with Jerry Lee Lewis most of all, which is one of the most wonderful joint-performances I’ve ever seen, an injection of joy and star-power and ego). <\/p>\n

My good friend Charlie Taylor wrote a review of Tom Jones’ new memoir<\/a> for the LA Review of Books. Charlie is a music\/film journalist, and he knows his shit. I have always loved Charlie’s writing. (I read him for years before I actually met him. Keep your eyes peeled for his “blurbs” in the front pages of any books on the music industry\/singers, OR, conversely, Stephen King’s books. I’ll open up a new book and be like, “Oh! Hi, Charlie!”)<\/p>\n

His review of Jones’ memoir is not just a review, but an overview and analysis of Tom Jones’ voice and career. It’s so excellent, so thoughtful. Here’s Charlie: <\/p>\n

You have to keep in mind the supple, muscular assurance that has long defined Jones\u2019s vocals. No description has ever bested Dustin Hoffman\u2019s, who reportedly told Jones that when he opened his mouth, it was as if a tiger had leapt out. No one who lacks confidence could sing that way. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That’s exactly right. That’s the thing that people sometimes miss about Tom Jones, because of his sprayed-on pants and his shirt open to the navel and whatever else. Not to mention women throwing their panties onstage, because we all know that there is nothing sillier than female fans, right? \/grrrrrrrrr <\/p>\n

Here are some beloved clips. <\/p>\n

1. The Jerry Lee Lewis \/ Tom Jones rock ‘n’ roll duet from 1969. Unbelievable. <\/p>\n

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