What Is the This Is Tom Jones Series?
Tom Jones made his way to the screen at the height of his musical career, and the TV series "This Is Tom Jones" quickly became an international phenomenon. Produced by ATV (Associated Television) and directed by Jon Scoffield, the series brought the artist's stage energy to millions of viewers. The first of our videos features the artist's famous song "It's Not Unusual" from the series, and the second features a performance of "What's New Pussycat?"
The series aired in color across 3 seasons and 65 episodes between 1969 and 1971. Each episode was 60 minutes long. Thanks to this program, Tom Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. The list of guests who appeared on the show read like a celebration of music legends: Nancy Sinatra, Mary Hopkin, Peter Sellers, Liza Minnelli, Janis Joplin, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Sergio Mendes, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, The 5th Dimension, and Bob Hope.
The format of the program reflected the popular variety show style of the era. In each episode, Tom Jones delivered both solo performances and duets with guest artists. This structure gave viewers the opportunity to watch multiple world-class stars sharing the same stage within a single episode. For more information about the series, you can check out the This Is Tom Jones page on Wikipedia. If you are curious about similar variety show formats, do not forget to visit the 2hbn.com series articles as well.
The meeting of Janis Joplin and Tom Jones on the same stage in particular went down in history as one of the defining moments of that era, and it is still remembered today. The performances with Ella Fitzgerald clearly demonstrated that the program was not limited to pop music but also embraced different genres such as jazz and soul. While the program aired on the ATV channel in the United Kingdom, it also reached a large audience in America through the ABC network.
It's Not Unusual Performance (Video)
Below you can watch two iconic performances from the "This Is Tom Jones" series. The first is "It's Not Unusual", the second is the "Good Golly Miss Molly" scene with Little Richard, and the third and our personal favorite is "The Beat Goes On" with Cher:
Who Is Tom Jones?
Born Thomas John Woodward, Tom Jones came into the world on June 7, 1940, in Wales. Since 1965, he has sold over 100 million albums. Known in the music world for his wide-ranging and powerful voice, Jones has continued to perform on stage for decades.
Jones discovered his passion for music during his childhood years by singing in a church choir. Growing up in Pontypridd, Wales, Jones was forced to stay at home for a long period due to tuberculosis he contracted at a young age, and during that time his love for music deepened even further. In his youth, he gained experience performing at local venues and small clubs.
His meeting with manager Gordon Mills proved to be a true turning point in his career. Mills recognized Tom Jones's raw talent and brought him to the international music stage. For those curious about the artist's musical journey, we also recommend the Tom Jones biography on AllMusic.
Tom Jones did not remain just a pop star. Throughout his career he produced successful work across many different musical genres, including rock, soul, gospel, country, and R&B. In 2006, he was honored with the title of "Sir" by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his contributions to music. This title was the official acknowledgment that Jones was not merely a figure in the entertainment world but an inseparable part of British culture. You can find our articles about similar music legends through the 2hbn.com music category.
The Most Famous Tom Jones Songs
She's a Lady, Delilah, Chills and Fever, Sex Bomb, Thunderball, Love Me Tonight, It's Not Unusual, I Never Fall In Love Again, and What's New Pussycat are among the shining stars of Jones's discography.
Delilah, released in 1968, is a powerful ballad that stood apart from the pop sensibility of its time with its dramatic structure, and it has achieved an almost unofficial national anthem status in Wales. She's a Lady was released in 1971 and quickly became an international hit. Sex Bomb is the product of Jones's collaboration with Mousse T in the late 1990s and introduced the artist to a new generation of listeners.
Thunderball is the theme song for the 1965 James Bond film and is a significant work that brought the artist's powerful vocal abilities to the attention of the entire world. Each song sheds light on a different period of Jones's career and a different facet of his musical identity. You can browse our other articles for more content from the world of music.
Everything About It's Not Unusual
"It's Not Unusual" was written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills. First recorded by Tom Jones, the song reached number 1 on the UK Charts in 1965. That same year it also became Jones's first major hit in the United States.
In fact, "It's Not Unusual" was originally written for Sandie Shaw. However, Shaw turned the song down, and this led to a great door opening for Tom Jones. Although the studio session lasted only a few hours, the result that emerged became a hit that would go down in world music history.
The song's energetic rhythm, Tom Jones's spirited interpretation, and its memorable melody made it one of the most recognizable songs not only of the 1960s but of all time. It is still frequently used today in television programs, films, and advertisements. The live performance on the "This Is Tom Jones" series is powerful enough to overshadow even the studio version, both in terms of its energy and Jones's stage charisma.
