Artist:Tom Jones
Song:She's a Lady
Album:Gold
I think most music fans are familiar with Welsh singer Tom Jones especially his very first hit It's Not Unusual in 1966. It topped the British charts and was a top ten hit in the US. He continued to have success in England in the 60s but he never topped the US charts. His biggest hit was the 1971 single She's a Lady and it was his final big hit. By the mid-70s, he wasn't charting anymore. Of course the key figure in Jones' career was his manager and record producer Gordon Mills. Mills started out as a songwriter in the 50s and then he saw Tom Woodward performing in a club. Woodward already had a manager and a record deal with Decca. But Mills wanted complete control so he bought his contract and changed his name to Tom Jones. The main thing Mills did with Jones was turn him into a crooner. And that paid off when It's Not Unusual was an international hit in 1965. Mills co-wrote the song. His other big hits were the themes from the films Thunderball and What's New Pussycat?. Jones won the Best New Artist Grammy award. Jones faded after that. Mills' response was to book him in Las Vegas and give him his own TV show. Jones became more of an album and touring act. Mills was still hoping to return Jones to the top of the charts. He started to have success when the 1968 single Delilah reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Jones' first top 20 hit since the 1966 single Green, Green Grass of Home. Then following Delilah, Jones scored a top ten hit with the 1969 single Without Love (I Have Nothing).So Jones was having success on the comeback trail. The high point was when the 1971 single She's a Lady reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's from the album She's a Lady. Paul Anka wrote the song and recorded it in 1970. That was Jones' final big hit and by 1975, he wasn't charting anymore. This 2CD comp covers Jones' career until 1975. With the exception of a couple of guest appearances, Jones hasn't charted since the 70s. He even tried country music in the 80s. Jones is still around. He still performs live and last released an album in 2021. He's been more visible in England as a judge on The Voice UK. But for the most part, Tom Jones is now a nostalgia act. Here's the video for She's a Lady by Tom Jones.
Many years ago when I was very young I listened to one of his songs, Daughter of Darkness and loved it. Still have it and still listen to it. I am not his biggest fan by any stretch, Frank. But he does have good voice. Thanks for the Bio.
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