Interview: Tom Jones

Few artists have remained successful over the course of five decades, fewer still credible. How many have managed both? Engelbert Humperdinck? Go on then, name his last hit single. Cliff Richard? Exactly.

Sir Tom Jones is the exception that proves the rule. We caught up with him to talk about his latest single, 'Stoned In Love', and how he's always managed to stay ahead of the game...

 

If it were 1966 and I asked you what you thought you'd be doing in 40 years time, what do you think you'd have said?
Tom – Ummmm.....well, you don't know, you don't know which way music is going to go. I would definitely have said I would like to be trying new things, to get the same kind of thing across, but not necessarily in the same way.

I approached songs differently even then. 'The Green, Green Grass of Home' wasn't like 'It's Not Unusual' or 'What's New Pussycat?' You know, they differ. They're done in different ways and with different producers.

I did 'It's Not Unusual' with Peter Sullivan and 'What's New Pussycat?' with Burt Bacharach, you know, so there's two different ones right there. So I was always open to listening to new things and trying new things, so I would have said at that time, hopefully, that I could continue to do different things.

Among your contemporaries, I can't think of anyone else who is as credible and successful now as they were then. Why do you think that is?
I think it's about ability too. And to get with the right producer, to have new ideas rather than to fall into a rut where you're doing everything the same. New ideas, fresh ideas that you need to embrace if you want something to sound new. There's a lot of different things that need to come together and I think I'm able to do that. I open-minded enough to do it.

You're both known for being open-minded in terms of collaborations. You've both done stuff that people wouldn't have expected.
Nick – Yeah, I guess so. It's the recipe for longevity and to keep things fresh. I said this in an interview the other day but I think one of the other reasons Tom has been so successful for such a long time is he's got a great set of ears. I called him the best A&R man going.

Tom – I can recognise a song. You've got to have those instincts yourself. Sometimes they work but they don't always work, you know. If they don't, you think, 'Well, let's wait for the next one'. Still keep an open mind though. You can't think, "Oh.. that didn't work, so maybe I should...." No, no. You were almost there. Maybe.

 

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