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A toast to Tom Jones and other guilty pleasures
Back in the day, Welsh crooner Tom Jones had a short-lived series on ABC titled “This Is Tom Jones” that ran from 1969 to 1971. I can’t even begin to describe the amazing amount of camp and cheese that is contained on this three-disc set from this fabulous show that was recently released by Time Life. The best I can do is ask you to close your eyes and imagine a 28-year-old Tom Jones hosting an over-the-top late ’60s musical variety show … that should give you a rough idea.
The three discs feature the best of the series introduced by a very tan (nearly orange) modern-day Tom Jones sporting a Bob Ross afro. In addition to Tom’s frequent solo performances, the episodes also feature musical guest spots with bands like the Moody Blues (on the premiere episode), the Who, Burt Bacharach, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin as well as guest spots with folks like Richard Pryor, Peter Sellers and Anne Bancroft.
This is so much fun to watch - a must for fans and a maybe for those Lounge Lizards out there who enjoy watching a good old-fashioned time warp with a ice cold cocktail.
Not to get all Austin Powers on you, but get ready to shake your groove thing because “This Is Tom Jones” is utterly smashing! Yeah baby, yeah!
And on that guilty pleasure note, I continue on, directing you to something I stumbled on that I still can’t get over — it’s sure to be great bar talk fodder … There are nine videos so far that have been posted on YouTube showing inmates in bright orange jumpsuits that are being held in the Philippines Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center choreographing dances to songs like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Hail Holy Queen” from “Sister Act.” The center uses musical workouts as part of the prisoners rehabilitation. Watch them here and enjoy. “Thriller” is especially fantastic.
Permalink | | Categories: Bar talk, Entertaining, Music, YouTube
