The Set List

More Tom Jones: Aping the Monkeys

Tom Jones has already recorded three songs for his first album for S-Curve, including one penned by U2's Bono and featuring guitar work by the Edge.
Jones is working with the same team that helped shape Joss Stone's albums, specifically Betty Wright and Mike Mangini.
S-Curve owner Steve Greenberg said they intend to drive home the idea that Tom Jones is one of the world's great soul singers. "This pushes him in several different directions. In 1965, he was a raw R&B singer that might have emerged as England's answer to Otis Redding. Of course his career went in a different direction, but we're placing him back at that crossroads."
One of the first tracks recorded is a cover of the Arctic Monkeys' "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor." Rather than emulate the Monkeys' recording, for Jones' version they used Eddie Floyd's "Big Bird" as a rhythmic base; Jones unveiled his version at the recent Concert for Diana.
Greenberg said the album is not limited to deep soul ballads and will not be a Motown tribute or a duets disc. "It will be a creative adult album." There is no release date penciled in.

New Label for Tom Jones

Tom Jones is one of two artists signed to the restarted S-Curve Records, the label that launched "Who Let the Dogs Out" and Joss Stone in its first incarnation (2000-2005). Over the years, Jones has generated hits for several labels. In his initial hitmaking run, 1964-1975, he recorded for Parrot, then made two albums for Epic, and spent the 1980s recording for several Polygram owned and distributed labels. His lone album for Jive, 1988's "Move Closer," was his biggest seller. Interscope released his 1994 effort "The Lead and How to Swing It," the Welsh singer's last high-profile release.BMG issued his 2000 disc "Reunited." But beyond the hotel keys tossed onstage during his concerts, Jones may be best remembered for his early '70s TV show, "This is Tom Jones." The first episode, which aired Jan. 9, 1969, saw Jones performing "It’s Not Unusual", "Delilah", "Land Of A Thousand Dances", "Hard To Handle", "My Elusive Dreams", "Bright Lights And You, Girl", "Good News," "I Can’t Stop Loving You" and dueting with Mireille Mathieu on "I’m Coming Home To You."