He rose to fame in the mid-1960s, with an exuberant live act which included wearing tight breeches and billowing shirts, in an Edwardian style popular amongst his peers at the time. He was known for his overt sexuality, before this was as common as it became in subsequent years.
In 1963 he became the frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a local beat group. Clad all in black leather, Tom soon gained a reputation in the South Wales area. The Senators were still all unheard of in London.
In 1964 they laid down a few tracks with maverick Telstar producer Joe Meek, and took them to various labels in an attempt to get a record deal. The plan was to release a single, Lonely Joe / I Was A Fool, but the ever-flighty Meek refused to release the tapes. The group returned to South Wales and continued to play gigs at dance halls and working mens clubs. One night, at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery, Tom was spotted by Gordon Mills, a London-based manager originally from South Wales. Mills became Tom's manager, and took the young singer to London. He also renamed him Tom Jones. The Senators became the Playboys, and later still the Squires.
Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 1965. It's Not Unusual, after the song having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the song and recommended that Jones release it himself. The record was the second Decca single Jones released, reaching number one in the UK charts in 1965. It was also the first hit for Jones in the US, peaking at #10 in May of that year. The single was released in the US on the Parrot label and also reached #3 on Billboard's easy listening chart. Jones used this song as the theme for his late 1960s-early 1970s musical variety series This Is Tom Jones. It has since become Jones' signature song.
In 1965 Tom sang the theme tune to the James Bond film Thunderball.
Jones' recording career slumped on the pop charts during the 1970s and 80s, although he placed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music charts between 1976 and 1985, the biggest of which was "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" (# 1 Country, # 15 pop) in 1977, and his touring continued successfully. When his son Mark became his manager in 1987, his musical style was taken in a different direction. His recording career was revived with his first major hit single in over a decade, "A Boy From Nowhere", taken from the musical Matador. In 1988 he collaborated with The Art of Noise to record Prince's popular song "Kiss". Following this, he started to record in collaboration with a younger generation of musicians
His Reload album, released in 2000, became the biggest hit of his career. An album of cover versions recorded as duets with contemporary artists, using their record producers, and utilising their recording methods, it reached number one in the United Kingdom, and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.[1] In 2002, he released the album Mr. Jones, which was produced by Wyclef Jean and included the singles "Tom Jones International" and "Black Betty". In 2003, he was honored with a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, his "Sex Bomb" single became a major club hit.
On New Year's Eve 2000 President Bill Clinton invited Tom to perform at the Millennium Celebrations in Washington. Throughout 2000, Tom garnered several honours for his work, including a Brit Award for Best Male. In 2001 Tom toured throughout the Middle East and Europe. In subsequent years Tom recorded albums in collaboration with such artists as Wyclef Jean and Jools Holland.
In celebration of his 65th birthday, on 28 May 2005 Tom returned to his homeland to perform a spectacular concert in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. This was Tom's first performance in Ponty since 1964.
For his contribution to the recording industry, Tom Jones has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6608 Hollywood Blvd.
In 2005 the album Together In Concert, was recorded live with John Farnham and his band.
He has collaborated with Chicane for "Stoned in Love", a dance track that was released 24 April 2006. It entered at number eight in the UK charts the following Sunday.
In 2007, he signed to New York-based independent label S-Curve, owned by music executive Steve Greenberg.
The singer was awarded an OBE in 1999 and a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Years Honours list for his services to music and was subsequently knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London on 29 March 2006.[7]
On 1 July 2007, Jones was one of the invited artists who performed at Wembley Stadium at the Concert for Diana, joined on stage by guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith and British soul singer Joss Stone. He sang the British National Anthem before Ricky Hatton's fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on 8 December 2007. On 19 April 2008 he sang the Welsh National Anthem at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight in Las Vegas.
Although his manager and public relations staff have attempted to change his sex-bomb image and neutralize the knicker-throwing fans, to the delight of his audiences Jones has never felt the need to tone down his behavior in the shows. Tom Jones has remained highly respected by other singers and continues to attract audiences of all ages. As of 2008, Jones continues to tour and record. A major portion of the year he regularly performs his show at the MGM Grand hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, USA. His show at the MGM is performed in a cabaret-style theater. Other venues on his yearly schedule include numerous shows at Atlantic City, NJ and appearances in the USA, United Kingdom and Canada. In February 2007, Jones made a long-awaited South American tour.
On 17 September 2008, Jones announced the release of his retro-tinged album "24 Hours" on S-Curve Records, his first for 15 years in the US; notably, this is the first record in which he's had a direct song-writing input. It was produced largely by drum'n'bass stalwarts Future Cut.
"It's all very well just singing songs," says Jones, "but for this record I really wanted to get properly personal. I've been getting reflective recently, looking over my journey through life, and I wanted to get that down on song. This time I wanted to make something that was all about me, my stories, my life. In other words, you listen to this album and you get the real me."
What You Been Missing
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You won't regret it
This time we'll make it last
You can put 'cha money on it
Gonna move in with ya
Your body needs my kissin'
And honey when I get ya
You'll know what you've been missin'
I don't need a jury
I'm willing to take the stand
Guess I'm guilty
Say you'll understand
Babe, know what you been missing, babe
Why don't we kiss and make up for the time we blew
What could be better babe - better babe - better babe
Than love part two - me and you
I don't need a jury
I'm willing to take the stand
Guess I'm guilty (guilty)
Say you'll understand
Baby, know what you been missing, baby
Come on back to your lover-man, oh, your lover-man, babe
Darling. I'm pleading don't leave me in the cold
You're all I want to hold.... Girl
Forget about the past
You won't regret it
This time we 'Il make it last
You can put 'cha money on it
Gonna move in with ya
Your body needs my kissin'
And honey when I get ya
I'll give you what you been missin
What you been missin' baby
So come on back to your lover-man, your lover-man, babe
Forget about it
You won't, yes you will
Aha, movin baby
Yes it does
Aha, come on now
The lyrics to Tom Jones's song "What You Been Missing" reflect the artist's desire to rekindle a romantic relationship with a former lover. He urges the listener to forget about the past and focus on the present, promising that their love will last this time around. Jones speaks with confidence that his lover will not regret giving their relationship another chance and offers them his affection and physical affection, stating that their body needs his 'kissin'. He also suggests that they move in together, indicating the seriousness of his intentions.
Throughout the song, Jones acknowledges that their relationship had encountered issues and that he is willing to admit fault, representing his readiness to make amends. The artist speaks about love being better the second time around and promises to provide his lover with all that they have been missing.
Overall, the song reveals a deeply emotional and personal connection between Jones and his lover, showcasing his ability to convey complex emotions through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Forget about the past
Don't dwell on the past
You won't regret it
Letting go of the past won't bring any regret
This time we'll make it last
The relationship will last this time
You can put 'cha money on it
The promise is reliable and can be counted on
Gonna move in with ya
Will live together soon
Your body needs my kissin'
Physical intimacy is desired
And honey when I get ya
Implying to a future that's bound to happen
You'll know what you've been missin'
You'll experience the level of love you've been missing out on
I don't need a jury
No need for a trial or judgement
I'm willing to take the stand
I'll take full responsibility for what I've done
Guess I'm guilty
Admitting wrongdoing
Say you'll understand
Hopeful for forgiveness and understanding
Babe, know what you been missing, babe
I know what you need and can provide it
Why don't we kiss and make up for the time we blew
Let's fix our relationship
What could be better babe - better babe - better babe
Nothing could be better than us being together
Than love part two - me and you
The renewed love will be even better than before
Baby, know what you been missing, baby
Reiterating the promise that I know what you need
Come on back to your lover-man, oh, your lover-man, babe
Come back to me, your lover
Darling. I'm pleading don't leave me in the cold
Pleading not to be left out and not ignored
You're all I want to hold.... Girl
Physical closeness is desired
What you been missin' baby
What you've been missing is me
So come on back to your lover-man, your lover-man, babe
Asking to come back to the one who cares
Forget about it
Forget the worries
You won't, yes you will
It's hard to forget, but it's for the best
Aha, movin baby
The relationship is moving forward
Yes it does
Things will work out this time
Aha, come on now
Encouraging to move forward and come together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOLYON W. SKINNER, KEITH VINCENT ALEXANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TomJones
My new album 'Surrounded By Time' is available to order here: https://tomjones.lnk.to/SurroundedByTime
Let me know your favourites when you hear it! x
@l.mgeminimcdaniels9501
I will if it would hurry up and get here...the 🇺🇸 takes a minute from what I'm told😉
@nashboston41
hello there sir Tom Jones.my father's favorite song i who have nothing.Godbless you always sir
@bananka4905
this song here i have never heard... has to be one of the best performances i have heard from a performer. Good Job!!!!
@bananka4905
you can do love songs... blues .. wow!!! However, i would love to hear you bring it up for God... do some gospel... after all he gave you your voice.. bless xo
@cindypitifer1713
I will love him for the rest of my life!!
@mattmathieson7685
That was LIVE. No autotune. No lip sync. No back up singers. Tom Jones is the KING!!#
@agnieszkap-a5372
Zawsze mnie to wykonanie wzru💕sza
@keyvanattaie
Not really, actually, Jesus Christ is The King.
@Dennistcb78
Autotune 😂😂😂😂😂