Guys,
Just been watching the Frank Skinner show on ITV 1 in the UK, and the egotistical Welsh boy started relating a story about Elvis in Vegas telling Tom not to strain his vocal chords too much when he hits the high notes. Apparently, according to Jones' ego-stroking anecdote, Elvis said that he should get some guys in his vocal groups to take the high notes on songs because he does that and all they see his him miming the high notes with a facial expression.
I realise in Elvis' last year of concert-trailing Charlie Hodge helped with the high notes somewhat, and you even tell the difference when it is Charlie's voice on some live renditions on that June 1977 tour, but I think Jones has gone overboard with his 'story-telling' claim in a big way - how do you explain Elvis' high notes on 'An American Trilogy', 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'Unchained Melody', 'Hurt' - Jones loves to keep up with Joneses and loves to stroke his own Jones ego....sorry guys I've gone off this so-called 'Elvis Friend'!
99% of the EP storys i have heard him tell,have been put downs or E said i was the best,etc etc.
One of the SWEETS worked with jones on stage one time,and they said that when jones sang a song that had high notes,he would cough a lot...when EP did a rocker...he would go on to the next song...say bridge...he never had a problem with coughs...jones,well he is a ****.
Just a view.
KEV.
Last edited by Lonniebealestreet; 12-02-2004 at 05:32 PM. Reason: Sorry, Kev, but that was just a tad too colorful.
HELLO,I MUST BE GOING.
SAM...it"s been a privilege to be called your best mate.17.03.55 - 24.01.08
http://www.gould68.freeserve.co.uk/HankGarlandBio.html
Other than cases in which the background vocalists would continue a note longer than Elvis would hold it, I sincerely don't think I've ever seen instances in which Elvis simply didn't go for those high notes, and actually struck a pose that would try and make it seem as if he was doing something he wasn't.
It's been claimed by others too--that Sherrill Nielsen would hit his high notes and Larry Strickland would hit his low notes. Now, if an example of that is in It's Now Or Never, during which Elvis would hold the microphone away from his face and grin as Larry sung the low note, thenpuh-lease!
I know I'm a biased observer, but I think I can spot this sort of thing if it actually happened. And I can't think of any times that I've seen in which it did.
Please point out such an instance, if anyone knows of any.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Take Note that Jones was telling this story to make himself appear as the most professional of the two performers, stating that he didnt want to take Elvis' advice because he wanted to be seen and heard as the genuine article on a live stage.
Frank Skinner replied: "Tom...you've just broken my heart."
Grrrrrrrrrrr...
...you won't forget me when I go.
I have seen a few interviews with Tom Jones and he does always seem to have something negative to say about 'his good mate Elvis'.....last one I saw was with Parkinson, and I know Parkinson doesn't particularly like Elvis, but Jones really played up to this. The whole interview was of no consequence to me, so I can't really remember what the comments were.
Something else too, if Elvis was doing this kind of thing and trying to hide it from the fans, why was HGTA such a disaster at College Park?
Carolyn
"Walk A Block In My Socks"
Guys,
I've briefly met this Welshman, and I've really gone off him - I'm just coming to terms with seeing his ignorance in a different light and now realising the kind of game he is most likely to play on TV chat shows!
Originally Posted by NEA
So much for a friend ah?Because they were friends....
I can appreciate Tom Jones has a very distinctive sounding voice, but I am convinced he is an acquired listening taste just like Engelbert Humperdinck (whom I prefer, especially now!). But, I can't believe Jones could jump on the legendary 'half-baked' story band-wagon.
I can appreciate Elvis probably saying to 'The Stamps' or Sherrill or Charlie before a number of shows (and there were lot shows in the last eight years of his life) that he was going to take a back seat on the ending of a certain song in the show due to saving his voice a little for the rest of the tour or his voice was feeling a little too fragile to go for the ending on a particular night. But, how can Jones come away with a half-truth statement and forget it was Elvis who emphasized such climatic high notes on words like 'On' in 'American Trilogy', 'Art' in 'How Great Thou Art', and 'Me' in 'Unchained Melody'??!!
I can also appreciate that Jones never sat through a complete Elvis show in Vegas - he certainly didn't see him live outside of that!
Sorry guys, I know I'm going on a wee bit with this one, but I'm really having difficulty accepting my new opinion of a so-called fellow celebrity friend of Elvis' having to resort to such cheap, underhand, and egotistical tactics on late-night commercial TV - didn't expect him to be as extreme as this...
Just need your support on this one guys...sorry...
And finally to rub salt into the wounds on the Frank Skinner show, Jones attempted an impromptu version of 'A Mess Of Blues' with Jools Holland (his new musical sparring buddy) accompanying him on a small keyboard...
Jones certainly did make a mess of those blues!!!
Everytime I see Jones being interviewed and he talks about Elvis, I never believe he's sincere when he does compliment him. To me, Jones is as phony as a 3 dollar bill.
I wish i could've watch the show to be able to give better opinion to this subject...
Personally, I never like Tom Jones, a man his age still singing : "Sex Bomb " ..
He could say anything he want about Elvis,.....its easier to 'spill' those words after the man is gone...if elvis still around...i would bet he would have speak his opinion back about tom jones..
I really doubt very much if Elvis would speak publicly on his thoughts about a fellow entertainer. Don't you find it odd though, that everytime Jones is interviewed, Elvis comes into the conversation? At least in every interview I've seen in the last few years. Maybe Jones is a bit peeved that the whole conversation isn't about him. And yes, a man his age singing about a 'Sex Bomb'
Carolyn
"Walk A Block In My Socks"
I bought this up on the other board NEA as I was equally annoyed. The way Tom told the story would leave those who are not in the know with the impression that Elvis did this all the time and was, therefore, a phony. How about some professional courtesy for another perfomer Tom? Asshole!! Elvis did this on occasion, perhaps because his voice was tired or his breath control was messed up. Hey, the guy wasn't always in the best shape. He did not do it very often and it's always easy to tell the difference. Besides in songs like Hurt, the vocal gymnastics don't even have any backing singers joining Elvis!
Tom often has a potentially offensive anecdote about Elvis to share. Weird that after all these years he is still jealous of him. I respect Tom's talent, but tonight was the final straw for me. He lost my respect completely.
Tom Jones has always had one voice and sang almost always the same kinda songs. Elvis had many voices. From high to low, from blues to country. He could adapt to the song that he was singing.
I can imagine that Tom has perhaps a louder (or more powerfull) voice, but that doesn't make him better. Have you ever heard Tom sing a song like "Stand By Me" or "Down In The Alley"? Elvis' voice was so much richer.
I'm always to see or hear Tom talk about his good friend Elvis. It always has something negative. One time he was talking about that Elvis came to his dressingroom, stoned, and hung over the showecurtain while Tom was taking a shower. Tom told Elvis was mumbling (by now he's imitating Elvis and makes Elvis look like a dumb, stoned fool who can't even talk right). Tom's laughing and said "I couldn't understand what he was saying" (audience laughing).
Talk about being "good friends"
"A year from now, you'll wish you had started today"
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Sorry, I like Sexbomb and Tom's `I'm Right...' but I agree with your sentiments about his comments and regular references to Elvis. However, it does reflect the stature in which our man is held by journalists asking the questions.
To be fair, we would all acknowledge the help (though not needed) on the final falsetto note of `Unchained Melody' and the chorus of voices did tend to drown Elvis out on the conclusion of some songs. However, there's no denying the power and passion when he hit those big ones in Hurt, HGTA, Unchained etc..
rick
rick
Just a little history about Jones and perhaps his "jealousy" of our guy. In 1967/ 68 Jones was the talk of Vegas and the hottest entertainer around, that was until Elvis made his comeback in 69 and showed everybody including Jones who the King was, breaking all attendance records in Vegas and looking better then Jones ever dreamed of. Perhaps Jones still has sour grapes to this day knowing that he always had to play second fiddle to EP. That's too bad because he's a fine entertainer himself.
Tom jones on Frank Skinner Show .- last nite .-
According to Joe Carrs entry , i too saw the program questioned.
as we are all aware of -Elvis did make the final notes on each song . During the late 1970s he did get help on certain songs .
The Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials and JD Sumner were there to back
Elvis at most of his concerts and always carried certain notes for him .
I thought that Tom wasa friend of Elvis and at evry interview that i have seen with him in it - he tends to say certain things that were not true ( i feel) are not true .
i saw an in :interview once where he states that Elvis was in bathroom at vegas and tom said that Elvis was out of it .
IS tom sayin that Elvis always had to be helped with certain notes at concerts .
well Tom can speak if he likes about the vocal arrangements etc . surely he is not the best selling artist of all time or Artist Of The Century .-
. - Elvis is .
This interview that i saw really got on my wick. Then at show Tom sang A Mess Of Blues .
Last edited by karlos; 12-03-2004 at 03:55 AM.
Tom Jones (has been) and always will be a jealous ***-clown who wasn't fit to shine Elvis's shoes on Elvis's worst day.
He tells stories to ingratiate himself/make himself look cool enough to be in the presence of someone of Elvis's caliber, then denigrates his "friend" in a calculated attempt to increase his own worthless stock.
Now, I'm pissed.
Eagle
"His Truth Is Marching On"
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