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Product Description: This Is Tom Jones: Legendary Performers is a 3-DVD set of the best moments from Tom Jones trend-setting variety show on ABC from 1969 - 1971. Available for the first time on DVD, these shows spotlight such triple-threat (singer-dancer-actor) entertainers as Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli, along with Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the greatest movers and shaker in all popular music. Jones shows his taste and versatility, going down home with Johnny Cash and uptown with Tony Bennett. And when Jones grabs the mic for the show-closing 'concert', fans will need a handkerchief to mop their brows. This Is Tom Jones: Legendary Performers is smokin' !Amazon.com: Tom is terrific throughout This is Tom Jones, a collection culled from the Welsh singer's late '60s-early '70s ABC television series. Subtitled Rock 'n' Roll Legends, this three-disc set spotlights eight separate episodes (one of which, featuring a performance of "Pinball Wizard" by the Who, is a black & white kinescope). None is complete; judicious (and sometimes not) editing limits the focus to the musical and comedic portions, and that's by and large a good thing. Jones, who was just 28 when the first show aired in February, 1969, displays remarkable versatility, taking on everything from Broadway ("Somewhere," with Leslie Uggams) and torch standards ("Angel Eyes") to stone R&B (Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Turn on Your Lovelight"), soul ("In the Midnight Hour"), pop ("What's New, Pussycat?" and, of course, "It's Not Unusual"), and rock ("Lodi," "Lucille") and doing a credible job on all of it, notwithstanding a patina of Vegas glitz. But the high points come from his partnerships with the titular legends, especially Janis Joplin (their duet on Eddie Floyd's "Raise Your Hand" rocks) and Aretha Franklin (then at the peak of her powers, Aretha is fine on "I Say a Little Prayer," but her volcanic pairing with Jones on "See Saw" and her own, gospel-tinged "Spirit in the Dark" is the undoubted high point of the entire DVD set). Jones also duets with Joe Cocker ("Delta Lady"), Little Richard (a medley of his classics), Stevie Wonder (then on the verge of his '70s creative explosion), and Burt Bacharach; and while appearances by comedians like Peter Sellers, a then-unknown Richard Pryor, Pat Paulsen, the Committee (with Howard Hesseman), and the Ace Trucking Company (with Fred Willard) deliver a few chuckles, in the end, this one's all about the music. Jones introduces each episode with a brief reminiscence; a 2007 interview with the singer is among the scant other bonus material. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews:
- past its sell by date: i'm very disapointed in this product,its totally dated,made no effort to up scale sound to dolby,in fact did absolutly nothing to inhance it,what a dissapointment,i'll never watch it again after first time.dont buy it.
- This Is Tom Jones a Legend: I have been a fan of Tom Jones for a very long time...have seen him many times and was even lucky to kiss Tom. I just love the DVDS!!!!! It arrived on time and in perfect condition!
- INCOMPLETE!!!: Was so excited when I ordered these, but was disappointed after viewing! The credits on several episodes list performers that are to be on the shows, then they do not appear! Whats with this? It spoiled the entire disc!
- The VOICE!: Tom is the greatest....he endures for all time. This is such a wonderful trip down memory lane. So many impressive guest stars! These DVD's offer a glimps into another, older decade and the man who was destined to be a super star. The VOICE lives!!!!!
- Given as a gift - this was a hit!: I gave this as a gift to my Mom for Mother's Day and she loves it. We all had fun watching this blast from the past and what a treat to see the Moody Blues and The Who young again! When the shows first ran back in the late 60's I thought Tom Jones was an old guy, he was only 28 years old!
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