It's Not Unusual

"It's Not Unusual" is a song recorded by Tom Jones and written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills. It was the second Decca-single Jones released, and reached 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, and the song has since become Jones' musical signature.

Backing musicians were The Ivy League with Clem Cattini on drums. Arranger was Les Reed. Guitar was provided by Joe Moretti and Jimmy Page.

References in popular culture

The song was often featured on the 1990s United States television sitcom series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as dancing music for Carlton Banks as he performed his signature "Carlton Dance".

The song was also included in an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Marge Gets a Job", which Jones guest-starred in. Tom Jones is revealed to be Marge Simpson's favorite singer. Near the end of the episode, Jones is performing "It's Not Unusual" for Marge and Homer Simpson while chained to a bandshell by his foot.

In the Duck Dodgers episode, "Talent Show A Go-Go", both Tom Jones and Duck Dodgers sing the song. First Duck Dodgers sings it with Tom's voice, then later Tom sings it with Dodgers' voice.

It appears in two of film director Tim Burton's films, first in Edward Scissorhands and then again in Mars Attacks!, in which Tom Jones has a cameo role.

The song appears in the Johnny Depp film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

The song was also played in one of the episodes of Will & Grace, "The Honeymoon's Over", in Part I of the Friends Vegas episode, and in an episode of The O.C., "The Links".

This song can be heard in the 1996 movies House Arrest and Flipper.

The song was briefly featured as part of a clue sketch in the Season 4 episode "Medieval Evil" in the PBS game show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Cover versions

• The Supremes recorded a version of this song for their Supremes A' Go-Go album, but was not included. It was recently released on a collection of Supremes unreleased recordings and rarities.
• Florence Ballard (ironically of The Supremes and featured on their version) recorded a version of this song in 1968 for her debut solo album entitled "You Don't Have To" that was shelved by ABC Records and left unreleased until the release of The Supreme Florence Ballard cd.
• Italian rock singer Little Tony performed a local version with the title "Non è normale " ("It's not usual") (sic !).
• American alternative band Wild Colonials covered the song, which appeared on their album Reel Life vol 1 (2000) and on the soundtrack of the Ellen DeGeneres film Mr. Wrong.
• Five Iron Frenzy covered this song on their live album Five Iron Frenzy LIVE: Proof That the Youth Are Revolting, and later released a studio recorded version on their album All The Hype That Money Can Buy.
• Cher recorded a version of the song on her 1966 record, The Sonny Side of Cher.
• Writer Les Reed and his orchestra also recorded an instrumental version on their 1971 record, Colour Me.
• Czech singer Pavel Novak

References

External links

• BBC interview of Tom Jones about the history, and development of the song

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