• Artist: Tom Jones
• Flags: Compilation (best of)
• Type: Compilation
• Rating:
• Styles: Vocal Pop, Pop
• Similar Albums: The EP Collection, Downtown: The Greatest Hits of Petula Clark, Run Devil Run, Rockin' 70's, Vol. 2 [Madacy], Pop in the 90's, Vol. 2, Viva el Amor, Super Hits, EP Collection, Vol. 2, Capitol Years, Overtime

Review

Tom Jones has never been known for his subtlety, which doesn't necessarily make him a prime candidate for a romantic ballad crooner. Nevertheless, like any showman, Jones gives the audience what they want, whether it's rock, country, blues, or ballads. In concert, this is certainly quite entertaining, but on record, it can be overbearing, as Music Club's Tom ... Sings the Ballads illustrates. The collection contains 15 tracks Jones recorded in the early '70s, just after he stopped having big hits. The selection is divided between Vegas standards ("My Way," "The Impossible Dream," "Georgia on My Mind," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," "Anniversary Song") and recent hits ("Tired of Being Alone," "Ebb Tide," "If," "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "You've Got a Friend"). Jones sounds best on the Vegas numbers (not surprising for one of the quintessential Vegas showmen), and the other tunes veer toward kitsch, which may be of interest to some latter-day fans. Throughout both styles of songs, one thing remains the same -- Jones' big brash voice. It's the kind of voice that was meant for the stage, and that's where it sounds best. On record, Jones tends to dominate his material, which is fine for up-tempo numbers, but it's a bit too much for slower songs. Nevertheless, some listeners find a certain gonzo charm to Jones' style, since it's all about him, not the song. And while this collection doesn't have any hits, it does capture what he is all about -- glitzy, showbiz bombast. It's not top-shelf Jones, but it's a good collection of second-level Jones that delivers exactly what his fans expect. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
My Way		Paul Anka, Jacques Revaux, Claude François, Gilles Thibault	Tom Jones	(4:13)
I Have Dreamed	...	Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II	Tom Jones	(2:59)
The Impossible Dream	...	Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh	Tom Jones	(3:22)
You'll Never Walk Alone	...	Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II	Tom Jones	(3:33)
Tired of Being Alone	...	Al Green	Tom Jones	(3:05)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?	...	E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Jay Gorney	Tom Jones	(2:57)
Ebb Tide	...	Robert Maxwell, Carl Sigman	Tom Jones	(3:45)
If	...	David Gates	Tom Jones	(3:04)
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right	...	Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson	Tom Jones	(3:27)
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'	...	Barry Mann, Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil	Tom Jones	(4:15)
Georgia on My Mind		Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell	Tom Jones	(4:06)
Pledging My Love	...	Don Robey, Ferdinand Washington	Tom Jones	(2:51)
You've Got a Friend	...	Carole King	Tom Jones	(2:48)
If I Ruled the World		Leslie Bricusse, Cyril Ornadel	Tom Jones	(2:54)
Anniversary Song	...	Al Jolson, Saul Chaplin	Tom Jones	(2:59)

Credits

Tom Jones (Main Performer)