Customer Reviews

This Is Tom Jones: What's New Pussycat?

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Volume 3 of THIS IS TOM JONES is only 1 DVD, containing 3 episodes of the show, but all are severely edited. MARCH 21, 1969 is a great show, particularly because TOM and MAMA CASS ELLIOT do a stupendous medley of soul songs: ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, DO RIGHT WOMAN and I GUESS I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. But , shockingly, they even cut at least one song from their performance together out of the medley! Not only that, but Cass' solo song is not included either. What a shame, a legendary performer such as her, & they left out her complete performances on this episode. Instead you get a clean shaven GEORGE CARLIN in a suit doing an unfunny 5 minute dud of a monolouge. THE DAVE CLARK FIVE are listed as guests on this episode, but not surprisingly, they are nowhere to be seen. What's left are 3 songs by Tom: WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT, GENTLE ON MY MIND, and WHAT'D I SAY , but even the star of the show has songs cut out of his concert that ends each episode. JANUARY 1, 1971 is even more severely edited. It has Tom doing a very short AIN'T THAT GOOD NEWS, and Free's ALL RIGHT NOW at the end of the show, leaving out other songs as well. Guest JOHN DENVER is seen in a duet with Tom on CAROLINA IN MY MIND, and then a short instrumental guitar piece with an uncredited guitarist , probably as a segueway to a commercial break. The original episode has SHIRLEY BASSEY, Tom's compatriot from Wales, but she is totally left out. Instead we get the complete skits by comedy troup THE ACE TRUCKING COMPANY, which go on for 10 minutes. What a shame. It must be easy to clear comedy performances, but not song copyrights. The 3rd episode from FEBRUARY 1969 is the least edited, but it excludes the performance by LULU. She's seen introducing THE BEE GEES with Tom. Mercifully, their 2 songs aren't edited . ROBIN GIBB has really long hair singing I STARTED A JOKE, and then BARRY GIBB sings FIRST OF MAY. It's a great vintage performance of a 4 member BEE GEES. Another groovy guest pairing is Tom singing with SERGIO MENDES AND BRASIL '66 on a song caled MAS QUE NADA. It's a groovy feeling seeing Tom & the 2 female singers of the group sing and move to the samba grooves. TIM CONWAY occupys space with 2 comedy spots, and they also chose to include actress LYNN REDGRAVE singing a complete song ! Tom's songs are DOCK OF THE BAY and MONEY, again cutting out songs from the concert portion.

The strength's of THIS IS TOM JONES are the musical performances. They are vintage , live performances that recorded the moment. The combination of Tom with different artists brought out all sorts of things in each singer's performances that are unique. To see CASS ELLIOT singing a soul medley with Tom is a rare and great performance. Whatever the reasons are that they cut out her solo, and also SHIRLEY BASSEY, LULU and the rest of the guest stars who are missing performances really cheats the buyer. The music is what's important, not the comedy skits, which they should have edited out. Probably clearance and copyright problems, certainly with the DC5. The episodes look and sound great, are in color, but butchered as could be. As vintage and rare as this show is, they should not have sacrified the legendary performers out of the episodes. It's great to see most of what's here, but what they excluded is inexcusable.

I don't get it. What's the point of putting out snippets when you can produce the whole series? This volume clocks in at less than 77 minutes. Can you do us a favor and just put out a collection of TJ's performances from the series???? Chronologically if possible??? The random dribs and drabs are infuriating. Love the man. Love the performances. Hate the compilation choices.

In my excitement to order the newest DVD on Sir Tom Jones, I was yet again disappointed that so much space was given to the comedy routines and not enough on the star, Sir Tom Jones. I enjoyed the segments where he duetted with his guest stars. There were some great singers during that early era of Tom's career. The producers of these releases obviously have not taken consumer complaints seriously about the content of Tom's TV career. It would be more to his fans' liking to feature Tom Jones for a full DVD release. If I wanted a comedy revue of those years, I would have purchased a comedy DVD.

Instead of crying about what ISN'T on this DVD like the other reviewers, that for the most part obviously have no idea about copyrights and license issues which often preclude DVD release of previously aired material, I'll review what we DO have on this DVD.

I paid $10 today at Fry's and there was quite a few items that on their own made the purchase worth it..
John Denver playing a 12 string acoustic and singing James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind"...Lulu gushing about Maurice Gibb (her fiancee) then the Bee Gees performance! The pre-hippy dippy George Carlin doing his "corporate" stand up! Mamma Cass (always sensational) singing with Tom, and what have I forgot...oh yeah...TONS of TOM...dancing , singing and strutting his stuff...

So..instead of crying about NOT having the Dave Clark Five (who's own records are currently out of print due to legal hassles)...and others I'll just say I'm thrilled with my ten dollars spent and this trip back to the end of the sixties and early seventies!

The editing by Time Life of the 3 episodes featured on this DVD is shameful! Most of Tom's performances are left out, and we get lots of comedy routines that are not that funny. Someone needs to sit down with the appropriate person at Time Life and expalin the following complicated concept: the reason someone would want a DVD of the "This is Tom Jones" series, is for Tom Jones! Time Life was bad enough with their editing on the first 2 DVD releases of this series, but on this one they truly butchered the shows. The only reason I give this DVD even 3 stars is because there are still a few great performances by Tom that make it worth having.

Let's assume that clearing nearly 40 year old material for such a project is very complicated and often leads to disappointment for all involved. Why two Tim Conway sketches, when one, would suffice?: the funny, though overlong lampoon of a News Anchor having to report the news and make a sudden adjustment to new technology - which doesn't work. Why three Ace Trucking Company sketches? Well, all three are excellent. We get two good Bee Gees songs, introduced by the fiance of one Brother. Her name is Lulu. Does she sing? No. At least she gets out a declarative sentence or two - Shirley Bassey is seen for about 1.5 seconds in an opening credit snippet. Folks, don't get your hopes up here, either. I really doubt that someone said, let's cut Bassey so we can include both Conway sketches.
Point is, we gotta take what can get. Hope that the next edition has more of what we want.
Yes, Tom Jones is the star, and for TJ fans there's little to complain about. He does live versions of "What'd I Say?" and "Money (That's What I Want)" which make the 14.99 seem quite superfluous. In a brilliantly designed production number, he does a brilliant "Dock Of The Bay". "Gentle On My Mind" is another fine arrangement with a sensitive vocal. On these standards he delivers mightily.
As another reviewer said, man, if possible put all the This Is Tom Jones! shows in one box and charge me 99.99! (I made up the price).
Can't wait for the next edition. Thanks, Time-Life.

I have been a fan of Tom Jones for years. I just love the DVD. It arrived on time in perfect condition. This new "This Is Tom Jones" is not as large as the others and a lot of the shows are cut out. They should just do an entire show. This one only has one CD, the other "This Is Tom Jones" had 3 CD's.

This is nice to have along with previous releases but why are the three shows featured only partial.There is plenty of room on the disc to include the full uncut episodes. Even allowing for licensing issues with certain guest artists,there is no excuse for excluding half of Tom's performances (whilst including guest slots with no involvement from Tom).

This DVD does not have the best songs of his selections.There are better shows than this one. He sings very good but, it's not worth it to buy it.