TOM JONES

The legendary Welsh heartthrob strips down (musically) for his new set

Tom Jones ready to call it quits? Not a chance. “The fire has not gone out,” he says, “and to keep that fire burning, I have to sing new songs.” Jones, 73, established himself in the 1960s and ’70s as a swinging sex symbol with hits like “What’s New Pussycat?” and “It’s Not Unusual” before returning to the charts with his version of Prince’s “Kiss” in the ’80s and “Sex Bomb” a decade later. His new album, Spirit in the Room, finds him covering songwriters from Paul McCartney and Paul Simon to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.

What prompted this record?

I didn’t know what kind of album I wanted to do, so when I met with my producer, Ethan Johns, he said, “I’d like to do something different. I’d like to get you stripped down. Tell me what songs you want to do and we’ll just have a couple of musicians.” It sounded great. When I started in Wales, I had a rhythm section and I would sing in pubs and clubs with just a few musicians.

Was it scary being laid bare?

No, it was refreshing. When I first started recording, you’d find the song, set the key, do an arrangement, and then go into the studio. And that was it. Once the arrangement was done, there wasn’t much you could do to change it. We did three songs in three hours because that’s what you had to do. Nowadays, you can rent the studio and use it for as long as you like. It’s a lot easier, a lot looser. And it’s exciting because you don’t know what to expect.

How were the songs selected?

Ethan said, “Tell me songwriters you really like, those who are interesting to you.” So I started talking about my favorites, like Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney and Paul Simon. Then there’s Blind Willie Johnson, which is the blues side of it. So we picked “Soul of a Man” from him. And I always liked Tom Waits and Richard Thompson. We also talked about Odetta. We didn’t know much about Odetta, but I liked a song called “Hit or Miss” that she had done live.

What still drives you?

It’s the same thing that drove me from day one. I want to sing everything that’s inside me. I want to continually express myself, but don’t want to repeat myself.

How do you stay current? 

I watch talent shows. I’m doing The Voice now in England, because I love to listen to new talent. I’ve been around so long and worked with so many people, I do have advice to offer, and The Voice is a good vehicle that allows me to do that. And I always want to do new things myself. I don’t think you can share experience with somebody if you can’t do it yourself.

How do you keep your voice in shape?  

If I feel anything isn’t going properly, I’ll head straight to the ear, nose and throat doctor. And I’ve learned over the years to do things that help: Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. I carry a humidity gauge with me—dry air is a killer for a singer. God gave me a voice that’s very adaptable. I can sing many different kinds of songs that many singers can’t or don’t want to do. Some singers don’t want to break out because they think, “If I try something different, people won’t like it.” But I don’t feel that way. If I want to try something different, I’ll do it.

–Lee Zimmerman