Tom Jones: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Bob Boilen | June 7, 2021
We're publishing this Tom Jones Tiny Desk (home) concert on his 81st birthday. It's a poignant moment in the life of a singer whose career spans 56 years and more than 100 million records sold; the passing of his wife, Linda, in 2016 after 59 years of marriage was devastating and resulted in the longest break between recordings of his career. But now Tom Jones is back with a new album, Surrounded By Time, and ready to share his deepest feelings, channeling songs by others with a voice still rich and muscular. It's a triumphant return to the Tiny Desk (his first visit was in 2009), and it's the first time he's performed these songs since recording them last year.

The songs on the album (and for this Tiny Desk) deal so eloquently with time and aging. Tom Jones sings Bob Dylan's "One More Cup Of Coffee" and going "down to the valley below." Then, he takes on Malvina Reynolds' folk tune "There's No Hole In My Head" and turns it into a fierce statement about being yourself.

When Tom Jones was 33, and after one of his infamous shows in Las Vegas, jazz composer Bobby Cole presented him with the song "I'm Growing Old." With lyrics including "I'm growing dimmer in the eyes / I'm growing fainter in my talk / I'm growing deeper in my sighs / I'm growing slower in my walk." Tom Jones didn't feel old enough to do it justice, but he held on to it. His performance here brought me to tears and is well worth the wait.

SET LIST
• "One More Cup of Coffee"
• "There's No Hole In My Head"
• "I'm Getting Old"

MUSICIANS
• Tom Jones: vocals
• Ethan Johns: guitar
• Nick Pini: bass
• Stephanie Ward: keys
• Jeremy Stacey: drums

CREDITS
• Video: Dan Shipton, Ross Nicholson
• Audio: Dom Monks
• Special thanks to Black Skull Creative

TINY DESK TEAM
• Producer: Bob Boilen
• Video Producer: Maia Stern
• Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
• Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
• Tiny Production Team: Kara Frame, Gabrielle Pierre
• Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #tomjones

[wyioughta]

I'm here because, Tom Jones...greatest voice of our time.

[gazoakleychef]

81 years old, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 a welsh legend

[RS-oswm]

Brilliant in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s,10’s, 20’s .This is a proper legend .

[ekarudiyanto]

This guy on his 80s still doesn't lose his prime.

[AZPM]

Nice of NPR to drop this on Tom's 81st birthday, he's still got it!

[ЕвгенияГлазкова-гя]

Выдающийся человек, обаяние зашкаливает. Что 30 лет, что 81 год слушаем и восхищаемся. Здоровья ему и долгих лет

[grandadslads]

The voice is just 100% still there. He’s literally lost nothing. It’s outrageous! Sir Tom’s work of the last 10 years is his very best.

[alexpryke]

The master at work. There’s not many people in there 80’s who still work as hard as him 🥰

[marycrisestrella]

I'm Gen Z, just 22 years old and I love Mr. Tom Jones also Paul Anka, My crush from the other world Mr. Elvis Presley, and many more. I'm a huge fan. They have these huge undying lovely vocals. Very classic and gold. Keep performing and stay healthy, sir Tom.

[geralt-of-rivia-zf]

I'm a millennial but Tom Jones is a huge part of my childhood. My grandparents used to listen to this one radio station that would play 50s to 70s music on Sundays. We even had a CD of his greatest hits and it was a big deal because we were dirt-poor then. Thank you for the nostalgia, NPR and Sir Tom Jones! ❤

[s.worner]

Dieser Mann ist wie ein Spitzenwein ‼️‼️‼️je älter je besser ‼️‼️‼️ ich wünsche ihm von Herzen, dass er bei bester Gesundheit 100 Jahre alt wird ‼️‼️‼️

[minawhitesides]

This is one of the coolest internet finds I have ran across in a long time!!!! He sounds great and the band is great!

[christophermoxon]

Tom Jones is a legend. Never forget his first number one was in 1965!

[tjunior]

One of them unmistakable voices. Still sounds good in his old age.

[feedwinnie]

People who haven't watched this one are missing out.
You don't realize who he is and what a legend Tom Jones is. This man is gold.

[stitchlightly]

Why doesn't the youth know about the great Tom Jones? So unfair. Such a legend.

[ttorres]

Wow, when he sang “I’m Growing Old” I sensed a sadness. You are a treasure Sir To Jones.

[AmericanPatriotPrinting]

This was my first time hearing "I'm Growing Old" and it touched me deeply. You can feel the emotion in Tom's voice and it sent chills up my spine. You are a true legend, Tom Jones.

[darrenhull]

True definition of the meaning "LEGEND"

[ttorres]

I’ve loved Tom Jones since I was was 16. I am now 67 and love since I first heard that strong rich voice. Been to two of his concerts. Never disappoints. Happy Birthday to you Sir Tom Jones. Thank You for sharing your wonderful voice ❤️