Tom Jones — “Hold On, I’m Coming”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — January 25, 2022

330) Tom Jones — “Hold On, I’m Coming”

Tom does Sam and Dave! — from his ’67 album 13 Smash Hits and ’68 album Tom Jones’ Fever Zone (and an A-side in Lebanon). Stephen Cook says of the album in All Music Guide that:

Tom Jones dives into a soul bag to bring on the hot flashes, lending his sweat-drenched vocal thrusts to . . . Sam and Dave[‘s] “Hold On, I’m Coming” . . . . [Fever Zone] will have you and your guests screaming for some good scotch to wash those fever-busting aspirin down.

Hallelujah — Jones’s version is so lascivious that he makes Sam and Dave sound like choirboys (not an easy feat)! Of course, Tom Jones needs no introduction, but I’ll just note that:

Tom Jones is one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the British Invasion. . . . [H]is vocal style, a full-throated, robust baritone with little regard for nuance or subtlety, remained a swaggering constant. . . . No matter the style or song, Jones’ powerful, one-of-a-kind voice is instantly recognizable . . . . “It’s Not Unusual,” released in early 1965, became a number one hit in the U.K. and a Top Ten hit in the U.S. The heavily orchestrated, over-the-top pop arrangements perfectly meshed with Jones’ swinging, sexy image . . . .

Stephen Thomas Erlewine AMG

And I’ll note that he has a new album — Surrounded By Time — out at 80 years of age which topped the UK charts!

I have added a Facebook page for Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock! If you like what you read and hear and feel so inclined, please visit and “like” my Facebook page by clicking here.

Here is a live version from 1993 with Sam Moore!!! —