Tom - TOM JONES***

Can't Turn You Loose/Polk Salad Annie/Proud Mary/Sugar Sugar/Venus/I Thank You/Without Love/You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'/If I Ruled The World/Can't Stop Loving You/The Impossible Dream/Let There Be Love

Welsh balladeer Tom Jones remained highly popular at the start of the decade as the high placing for Tom testifies. Includes the US No. 5 and UK No. 10 hit single Without Love. (US:6 UK:4)

"Side one is loaded with peppy R & B and pop covers. Lots of fun. Side two is all ballads and showtunes. Gets a little much. Points for being a sort of 'concept album', but it makes for an uneven listen."

"Tom Jones punches in with his own over-the-top renditions of You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', The Impossible Dream, Polk Salad Annie, Proud Mary, Sugar Sugar, Venus and a few others."

"Continued Tom Jones' turn-of-the-decade winning streak, However, the album wasn't as strong as his previous studio collection, This Is Tom Jones, featuring a set of R & B covers (I Can't Turn You Loose, I Thank You, Proud Mary) and pop confections (Sugar, Sugar) that were too bombastic to be enjoyable. However, when Jones delivered ballads like The Impossible Dream or the hit Without Love, the record kicked into high gear, as his delivery matched the material as well as the arrangements."

“Obviously a lot of thought was put into the selection and sequence of the tracks on this album. The six tracks on side one comprise the more sensuous side - they are all the kind of uptempo rock songs that make middle aged housewives throw their hotel keys and phone numbers at the stage. Whereas the five tracks on side two comprise the love side with moaning ballads of utmost sensitivity (if not sincerity.) Concept aside, this is also the Tom Jones Experience at its pinnacle -- his best selection of songs, best band, best arrangements, best singing. If you only have one Tom Jones album in your collection, this is the one to have."