Welsh superstar crooner Sir Tom Jones talks to Tim Hughes as he prepares to play Cornbury

It’s not unusual for Tom Jones to get excited about playing live. After all, the silver-tongued crooner has been taking to the stage on and off for the past 50 years.

But for his next show, Sir Tom is particularly eager to get on stage and share the songs which have made him a household name and national treasure.

On Saturday night he appears before a crowd of 10,000 when he headlines the weekend’s Cornbury Festival – not bad for a man who has just turned 75.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Cornbury,” he says. “The crowds should be in a great mood, as it’s one of the loveliest Festivals in the UK. There’s something to experience and enjoy for everyone of every age which should put a smile on every face.”

Sir Tom heads a suitably eclectic line-up at Great Tew Park, which also features Motown queen Martha Reeves, pub-rockers Chas & Dave, the Felice Brothers, Lulu, Blue and indie-rockers Razorlight and The Fratellis.

He goes on: “I always like doing festivals. It’s so nice to see kids’ faces when they’ve never seen me play live before.”

The show is part of a 40 date tour for the Welsh lothario and his band. Is he surprised he’s still doing it after half a century? “Yes, and particularly when I’m invited to be on a line-up with bands at big pop and rock festivals,” he says modestly. “Who’d have thought it? It’s also great fun and a privilege to share the bill with some fantastic acts —there’s some very talented artists working out there!

“I’m just thankful that my voice is still powerful and my vibrato hasn’t slowed down. With singers, the voice can show its age and you start to sound like an engine turning over, but thank God that hasn’t happened to me.

“I’m still singing naturally and I don’t have to put a spike into it. I look after myself too, I drink plenty of water, I don’t get dehydrated and I make sure I get eight hours sleep.”

By anyone’s standards, Sir Tom is enjoying an impressive innings, scoring 36 Top 40 hits and counting, with an assortment of Grammy and Brit awards thrown in, along with an OBE and Knighthood. As well as classics like Delilah, What’s New Pussycat and Green, Green Grass of Home, Sir Tom will be sharing songs from his latest album of covers, the Ethan Johns produced Spirit in the Room – which features songs by the likes of Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen – and its gospel-flavoured predecessor, Praise & Blame.

“I’ve got a really good touring set-up,” he says. “I have a band made up of guys mainly from Nashville when I do work in the States, and also have a UK-based band for doing gigs this side of the world. “Working with different musicians keeps it all exciting and fresh for both myself and them.

“We play songs from Praise and Blame and Spirit in the Room plus a couple of new ones from my new album coming out later this year.

“We’ve also worked out some fun new arrangements on favourite tracks like Delilah, Kiss and It’s Not Unusual. It’s important for me to keep reinventing songs with the band. It’s good to come up with different arrangements to invigorate the hit tunes and to keep us all on our toes.”

For many of the younger members of the audience, of course, it will be the star’s role as a judge on BBC TV’s The Voice for which he is most familiar. His appearance, alongside Rita Ora, Ricky Wilson and Will.I.Am has made it essential viewing – as well as introducing his music to a new generation of fans.

“It happens with every generation,” he says. “Whenever I put out new stuff I’m introduced to a new audience. If new material gets a good reaction they’ll also re-release the back catalogue and often people will appreciate some lesser-known tracks from back in the day, as well as the hits.

Now, with The Voice, I go to restaurants in London and get kids shouting at me in the street. Even when I disguise myself in a hoodie and dark glasses, I get shout outs from kids!”

Oxford Mail:

A resident of Los Angeles, he says he relishes the chance to get back to this side of the pond – and even to go back to ‘the old town’ – Pontypridd in Wales. “I moved to LA in 1976 and I’ve been there ever since,” he says. “My Welsh accent is not as strong as it used to be — I had to slow it down when I went to London as no one could understand me! But coming to America wasn’t so bad; if you can get a cockney to understand you then so can an American.

“I don’t get back to Wales as much as I would like, though. Sadly, my family is dwindling, as a lot of them have passed away, as have some close friends who I grew up with. Parts of the town have changed and look different, which is a natural thing, and a lot of the buildings are different – many of the pubs I used to go to have gone, as has my school.

“But I love to play shows in the UK and Europe and if I get a chance to play in Wales I’ll drive over to where I was born and raised — just to have a look around and reminisce.” And, he admits, he is on better form live than ever. “I’ve surprised myself how good the shows are,” he smiles.

“My singing voice is still as strong as ever, though as you get older, your voice gets lower and so my tone and range has gone from a tenor to a baritone. My lower tones are much richer than they were. What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.

“I know my voice pretty well and if people like my voice they will like what I record. I love to tour and I love to sing.”

Which brings us back to Cornbury.

“At festivals, there are a lot of people who see you for the very first time, which is always great.

“So, see you soon at Cornbury… and hopefully in the glorious sunshine!”

GO ALONG
Cornbury Music Festival runs from tomorrow until Sunday.
Full line up and tickets are available from cornburyfestival.com