Complete Tom Jones

Producers: Peter Sullivan (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-9, 11-14, 16); The Art Of Noise; Gordon Mills (tracks 5, 10, 18-20); Barry J. Eastmond & Timmy Allen; John Hudson.
Includes liner notes by Miranda Sawyer.
Personnel: Tom Jones (vocals).
Liner Note Author: Miranda Sawyer.
The Complete Tom Jones is a highly enjoyable set which collects most of Tom Jones' hit recordings, beginning with his first major success, 1965's "It's Not Unusual," and ending with his 1988 hit collaboration with the Art of Noise, "Kiss." Most of Tom Jones' major hits are included, among those "Delilah," "What's New, Pussycat?," "Love Me Tonight," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Without Love (There Is Nothing)," "Daughter of Darkness," "I (Who Have Nothing)," "She's a Lady," and "The Green Green Grass of Home." To call this collection complete, however, is a bit of an overstatement. Several hits aren't accounted for, including "With These Hands," "Little Lonely One," "Thunderball," "Can't Stop Loving You," "Puppet Man," "Resurrection Shuffle," and "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow." Nonetheless, this is still a great collection and makes for one seriously testosterone-charged listening experience. Polygram's 1998 collection The Best of Tom Jones contains 22 tracks, four of which aren't here, and excludes the insipid "Move Closer" and "I Couldn't Say Goodbye." In other words, it's clearly time for a comprehensive Tom Jones box set. ~ Jose F. Promis