♫ It’s Not Unusual ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Tonight I was in the kitchen cutting up a watermelon and whistling … “Jeremiah was a bullfrog … was a good friend of mine … I never {cough, cough} understood a single word he said, but I {cough, cough, cough} helped him drink his wine.”  And so I knew I had my song for tonight.  Until … I found that I had played it recently, so there went that idea out the window at 3:00 a.m.!  So, instead of “Joy to the World” you get Tom Jones!  I’m sure Clive will be grateful … or maybe not, but he would have cringed at Jeremiah!

This was written by the classical music arranger and conductor Les Reed along with Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills. They wrote it for the British singer Sandie Shaw, but she turned it down. Tom Jones saw the song’s potential, recorded it, and it became his first hit single.

“I did the demo on this song when it was being offered to Sandie Shaw. I was just starting out and, God bless her, she said: ‘Whoever’s singing this, it’s his song.’  Finding great new songs is never easy, and back in those days, finding one that would fit me – the way I felt and sang anyway – was difficult. I’m indebted to Sandie for being so generous.”

Tom Jones’ real name is Thomas Jones Woodward. Early on, manager Gordon Mills suggested the name Tom Jones and secured him a deal with Decca. After a succession of hit singles in the UK and US he moved to California in 1969, performing regularly in Las Vegas.

In 2006 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music.  His personal life has been … um … shall we just say “interesting” and leave it at that.  By the way … the header photo is Tom Jones, then and now.

It’s Not Unusual
Tom Jones

It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone
It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It’s not unusual to see me cry,
I wanna die

It’s not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime
If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone,
It’s not unusual it happens every day
No matter what you say
You’ll find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can’t this crazy love be mine?

It’s not unusual to be mad with anyone
It’s not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find
That you’ve changed at anytime
It’s not unusual to find that I’m in love with you

Songwriters: Gordon Mills / Les (gb) Reed
It’s Not Unusual lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

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24 thoughts on “♫ It’s Not Unusual ♫ (Redux)”

  1. May i pique your interest with a new song? Oliver Anthony – Rich Men North Of Richmond just came out a few days ago and it’s making waves. It’s about the downward spiral of the working class due to policy and decisions made by the fat cats of DC. Pay attention to the lyrics, they sadly ring true…..

    Like

  3. Myself, I got up and saw a headline about another Tom Jones, who was 95; https://deadline.com/2023/08/tom-jones-dead-wrote-book-and-lyrics-for-the-fantasticks-was-95-1235461062/ . My heart started beating faster then, fearing it was this Tom Jones, then I knew it wasn’t quite time for him yet. Still, while 95 is a great run, it’s sad news. I really enjoyed “Try to Remember,” way back; it made a kid happy (me.) Then I saw this headline in my email, and my heart started beating faster again, but in a better way.
    Meanwhile, I’m up for all of this Tom Jones’s music! I wouldn’t throw underwear at him, but then I wouldn’t throw underwear at anyone. I remember he used to get that a lot!

    Liked by 3 people

      • 😄
        Well, now that you ask, I got an email last week offering 10 pair for 40.00 USD, so nothing’s wrong with free underwear!
        I just recall, even though I was a kid, that women used to throw their underwear at Tom Jones. Seemed silly to me.

        Liked by 2 people

    • I can imagine your initial reaction, for mine would have been the same if I had seen that headline! Yes, it is sad news and like you, I still love “Try to Remember”.

      I’m happy you enjoyed the song and like Tom Jones! No, I never saw the purpose or joy in throwing underwear!!! Yuck.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Since it was you who lead me down this particular rabbit hole and by FOLLOWING you I found of all things this piece about women walking. It also charted #1 in the UK.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Pingback: ♫ It’s Not Unusual ♫ (Redux) | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  7. What an interesting post, AND comments. I was 16 then, and if course, we hardly ever got to hear an English song on the Swiss radio…. and then a boy who was an apprentice in the same company and who was a bit in love with me, offered me When a man loves a woman by Percy Sledge… which made me hugely interested in all English sung music and hence a new fan of ‘foreign’ music was born.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. This was a huge hit here at the time, and Tom still sings it today. He has been around for so long, he is now regarded as a ‘National Treasure’. I have nothing against the man, and his voice is as powerful as ever at the age of 83, but I would never have bought any of his records.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 4 people

    • I always liked his voice, but more I think I like his persona … the twinkle in his eye … something about him. We can’t all like the same thing all the time … hopefully I’ll hit on one you like soon!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. This song came out at a time I lusted after a girl who had no idea I existed. I even dedicated it to her on the radio. Even that didn’t help. Guess she listened to the other rick station…

    Liked by 3 people

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