At 70, Sir Tom Jones has released a new gospel and blues-tinged album, Praise & Blame, which sparked controversy when a record executive called it a 'sick joke' in leaked emails. The album, produced by Ethan Johns, features stripped-down covers of artists like Bob Dylan and John Lee Hooker, marking a stark departure from his earlier pop and disco style.
Jones has also stopped dyeing his hair and beard, embracing his natural grey. 'I like the colour of my hair now,' he said. The album explores themes of faith, sin and redemption, drawing comparisons to Johnny Cash's American Recordings series, though Jones insists his work is 'more vibrant' and 'hot gospel'.
The singer, who once knew Cash, had a resurgence in the late 1990s with his Reload album but saw muted commercial response to recent releases. He moved to Island Records in 2009, where vice-president David Sharpe reportedly emailed colleagues demanding the project be pulled. Jones dismissed the criticism, noting Sharpe was not on the creative team.
Critically, Praise & Blame has been praised for its 'raw, rugged' sound. A secret performance at the Latitude festival drew thousands of fans. Jones has no plans to retire, saying, 'As long as my voice is still powerful, I'll sing.'
