It's Not Unusual

Last updated

"It's Not Unusual"
Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual.jpg
Single by Tom Jones
from the album Along Came Jones (It's Not Unusual)
B-side "To Wait for Love" (Bacharach-David)
Released22 January 1965 (UK)
March 1965 (US)
Recorded11 November 1964
Studio Decca Studios, London
Genre
Length2:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Peter Sullivan [3]
Tom Jones singles chronology
"Chills and Fever"
(1964)
"It's Not Unusual"
(1965)
"Once Upon a Time"
(1965)

"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones, [4] after it had first been offered to Sandie Shaw. [3] He intended it as a demo for her, but when she heard it she was so impressed with his delivery that she recommended he sing it instead.

Contents

The record was the second Jones single Decca released, [5] reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1965. [6] [7] It was his first hit in the United States, peaking at No. 10 in May of that year. It was released in the US by Parrot Records and reached No. 3 on Billboard 's easy listening chart. The song was first aired on pirate radio in the UK, as the BBC rejected it because of Jones' sexual image. In the US, Jones performed the song on three occasions on The Ed Sullivan Show . [8]

"It's Not Unusual" is the theme song of his late 1960s–early 1970s television musical variety series, This Is Tom Jones . The first studio version was released in 1995 on the compilation album, The Legendary Tom Jones – 30th Anniversary Album.

Musical arrangement and recording

The musical arranger was Les Reed. Although the guitarist has been cited as Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, [9] Reed has said the only guitarist was Joe Moretti, who also played on "Shakin' All Over" and "Brand New Cadillac". Page lists the session in his online discography. [10] Drums were played by Scottish percussionist Andy White, who had previously drummed on a Beatles recording session, [11] or possibly by Ronnie Verrell,. [12] Alan Grahame has also said he was involved. [13] According to Jones's regular drummer, Chris Slade, there were four attempts with different drummers, him included, in order to get one with the right 'feel'. Though he was certain that his take was not chosen, he was unable to confirm which one of the others did make the final recording. Jones's group, "Tom Jones and the Squires", were missing their regular keyboard player for the session, so Slade (a future member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band, AC/DC, and The Firm with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers) ran across the street to the "La Giaconda" coffee house, and recruited the then-unknown Reginald Dwight (who later adopted the stage name Elton John) for the one-day recording session. [14]

Personnel

As was standard practice in the 1960s, session musicians were used instead of Jones's regular backing band. There are conflicting reports about who actually played on the record, but the most likely candidates are: [12]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [27] Gold400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The song enjoyed a resurgence in the mid-1990s, as it was used in the hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on several occasions. It typically features Carlton Banks, one of the lead characters, lip-syncing to the lyrics and performing comedic choreography (which came to be known as "the Carlton dance"). [33] Jones had guest-starred on the show on a few occasions, also performing and dancing alongside Carlton in the episodes. Jones later made a guest appearance in the third season episode "The Alma Matter" as Carlton's guardian angel, who performed the song with Carlton's actor Alfonso Ribeiro. [34]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann</span> English rock band

Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. The group were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The band had two different lead vocalists, Paul Jones from 1962 to 1966 and Mike d'Abo from 1966 to 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Boots Are Made for Walkin'</span> Song by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No. 1 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Mills</span> British music industry manager and songwriter (1935–1986)

Gordon William Mills was a successful London-based music industry manager and songwriter. He was born in Madras, British India and grew up in Trealaw in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. During the 1960s and 1970s, he managed the careers of three highly successful musical artists - Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Mills was also a songwriter, penning hits for Cliff Richard, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, Freddie and the Dreamers, the Applejacks, Paul Jones, Peter and Gordon and Tom Jones, most notably co-writing Jones's signature song "It's Not Unusual" with Les Reed.

<i>The Sonny Side of Chér</i> 1966 studio album by Cher

The Sonny Side of Chér is the second studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on March 28, 1966, by Imperial, as her second album, Cher again collaborated with Sonny Bono and Harold Battiste. The album is by-and-large a covers album and contains two songs written by Bono. The title of the album is a pun on the name of Cher's first husband Sonny Bono. Cher's second successful album of the sixties, it was released on CD in 1992 by EMI together with Cher's first album as a 2fer. In 1995 EMI re-released this 2fer with the album Chér. The last version of the album was released in 2005 only in UK by BGO Records. These editions feature a different track order than the original LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)</span> 1963 single by Merry Clayton

"It's in His Kiss" is a song written and composed by Rudy Clark. It was first released as a single in 1963 by Merry Clayton that did not chart. The song was made a hit a year later when recorded by Betty Everett, who hit No. 1 on the Cashbox magazine R&B charts with it in 1964. Recorded by dozens of artists and groups around the world in the decades since, the song became an international hit once again when remade by Cher in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)</span> 1963 soul jazz standard

"Sunny" is a soul jazz standard written by Bobby Hebb in 1963. It is one of the most performed and recorded popular songs, with hundreds of versions released and its chord progression influencing later songs. BMI rates "Sunny" No. 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby I'm Yours (Barbara Lewis song)</span> 1965 single by Barbara Lewis

"Baby I'm Yours" is a song written by Van McCoy which was a hit in 1965 for Barbara Lewis, the original recording artist. The song was featured in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County and was included on the soundtrack album. It was also featured in the TV movies The Midnight Hour (1985) and An American Crime (2007), as well as being briefly featured in Baby Driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of Time (Rolling Stones song)</span> 1966 song by the Rolling Stones

"Out of Time" is a song by the Rolling Stones, first released on their 1966 album Aftermath. The most commercially successful version of the song was by Chris Farlowe, an English solo artist. Farlowe's single, produced by Mick Jagger, peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart on 28 July 1966 and stayed at the top for one week. A shorter alternative mix of the Rolling Stones' recording was released in the US in 1967 on the album Flowers. A third version featuring Jagger's lead vocal and the orchestration and backing vocals from Farlowe's cover version was released on the 1975 rarities album Metamorphosis and as a single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfie (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1966 song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"Alfie" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to promote the 1966 film Alfie. The song was a major hit for Cilla Black (UK) and Dionne Warwick (US).

"Long Live Love" is a Chris Andrews composition which, in 1965, gained Sandie Shaw the second of her three UK number one hit singles.

"Make It Easy on Yourself" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David which was initially a hit for Jerry Butler in 1962. The best-known version is the 1965 recording by the Walker Brothers, for whom it was a No. 1 UK and Canadian hit. Dionne Warwick, who made a demo of the song in early 1962, later had a hit with it in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny & Cher discography</span>

The discography of American pop rock duo Sonny & Cher consists of five studio albums, eight compilation albums, one soundtrack album, two live albums and twenty-three singles. Sonny and Cher had released three albums and one single which achieved Gold status in the United States: Look At Us, Sonny & Cher Live, All I Ever Need Is You and I Got You babe. In the decade they spent together, Sonny and Cher sold over 40 million records worldwide.

"I (Who Have Nothing)" (sometimes billed as "I Who Have Nothing") is an English language cover of the Italian song "Uno dei Tanti" (English: "One of Many"), with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti. The initial version, "Uno dei Tanti", was performed by Joe Sentieri in 1961. The song first recorded in English by Ben E. King in 1963 with new lyrics by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Help Yourself (Tom Jones song)</span>

"Help Yourself" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Tom Jones in 1968. The song is one of Jones' best known songs and reached number five in the UK Singles Chart in its original run. It topped the charts in both Ireland and Germany, and spent three weeks at the top spot in Australia. The American single reached Billboard peaks of number 35 pop and number three easy listening, and is still widely played on adult-standards radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)</span> 1961 single by Barbara George

"I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" is an R&B song written and recorded by American singer Barbara George, released as her debut single in 1961. It became her signature song and her only major hit in United States, reaching No.1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and No.3 in the Hot 100. It was later covered by various artists, inducing Fats Domino, Cher, Ike & Tina Turner, and Bonnie Raitt. A Spanish version by Marisela topped Billboard's Latin chart in 1988. The Shirelles borrowed the melody of "I Know" for their 1963 cover of "Everybody Loves A Lover".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love How You Love Me</span>

"I Love How You Love Me" is a song written by Barry Mann and Larry Kolber. It was a 1961 Top Five hit for the pop girl group The Paris Sisters, which inaugurated a string of elaborately produced classic hits by Phil Spector. Bobby Vinton had a Top Ten hit in 1968 with a cover version. The song has been recorded by many other artists over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Thinks I Still Care</span> Song written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy

"She Thinks I Still Care" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy. First popularized by George Jones, the song has been recorded by multiple artists, including Connie Francis, Anne Murray, Elvis Presley and Patty Loveless.

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is a song written by Lonnie Donegan and Jimmy Currie, and first released by Donegan as a single in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leave Me Be</span> 1964 single by the Zombies

"Leave Me Be" is a song by the English rock band the Zombies. Written by Chris White, the band's bass guitarist, "Leave Me Be" was released on a non-album single in October 1964. Following the release of the band's debut single "She's Not There" in July 1964, White wrote a handful of songs in between performances during the band's heavy schedule. Most of the work on the song occurred in August 1964, when the Zombies recorded both a demo and the backing track for it. The instrumentation largely differs from both earlier and later Zombies records; it features electric organ played by Rod Argent, compared to his previous usage of the electric piano. Together with record producer Ken Jones, they returned in September to finish the vocal track, which was disliked by most band members for its similarity to "She's Not There"; the vocals would eventually be re-recorded a few months later.

References

  1. Harcourt, Nic (2005). "The Call of Wales". Music Lust. Seattle: Sasquatch Books. p. 30. ISBN   1570614377.
  2. "Spike Milligan". Gramophone: 34. June 1965. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 89. ISBN   0-85112-250-7.
  4. 1 2 "They can always go home to MAM". Life. 18 September 1970. p. 54. ISSN   0024-3019.
  5. Browne, Ray Broadus; Browne, Pat (2001). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Popular Press. pp. 448–. ISBN   978-0-87972-821-2.
  6. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 175. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  7. Colin Larkin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. pp. 488–. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  8. "Tom Jones - Ed Sullivan Show". Edsullivan.com. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. "The Independent - Led Zeppelin: Faltering first steps on the stairway to heaven". The Independent. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  10. "Sessions". JimmyPage.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  11. "Scots percussionist paid fiver for playing drums on Beatles' debut single Love Me Do". Daily Record. London. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. 1 2 Thompson 2008.
  13. "BBC - Session musician tells of working with Tom Jones". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  14. Slade, Chris. "Drummer". AC/DC Drummer Chris Slade - His Career. YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  15. 'Song of the Week #109 - "It's Not Unusual"' Classic Pop Icons. 4 June 2012
  16. Australian Chart Book (1940-1969) pp95 by David Kent
  17. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 24 May 1965.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  18. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Not Unusual". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  19. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  20. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  21. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 308.
  22. "Cash Box Top 100 6/12/65". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  24. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1965" . Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  25. "Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  26. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1965". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  27. "British single certifications – Tom Jones – It's Not Unusual". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  28. "Out of Sight (1966) - Soundtracks - IMDb". IMDb .
  29. Mark Ribowsky (2010). The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal. Da Capo Press. pp. 329–. ISBN   978-0-306-81873-8.
  30. Mark Bego (15 July 2004). Cher: If You Believe. Taylor Trade Publishing. pp. 292–. ISBN   978-1-4616-2592-6.
  31. Discogs - Sam Sorono – Sing Tom Jones' Greatest Hits
  32. Clare Teal - It's Not Unusual on YouTube
  33. The Carlton Dance, archived from the original on 14 December 2021, retrieved 14 March 2021
  34. Carlton Banks and Tom Jones Scene (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), archived from the original on 14 December 2021, retrieved 14 March 2021

Bibliography