Top 10 Tom Jones Songs

Photo: VMusic2016, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Tom Jones has been one of the most exciting performers in show business for the past 60 years. The man knows how to entertain, light up the stage, and give you one heck of a show. The guy could sing his heart out and made women pass out more than any other musical act, including Elvis Presley and The Beatles. As far as commercial success, Tom Jones has sold over 100 million records and had close to 40 top 40 hits in the United Kingdom and almost 20 in the United States. His most significant commercial success occurred in the 1960s. Tom Jones has remained relevant in show business since the day he arrived on the scene. He even outdid Prince on the song “Kiss.”

This list took a long time to write because there were so many songs to listen to, and we found ourselves just not wanting to skip through any of them, as we thoroughly enjoyed the music from start to finish. Our Top 10 Tom Jones songs list features 10 of the most enjoyable, popular, and fun songs ever released by Tom Jones. We hope you enjoy this one. We had a blast putting it together.

# 10 – Black Betty

We open up our top 10 Tom Jones songs list with the Tom Jones version of the classic track “Black Betty.” This old, early-20th-century song, often credited to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, has been done many times over the years, but it became most popular with Ram Jam’s version in the late 1970s. Tom Jones updates the song further in this excellent recording, released on the album Mr. Jones in 2003. The song was released as a single from the record and hit number 50 on the UK Pop charts.

# 9 – Kiss

Prince has always been regarded as one of the greatest songwriters, musicians, and performers of all time. But if anyone could outduel him on the concert stage, it was this man, Mr. Tom Jones. This excellent 1988 recording brought Tom Jones back into the spotlight big time. In collaboration with the band Art of Noise, Tom Jones released this great Prince song as a single that became a top 10 hit in various countries around the world. “I think I’ve got to dance now!”

# 8 – I’m Growing Old

To prove our point about how relevant Tom Jones has remained, take a listen to this new song released in 2021, “I’m Growing Old.” It’s just Tom Jones and a piano and vocal, organic and as genuine as it gets. It reminds me of the old Tony Bennett Bill Evans album. This is one of the most harrowing, most difficult, and most essential songs Tom Jones ever released. It’s straight to the point, and it’s hard to listen to, but it’s necessary nonetheless. We just felt this was an important one to add to this list.

# 7 – I’ll Never Fall in Love Again

Okay, well, on a lighter note, let’s get back to the fun ones. Although this is more of a heartbreaking song, it showcases Tom Jones’s countryside. This is not the song that Burt Bacharach wrote for Dionne Warwick. This is an entirely different song. The song “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” was released as a single by Tom Jones on his 13 Greatest Hits album in 1967. The song went to number two on the UK Pop Charts. The song was written by Lonnie Donegan and Jimmy Currie in 1962.

# 6 – Green, Green Grass of Home

In the number six spot on our Tom Jones songs list, we begin to present some of Tom Jones’ biggest hit singles of his career. The song “Green, Green Grass of Home” was recorded by Tom Jones in 1966. The song would become one of the biggest hits of his career, reaching number one around the world. It reached number one in the UK, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, and Australia. It peaked at number 11 in the United States. Claude (Curly) Putman Jr wrote the song.

# 5 – Delilah

At the halfway point on our top 10 Tom Jones songs list, we take a listen to his fabulous recording of the legendary song “Delilah.” This is one of the most incredible vocals of Tom Jones’ career. The song was released as a single by Tom Jones in December 1967. Boy, was this one a big hit. The song hit number one in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and West Germany. The song “Delilah” peaked at number two in the UK but only reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. While Tom Jones was a big star in the United States, he was a far bigger star worldwide, especially in Europe and the United Kingdom, his home.

# 4 – Thunderball

There have been many great James Bond themes recorded throughout the motion picture’s iconic run. Tom Jones’ recording of “Thunderball” stands among the best. The song was released in 1965 as a single from the album’s motion picture soundtrack. The song would become a top-ten hit in Belgium, Canada, and Austria. The song peaked at number 35 in the United Kingdom and reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Tom Jones’s vocal on this is compelling and fits the opening credits perfectly.

# 3 – What’s New Pussycat?

This is our favorite Tom Jones song of all time. This great song, “What’s New Pussycat,” was another soundtrack song recorded for the motion picture “What’s New Pussycat?” which was written by Woody Allen. The song itself was composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. “What’s New Pussycat?” was Tom Jones’ second biggest hit single of his career in the United States, as it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Top 100. The song Hit number one in Canada. When one thinks of the 1960s, this is one of those classic songs that comes to mind.

# 2 – It’s Not Unusual

As we begin to wind down our Tom Jones songs list, we feel bad that so many are missing, but this is one we had to include. The great song “It’s Not Unusual” would become one of Tom Jones’ signature songs. It’s the song that turned him into a worldwide star. It was only his second single release, issued in 1964. However, it went straight to number one on the UK pop charts. The lead guitar part on the track was credited to Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Of course, this is about five years before Led Zeppelin was formed. Supposedly, Elton John, who was an unknown at the time, also played piano on the track after being recruited from a club he was playing at across the street from the recording studio where Tom Jones was cutting this great track.

# 1 – She’s a Lady

In the number one spot on our Tom Jones songs list is this fabulous recording of “She’s a Lady.” This stunning song was written by the legendary Paul Anka, who also wrote one of Frank Sinatra’s biggest hits, “My Way.” Tom Jones recorded “She’s a Lady” in 1971. The song reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Tom Jones’s biggest hit in the United States. The song Hit number one in Canada and also reached the top ten in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. The video defines the early 70s and the Tom Jones Persona so perfectly. Don’t miss this one!