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Tom Jones Releases New Album

• 17th May 2010

Tom Jones teams up with producer Ethan Johns (Laura Marling, Kings of Leon, Paulo Nutini, Rufus Wainwright) to release a remarkable new album on 26th July on Island Records. Entitled 'Praise and Blame', the album is a captivating collection of songs drawn from the American spiritual repertoire.

Tracks include interpretations of works by Susan Werner, Bob Dylan and John Lee Hooker, alongside takes on traditional songs previously rendered by the likes of The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Tom and producer/player Ethan Johns lead a small band of players-drummer Jeremy Stacey and bassist Dave Bronze, through tracks that were recorded wholly live in singular performances at Real World Studios in Bath. Further guest contributions come from Booker T. Jones, Chris Holland, Gillian Welch and Orin Waters.

'Praise and Blame' is an evocative collection, with Tom going back to his roots on stripped down interpretations of gospel, blues, traditional and country songs, wearing his heart on his sleeve, emotionally raw and true. Tom has quite simply delivered his tour de force. It's him bearing his soul, singing from the heart, telling it like it is.

June 7th (Tom's 70th birthday) brings on a taster of the forthcoming collection with a limited edition 7″ split single comprised of John Lee Hooker's 'Burning Hell' coupled with Dylan's 'What Good Am I'.

The full track listing for 'Praise and Blame' is

1. What Good Am I 6. If I Give My Soul
2. Lord Help 7. Don't Knock
3. Did Trouble Me 8. Nobody's fault But Mine
4. Strange Things 9. Didn't It Rain
5. Burning Hell 10. Ain't No Grave
6. If I Give My Soul 11. Run On

To view footage of Tom and Ethan Johns in the studio and to listen to Burning Hell & What Good Am I. head to Tom's myspace. link

'Burning Hell' / 'What Good Am I' and 'Praise and Blame' are released on Island Records.