Sir Tom Jones: 80: The early days and the incredible rise of the young Tommy Woodward

This book is very good. Most of the things I read about in this book I had aleady read about in the movie magazines of the 70's and 80's. Unlike the movie magazines there is the truth to the stories in the book. I espically like learning about Tom's younger years, and his relationship with his family. There was a little to much about Englebert Humperdinck and Gilbert O'Sullivan, after all this is a biography about Tom Jones. The discagraphy was interesting. Some of the albums must be UK or European releases. Same for the singles. The continuity of the book could have been better, there was too much jumping from one decade to another though out the book. The information about Elvis and Tom's friendship was well documented, as was the friendship between Tom and Gordon Mills. I've been a fan of Tom's since I was about twelve and this book is something I've dreamed about owning. It holds a special place on my keeper shelf.

This book came as a big surprise, as it relays in a unique way, the life of a boy from the valleys who had a lot of cheek and a voice that astounded. The fascinating thing about this book is the insight the author Macfarlane gives when it comes to looking at Tom's manager Gordon Mills who bluffed his way through life and ended up being a millionaire. Engelbert Humperdinck also appears as a sort of cameo actor in the Jones life story. This is a good tale, well written, and it is obvious Macfarlane talked not only the man himself but sources very close to him. This biography is a one off, a true reflection of the man that sticks in the mind months after reading it. Well done Macfarlane, let's see more books from you!

There are performers and then there are great performers like Tom Jones. This book covers everything you ever wanted to know about Thomas John (aka Tom Jones) Woodward from his early days near Pontypridd, Wales to his heart-stopping Las Vegas shows. Author Colin Macfarlane strips away the glitz and glamour so you meet Tommy as a handsome toddler from the Rhondda Valley, then Tom, the rebellious teen "Teddy boy" . . . and finally Tom, the mature, savvy, very sexy man known to many as simply The Voice. His childhood, courtship and marriage, family life, climb to fame, private dreams, even some embarrassing moments that made Tom blush -- all those juicy little details that inquiring minds love to read are here throughout the pages of TOM JONES, THE BOY FROM NOWHERE. A legend from the Land of Song, Tom Jones -- the music, the man -- is captured in this book as a real person, not some cardboard character out of Hollywood. Thanks, Colin M! acfarlane, for letting us glimpse the real man whose star will forever shine.

This book offers a no frills version of Tom from his early days in Pontypridd, South Wales right through to when he made it to the big time in America. It is a fascinating early insight into the Boy From Nowhere's life with genuine interviews with members of his family who were there from the start. Colin Macfarlane tells a good story as he lived in in Tom's home vilage of Treforest when he wrote it. Tom has said it is the best biography of him and there has been talk by Tom Jones, Colin Macfarlane and Welsh film director Karl Francis turning it into a movie.