aaamusic | On 23, Jun 2010

 

Tom Jones announces the release of  a brand new  double AA sided single ‘Don’t Knock’ / ‘Did Trouble Me’ from his eagerly anticipated new album ‘Praise & Blame’. Aided and abetted by producer Ethan Johns, ‘Praise & Blame’ is a collection of songs  from repertoire that includes American traditional, gospel and country, giving rise to a landmark album in what has been an illustrious career for Sir Tom.

‘Don’t Knock’/ ‘Did Trouble Me’,  released on the same day as ‘Praise & Blame’, provides  two songs from both ends of the album’s spectrum.  Opening with a punky surf-gospel version of the traditional ‘Don’t Knock’, and flipping over to the sublime ‘Did Trouble Me’, the listener is set up to experience an album  that has already seen superlatives heaped upon it.

Legendary producer Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ray Lamontagne, Laura Marling) also serves as a key player on the album. ‘Did Trouble Me’, a Susan Werner composition, sees Ethan provide the perfect foil on banjo to Tom’s haunting vocal that captures the essence of the song with an unparalleled eloquence.

The two songs are a glimpse into an album that reveals an honest, heartfelt and evocative performance from Tom and his band that has rightfully found  a new home on Island Records in the UK and  Lost Highway ( Ryan Adams,  Jayhawks, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams et al) in the States.

Having wowed audiences with  songs from the album on a recent appearance  on ‘Later…”   an absolutely stunning performance on Lauren Laverne’s 6Music show and  the recent showcase  at London’s One Mayfair, Tom Jones’ ‘Praise Blame’ is something not be missed.

‘Don’t Knock’/’Did Trouble Me’  – 7″ and download , released  on July 26th

 ‘Praise & Blame’  –  available on CD and download, released on July 26th on Island Records.