Tom Jones talks about touring and music ahead of his Liverpool Echo Arena concert

Oct 14 2009 Ellesmere Port Pioneer

Arguably the most iconic singer of his time Sir Tom Jones is still firing on all cylinders, as he will prove when he arrives at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on Saturday, October 17.

The release of 24 Hours last year saw the return of legendary singer with perhaps the defining album of his career.

This is the first time Jones has had a major hand in songwriting. The end result is a work of revelation from one of the biggest-selling artists of all time.

He said: “It’s been a very intimate album because I have been so much more involved in writing the songs and I am very honest about it. When I go on stage and perform one of the songs I have written from 24 Hours I tell the audience about it.”

Many artists shy away from making such a personal and confessional album but Jones encapsulates his innermost thoughts and relishes the opportunity to share them live with his fans.

“Seasons is my favourite track on the album,” he revealed, “as it’s very stripped down and bare especially when you’re performing it live. It begins with just my voice and the piano – you could hear a pin drop! It’s very intimate, it’s like baring your soul on stage.”

It’s a testament to his character and staying power that Jones has maintained his popularity over so many decades – something the star puts down to his versatility.

“I can adapt to many styles,” he said. “I don’t think the structure of pop music has changed that dramatically over the years although sounds, ways and means of production have — the spectrum is very wide, producers pull from all sorts of sources now.

“When I was younger and rock ’n’ roll was just kicking off I remember the older generations going ‘God, what is this?’. And now you have hip hop and rap and all sorts of sub-genres and the older generation are having the same reaction!

“I think that people can relate to my music, my voice hasn’t changed over the years. When I’ve recorded with younger artists it’s not like I’m looking in the mirror and thinking of the age difference, it’s about the music, like it has always been.

“I worked with Future Cut on my latest album who came from the drum and bass scene and have worked with Lily Allen, Estelle and Dizzee Rascal. I listened to their work and the tracks they build and really liked the sound of what they do.”

Originally from Pontypridd in Wales, Jones has fond memories of his early years there.

“You don’t really appreciate it at the time but I had a lot of family in the surrounding area when I was growing up,” he said. “I had lots of cousins and aunts and uncles. It’s great when I go back to play Cardiff as the whole clan comes down!

“My aunt and uncles are no longer around but my cousins are. A lot of them have come out to see me in America which is great as it’s something a bit different for me and I love having them at shows. I’ve got so many cousins I could probably play a show just for them.”

He moved to America in the 70s – the decade of the tax exiles. But Jones made a triumphant return to Pontypridd in 2006 for a concert to mark his 65th birthday.

“It was tremendous doing that show,” he said. “Coming back and being older you don’t realise how close together everything is in Pontypridd as when you’re younger and growing up everything seems so far apart! But when I was singing the Green Green Grass of Home I could point to the house where I grew up which was amazing.”

Still a Welsh man at heart, Jones loves returning to his home town but does find that fame can impinge on his visits.

He said: “I have been back a couple of times but it’s hard to stay low-key. You really need to get a group of guys, one who doesn’t drink so they can drive, and do a pub crawl because once you go into one pub it’s not long before you have to move on!”

At 68, he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down and is touring 200 days of the year and he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He also still enjoys going down to the pub with the younger generation of performers and having a good time.

“I was at the Q awards and Alex from the Arctic Monkeys had asked if I was going to the pub afterwards,” he said. “I said yes, he said that if Î was going then he was too! He’d been talking to me about one of my old songs from the 70s – I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – how he liked the vocals, which is very flattering and nice to hear.”

And does he feel that he needs to take special care of his voice?

“I drink lots of water,” he said. “Air humidity has a huge effect on your voice so I watch out for that too. I also try not to drink in the evenings if I’ve got a show the next day or before I go on stage. I like to have my head straight and alcohol can effect your concentration a bit. All singers, no matter what age or what they sing, have to watch it.”

Having a career which has spanned decades and still enjoying it is an achievement in itself and this is something that Jones feels passionately about.

“Music really is my life, I’m not a keen golfer or have any other hobbies so all my time revolves around music,” he said. “Saying that, I do like to relax by the pool at my house in LA.”

Jones has sold more than 100 million records, has had his own TV series, toured around the world many times over and was recently anointed knight of the realm – is there anything else he would like to achieve?

He said: “I want to continue writing songs and creating records, and I want to perform until my voice no longer enables me to do so. I have this God-given gift to sing and want to make the most of it. I don’t want to retire – what would I do if I retired?”

Tom Jones is at the Echo Arena on Saturday, October 17. Ring the box office on 0844 8000 400 or visit www.accliverpool.com for booking details.