Tom Jones: Mr Jones

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * )

This further, less-than-thrilling instalment in Tom Jones: The Comeback Years has him working with the Fugees' Wyclef Jean as producer-writer. It's the Jean-Jones originals that really make this such a genre-defying effort — yes, the intention is Jones doing soulman and hip-hop-lite, but it winds up as comedy. It is at its silliest on the opening Tom Jones International. Then there's Younger Days which has him contemplating being put out to the green, green pastures of home ("When Madison Square Garden no longer screams for me/ and the record company don't send no limos for me/ and the young girls think I'm too old ..."), and reading from the hip-hop phrase dictionary ("We're going to bum rush the door"). And on Whatever It Takes an intro voice-over asks "Uncle Tom, can you tell us a bedtime story?"

Briefly more rewarding are the oldies — a Moby-influenced Black Betty, a cruise-ship reggae take on We've Got Tonight and a new I Who Have Nothing which samples Jones' 1970 recording with few "bling blings" from Jean. His voice is fine but combined with these songs, Jones comes on like Austin Powers' embarrassing uncle who can't shut up about the good old days.
Label: V2