The video below is a recording of “Did Trouble Me,” a Gospel song by Susan Werner, as sung by Tom Jones on his new album Praise and Blame. To most people Tom Jones is probably best know for songs like “What’s New Pussycat?,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “It’s Not Unusual,” and his cover of Prince’s “Kiss.” Praise and Blame is his second release on Lost Highway Records, better known for releasing music that might be labeled “Roots Music” or “Americana.” It turns out the fit between Jones and the label is not at all a forced one.


Praise & Blame is a collection of of Spirituals and Blues, Praise and Blame, that seem so perfectly suited to Jones’ voice. The album is produced by Ethan Johns, who also plays guitar on the album, and is stark in its instrumentation. Johns is joined by artists Jeremy Stacey on drums and Dave Bronze on bass, with well known figures like Booker T. Jones, BJ Cole and Gillian Welch joining on other tracks.
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One of the most interesting tracks is “Ain’t No Grave” because it provides a contrast to Johnny Cash’s recording of the same song and the title track of his album, released in the spring. This version is at a faster tempo and more upbeat, with a stronger bluesy feel than Cash’s, which was stark and stripped down to its bare essence.
Tom Jones may be Welsh, and this album may have been recorded in Bath, but it provides outstanding renditions of some great American Blues and Gospel. It’s the counterpoint to Bettye LaVette’s recently released Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook.
In this blog I have the luxury of writing about only those recordings I like, as opposed to a music reviewer, who has to review everything. So while I really wanted to start this review with a clever play on the title “Praise and Blame,” the fact is I’d really be nitpicking to find the blame. And I am not a Tom Jones fan. Perfect? Nothing is. But this is a damn good album!