What’s New Pussycat by Tom Jones

The Animals We Gotta Get Out of This Place
The Animals We Gotta Get Out of This Place
September 16, 2018
"Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke
Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
December 28, 2018

What’s New Pussycat by Tom Jones

Tom Jones What's New Pussycat?

Traditional Pop

The song “What’s New Pussycat,” which is performed by Tom Jones, was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David (as were many songs in the 1960s). However, the big draw on this record was not the song, but the singer.

Tom Jones, born Thomas Jones Woodward in 1940 to a Welsh coal mining family, started singing at age 10. By 1960, to supplement his income as a construction worker, he had become the front man for a rock group called The Senators. One night in 1964, while playing club in South Wales, Jones was spotted by London-based manager Gordon Mills, who quickly removed him from the group and signed him as a client. He then took the young singer to London and named him Tom Jones, to cash in on the popularity of the Academy-Award winning 1963 film of that name.

Mills secured a recording contract with Decca Records, and Jones’s second single,  “It’s Not Unusual,” became an international hit. During 1965, Mills secured a number of film themes for Jones to record, including themes for the James Bond film Thunderball and for the film What’s New Pussycat? The record, produced by Peter Sullivan, includes a bombastic brass section which is about the only sound that can offset Tom Jones’s huge voice. The song is done in a heavy 3/4 time reminiscent of English Music Halls. And for good measure, Sullivan’s instrumental introduction includes the sound of shattering glass.

In 1965 “What’s New Pussycat” went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #11 in the UK, and #1 in Canada.  The song has endured, and over the years has been performed by Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Anita Kerr, The Wailers, Barbra Streisand, and The Four Seasons.

Besides being made a British Knight in 2006, Sir Tom Jones has received many awards, including the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1966, an MTV Video Music Award in 1989, Best British Male Singer in 2000 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2003. To date he has sold over 100 million records.

Here are the Hal David lyrics:

“What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah
What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah

Pussycat, pussycat, I’ve got flowers
And lots of hours to spend with you
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose

Pussycat, pussycat, I love you, yes, I do
You and your pussycat nose

What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah
What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah

Pussycat, pussycat, you’re so thrilling
And I’m so willing to care for you
So go and make up your big little pussycat eyes

Pussycat, pussycat, I love you, yes, I do
You and your pussycat eyes

What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah
What’s new, pussycat? Woah, woah

Pussycat, pussycat, you’re delicious
And if my wishes can all come true
I’ll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips

Pussycat, pussycat, I love you, yes, I do
You and your pussycat lips
You and your pussycat eyes
You and your pussycat nose.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “What’s New Pussycat” by Tom Jones.


Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/customer/www/passthepaisley.com/public_html/wp-content/themes/betheme/includes/content-single.php on line 286
Jane Minogue

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *