THE BUMMER TREATMENT

There were more than a few reasons why it took me years to take Tom Jones seriously. We all know of his resurgence as a ladies man so-uncool-he's-cool sort of thing. In recent decades he's been hip to trying new things, and that's always good for older singers. The turning point for me came when watching a concert on TV, back in the pre-YouTube eighties. Women were throwing their panties on stage. He caught one, was wiping is sweat with it and when if got closer to his nose, in between lines of a song, he said "Hmmm, these smell familiar". Me and the drinking buddy I was watching with were on the floor laughing. Still, there was "Delilah". The younger, tuxedo-ed ladies man crooner. The Ed Sullivan piss break. "Delilah."  Blecch,

Though my attitude towards Jones and his output has softened in ensuing years, due to increased exposure and the unrelenting cheerleading of one Lady Spinsta, it has always been "Delilah" tainted. That Jones era. Fucking tuxedos and shit. Hate 'em. "Delilah" may very well be a great song, but I cannot be objective. Not with that bow tie in my face.

Horace Andy covered it and it's got a whole different vibe. Really, believably forlorn, his voice actually sounding like he just killed his woman, with back up vocals that every bit the bummer. The horns sound like they escaped from the Tijuana Brass. He takes the song into the shit mood it deserves.

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Listen:
Horace Andy - Delilah mp3 at Internet Archive
Video:
Tom Jones - Delilah at YouTube