Tom Jones moves gingerly these days, the result of a double-hip replacement over the past few years. As he sings in the song “I’m Growing Old,” recorded after the first procedure and before the second, “I’m growing slower in my walk.”
But the moves Jones lost in his legs now seem to animate his face. The knighted legend grins mischievously, his eyes bulge and his brows dance with delight.
Defying time at age 86, Jones returned to Encore Theater at the Wynn on Friday night, the second of his three sold-out shows. No person at age 86 has the right to sing as great as does Sir Tom. He still reaches the high notes, unleashes the occasional yelp and easily reaches the back of the room.
It’s all him, too. The only tracks in this show are the distinguished lines along Jones’ face.
Highlights from the monumental performance:
The “Delilah”-Ed Sullivan moment: Jones recalled his performance of the hit on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1968. After rehearsal, a censor told Jones a line needed to be cut for the broadcast on CBS. The vocalist thought it might be one of several lyrics referring to violence, possibly, “I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more.” Instead, Jones was informed it was, “At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting.”
The censor told Jones, “That means he was there all night long!” As Sir Tom said from the stage, “So, you can get away with murder, but sex isn’t allowed!” He sang the full lyric on the “Sullivan” show, and in a wonderful rearranged, bluesy version Friday.
The “Voice” retelling: Jones is no longer a judge on “The Voice UK,” as he said, “As soon as I turned 86, they said (throwing an elbow), ‘Eighty-six him!’”
He went on, “They said they couldn’t insure me anymore, because I was an old-age pensioner. I said, ‘I was an old-age pensioner 21 years ago!”
This was not a voluntary departure from the show’s famous red chair. “It was fun while it lasted,” Jones said, “like so many other things in my life.”
“Sexbomb” remastered: OK. We have an 86-year-old showman not just exhuming “Sexbomb,” but slowing it down and swinging it up for the opening verse, “Spy on me baby, use satellite. Infrared to see me move through the night.” He crushed the cover of his collab with Mousse T. on 1999’s “Reloaded” album. Stream that album now and thank me later.
You can leave it on: Meaning “your hat.” As Jones recalled, in 1997 he took a call from Anne Dudley of The Art of Noise, saying she was doing the music for a film, and if he would be interested. “She told me what the song was, and I said, ‘Yeaaah!’” It was, and is “You Can Leave Your Hat On” from “The Full Monty.”
“Kiss” revisited: The Prince classic lives on, another gem from his partnership with The Art of Noise, from 1988. Still stellar.
This opportunity from Willie: Jones sang “Opportunity to Cry,” which he performed at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday show at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023. “Willie is singing at 90, and I am 86!” Jones smiled. “I have something to look forward to!”
His Vegas history: The Welsh superstar reminded that his headlining history on the Strip dates to 1968 at the Flamingo. He visited even earlier, in 1965, “I thought, ‘Yeah, I can deal with some of that.’” He later played MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater from 1999 through 2010. He ended his break from the city when premiering at Encore Theater in 2022.
An undergarment-free zone: I didn’t see anyone throw lingerie at the stage. This tradition is about played out, which I feel is a good thing, though Victoria’s Secret would likely disagree.
Impressionist in the house: Spotted from afar was Steve McCoy, who has portrayed Jones since premiering in “Legends in Concert” in 1990. Jones’ team invited him to the show. Classy move.
A King-sized story: The real Jones told a real story about the real Elvis.
“There was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on,” Jones laughed, recalling how the two headliners would visit shows together when they were done with their own shows. “One night, Elvis said to me — said to MEEEE,” Jones said, his smile and eyes widening. “He said, ‘Chuck Berry is in the lounge, wanna go see him?’”
The two went to the Las Vegas Hilton lounge to see Berry (there was so much star power in Las Vegas in those days that Elvis played the main room and Berry the lounge on the same night). Jones shared, “While we were listening to Chuck Berry sing and play guitar, of course, Elvis turned to me and said, ‘You know something, there’s the real king of rock ’n’ roll up there, right now.’ He was talking about Chuck Berry.”
The apt sendoff: After that tale, Jones said he was a big fan of ’50s rock ‘n’ roll, which he grew up with as a teenager. His octogenarian self then powered through “Johnny B. Goode.” It was a tribute to Berry, Elvis and Jones’ silver-topped legacy in Las Vegas.
Cool Hang Alert
Keeping with the Wynn/Encore fortress, Eastside Lounge runs its dueling-piano shows daily from 9:30 p.m. to to 1:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Post-Sir Tom, we caught Chris Lash and David James Guidice throwing down some “All Star” by Smash Mouth. No cover. Request and tip, in that order.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at