Tom Jones's 1950s: The Decade That Made Me
In a personal journey through his formative years in south Wales in the 1950s, Tom Jones takes us on a trip through the decade of his childhood and adolescence.
In this personal journey through his formative years in south Wales in the 1950s, Tom Jones takes us on a trip through the decade of his childhood and adolescence, the years that shaped his ambition, his talent and his tastes and that witnessed an explosion of popular culture and the sweeping aside of the old order.
Television, the movies, the radio and - most importantly - the music of the first rock 'n' roll years give us a unique insight into both the country and the decade that would shape Tom's talent and, in the 60s, make him a star. Tom Jones's 1950s in Pontypridd are told first hand by the man himself as he travels back to his birthplace.
Tom's take on the decade is amplified and explored by a Greek chorus of contributors who share their account of their 50s. Joan Bakewell, Katherine Whitehorn and Michele Hanson share their experiences both as women and from differing class backgrounds, historians Alwyn Turner, Martin Johnes, Francis Beckett and Tony Russell draw the social and political landscape of a rapidly changing decade, while musicians Bruce Welch, Clem Cattini, Marty Wilde and Tom McGuinness talk of how that decade began their musical journeys and changed their lives forever, all illustrated by a rich seam of archive that captures a decade we mostly saw in black and white.
The result is a rich mix of humour, confession and reflection - all brought to life by Tom Jones himself, our guide through the lives and times of a young generation struggling to find its own voice.
Last on
Tom Jones on the 50s: Rock Around The Clock 'hit me like a tonne of bricks'
Sir Tom Jones on the decade that defined him and his music, for 麻豆社 Music: My Generation
Programmes, playlists and features charting the history of pop music across the decades
Music Played
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Tom Jones
What's New Pussycat?
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John Cage
In a Landscape
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Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
Take The 'A' Train
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Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Taking A Chance On Love
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Larry Parks
Rock A Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
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Paul Robeson
Ol' Man River
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Glenn Miller
Oh What A Beautiful Morning
Orchestra: The Army Airforces Command Orchestra. -
Cowbridge Male Choir
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
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Eve Young
Silver Dollar
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Eydie Gorm茅 & Steve Lawrence
Besame Mucho
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Frankie Laine
Mule Train
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Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Didn't It Rain
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Olivier Messiaen
Eclairs sur L'au-Dela
Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker. -
Andr茅 Kostelanetz and His Orchestra
With a Song in My Heart
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Max Jaffa
Waltzing in the Clouds
Orchestra: The Palm Court Orchestra. -
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Shotgun Boogie
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Jimmy Forrest
Night Train
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Frankie Laine
That Lucky Old Sun
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Vaughn Monroe
Riders in the Sky
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Mahalia Jackson
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
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Frankie Vaughan
Just in Time
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Ken Mackintosh
The Creep
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Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
Lisbon Antigua
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Charles Mingus
Work Song
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Bill Haley and His Comets
Rock Around The Clock
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Percy Faith
Theme from A Summer Place
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Mantovani
Charmaine
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Chuck Berry
Maybelline
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Glenn Miller Orchestra
The White Cliffs of Dover
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Bo Diddley
Who Do You Love?
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Elvis Presley
Heartbreak Hotel
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Little Richard
Ready Teddy
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Elvis Presley
Mean Woman Blues
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Nat King Cole
Goodnight Irene Goodnight
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Don Lang
The Six Five Special
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Marty Wilde
Bad Boy
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Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde & Dickie Pride
Three Cool Cats
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Russ Conway
A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
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Russ Conway
Ain't Misbehavin'
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Tom Jones
What I'd Say
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Tom Jones
Lucille
Supporting Artist: The Squires. -
Mantovani
Charmaine
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Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
The White Cliffs of Dover
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Little Richard
Ready Teddy聽
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Elvis Presley
Mean Woman Blues (Alternate Film Version)
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Miles Davis Quintet
'Round Midnight (Album Version)
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Gene Vincent
Be Bop A Lula
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Tom Jones
It's Not Unusual
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Tom Jones
It's Not Unusual
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Tom Jones |
Producer | Chris Rodley |
Director | Chris Rodley |
Executive Producer | Mark Cooper |
Broadcasts
- Sat 16 Apr 2016 21:00
- Mon 18 Apr 2016 23:55麻豆社 Two Scotland
- Tue 19 Apr 2016 00:15麻豆社 Two except Scotland
- Fri 22 Jul 2016 23:35麻豆社 Two except Scotland
- Fri 30 Jun 2017 21:00
- Sat 1 Jul 2017 00:25
- Fri 22 Dec 2017 22:00
- Fri 7 Dec 2018 23:00
- Fri 5 Jun 2020 22:00
- Sat 6 Jun 2020 02:35
- Fri 26 Feb 2021 22:00
- Sat 27 Feb 2021 02:00
- Fri 30 Dec 2022 22:20
- Sun 9 Jun 2024 02:05麻豆社 Two except Scotland
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