‘There’s always something there to remind me’ about Sandie Shaw. In today’s feature there is a direct connection between Sandie Shaw and the fact that today’s feature; ‘It’s Not Unusual’ became a smash hit for Tom Jones and helped to launch a career that is still going strong. This is how it all happened back in 1964/5 leading to it hitting #1 on the U.K. Charts on this day in 1965.
‘It’s Not Unusual’ is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills. The songwriting duo offered the song to Sandie Shaw who was a rising star in the British music scene. Shaw had different ideas though. She had recently heard Tom Jones and was so impressed by his delivery that she suggested that Reed and Mills offer the song to him. Tom Jones recorded ‘It’s Not Unusual’ in November of 1964. It got off to a bit of a slow start due to what BBC Radio considered to be Tom Jones’ overtly sexual image. The song became popular due to overwhelming exposure on ‘pirate radio’ in the U.K. Eventually the BBC relented and before long the song became an international sensation. Gradually Jones hit the big time in the United States with his image being enhanced by three appearances performing the hit on the Ed Sullivan Show. The first was on May 2, 1965, then again in June and a final time on April 21, 1968. ‘It’s Not Unusual’ is considered to be Tom Jones’ signature song.
There are a couple of sidebars to ‘It’s Not Unusual’. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame lists this recording as one of several he played on as a session player. Songwriter and musical arranger Les Reed disputes this though. He claims the only guitarist in the session was Joe Moretti. The fact that Jimmy Page was a constant presence in studios during that time period makes it possible that he was present in some way. The other interesting note and the perfect item to show how tight the music scene was in England in the ‘60s, emerged from a momentary crisis in the studio when the keyboard player for Jones’ backup band, The Squires, did not show up. Chris Slade, who would go on to become the drummer for AC/DC is alleged to have run across the street to a local coffee house called ‘La Giaconda’ to get their piano player. An unknown 17 year old by the name of Reginald Dwight. He would go on to become the music legend we all know as Elton John.
‘It’s Not Unusual’ remains a vital song in music history and has been recorded by numerous artists through the years. My choice for today’s cover is by The Supremes because they took a couple of turns at recording it in various forms. In 1966 the iconic act recorded it for their album Supremes A’ Go Go, but it did not make the cut. It was ultimately released on their collection of unreleased recordings and rarities.
As an extension of this Florence Ballard of the Supremes recorded her own version of ‘It’s Not Unusual’ for her debut solo album in 1968. The ultimate release of the solo album ‘You Don’t Have To’ also left this recording off but it showed up on a CD release called The Supreme Florence Ballard. Here is that recording.
It seems for the Supremes as a group or as individuals it was not unusual to record ‘It’s Not Unusual’.
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Originally posted on March 11, 2019
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