Peak
10
Weeks
12
Score
1,939
Chart Year
1965
///
This swinging song is a classic case of lyrical dissonance, as Jones sings about the devastating pain of seeing what used to be his girl out with another guy. "I wanna die," he proclaims, in contrast to the jaunty tune. Drenched in horns, "It's Not Unusual" was the first hit for Tom Jones, leading to a horn sound on many of his subsequent songs, including "Thunderball" and "What's New Pussycat?" This was written by the classical music arranger and conductor Les Reed along with Tom Jones' manager Gordon Mills. They wrote it for the British singer Sandie Shaw, but she turned it down. Tom Jones saw the song's potential, recorded it, and it became his first hit single. Jones recalled to The Mail On Sunday February 6, 2011: "I did the demo on this song when it was being offered to Sandie Shaw. I was just starting out and, God bless her, she said: 'Whoever's singing this, it's his song.' Finding great new songs is never easy, and back in those days, finding one that would fit me – the way I felt and sang anyway – was difficult. I'm indebted to Sandie for being so generous." Tom Jones' real name is Thomas Jones Woodward. He was spotted supporting Mandy Rice-Davies by the manager Gordon Mills who suggested the name Tom Jones and secured him a deal with Decca. After a succession of hit singles in the UK and US he moved to California in 1969, performing regularly in Las Vegas. Tom Jones told the Observer Music Monthly December 2008 that first version he recorded wasn't anything special: "Then my producer Peter Sullivan said: 'You've got a big voice. Nice is not enough. You are not nice!' As a result, the song jumped out of the speakers and became a hit." Jones recorded this song with many of the top British session musicians of the time. Vic Flick, who played guitar on the track, told us: "Tom had a goal in life and nothing was going to stop him. He is a great singer and all round good performer - lots of stage presence. His recordings were always good to work on. Great songs, very good arrangements and always a great band." Will Smith was the star of the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran from 1990-1996, but one of the most memorable bits involved his co-star, Alfonso Ribeiro, who played the rhythmically challenged Carlton. Ribeiro would do the wildly entertaining "Carlton Dance" to "It's Not Unusual," and in one episode, Jones appears as his guardian angel and the pair duet on the song, altering the lyrics to form the dialogue. Ribeiro was actually an excellent dancer - he won Dancing with the Stars in 2014. During one routine, he and his partner Witney Carson danced to "It's Not Unusual" in a routine that incorporated the Carlton Dance.
It's not unusual to be loved by anyone It's not unusual to have fun with anyone But when I see you hanging about with anyone It's not unusual to see me cry I wanna die It's not unusual to go out at any time But when I see you out and about it's such a crime If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone It's not unusual It happens every day No matter what you say You'll find it happens all the time Love will never do what you want it to Why can't this crazy love be mine? It's not unusual to be mad with anyone It's not unusual to be sad with anyone But if I ever find that you've changed at any time It's not unusual to find out I'm in love with you Whoa-whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh Whoa-whoa, oh-ohh Whoa-whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa Whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 10, 1965 | 90 | 36 |
| 2 | Apr 17, 1965 | 75 | 51 |
| 3 | Apr 24, 1965 | 48 | 78 |
| 4 | May 1, 1965 | 28 | 98 |
| 5 | May 8, 1965 | 22 | 104 |
| 6 | May 15, 1965 | 17 | 109 |
| 7 | May 22, 1965 | 15 | 111 |
| 8 | May 29, 1965 | 10 | 116 |
| 9 | Jun 5, 1965 | 10 | 116 |
| 10 | Jun 12, 1965 | 12 | 114 |
| 11 | Jun 19, 1965 | 20 | 106 |
| 12 | Jun 26, 1965 | 37 | 89 |