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Over the Top and Back

The remarkable autobiography from a national treasure

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Over the Top and Back

By: Tom Jones
Narrated by: Jonathan Pryce
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Over the Top and Back by Tom Jones, read by Jonathan Pryce.

In a career that has spanned six decades, Sir Tom Jones has performed with almost every major recording artist, from Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis and Sinatra, to Robbie Williams, Van Morrison and Jessie J, across every imaginable genre, from rock and pop to country, blues and soul. The one constant throughout has been his unique musical gift and unmistakable voice.

In this, his first ever autobiography, Tom will revisit his past, both personal and professional, exploring the twists of fate that took a boy from a poor Welsh coal-mining family to global celebrity status. He will chart the stories behind the hits as well as the ups and downs of his professional life - from the heyday in Las Vegas and subsequent fallow years in the 1980s to his renaissance and comeback, thanks to the direction and management of his son, Mark - as well as shedding a light on the life he has led behind the cameras and the stage.

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Critic Reviews

A story brilliantly told ... Hold up your banners: "Sir Tom F****** Jones". Yeah! (Bryan Appleyard)
Packed with the kind of showbiz tales you don't get any more ... Jones is a charming, matey voice and the book is a terrific, star-studded journey through the world of entertainment. Even after meeting some of the greats, such as Elvis and Sinatra, Jones still retains an innocence and freshness that is rare
Over the Top and Back is a great read and funny. It charts his youth in the coal mining town of Pontypridd. It captures his Welshness
a book that gets to Jones's core
The book lays bare a career that has spanned 60 years, Tom revisits his past and tells tales from his journey from wartime Pontypridd to LA and beyond. He reveals the ups and downs of his remarkable life, from his early heyday to his subsequent fallow years to his later period of artistic renaissance
You tell the story of an Electrolux vacuum cleaner with the same gusto as you talk about Elvis Presley, and that's why it's brilliant Tom
Tom Jones really has had the most astonishing life, one which he recounts here with verve, energy and a vivid eye for detail - this is a hugely enjoyable read
This lively, thoughtful and entertaining account does justice to a remarkable life and career
A story, brilliantly told... hold up your banners: "Sir Tom F****** Jones". Yeah!
A brilliant read full of charm and anecdote that captures the spirit of each decade as well as giving a great behind-the-scenes snapshot of the music world. (Fanny Blake)
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoy all the many biographies I read .
Most are fascinating .
This one was riveting and Moving .
It felt like Tom and I were mates and he was trusting me to hear the truth.
Clearly a man who knows that real men aren’t afraid of the truth.
I now know in some detail what I love about Tom Jones.
Everything!
Ps the narrator made it easy to think it was Tom speaking. Superb job Sir

Simply the best written bio I have read in a long time.

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I was born in the sixties and observed my Mother's friends really liking this Man Tom Jones. So I feel like he has always been in my life. I've been to one of his concerts in Melbourne and I guess he has been "just there all the time" So I wanted to know why, what and how and the book did not disappoint.
This human has had an amazing life and career and I really enjoyed the parts about his childhood because that's were this Man's character was formed. And boy it's as tough as those Welsh mountains. The narrator also was a reason I liked the book as whilst I knew it wasn't Tom ,,yet it was the bloody best next thing.
This man is Tom Woodward first then layered as much as the sheets of Welsh slate are, layers upon layers and together these layers forge something strong and fiercely protective. Pure talent , pure letting the Music rip and that's why I enjoyed it. Thank you Sir Tom and Mark and his whole family. Love was the glue that held it tigether and oh yes a lot of champagne and cigars,,but this legend is true Welsh Gold .

An important story

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The choice of narrator was spot on, it felt like Tom talking....it was a fairly basic no frills account of his time in show biz, but gave you an insight into his journey.

Great read

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Long but he had a big life, he did keep the other women out of the story, but thts okay

The narrator

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An amazing & intriguing life story that I very much enjoyed and thank you for sharing Sir Tom! My only disappointment was that you didn't narrate it yourself. Nothing gives your story the wonderful authenticity than one that is told with your own voice.

The lad from Pontypridd

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