Tom Jones And ‘It’s Not Unusual’ Joins The Joneses In New Toyota Super Bowl Commercial

Tom Jones is the newest member of The Joneses in Toyota’s new Super Bowl ad. Well, Tom doesn’t quite join the gang, but his song, “It’s Not Unusual,” powers the soundtrack.

The commercial stars Joneses of all kinds, like Rashida, Leslie, and Tommy Lee. In a series of teasers released by the company, Toyota’s latest version of the Tundra is in the desert with celebrities named Jones behind the steering wheel. Veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones rocks a mean cowboy hat, while comedian Leslie Jones drives a Toyota TRD Pro. The third teaser features Rashida (daughter of Quincy) joining in on the fun.

The acclaimed actress sports a license plate that reads, “#1Jones,” and after spraying some desert mud on the cars of her fellow Joneses, Tom Jones gets the cue and delivers his trademark, “It’s not unusual, it happens every day.”

When 24-year-old Tom Jones released his second single for Decca Records in February 1965, it seemed to take everyone by surprise. It entered the chart on the week of its release and a month later on March 13, 1965, the magnificent, “It’s Not Unusual” was at No.1 in the UK.

Interviewed while it was topping the charts – in answer to a question about him copying PJ Proby – Tom stated plainly: “I am what I am. I have never tried to be what is popularly conceived as a modern sex symbol.” As true then as it remained throughout his career; musically Tom has often seemed at odds with what was considered popular at the time, but he has always found an audience that is totally in sync with his choice of material.

Tom had released a single at the end of 1964, but it had failed to excite the record-buying public. At the time he was living in Wales and it was Gordon Mills, who co-wrote “It’s Not Unusual” with Les Reed, who persuaded Jones he should move to London in order to break through. In fact “It’s Not Unusual” was actually written with Sandie Shaw in mind and it features the legendary Big Jim Sullivan on lead guitar. Big Jim was one of the best session guitar players in London at this time, along with his mate, Little Jimmy Page.

In April 1965, “It’s Not Unusual” was released in America and it made No.10 on the Billboard Hot 100 – no mean achievement. This early transatlantic success was repeated throughout much of Tom Jones’s career.

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