Introduction
In 1970, at the height of his variety show This Is Tom Jones, Welsh icon Tom Jones invited one of soul music’s most fiery voices, Wilson Pickett, to join him for a thrilling televised medley performance. This Is Tom Jones—which ran from 1969 to 1971 on ITV in the UK and was syndicated to U.S. audiences via ABC—was famed for pairing Jones with a dazzling roster of guest stars across genres.
Wilson Pickett, by then already a legend in soul and R&B circles, brought his signature raw power and deep emotional intensity to the collaboration. Born in 1941 and rising to fame with hits such as “In the Midnight Hour”, “Mustang Sally,” and “Land of 1000 Dances,” Pickett was a major force in the development of Southern soul and crossover R&B.
The medley they performed interwove three distinct pieces: “Barefootin’” (a buoyant dance tune), “In the Midnight Hour” (Pickett’s signature hit), and “Hey Jude” (the Beatles classic). The choice of material was bold, blending uptempo rhythm, deep soul emotion, and a rock-pop anthem into one seamless set.
Critics and fans have often cited this duet as one of the standout moments of This Is Tom Jones. The contrasting styles—Jones’s rich theatrical flair and Pickett’s gritty soul fire—merged into a vibrant, high-voltage performance that left audiences electrified.
Over time, this medley has regained attention online, praised as a rare moment when two powerhouse vocalists met on television and transcended genre boundaries. It remains a treasured recording, not just for its musical excitement, but as a representation of the adventurous spirit of popular TV music variety in the late 1960s and early 1970s.