Tom Jones` wife is his harshest critic

The `It`s Not Unusual` legend, who has been married to his wife Linda for 53 years, admitted she is always honest when she doesn`t like his work.

Tom, who turned 70 on 07.06.10, said: "She`s my wife and my critic. I always run my new music past her and she`s always brutally honest.

"When I played her `Mr Jones`, the album I did with Wyclef Jean in 2002, she said `It doesn`t sound like you. Who are you aiming it at?`"

Fortunately Linda is a fan of her husband`s new album, `Praise and Blame`, which will be released next month.

He said: "She likes the new one. I`m playing with a live band again and because the songs are so different, I get to use different parts of my voice.

"She`s loved my voice since she was a teenager."

Tom, who rose to fame in Wales in 1964 following a string of gigs in working men`s clubs, maintains that music keeps him feeling young at 70.

He told the Daily Star newspaper: "I never thought I`d feel this good at 70 but playing music keeps you young and in touch. I`m really excited about the future."

sections: Celebrities