Gilbert O’Sullivan’s unique blend of melodic craftsmanship, witty wordplay, topical acuity and surrealist humour has given him an enduring and endearing career. His song writing knack has outlived and transcended fashion, global million-sellers and critical acclaim. Now recognised as one of our great singer-songwriters, he’s been championed in recent years by everyone from Paul Weller, Nina Simone, Mick Hucknall, Squeeze’s Difford & Tilbrook, Neil Diamond to Gary Barlow (whose Crooner Sessions Gilbert duetted on earlier this year), Empire Of The Sun, Boy George and The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess whose acclaimed ‘The Listening Party’ recently featured Gilbert’s Himself, Back To Front and 2022’s Driven albums and who recently joined him on stage for for a duet of ‘Nothing Rhymed’.
Gilbert O’Sullivan’s career has spanned 50 years. His first single success ‘Nothing Rhymed’ was released in 1970 and almost overnight it achieved Top 10 status In the UK and Europe charts. His 1971 debut album Himself was littered with the most perfect examples of his art and craftsmanship.
His second, 1972’s Back To Front, firmly cemented Gilbert amongst the world’s best, with Top 10 singles and no. 1’s around the world, including the classic ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’ which topped the US charts for six weeks and earned him three Grammy nominations.
British recognition soon followed with the songs ‘Clair’ and ‘Get Down’ reaching the summit of the UK singles charts and his LP Back To Front topping the album charts. In the same year at the 18th Ivor Novello Awards Gilbert was named ‘Song Writer of the Year’. To date he has won three Ivors and in recent times performed alongside other artists at BBC Proms in the Park. He has also made three appearances at Glastonbury including the main stage, and toured extensively throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, Japan and Australia.
His recent albums, 2018’s Ethan Johns-produced Gilbert O’Sullivan and this year’s Andy Wright-produced Driven (both awarded 4-stars in MOJO magazine), have seen a rightful renaissance and reappraisal of this Irish born, outstanding British talent.
