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{{short description|Irish singer-songwriter (born 1946)}}
{{Copyedit|date=October 2008}}
{{distinguish|Gilbert and Sullivan}}
{{Infobox Musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2024}}
| Name = Gilbert O'Sullivan
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
| Img = Replace this image male.svg
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Img_capt =
| Img_size =
| name = Gilbert O'Sullivan
| Landscape =
| image = Gilbert O'Sullivan - TopPop 1974 1.png
| Background = solo_singer
| caption = O'Sullivan on [[TopPop]] in 1974
| Birth_name = Raymond Edward O'Sullivan
| image_size =
| Alias =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Raymond Edward O'Sullivan
| Born = {{birth date and age|1946|12|1}}<br/>[[Waterford]], [[County Waterford]]
| Died =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1946|12|1}}
| Origin = [[Swindon]], [[Wiltshire]]
| birth_place = [[Waterford]], Ireland
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano<!--If you think an instrument should be listed, a consensus must be reached on the talk page-->}}
| Instrument =
| genre = {{hlist|[[pop music|Pop]]|[[soft rock]]||[[easy listening]]}}
| Voice_type =
| Genre = [[Pop music]]
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| Occupation = [[Singer-songwriter]], [[Pianist]]
| discography = [[Gilbert O'Sullivan discography]]
| Years_active = 1967 - present
| years_active = 1967–present
| label = '''Current'''<br/>Union Square (2007–2010; 2013–present)<br/>'''Former'''<br/>[[MAM Records|MAM]] (1967–1978)<br/>[[CBS Records International|CBS]] (1978–1986)<br/>Ultraphone (1986–1988)<br/>Dover (1989–1990)<br/>Park Records (1991–2000)<br/>[[EMI Records|EMI]] (2000–2007)<br/>[[Victor Records|Victor]] (2007) <br/>Hypertension (2011–2013)
| Label = Bygum Records
| website = {{url|http://www.gilbertosullivan.co.uk/}}
| Associated_acts =
| URL = http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/
| Notable_instruments = [[Piano]]
}}
}}
'''Raymond Edward O'Sullivan''' (born [[1 December]] [[1946]], [[Waterford]], [[County Waterford]], [[Ireland]]) known professionally as '''Gilbert O'Sullivan''', is an [[Irish People|Irish]] [[singer-songwriter]], best known for his early 1970s [[chart-topper|hits]] "[[Alone Again (Naturally)]]", "[[Clair (song)|Clair]]" and "[[Get Down (Gilbert O'Sullivan song)|Get Down]]".
'''Raymond Edward''' "'''Gilbert'''" '''O'Sullivan''' (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s with hits including "[[Alone Again (Naturally)]]", "[[Clair (song)|Clair]]" and "[[Get Down (Gilbert O'Sullivan song)|Get Down]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/in_print/hotpress.htm |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan Articles |publisher=Gilbertosullivan.net |date=31 October 2007 |access-date=13 January 2012}}</ref> His songs are often marked by his distinctive, percussive piano playing style<ref name="Sodajerker"/> and observational lyrics using word play.<ref name="Interview: Gilbert O Sullivan"/>


Born in [[Waterford]], Ireland, O'Sullivan settled in [[Swindon]], England, as a child. In 1967, he began pursuing a career in music. Worldwide, he has charted 16 top 40 records including six No. 1 songs, the first of which was 1970's "[[Nothing Rhymed]]". Across his career, he has recorded 19 studio albums. The music magazine ''[[Record Mirror]]'' voted O'Sullivan the top UK male singer of 1972.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 411}}</ref> He has received three [[Ivor Novello Awards]], including "Songwriter of the Year" in 1973.<ref name="official biog">{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.co.uk/biography/|website=Gilbert O'Sullivan|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>
==Biography==
Early in his life O'Sullivan's family moved to [[Swindon]] [[Wiltshire]] [[England]] and here O'Sullivan began to develop an interest in music and art. At Swindon Art College in 1963 he met [[Rick Davies]] who would later become a member of [[Supertramp]].


==Early life==
O'Sullivan signed a five-year contract with [[CBS Records]] in 1967, where Stephen Shane, then Professional Manager at CBS's April/Blackwood publishing division, originally signed him and redesignated him Gilbert O'Sullivan, a pun on the names of the [[Savoy Opera]] writing team of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]. However, after two unsuccessful singles with CBS, and one with the Irish label ''Major Minor'', he sent some demo tapes to [[Gordon Mills]], the manager of [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] and [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]], whereupon he signed with Mills' label, [[MAM Records]]. His eye-catching visual image comprised a [[Bowl cut|pudding basin haircut]], cloth cap and short trousers, and was O'Sullivan's own idea. Mills reportedly hated it, but O'Sullivan insisted on going with it for a couple of years, after which a more modern look took over, in which he often wore a [[sweater]] bearing a large letter 'G'. At the end of 1970, O'Sullivan achieved his first [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Top 40|Top 10]] [[Chart-topper|hit]] with "Nothing Rhymed", which reached No. 8 (No. 1 in [[The Netherlands]]), and enjoyed nearly five years of major success. This run incorporated thirteen more hit singles, six of which reached the UK Top 10, plus four Top 10 [[album]]s, including ''Himself'' (1971), ''Back To Front'' (1972), ''I'm A Writer Not A Fighter'' (1973) and ''A Stranger In My Own Back Yard'' (1974). In 1972, his international star rose after his self-penned ballad, "[[Alone Again (Naturally)]]", a No. 3 hit in [[UK|Britain]], became a chart-topper in the [[United States|U.S.]], spending six weeks at [[Chart-topper|number one]] on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart and selling nearly two million copies there.
O'Sullivan was born on 1 December 1946 in Cork Road, [[Waterford]], Ireland.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p110770/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Jason Ankeny |publisher=Allmusic.com |access-date=5 March 2009}}</ref> He was one of six children. His mother May ran a [[sweet shop]] and his father was a [[butcher]] with Clover Meats.<ref name="ireland's own">{{cite web |title=Home again, naturally! |url=https://www.irelandsown.ie/gilbert-osullivan-home-again-naturally/ |website=Ireland's Own |access-date=27 August 2020 |quote="There were six children in my family, and at that time it was common for many homes in the UK to have a piano. The thinking behind it was that if one of the children became good at it they could go on to earn a few bob playing in the pubs, though I never went down that route." |archive-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115235903/https://www.irelandsown.ie/gilbert-osullivan-home-again-naturally/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="strange case">{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Róisín |title=The strange case of Gilbert O'Sullivan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-strange-case-of-gilbert-o-sullivan-1.1165441 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="SwindonWeb">{{cite web |title=Guide to Swindon - Gilbert O'Sullivan |url=http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=227&t=Gilbert+O%27Sullivan |website=SwindonWeb |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> The O'Sullivans emigrated due to a job offer in [[England]].<ref name="irish roots">{{cite web |last1=Richard |first1=Fitzpatrick |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan is proud of his Irish roots |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20333411.html |website=Irish Examiner |date=29 May 2015 |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> The family first moved to [[Battersea]], London when O'Sullivan was seven, before settling in [[Swindon]], Wiltshire a year later. He began playing piano there, later explaining: "I come from a working-class background, but we always had a piano, the thinking of my parents was that if one of your kids could play it, you could make some money at it."<ref name="Interview: Gilbert O Sullivan">{{cite web|last1=Hutchinson|first1=Martin|title=Interview: Gilbert O Sullivan|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/music/9613630.Interview__Gilbert_O_Sullivan/|website=Southern Daily Echo|date=26 March 2012 |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> A period of going to piano lessons was short-lived, as O'Sullivan was not enamoured of [[music theory]] and played the pieces by ear instead.<ref name="Sodajerker">{{cite web|title=Episode 72 - Gilbert O'Sullivan|url=https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-72-gilbert-osullivan/|website=Sodajerker|access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> O'Sullivan's father died two years after the move to Swindon.<ref name="SwindonWeb"</> O'Sullivan did not mourn his death, later stating, "the fact of the matter is, I didn't know my father very well, and he wasn't a good father anyway."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.superseventies.com/1972_2singles.html | title="Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan }}</ref>


O'Sullivan attended [[St Joseph's Catholic College]] before studying at [[Swindon College]], specialising in graphic design. There, he played with several semi-professional bands including the Doodles and the Prefects, and was most notably a drummer in a band called Rick's Blues, along with Malcolm Mabbett (guitar), Keith Ray (bass) and founder [[Rick Davies]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
He also landed two consecutive UK [[Chart-topper|chart topper]]s, with the songs "[[Clair (song)|Clair]]" (1972) and "Get Down" (1973), which reached No.2 and No. 7 respectively in [[United States|America]]. However, things later turned sour, as O'Sullivan discovered his recording contract with [[MAM Records]] greatly favoured the label's owner. A [[Lawsuit|litigation]] followed, with prolonged argument over how much money his songs had earned and how much of that money he had actually received. Eventually the court found in O'Sullivan's favour, awarding him seven million pounds sterling in damages. He had won, but the court battle had put his recording career on hold.
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/318 318]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/318
}}</ref><ref name="Harrison">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/14990864.Singing_star___s_far_from_Alone_Again/|title=Gilbert O'Sullivan's far from Alone Again as musicians reunite|last=Harrison|first=Flicky|date=28 December 2016|work=This Is Wiltshire|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Davies, who later founded [[Supertramp]], taught O'Sullivan how to play both drums and piano.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Melhuish|first=Martin|title=The Supertramp Book|place=Toronto, Canada|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=1986|isbn=0-9691272-2-7|page=18}}</ref> O'Sullivan's drumming informed his style of piano-playing, which often utilises a distinct, percussive piano pattern. O'Sullivan has explained, "My left hand is hitting the high hat and the right hand is the snare."<ref name="Sodajerker" /> He started writing songs, heavily influenced by [[the Beatles]] as writers and [[Bob Dylan]] as a performer.<ref name="official biog"/>


==Career==
Sometime before the case had come to court, he had returned to his old [[record label]], CBS, after a five-year [[record chart|chart]] absence in 1980, with a new contract. The first single of the new contract - "What's In A Kiss" - reached No. 19 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref>[http://www.gilbertosullivan.com www.gilbertosullivan.com]</ref> But then the hits completely dried up, and due in part to the court case, O'Sullivan released no new material between 1982 and 1987. Apart from a minor hit single in 1990 and a [[compilation album]] in 1991, O'Sullivan was absent from the [[record chart|charts]], until another compilation album returned him to the Top 20 in 2004. He is also noted for bringing about the practice of clearing samples in hip-hop music as a result of the 1991 case, [[Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc.]],<ref>''[[Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc.]]'', [[Case citation|780 F. Supp. 182]] ([[S.D.N.Y.]] 1991)</ref> in which he sued rapper [[Biz Markie]] over the rights to use a sample of O'Sullivan's song "Alone Again (Naturally)"
[[File:GilbertOSullivan1971.jpg|thumb|200px|right|O'Sullivan sporting his 'Depression-era street urchin'<ref name="Biography by Jason Ankeny">{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p110770/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Jason Ankeny |publisher=Allmusic.com |access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> look in 1971]]
In 1967, O'Sullivan moved from Swindon to [[London]] in pursuit of a career in music. Determined to get a record deal and looking to stand out, he created an eye-catching visual image consisting of a [[bowl cut]], cloth cap and short trousers. O'Sullivan has said his love of [[silent film]] inspired the look.<ref>{{cite news |title=Still singing, naturally |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/still-singing-naturally-1.292528 |access-date=2020-08-27 |date=2001-03-20}}</ref> He scored a five-year contract with April Music, [[CBS Records International|CBS Records']] house publishing company, after coming to the attention of the professional manager Stephen Shane,<ref>'In 1967 ... [h]e took a part-time Christmas job at the C&A Department store on Oxford Street. While there, a colleague brought his tapes to the attention of the CBS record company executives. They liked what they heard and he was signed up.' ''Ireland's Own'', 12 June 2015, No. 5501, pg 9</ref> who also suggested changing his name from Ray to Gilbert as a play on the name of the light opera partnership [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]. He was paid an advance of £12 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK|12|1967|r=-2}}}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}), with which he bought a piano. He was signed to CBS Records by the [[A&R]] manager Mike Smith, who produced [[the Tremeloes]], [[the Marmalade]] and [[Love Affair (band)|the Love Affair]].


His first single was "Disappear", produced by Mike Smith and released in November 1967 credited to the mononym "Gilbert". It failed to chart, as did his second single "What Can I Do", released in April 1968. A switch to the Irish record label [[Major Minor Records|Major Minor]] in 1969 yielded a third single "Mr. Moody's Garden", which was again unsuccessful. O'Sullivan then sent some demo tapes to [[Gordon Mills]], the manager of [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] and [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]], whereupon O'Sullivan was signed to Mills' newly founded label, MAM Records. Mills reportedly hated O'Sullivan's self-created image, but O'Sullivan insisted on using it initially.<ref name="Record Mirror">{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Peter |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan |journal=Record Mirror |date=20 March 1974 |page=14 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/74/Record-Mirror-1974-04-20.pdf |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref> O'Sullivan's unique signature look garnered much attention and often saw him compared to the [[Bisto|Bisto Kids]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Roisin |title=Himself Again Naturally |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/himself-again-naturally-1.1211786 |access-date=2018-03-29 |date=2007-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan |url=http://www.salvo-music.co.uk/artists/artistmaintop.asp?MArID=328 |website=Salvo |access-date=2018-03-29 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131032247/http://www.salvo-music.co.uk/artists/artistmaintop.asp?MArID=328 |url-status=dead }}</ref> O'Sullivan explained his thinking behind his appearance in a 1971 interview: "My mother probably doesn't like [[Neil Young]] because she hates the way he looks, his hair and everything. If you can get them interested in the way you look then they tend to like the music. The thing which I'm trying to create is of the thirties; [[Buster Keaton|Keaton]] and [[Charlie Chaplin|Chaplin]]."<ref name="The Working Class Hero">{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Michael |title=The Working Class Hero |url=http://gilbertosullivan.net/in_print/melody_maker_01.htm |website=Gilbert O'Sullivan |access-date=2020-08-24}}</ref>
However, O'Sullivan continues to record and perform to the present day, and enjoys some success in [[Japan]]. His latest album (''A Scruff At Heart'') was released in 2007.


===Early success===
On 14 July 2008 O'Sullivan released the new single [[Never Say Di]].
At the end of 1970, O'Sullivan achieved his first UK [[Top 40|top 10]] hit with "[[Nothing Rhymed]]",<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> which also reached [[chart-topper|number one]] in the [[Netherlands]],<ref name="Top40/">{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/top40/1971/week-08|title=Top40 Chart|website=Top40.nl|access-date=27 October 2017}}</ref> where it earned O'Sullivan his first [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> Over 1971, O'Sullivan scored hits with "Underneath The Blanket Go" (which also reached number one in the Netherlands), "[[We Will (song)|We Will]]" and "No Matter How I Try", the latter being named "Best Ballad or Romantic Song" at the 17th Ivor Novello Awards in 1972.<ref>{{cite web |title=1972 |url=http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1972/ |website=The Ivors |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416205255/http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1972/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> O'Sullivan released his debut album, ''[[Himself (Gilbert O'Sullivan album)|Himself]]'', in August 1971.<ref name="AMG"/> It received a warm critical reception, with O'Sullivan's observational and conversational style of songwriting garnering comparisons to [[Paul McCartney]] and [[Randy Newman]].<ref name="The Working Class Hero" /><ref name="NME - Gilbert O'Sullivan">{{cite web |last1=Norman |first1=Tony |title=NME - Gilbert O'Sullivan |url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/in_print/new_musical_01.htm |website=Gilbert O'Sullivan |access-date=24 August 2020}}</ref> O'Sullivan opted not to tour in promotion of the album, but did however make a number of appearances on British television during 1971, most notably recording an edition of ''[[BBC]] In Concert'' broadcast 18 December 1971.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan In Concert |url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0425a555586d4f04b57fb7ae4c86fbdb |website=BBC Genome |date=18 December 1971 |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref>


[[File:GilbertOSullivan1972.jpg|thumb|200px|left|O'Sullivan in 1972]]In 1972 O'Sullivan achieved major international fame with "[[Alone Again (Naturally)]]", a [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] which touches on [[suicide]] and loss. The single peaked at no. 3 in the UK but in America spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100]], selling nearly two million copies. It peaked at no. 2 in New Zealand (during an 11-week chart run) and spent two weeks at number one in Canada (13 weeks in the Top 40);<ref name="Webfitz">[http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/Charts/1972]{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref> and reached number one in Japan (during a 21-week chart run). In America the single ranked no. 2 (behind [[Roberta Flack]]'s "[[The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face]]") in [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972|''Billboard''{{'}}s year-end chart]], based on both sales and airplay. In 1973 both titles were [[Grammy Award|Grammy-nominated]] for both [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]], with Flack winning in both categories. This international success coincided with a new image, with O'Sullivan discarding the appearance he had used since 1967. He unveiled a more modern 'college-like' look in which he often wore a [[sweater]] bearing a large letter 'G'.<ref name="AMG"/> This was a deliberate attempt to prevent "[making] an impact like [[Tiny Tim (musician)|Tiny Tim]]" in the US that "would have taken years to shake off," and the subsequent American edition of ''Himself'', which included "Alone Again (Naturally)", featured an updated image of O'Sullivan on the album artwork.<ref name="Gambaccini">{{cite magazine |last1=Gambaccini |first1=Paul |title=Gilbert O: He Knows He's a Mechanical Man |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2 August 1973 |url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/images/InPrint/in_print_rolling_stone_02.jpg |access-date=4 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315103602/http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/images/InPrint/in_print_rolling_stone_02.jpg |archive-date=15 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> O'Sullivan followed up on the success of "Alone Again (Naturally)" with "[[Clair (song)|Clair]]", which reached no. 2 in the United States on the Hot 100 and no. 1 in the UK, Norway, France, Belgium, Ireland and Canada (14 weeks in the Canadian Top 40).<ref name="Webfitz"/><ref name="tsort.info">{{cite web |url=https://tsort.info/music/v64raf.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030100220/http://tsort.info/music/v64raf.htm |archive-date=30 October 2007 |title=Song artist 235 - Gilbert O'Sullivan}}</ref> Its parent album (and O'Sullivan's second), ''[[Back to Front (Gilbert O'Sullivan album)|Back to Front]]'', spawned a further hit with "[[Out of the Question (Gilbert O'Sullivan song)|Out of the Question]]", which reached no. 17 in the US and no. 14 in Canada.<ref name="Webfitz"/>
==Discography==

O'Sullivan's [[gramophone record|disc]] sales exceeded ten million in 1972 and made him the top star of the year.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> O'Sullivan's success led to his taking part in the [[BBC]]'s anniversary programme ''Fifty Years of Music'' in November 1972. O'Sullivan was ranked by ''[[Record Mirror]]'' as the number one male singer of 1972,<ref>{{cite web |title=Flashback 1972: Gilbert O'Sullivan mobbed on Irish return |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/flashback-1972-gilbert-osullivan-mobbed-on-irish-return-34148933.html|website=Independent.ie |access-date=2 May 2018 |date=1 November 2005}}</ref> and in May 1973, he won an [[Ivor Novello]] award for "British Songwriter of the Year."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ivors 1973 |url=http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1973/ |website=The Ivors |access-date=2 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807135120/http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1973/ |archive-date=7 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

1973 saw the release of O'Sullivan's third album, ''[[I'm a Writer, Not a Fighter]]'', which reflected a new emphasis on [[rock music]] and [[funk]] influences. Its lead single, the [[electric keyboard]]-based "[[Get Down (Gilbert O'Sullivan song)|Get Down]]", reached number one in the UK, Belgium and Germany,<ref name="tsort.info"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chartsurfer.de/artist/gilbert-o-sullivan/get-down-song_vrgg.html |title=Get Down von Gilbert O'Sullivan |last=Chartsurfer.de |website=Chartsurfer.de |access-date=27 October 2017}}</ref> no. 7 in both the US and Canada, and no. 3 in the Netherlands.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="Webfitz"/> Following "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Clair", "Get Down" was O'Sullivan's third million-seller, with the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] gold disc award presented on 18 September 1973.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/>

O'Sullivan enjoyed nearly five years of success with MAM, a run that included seven UK top 10 singles and four UK top 10 albums; three US top 10 singles and one top 10 album; five Dutch top 10 singles and three top 10 albums; five New Zealand top 10 singles; three Canadian top 10 singles; and seven Japan top 10 singles.<ref name="Gilbert">{{cite web |url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.com |title=The Official Gilbert O'Sullivan Website – A Friend of Mine |publisher=Gilbertosullivan.com |access-date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050811074659/http://www.gilbertosullivan.com/ |archive-date=11 August 2005 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> By 1974, his sales were decreasing.<ref name="AMG"/> His fourth album ''[[A Stranger In My Own Back Yard]]'', was his first to miss the top five on the [[UK Albums Chart]], charting at no. 9. Its lead single, "A Woman's Place", generated controversy due to its lyric ("I believe / A woman's place is in the home"), seen by some as [[sexism|sexist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/08/i-never-lost-the-joy-singer-gilbert-osullivan-on-love-loss-and-lawsuits|title='I never lost the joy!': singer Gilbert O'Sullivan on love, loss and lawsuits|date=8 June 2022|website=the Guardian}}</ref> It was O'Sullivan's first single since his 1970 breakthrough to miss the top 40 of the [[UK Singles Chart]], reaching a peak of no. 42.<ref name="Official Charts - Gilbert O'Sullivan">{{cite web |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17499/gilbert-osullivan/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=25 August 2020}}</ref> His November 1974 single "Christmas Song" reached no. 12 in the UK and no. 5 in Ireland. In June 1975, O'Sullivan had his last top 20 hit, "I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You".<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="AMG"/>

O'Sullivan released a fifth album with MAM in 1977, ''[[Southpaw (album)|Southpaw]]'', but it failed to chart. O'Sullivan discovered his recording contract with MAM Records greatly favoured the label's owner, Gordon Mills. A lawsuit followed, with a prolonged argument over how much money his songs had earned and how much of that money he had actually received.<ref name="500 Number One Hits">{{cite book
| first= Jo
| last= Rice
| year= 1982
| title= The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Guinness Superlatives Ltd
| location= Enfield, Middlesex
| page= 149
| isbn= 0-85112-250-7}}</ref> Eventually, in May 1982, the court found in O'Sullivan's favour, describing him as a "patently honest and decent man", who had not received a just proportion of the vast income his songs had generated.<ref name="500 Number One Hits"/> They awarded him £7&nbsp;million in [[damages]] (£{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK|7000000|1982|r=-2}}}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}). Although he had won, the court battle put his [[sound recording and reproduction|recording]] career on hold,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Adrienne |title=Happy Birthday Gilbert O'Sullivan: Revisiting a Classic Interview |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/happy-birthday-gilbert-osullivan-revisiting-a-classic-interview-22834706 |website=Hot Press |access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref> and he said he was unable to obtain management or a major record label deal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=John |title='The equal of any songwriter' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f81509fc-6d73-11dc-ab19-0000779fd2ac |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=Financial Times |date=28 September 2007}}</ref>

===Later career===
In 1980, after a five-year hiatus, he returned to his old record label, CBS.

The first single, "What's in a Kiss?", reached No. 19 in the UK in 1980 and No. 21 in Japan.<ref name="Gilbert"/> It was his first UK top 20 hit in five years. Following the release of his subsequent 1980 and 1982 albums, ''[[Off Centre (album)|Off Centre]]'' and ''[[Life & Rhymes]]'', and due in part to the then-ongoing MAM court case, O'Sullivan released no new material between 1983 and 1986.<ref name="AMG"/> Apart from the single "So What?" in 1990 and a [[compilation album]] in 1991, ''Nothing But the Best'', O'Sullivan was absent from the charts until another compilation album, ''The Berry Vest of Gilbert O'Sullivan'', returned him to the UK top 20 in 2004.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>

O'Sullivan is also noted for his role in bringing about the practice of clearing samples in [[hip hop music]] as a result of the 1991 court case [[Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc.]],<ref>''[[Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc.]]'', [[Case citation|780 F. Supp. 182]] ([[S.D.N.Y.]] 1991)</ref> in which he sued [[rapping|rapper]] [[Biz Markie]] over the rights to use a [[sampling (music)|sample]] of his song "Alone Again (Naturally)".<ref name="AMG"/> He won 100% of the royalties and made sampling an expensive undertaking.<ref name="Grauiad-1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/aug/25/gilbert-o-sullivan-reappraisal|title=Gilbert O'Sullivan: time for a reappraisal?|last=Stanley|first=Bob|date=25 August 2011|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>

O'Sullivan has continued to record and perform into the 21st century. He enjoys [[Big in Japan (phrase)|particular acclaim in Japan]].<ref name="AMG"/> His album ''A Scruff at Heart'' was released in 2007, featuring "Just So You Know". On 14 July 2008, O'Sullivan released "Never Say Di". He appeared at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2008|2008 Glastonbury Festival]] and played London's [[Royal Albert Hall]] on 26 October 2009. On 26 August 2010, O'Sullivan announced that he had joined Hypertension, a record company whose artists have included [[Leo Sayer]], [[Chris DeBurgh]], [[Fleetwood Mac]] and [[Gerry Rafferty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hypertension-music.de/?page_id=3 |title=Hypertension " Artists |publisher=Hypertension-music.de |access-date=2015-08-26}}</ref>

His album ''Gilbertville'' was released on 31 January 2011; it featured "All They Wanted to Say", which dealt with the 2001 [[September 11 attacks|attacks on the World Trade Center]], and his single "Where Would We Be (Without Tea)?". On 19 July 2011, O'Sullivan played live on the [[BBC Radio 2]] [[Ken Bruce]] Show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012hkht |title=BBC Radio 2 – Ken Bruce, 19/07/2011 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=19 July 2011 |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref> On 26 August that year, the documentary ''Out on His Own'' was broadcast by BBC 4 (before by Irish [[RTÉ]]). In March 2012, the compilation album ''Gilbert O'Sullivan: The Very Best Of – A Singer & His Songs'' entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 12.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17499/gilbert-osullivan/ |title=GILBERT O'SULLIVAN |date=28 November 1970 |website=Official Charts |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref> 2015 saw O'Sullivan re-emerge on Irish and BBC radio and television. He toured Ireland beginning of June and on 8 June 2015 his album ''Latin à la G!'' was released.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/latin-%C3%A0-la-g-mw0002846791 |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan - Latin à la G Album Reviews, Songs & More |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref>

On 24 August 2018, O'Sullivan released his 19th studio album, ''Gilbert O'Sullivan''. The album entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at No. 20, his first UK charting studio album in over 40 years.<ref name="auto"/>

On 22 July 2022, O'Sullivan released his 20th studio album, ''Driven'', produced by Andy Wright. The album peaked in the UK Albums Chart at No. 26.<ref name="auto"/>

In December 2023, councillors of [[Waterford City and County Council]] agreed to award O'Sullivan the Freedom of the City & County.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Norris |first1=Jordan |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan to be awarded the Freedom of Waterford City & County |url=https://www.wlrfm.com/news/gilbert-osullivan-freedom-338974 |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=WLR, Waterford |date=14 December 2023}}</ref> He received the honour in person on 27 March 2024.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/0327/1440216-gilbert-osullivan-on-freedom-of-waterford-honour/ 'Gilbert O'Sullivan awarded Freedom of Waterford honour - "It's special because I'm a local boy"']. RTÉ News, 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024</ref>

==Personal life==
O'Sullivan purposely avoided dating at the peak of his career; he feared that doing so would inhibit his songwriting abilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/in_print/rolling_stone_02.htm |title=Gilbert O'Sullivan &#124; In Print |website=Gilbertosullivan.net |date=1973-08-02 |access-date=8 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306022106/http://www.gilbertosullivan.net/in_print/rolling_stone_02.htm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 1980, O'Sullivan married his [[Norwegians|Norwegian]] girlfriend Aase Brekke. Later that year, the first of their two daughters, Helen-Marie, was born. Tara was born two years later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sundayworld.com/showbiz/irish-showbiz/gilbert-osullivan-admits-his-pudding-bowl-haircut-didnt-impress-the-ladies/40558733.html |title=GILLER LOOK - Gilbert O'Sullivan admits his pudding bowl haircut didn't impress the ladies |first=Eddie |last=Rowley |publisher=[[Sunday World]] |website=sundayworld.com |date=21 Jun 2021 |access-date=25 October 2023 }}</ref>

He currently lives in [[Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/gilbert-osullivan-success-was-the-postman-walking-up-the-garden/|title=Gilbert O'Sullivan: 'Success was the postman walking up the garden whistling my song'|first=Caroline|last=Rees|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=14 August 2016|access-date=28 December 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

==Album discography==
{{Main|Gilbert O'Sullivan discography}}
{{Main|Gilbert O'Sullivan discography}}
{{div col}}
* ''[[Himself (Gilbert O'Sullivan album)|Himself]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Back to Front (Gilbert O'Sullivan album)|Back To Front]]'' (1972)
* ''[[I'm a Writer, Not a Fighter]]'' (1973)
* ''[[A Stranger in My Own Back Yard]]'' (1974)
* [[Southpaw (album)|''Southpaw'']] (1977)
* ''[[Off Centre (album)|Off Centre]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Life & Rhymes]]'' (1982)
* ''[[In the Key of G]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Sounds of the Loop]]'' (1991)
* ''By Larry'' (1994)
* ''Every Song Has Its Play'' (1995)
* ''Singer Sowing Machine'' (1997)
* ''Irlish'' (2001)
* ''Piano Foreplay'' (2003)
* ''A Scruff At Heart'' (2007)
* ''Gilbertville'' (2011)
* ''Latin à la G!'' (2015)
* ''Gilbert O'Sullivan'' (2018)
* ''Driven'' (2022)
* ''Songbook'' (2024)
{{div col end}}


==See also==
==Contemporary usage of his songs==
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart]]
*Two of O'Sullivan's more famous songs, "[[Get Down]]" and "Alone Again (Naturally)", were used in the closing and opening credits (respectively) of the [[anime]] ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]''. Because the songs were used without authorisation it caused a minor uproar and only episode 24 featured them, after which the previous songs replaced them. Because of [[copyright]] reasons they have not been included with any home video releases outside of [[Japan]]. Get Down was also used in the [[ABC]] TV series, [[Life on Mars]].
*[[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* "[[Nothing Rhymed]]" was used at the start of the second series finale of ''[[Consolevania]]'', played over an archive new reel [[montage]] of an [[alternate history]] of the 20th century. The same song was a top hit in Italy in 1971, performed by the local group "I Profeti" with the title translated into "Era bella" ("She was beautiful").
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart]]
*[[List of performers on Top of the Pops]]


==References==
==References==
* [[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles]] - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
* Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
* The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
* The Book of Golden Discs - 2nd Edition - ISBN 0-214-20512-6

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.gilbertosullivan.com/ Official Gilbert O'Sullivan Page]
*[http://homepage.eircom.net/~gilbertosullivan/magazines/magazines.htm Gilbert O'Sullivan on magazine covers]
* [http://www.gilbertosullivan.co.uk/ Official Gilbert O'Sullivan page]
* {{IMDb name|1067821}}
*[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0kq8g44btv5z Biography at AMG website]
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p110770|pure_url=yes}} Biography at Allmusic]


{{Authority control}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Gilbert O'Sullivan}}


{{Persondata
|NAME= O'Sullivan, Gilbert
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= O'Sullivan, Raymond Edward
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[Singer-songwriter]]
|DATE OF BIRTH= 1946-12-1
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Waterford]], [[County Waterford]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Osullivan, Gilbert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Osullivan, Gilbert}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Irish male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish composers]]
[[Category:Irish pianists]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish composers]]
[[Category:Irish singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish pianists]]
[[Category:Irish songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish pianists]]
[[Category:Irish pop singers]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from County Waterford]]
[[Category:British soft rock musicians]]
[[Category:British pop pianists]]

[[Category:British male pianists]]
[[de:Gilbert O’Sullivan]]
[[Category:British male singer-songwriters]]
[[fr:Gilbert O'Sullivan]]
[[Category:British pop singers]]
[[nl:Gilbert O'Sullivan]]
[[Category:Musicians from Waterford (city)]]
[[ja:ギルバート・オサリバン]]
[[Category:CBS Records artists]]
[[fi:Gilbert O'Sullivan]]
[[Category:MAM Records artists]]
[[sv:Gilbert O'Sullivan]]
[[Category:EMI Records artists]]
[[uk:Гілберт О'Салліван]]
[[Category:Victor Records artists]]
[[Category:People from Swindon]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish male singers]]
[[Category:1970s in Irish music]]
[[Category:1980s in Irish music]]
[[Category:1990s in Irish music]]
[[Category:2000s in Irish music]]
[[Category:2010s in Irish music]]
[[Category:2020s in Irish music]]

Latest revision as of 06:02, 22 December 2024

Not to be confused with Gilbert and Sullivan.

Gilbert O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan on TopPop in 1974
O'Sullivan on TopPop in 1974
Background information
Birth nameRaymond Edward O'Sullivan
Born (1946-12-01) 1 December 1946 (age 78)
Waterford, Ireland
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
DiscographyGilbert O'Sullivan discography
Years active1967–present
LabelsCurrent
Union Square (2007–2010; 2013–present)
Former
MAM (1967–1978)
CBS (1978–1986)
Ultraphone (1986–1988)
Dover (1989–1990)
Park Records (1991–2000)
EMI (2000–2007)
Victor (2007)
Hypertension (2011–2013)
Websitewww.gilbertosullivan.co.uk

Raymond Edward "Gilbert" O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s with hits including "Alone Again (Naturally)", "Clair" and "Get Down".[1] His songs are often marked by his distinctive, percussive piano playing style[2] and observational lyrics using word play.[3]

Born in Waterford, Ireland, O'Sullivan settled in Swindon, England, as a child. In 1967, he began pursuing a career in music. Worldwide, he has charted 16 top 40 records including six No. 1 songs, the first of which was 1970's "Nothing Rhymed". Across his career, he has recorded 19 studio albums. The music magazine Record Mirror voted O'Sullivan the top UK male singer of 1972.[4] He has received three Ivor Novello Awards, including "Songwriter of the Year" in 1973.[5]

Early life

[edit]

O'Sullivan was born on 1 December 1946 in Cork Road, Waterford, Ireland.[6] He was one of six children. His mother May ran a sweet shop and his father was a butcher with Clover Meats.[7][8][9] The O'Sullivans emigrated due to a job offer in England.[10] The family first moved to Battersea, London when O'Sullivan was seven, before settling in Swindon, Wiltshire a year later. He began playing piano there, later explaining: "I come from a working-class background, but we always had a piano, the thinking of my parents was that if one of your kids could play it, you could make some money at it."[3] A period of going to piano lessons was short-lived, as O'Sullivan was not enamoured of music theory and played the pieces by ear instead.[2] O'Sullivan's father died two years after the move to Swindon.[9] O'Sullivan did not mourn his death, later stating, "the fact of the matter is, I didn't know my father very well, and he wasn't a good father anyway."[11]

O'Sullivan attended St Joseph's Catholic College before studying at Swindon College, specialising in graphic design. There, he played with several semi-professional bands including the Doodles and the Prefects, and was most notably a drummer in a band called Rick's Blues, along with Malcolm Mabbett (guitar), Keith Ray (bass) and founder Rick Davies.[12][13] Davies, who later founded Supertramp, taught O'Sullivan how to play both drums and piano.[14] O'Sullivan's drumming informed his style of piano-playing, which often utilises a distinct, percussive piano pattern. O'Sullivan has explained, "My left hand is hitting the high hat and the right hand is the snare."[2] He started writing songs, heavily influenced by the Beatles as writers and Bob Dylan as a performer.[5]

Career

[edit]
O'Sullivan sporting his 'Depression-era street urchin'[15] look in 1971

In 1967, O'Sullivan moved from Swindon to London in pursuit of a career in music. Determined to get a record deal and looking to stand out, he created an eye-catching visual image consisting of a bowl cut, cloth cap and short trousers. O'Sullivan has said his love of silent film inspired the look.[16] He scored a five-year contract with April Music, CBS Records' house publishing company, after coming to the attention of the professional manager Stephen Shane,[17] who also suggested changing his name from Ray to Gilbert as a play on the name of the light opera partnership Gilbert and Sullivan. He was paid an advance of £12 (equivalent to £300 as of 2024), with which he bought a piano. He was signed to CBS Records by the A&R manager Mike Smith, who produced the Tremeloes, the Marmalade and the Love Affair.

His first single was "Disappear", produced by Mike Smith and released in November 1967 credited to the mononym "Gilbert". It failed to chart, as did his second single "What Can I Do", released in April 1968. A switch to the Irish record label Major Minor in 1969 yielded a third single "Mr. Moody's Garden", which was again unsuccessful. O'Sullivan then sent some demo tapes to Gordon Mills, the manager of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, whereupon O'Sullivan was signed to Mills' newly founded label, MAM Records. Mills reportedly hated O'Sullivan's self-created image, but O'Sullivan insisted on using it initially.[18] O'Sullivan's unique signature look garnered much attention and often saw him compared to the Bisto Kids.[19][20] O'Sullivan explained his thinking behind his appearance in a 1971 interview: "My mother probably doesn't like Neil Young because she hates the way he looks, his hair and everything. If you can get them interested in the way you look then they tend to like the music. The thing which I'm trying to create is of the thirties; Keaton and Chaplin."[21]

Early success

[edit]

At the end of 1970, O'Sullivan achieved his first UK top 10 hit with "Nothing Rhymed",[4] which also reached number one in the Netherlands,[22] where it earned O'Sullivan his first gold disc.[12] Over 1971, O'Sullivan scored hits with "Underneath The Blanket Go" (which also reached number one in the Netherlands), "We Will" and "No Matter How I Try", the latter being named "Best Ballad or Romantic Song" at the 17th Ivor Novello Awards in 1972.[23] O'Sullivan released his debut album, Himself, in August 1971.[6] It received a warm critical reception, with O'Sullivan's observational and conversational style of songwriting garnering comparisons to Paul McCartney and Randy Newman.[21][24] O'Sullivan opted not to tour in promotion of the album, but did however make a number of appearances on British television during 1971, most notably recording an edition of BBC In Concert broadcast 18 December 1971.[25]

O'Sullivan in 1972

In 1972 O'Sullivan achieved major international fame with "Alone Again (Naturally)", a ballad which touches on suicide and loss. The single peaked at no. 3 in the UK but in America spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100, selling nearly two million copies. It peaked at no. 2 in New Zealand (during an 11-week chart run) and spent two weeks at number one in Canada (13 weeks in the Top 40);[26] and reached number one in Japan (during a 21-week chart run). In America the single ranked no. 2 (behind Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face") in Billboard's year-end chart, based on both sales and airplay. In 1973 both titles were Grammy-nominated for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year, with Flack winning in both categories. This international success coincided with a new image, with O'Sullivan discarding the appearance he had used since 1967. He unveiled a more modern 'college-like' look in which he often wore a sweater bearing a large letter 'G'.[6] This was a deliberate attempt to prevent "[making] an impact like Tiny Tim" in the US that "would have taken years to shake off," and the subsequent American edition of Himself, which included "Alone Again (Naturally)", featured an updated image of O'Sullivan on the album artwork.[27] O'Sullivan followed up on the success of "Alone Again (Naturally)" with "Clair", which reached no. 2 in the United States on the Hot 100 and no. 1 in the UK, Norway, France, Belgium, Ireland and Canada (14 weeks in the Canadian Top 40).[26][28] Its parent album (and O'Sullivan's second), Back to Front, spawned a further hit with "Out of the Question", which reached no. 17 in the US and no. 14 in Canada.[26]

O'Sullivan's disc sales exceeded ten million in 1972 and made him the top star of the year.[12] O'Sullivan's success led to his taking part in the BBC's anniversary programme Fifty Years of Music in November 1972. O'Sullivan was ranked by Record Mirror as the number one male singer of 1972,[29] and in May 1973, he won an Ivor Novello award for "British Songwriter of the Year."[30]

1973 saw the release of O'Sullivan's third album, I'm a Writer, Not a Fighter, which reflected a new emphasis on rock music and funk influences. Its lead single, the electric keyboard-based "Get Down", reached number one in the UK, Belgium and Germany,[28][31] no. 7 in both the US and Canada, and no. 3 in the Netherlands.[4][26] Following "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Clair", "Get Down" was O'Sullivan's third million-seller, with the RIAA gold disc award presented on 18 September 1973.[12]

O'Sullivan enjoyed nearly five years of success with MAM, a run that included seven UK top 10 singles and four UK top 10 albums; three US top 10 singles and one top 10 album; five Dutch top 10 singles and three top 10 albums; five New Zealand top 10 singles; three Canadian top 10 singles; and seven Japan top 10 singles.[32] By 1974, his sales were decreasing.[6] His fourth album A Stranger In My Own Back Yard, was his first to miss the top five on the UK Albums Chart, charting at no. 9. Its lead single, "A Woman's Place", generated controversy due to its lyric ("I believe / A woman's place is in the home"), seen by some as sexist.[33] It was O'Sullivan's first single since his 1970 breakthrough to miss the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, reaching a peak of no. 42.[34] His November 1974 single "Christmas Song" reached no. 12 in the UK and no. 5 in Ireland. In June 1975, O'Sullivan had his last top 20 hit, "I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You".[4][6]

O'Sullivan released a fifth album with MAM in 1977, Southpaw, but it failed to chart. O'Sullivan discovered his recording contract with MAM Records greatly favoured the label's owner, Gordon Mills. A lawsuit followed, with a prolonged argument over how much money his songs had earned and how much of that money he had actually received.[35] Eventually, in May 1982, the court found in O'Sullivan's favour, describing him as a "patently honest and decent man", who had not received a just proportion of the vast income his songs had generated.[35] They awarded him £7 million in damages (£31,203,400 as of 2024). Although he had won, the court battle put his recording career on hold,[36] and he said he was unable to obtain management or a major record label deal.[37]

Later career

[edit]

In 1980, after a five-year hiatus, he returned to his old record label, CBS.

The first single, "What's in a Kiss?", reached No. 19 in the UK in 1980 and No. 21 in Japan.[32] It was his first UK top 20 hit in five years. Following the release of his subsequent 1980 and 1982 albums, Off Centre and Life & Rhymes, and due in part to the then-ongoing MAM court case, O'Sullivan released no new material between 1983 and 1986.[6] Apart from the single "So What?" in 1990 and a compilation album in 1991, Nothing But the Best, O'Sullivan was absent from the charts until another compilation album, The Berry Vest of Gilbert O'Sullivan, returned him to the UK top 20 in 2004.[4]

O'Sullivan is also noted for his role in bringing about the practice of clearing samples in hip hop music as a result of the 1991 court case Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc.,[38] in which he sued rapper Biz Markie over the rights to use a sample of his song "Alone Again (Naturally)".[6] He won 100% of the royalties and made sampling an expensive undertaking.[39]

O'Sullivan has continued to record and perform into the 21st century. He enjoys particular acclaim in Japan.[6] His album A Scruff at Heart was released in 2007, featuring "Just So You Know". On 14 July 2008, O'Sullivan released "Never Say Di". He appeared at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival and played London's Royal Albert Hall on 26 October 2009. On 26 August 2010, O'Sullivan announced that he had joined Hypertension, a record company whose artists have included Leo Sayer, Chris DeBurgh, Fleetwood Mac and Gerry Rafferty.[40]

His album Gilbertville was released on 31 January 2011; it featured "All They Wanted to Say", which dealt with the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and his single "Where Would We Be (Without Tea)?". On 19 July 2011, O'Sullivan played live on the BBC Radio 2 Ken Bruce Show.[41] On 26 August that year, the documentary Out on His Own was broadcast by BBC 4 (before by Irish RTÉ). In March 2012, the compilation album Gilbert O'Sullivan: The Very Best Of – A Singer & His Songs entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 12.[42] 2015 saw O'Sullivan re-emerge on Irish and BBC radio and television. He toured Ireland beginning of June and on 8 June 2015 his album Latin à la G! was released.[43]

On 24 August 2018, O'Sullivan released his 19th studio album, Gilbert O'Sullivan. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 20, his first UK charting studio album in over 40 years.[42]

On 22 July 2022, O'Sullivan released his 20th studio album, Driven, produced by Andy Wright. The album peaked in the UK Albums Chart at No. 26.[42]

In December 2023, councillors of Waterford City and County Council agreed to award O'Sullivan the Freedom of the City & County.[44] He received the honour in person on 27 March 2024.[45]

Personal life

[edit]

O'Sullivan purposely avoided dating at the peak of his career; he feared that doing so would inhibit his songwriting abilities.[46] In January 1980, O'Sullivan married his Norwegian girlfriend Aase Brekke. Later that year, the first of their two daughters, Helen-Marie, was born. Tara was born two years later.[47]

He currently lives in Jersey.[48]

Album discography

[edit]
Main article: Gilbert O'Sullivan discography

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gilbert O'Sullivan Articles". Gilbertosullivan.net. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Episode 72 - Gilbert O'Sullivan". Sodajerker. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b Hutchinson, Martin (26 March 2012). "Interview: Gilbert O Sullivan". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 411. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ a b "Biography". Gilbert O'Sullivan. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Biography by Jason Ankeny". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  7. ^ "Home again, naturally!". Ireland's Own. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2020. There were six children in my family, and at that time it was common for many homes in the UK to have a piano. The thinking behind it was that if one of the children became good at it they could go on to earn a few bob playing in the pubs, though I never went down that route.
  8. ^ Ingle, Róisín. "The strange case of Gilbert O'Sullivan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Guide to Swindon - Gilbert O'Sullivan". SwindonWeb. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  10. ^ Richard, Fitzpatrick (29 May 2015). "Gilbert O'Sullivan is proud of his Irish roots". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. ^ ""Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan".
  12. ^ a b c d Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 318. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  13. ^ Harrison, Flicky (28 December 2016). "Gilbert O'Sullivan's far from Alone Again as musicians reunite". This Is Wiltshire. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  14. ^ Melhuish, Martin (1986). The Supertramp Book. Toronto, Canada: Omnibus Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-9691272-2-7.
  15. ^ "Biography by Jason Ankeny". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Still singing, naturally". 20 March 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  17. ^ 'In 1967 ... [h]e took a part-time Christmas job at the C&A Department store on Oxford Street. While there, a colleague brought his tapes to the attention of the CBS record company executives. They liked what they heard and he was signed up.' Ireland's Own, 12 June 2015, No. 5501, pg 9
  18. ^ Jones, Peter (20 March 1974). "Gilbert O'Sullivan" (PDF). Record Mirror: 14. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  19. ^ Ingle, Roisin (23 June 2007). "Himself Again Naturally". Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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