19 November 2022
Newsdesk
Following the recent acclaim of his 20th studio album, Driven, on today BMG release the most extensive careering spanning Gilbert O’Sullivan collection to date and the first in 10 years.
The Best Of is the ultimate celebration of Gilbert O’Sullivan. Curated by Gilbert, the collection covers the star’s illustrious career and includes the monumental hits ‘Alone Again (Naturally), ‘Get Down’, ‘Matrimony’ and many more. It will be available on Digi-sleeve Triple CD and Digital Formats.
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 songwriting 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.
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.
The Best Of collection features 67 career spanning songs, split over three themed CDs.
CD1, Get Down, features 23 lively songs including ‘Get Down’, ‘Matrimony’, ‘So What’, and ‘Take Love’ (feat. KT Tunstall).
CD2, Alone Again, features 22 more melancholy and reflective moments of the master craftsman’s career, including worldwide hit and much covered song ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’, ‘Nothing Rhymed’, ‘Tomorrow Today’, and the recent ‘Let Bygones Be Bygones’ (feat. Mick Hucknall).
CD3, Love… Gilbert, gathers up 21 songs for the heart. Including, ‘What’s In A Kiss?’, ‘Clair’, and ‘Can’t Think Straight (duet with Peggy Lee), and bonus track ‘Christmas Song (I’m Not Dreaming Of A White Christmas)’.
tracklisting:
CD1 – Get Down:
Get Down
Matrimony
No Way
Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day
Too Much Attention
Ohh Baby
You Got Me Going
I Don’t Love You, But I Think I Like You
Stick In The Mud
Thunder And Lightning
Call On Me
Where Did You Go To?
A Friend Of Mine
Doing What I Know
Victor E
Let Me Know
Take Love (feat. KT Tunstall)
Never Say Di
So What
Doesn’t It Make You Sick (Mortar and Brick)
Hablando del Ray de Roma
Say Goodbye
Get Down (Remix)
CD2 Alone Again:
Alone Again (Naturally)
Nothing Rhymed
Out Of The Question
Why Oh Why Oh Why
Miss My Love Today
Lost A Friend
Dear Dream
I Wish I Could Cry
A Minute Of Your Time
I’ll Never Love Again
Houdini Said
Answers On A Postcard (Please)
Break It To Me Gently
What’s It All Supposed To Mean?
All They Wanted To Say
Let Bygones Be Bygones (feat. Mick Hucknall)
Tomorrow Today
Because Of You
You Don’t Have To Tell Me
Parrish
Where Would We Be (Without Tea)
On Door Closes
CD3 Love… Gilbert:
1. What’s In A Kiss?
2. Clair
3. No Matter How I Try
4. Who Was It?
5. We Will
6. That’s Love
7. Can I Go With You
8. I Hope You’ll Stay
9. You Are You
10. Can’t Think Straight (Duet with Peggy Lee)
11. Taking A Chance (On Love)
12. Can’t Get Enough Of You
13. Missing You Already
14. Happiness Is Me And You
15. The Niceness Of It All
16. I Guess I’ll Always Love You
17. That’s The Kind Of Love I Need
18. At The Very Mention Of Your Name
19. Young At Heart (We’ll Always Remain)
20. The Marriage Machine
21. That’s Why I Love You
Bonus Track:
22. Christmas Song (I’m Not Dreaming Of A White Christmas)
The Best Of is available on 3CD / Download / Streaming
