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Gilbert O'Sullivan wowed audiences young and old this weekend at Glastonbury and following his warm reception we are proud to announce tour dates across the UK for 2009.

Glastonbury was described by Monday's edition of Metro (London)  as, “The festival that's glad to be grey…” where O’Sullivan headlined at the Acoustic tent and closed a great day of music with a fantastic live show.
 
He is now set to perform in October 2009 to dates listed below.

October 2009                            
Sat 24th     York Grand Opera House             
Sun 25th    Birmingham Symphony Hall             
Mon 26th    London Royal Albert Hall             
Wed 28th   Manchester Opera House             

 

You may think that you know all there is to know about Gilbert O’Sullivan. That he was a huge star in the 70’s and that he fought two massively important music industry legal cases. All this, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. Born in Waterford, Ireland raised in England, O’Sullivan signed to CBS Records in 1967 but was to find initial success elusive, although he with the help of people like the late Kenny Everett and John Peel almost made the breakthrough with a song called “Mr. Moody’s Garden”, now considered a G.O’S classic.

However, having teamed up with Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills he reached the top ten in 1970 with ‘Nothing Rhymed’. There followed over ten years a run of success, including fifteen hit singles and five top ten albums. Of all these it was ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’ that struck the greatest chord, spending six weeks at no. 1 in the US. The follow up “Clair” ( UK’s most popular O’Sullivan song) only failing to reach no.1 by Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”.

The 80’s and to some extent the early 90’s brought more time in the courts than it did the recording studio, as O’Sullivan, albeit reluctantly, brought action first against his manager and former record label and then in the States, rapper Biz Markie, who had sampled him without his permission. Both cases were found in the singer’s favour and have since had wide reaching consequences for the record business.

Since then, O’Sullivan has kept his own counsel. He has continued to make music of his own volition, releasing a series of albums including one featuring a duet with a favourite singer of his, the great Peggy Lee plus touring regularly including Japan where in the mid 90’s he achieved a no. 1 single with the song “Tomorrow Today”.

Flying in the face of the fashion for other artists of his era, he has refused to be drawn into the world of nostalgia package tours, reality TV shows and God forbid the world of celebrity.

What better time then for the man himself to return with a new album? Recorded largely in his home studio in Jersey, “A Scruff At Heart” (what he considers himself) is a radical departure from his most recent band albums. This is simply the sound of O’Sullivan, his piano loud with live vocals and his extraordinary songs – bolstered only by the striking inclusion of strings and woodwind (recorded in a church in Surrey). The elegant ease of it all gives the record a timeless quality that belies his roots, although the layered vocals instil the album with a feel that has both classic overtones and is strangely current at the same time. The lyrics too are classic O’Sullivan, as comfortable tackling issues such as war and school bullying as the condition of the human heart coupled with a wry sense of humour.

Gilbert O’Sullivan has had an incredible career, both in and away from the limelight. He has never taken the easy option, never been content to play the media game and sell his artistic integrity for short term game. It’s not been an easy ride but it’s proving to be an approach that is winning out in the long run. Think you know all there is to know about Gilbert O’Sullivan

                
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The Mail 's Liz Thomas says, "It is almost 40 years since he shot to stardom but it seems Gilbert O'Sullivan has barely aged a day"
"The 61 year-old star, who kicked off his European tour... appeared almost unchanged from his seventies heyday.”
“After years in the musical wilderness O'Sullivan is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment."

 

 

Comments about this news item

James Saw gilbert at Glastonbury and he put on a great performance! He has to be one of the best singer/songwriters around yet one of the most underrated. Look forward to seeing him in London at the Royal Albert Hall.

Posted by Anonymous at 20th Jul 2008 17:58   [report abuse]

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