The road again, naturally: Pop master Gilbert O’Sullivan launches rare, much-anticipated US tour.
He was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan in Cork Road, Waterford, Ireland. However, in the late 1960s his manager suggested a name change to play off of pair of witty, irreverent and elegant composers. Thus, “Gilbert O’Sullivan” was born. You know the name and you most certainly know the iconic voice. With Number One singles on both sides of the Atlantic, Gilbert O’Sullivan has accumulated no less than Sixteen Top 40 Hits over the course of his impressive career, including 6 Number Ones. These include: “Alone Again (Naturally),” “Clair,” “Get Down,” “Nothing Rhymed,” “No Matter How I Try,” “Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day” and “Why, Oh Why, Oh Why.” In fact in 1972, O’Sullivan was the biggest-selling solo artist in the world, outselling Elton John and Rod Stewart. His unique voice, combined with a knack for expressive, incisive and beautifully wistful melodies cemented his reputation as an artist for the ages.
After a much-documented record company legal battle (the singer prevailed), O’Sullivan took a several-year recording hiatus but then after that has been steadily honing his craft, releasing music and, on rare occasions, touring. But it’s been decades since he has toured the United States and this spring the well-respected pop craftsman is wending his way across the country with a selected series of intimate solo shows that have already become fiercely hot tickets.
I had the pleasure of speaking with O’Sullivan recently about both then and now.
For a lot of us that came of age in the 1970s, you were one of those voices that spoke to us in seemingly very personal terms. “Alone Again (Naturally)” in particular presented the concept of death, that is, losing one’s parents, in a way that was much deeper than most of what was on AM radio.
Thank you. For me, the most interesting thing about trying to be a good lyricist is having an understanding of the subject without always having had to actually experience that very thing. That is to say, a song can feel autobiographical even when it’s not. It’s just the product of trying to be a good songwriter. Of being a storyteller. Craftsmanship always mattered to me; my biggest influences were great writers.
What sorts of specific influences inspired you?
I always liked the Everly Brothers. The Beatles of course changed everything for everybody. Carole King, Ray Davies; just so many wonderful, literate storytellers who used music to express themselves. I think Bob Dylan was a really big one for me because his voice was very distinctive and very unconventional. That’s the category I always felt that I fell into. I don’t think I have a great voice but I have a unique voice. It fits what I do. So Bob Dylan was always very inspirational on that level. I also was a big fan of the American popular music song writing traditions at places like the Brill Building in New York. I loved that idea of people in a sense “going to work” and writing songs. It was an actual job. That discipline and that hard work and the pressure of sitting there crafting songs that would be popular is something I always dreamed about and aspired to. Just that system of doing things in that manner. And it made for such wonderful music. Just think of the songs that came out of that building.
On your most recent record I was impressed at how your voice still conjures up the magic from the 1970s yet the themes have changed; your songs reflect all you’ve been through in life. It’s a nice balance.
Thank you. I give a lot of credit my producer, Ethan Johns. I mean obviously he has a wonderful pedigree being the son of Glyn Johns. But he is very much his own person, he’s quite accomplished and he really understands me and knew what it took to get the best performances out of me.
Back in 1973 you hosted your own TV special and none other than Elton John appeared and even did an off-the-cuff duet with you.
Yes, he was wonderful, I mean talk about craft and songwriting and distinctive voices! And we did a little rehearsal version of my song “Get Down” and I’m thrilled there is video evidence today.
It’s been such a long time since you toured American. And you’ve yet to play California in your career!
It’s such a strange thing. My manager never rushed me as far as touring. He believed that I should lay low and make good records and wait until the demand was there. But then when I finally did go on the road in 1973 there was a choice: put me out there opening up for the Moody Blues or have me go solo and try to see if I could carry it off as being a headliner. Well he opted for the latter. The first shows were okay. I opened at Carnegie Hall and it was quite successful. But then as we worked our way west, the crowds were getting smaller. I simply wasn’t ready to command my own shows yet. The better option would have been opening for a larger act like that so I could get my feet wet and grow in peoples’ minds. The California shows never happened because they were canceled. The demand simply was not going to be there. So now we have a chance to make up for that.
There seems to be a huge demand to see you on the upcoming run, which has to feel good. What can fans expect?
Well, it’s a very intimate show. It’s just myself and one other person onstage; it’s guitar and piano and so far people really seem to love this presentation of these versions of my songs. The show has a brief intermission but it’s a lot of music and I’m really anxious to bring it to America. The response across Europe is been phenomenal and so I’m very excited. I’m shy and reserved in person. I really do keep to myself. But onstage it’s different for me. That’s where I’m comfortable performing and giving people a show that they will remember. And I promise we will be covering everything.
Thank you, Gilbert, we so look forward to these shows.
You’re quite welcome. I’m very excited myself.
Theater critic Peter Grant of the UK’s Wirral Globe proclaimed in his 5-Star review from October 14, 2019, “Glorious Gilbert at The Floral Pavilion….A joyous journey through the diverse, rich back-catalogue of one one of the world’s most successful singer-songwriters.”
Beginning Sunday, April 12 in Washington DC, O’Sullivan kicks off his 7-city City Winery tour followed by west coast dates at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California and The Mint in Los Angeles. For ticket info visit: http://www.gilbertosullivan.co.uk/tour-dates/
2020 U.S. Tour Dates:
April 12, City Winery, Washington DC
April 13, City Winery, Philadelphia, PA
April 15, City Winery, New York, NY
April 16, City Winery, Boston, MA
April 19, City Winery, Chicago, IL
April 20, City Winery, Nashville, TN
April 22, City Winery, Atlanta, GA
April 24, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
April 26, The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
For more info: http://www.gilbertosullivan.co.uk/
