Gilbert O’Sullivan

Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan on 1st December 1946 in Waterford in Ireland. In 1953 he moved with his family to Swindon. “Most of my upbringing was in Swindon,” says Gilbert from his home in Jersey where he has lived for the last eight years Been in Jersey for last 18 years. ” It’s only half an hour flight from London, and it’s healthy place with lovely beaches… and no motorways!” It was while he was at Swindon Art College that he began writing songs and sending out demo tapes, but nothing happened until he moved to London in 1967… “C&A -I worked as a temporary sales man over Xmas at C&A and there was a guy there (Mike Ward) who had a deal with CBS. So I went with him and played some tapes to CBS executives…
That led to Gilbert signing a five year publishing contract with CBS which called for one single a year, the first two not making any impression. And, as is often the case, a certain John Peel came up to the plate and offered him a slot on his Top gear programme. Again, not much happened and while he was seracjing around for a new label he started formulating his ‘Bisto Kid’ image: grey flannel suit, flat cap, school boy tie, football socks and hobnail boots. Eventually signing to Gordon Mills, an ex-pop singer and himself a songwriter of repute, who had successfully guided the careers of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. Gilbert’s next single was Nothing Rhymed, his first Top 10 hit, and for the next four years he released a stream of McCartneyesque hit singles including Claire, Get Down, and Alone Again (Naturally). In all he had ten top 10 singles, and five top 5 albums, a remarkable achievement. Around this time, the singer jettisoned his so-called Bisto Kid look for the American college boy look, his sweaters embossed with the letter G… This was, after all, the early-mid 70s…

But, as is the way with the changing fashions of the industry and the fluctuating creative output of artists, O’Sullivan’s fortunes crashed, and his last top 20 hit came in ’75. He has of course continued to record and tour ever since, retaining a high degree of popularity whilst being prolific. “I love writing says,” say Gilbert. “I just have to do it; I wouldn’t want to sit back and rely on the hits I’ve had…”

In 2010 he released Gilbertville, and then last year he signed a deal with catalogue specialists Union Square Music who will release expanded physical and digital versions of 13 of his original albums along with various compilations and a box set. The compilation A Singer and His Songs – The Very Best Of Gilbert
O’Sullivan has just been released and O’Sulivan is touring the UK including a date at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, where he be joined by an 11-piece band and string quartet. “Making records and touring are part and parcel – they need to go together. It’s very important to get out and to be seen by the people who hopefully like you, and a chance for you to meet those people after shows and stuff. I don’t see the point in releasing records and staying home. Its worth it!”

Gilbert O’Sullivan, Theatre Royal, 1 April