6. August 2022
Gilbert O’Sullivan was once on a par with Elton John, Rod Stewart and Paul McCartney thanks to world hits like “Alone Again (Naturally)”, “Clair” and “Get Down”. With the current album “Driven” O’Sullivan confirms comeback qualities.
The singing, which some critics used to find quacky, has matured gracefully and darkened – what the 75-year-old now lacks in vocal volume, makes up for with charm. And he still effortlessly conjures up songs that are beautiful to kneel down.
One only has to hear “Blue Anchor Bay”, “What Are You Waiting For?” or “You And Me Babe” to immediately be reminded of O’Sullivan’s heyday from 1971 to 1975. The Guardian recently called the loneliness anthem “Alone Again (Naturally)” “one of the darkest number one hits in pop music”.
Melancholy can be felt once more on the new album. But O’Sullivan’s duets “Let Bygones Be Bygones” (with Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall) and “Take Love” (with singer KT Tunstall) also celebrate life and love in upbeat, laid-back pop, country and soul tunes.
“If Only Love Had Ears” with a tender piano-string arrangement and the nostalgic sixties pop piece “Don’t Get Under Each Other’s Skin” at the end are further album highlights.