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The only Gilbert O'Sullivan CD You'll Need

Greg Robertson | Historic Quincy, MA | 04/01/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I will admit upfront that I only knew about 3 Gilbert O'Sullivan songs before I bought this CD -- all from the 1970s. And if you are an American, like me, you probably know the same 3: "Alone Again Naturally," "Claire," and "Get Down." They are all here, along with several songs that were apparently big hits in his native Scotland and other UK territories.



To me, these songs are a bit syrupy, slow, and overdramatic, especially "Alone Again Naturally." Then again, I didn't buy them because I thought they were great music -- I bought them because when I hear them, I am immediately transported to lighter times in my teen years of the 1970s. And, hey, they're not bad songs, either.



In any case, this album has all of that and more at the lowest price I was able to find. His other albums were all over $40, and they don't sell him on iTunes. Note that Amazon lists this as "Currently Unavailable" at the time of this writing. But if you click on Used & New (upper right-hand corner), you'll probably find it. All in all, a good album if you like him, at a decent price."

Irish singer-songwriter from the early 70s

Pieter | Johannesburg | 07/24/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This eccentric Irish singer-songwriter was a regular visitor to the upper reaches of the UK charts in the early 1970s. Three of these songs made the top ten in the USA: the poignant Claire, Alone Again (Naturally) and Get Down. He specialized in the mid-tempo ballad, although Get Down was a real rocker with a catchy hook. Other UK hits on this compilation include Ooh Wakka Doo Wakka Day, No Matter How I Try, We Will, Ooh Baby, Nothing Rhymed and I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You. What's In A Kiss was a solitary stray hit from the late 70s when his time had passed. The music is not profound but charming enough with its often clever lyrics and decent tunes.

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Heartbreaking

P. Schlingemann | The Hague, Holland | 12/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing this CD almost makes me cry. This guy had to change his name for commercial reasons, was given silly clothes to wear and a more than a little ludicrous haircut, all for the sake of launching another 'eccentric singer'. Well, it payed off. The records sold very well. But who saw through the mask put on by the record company? Did anyone notice what incredible songwriting talent this guy had? Very few.

Later in his life, he became big in Japan. Without the clothes and the haircut. And does he look eccentric on the cover of this CD? Hail to the superior musical taste of the Japanese."