Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Collection, January 12, 2002
Gilbert O'Sullivan's anachronistic style may have seemed annoyingly out of place in the early 1970s, but time has brought out the charm of his music as age brings out the rich patina in wood. This collection, remastered by Bill Inglot, has better sound than the imports, although it leaves out some of the more deserving songs. Nevertheless, it serves as an excellent introduction--or reintroduction--to this talented songwriter and vocalist. It's a shame that O'Sullivan's best work is today largely ignored, even on the oldies format, because he churned out some of the best-crafted pop of the era. All his hits are here: Clair (#2), Get Down (#7), Out of the Question (#17), Ooh Baby (#25), Happiness Is Me and You (#62), and his signature song, Alone Again (Naturally)--#1 for six weeks in 1972 but now virtually unheard on USA radio. If the disc had nothing but these hits, it would be worth the price, but you will find that nearly all of the songs included are worth repeated listening. Throughout the disc, O'Sullivan's originality, wit and amazing gift for melody are on display. He has not been forgotten everywhere; his early work has remained popular in the United Kingdom, and he was a phenomenon in Japan, where he often performed and where his entire catalog remained in print through the 1990s. If you enjoyed any of his music over the years, buy this CD.
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Emotional yes, but not banal, March 17, 2000
If you aren't familiar with the song Alone Again, I hope you will not be deterred by the reviewer who not only described the lyrics as banal, but also misquoted the song in the process. The correct words are "I promise myself to treat myself and visit a nearby tower." This line is immediately followed by "And climbing to the top, to throw myself off." The singer has just been jilted by his bride-to-be at the altar, and is contemplating suicide. The rest of the song goes on to talk about feeling deserted by God, then about the death of his parents -- all of which are events that leave him "alone again, naturally." I find it hard to understand how anyone could describe a song about suicide and feelings of loss and isolation as banal. I was a teenager when this song came out, and I remember how amazing it was to hear somebody singing about emotions that were so familiar to me. Whenever I or one of my friends would break up with a boyfriend, we would be so devastated by it, and adults would tell us that it was just "puppy love" and we would get over it soon, as if that was supposed to make the experience hurt any less. Then along came this song that expressed our feelings so perfectly, and we all loved it. I still do. I wouldn't go through the emotional turmoil of adolescence again for a million dollars, but I do have some cherished memories of those years, and this song is definitely one of them. I hope you will give it a try.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Bad But Where's "Christmas Song"?, January 23, 2000
Most of his great numbers are here(and a couple of dodgy ones!) The poignant "Alone Again Naturally"(US No.1 UK top five), "Nothing Rhymed", "Clair"(clever song abt Uncle's love for his niece(innocent I may add), and "A Woman's Place(Is In The Home)- not a great hit with seventies femamists, are all included along with all the UK hits with the exception of "Christmas Song"(Why Not?) and his dance hit reincarnation of the Nineties "Goss" with "So What". Included though is a rather tacky duet with Peggy Lee "Cant Think Straight" and one or two other less known tracks. The album brings back many happy memories of Gilbert and his various image changes. The early "schoolboy" one with pudding bowl haircut short trousers and "Dr Marten" boots, to the clean cut better looking college type of the mid-seventies. The hits dried up arnd 1976 (with a couple of exceptions, and Gilbert began a long legal battle with Gordon Mills his record label boss over Gilbert's recording rights to his songs. Eventually Gilbert won the fight(rightly so), and to this day continues to record and tour. Although not perfect this is a very good album to marvel again at a great songwriter and performer
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