GILBERT O’SULLIVAN returned to a city he loves and he did so in triumph.
Singing songs from his new album A Scruff At Heart he received a standing ovation from the minute he strolled on stage.
He gave a stunning 2½-hour performance featuring a trip down memory lane while also keeping a firm footing in the present day.
Two sets were carefully orchestrated under the musical guidance of keyboard player Michael Parker. Gilbert, switching between grand piano and what he called a computer keyboard which sometimes picks up Radio 4 on stage, was aided by a colourful backdrop video screen showing clips from his prolific career over four decades.
Now based in Jersey, Gilbert has always been a fan of his own fans, and aims to tour every three years to please them.
He is well aware that his followers want to hear the classic songs and he duly plays as many as he can, sometimes having fun with new arrangements.
Nothing Rhymed, We Will and the timeless Clair were inter-spaced with new works such as the quirky You Can’t Con-Crete and Taking Sides, about a relationship falling apart.
Gilbert relayed many anecdotes and explained how he came to write his songs.
He did a first, too, with a little-known song called Mr Moody’s Garden, which was reminiscent of John Lennon’s Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Gilbert paid tribute to Fats Domino in a bluesy number. He said he wanted to record with the legendary Fats one day.
Happiness Is Me and You, with just an acoustic guitar, was another fresh take on an old Gilbert standard.
His new album is full of his trademark puns, including piano-led rockers as well as sensitive ballads.
And just when you think there can’t be many more hits – they keep coming, from Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka -Day to No Matter How I Try and Matrimony.
Alone Again (Naturally), an international hit, was followed by the upbeat number one song Get Down.
Gilbert didn’t do any one else’s songs: “I don’t do covers,” he said, “I only cover my own.”
That’s all his fans want to hear from this singer-songwriter whose creative integrity has never left him.
PETER GRANT
