Gilbert O'Sullivan: Get Down (1973)

Reaganite Republican ^ | 13 March 2013 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

Gilbert O'Sullivan (dob Dec 1, 1946) is an Irish singer/songwriter best known in the United States for his eternal hit 'Alone Again (Naturally)' (1972 US, #1 hit) as well as 'Clair' (1972, US #2). His voice has become instantly recognizable to many due to the widespread fame brought by these two timeless ballads, both of which were written by O'Sullivan himself...

He also enjoyed a hot chart-topper in the UK with 'Get Down' (1973, video below), although this wonderful little ditty never did make it on our side of the pond. Another one you'll recall in all likelihood would be his early hit 'Ooh Wakka Do Wakka Day'.

Born Raymond Edward O'Sullivan in Waterford, Ireland (1960), in his early teens the family moved to England, where he later attended St Joseph's and the Swindon College of Art.

Interestingly, O'Sullvian actually played drums in a band called Rick's Blues, founded by Rick Davies... who went on to form Supertramp. He developed his musical abilities from scratch in that band, learning to play piano as well and later joining other amateur acts in the UK.

By the early Seventies he was moving zillions of records as a solo artist, the key being his great pop voice and incredible songwriting gift: Gilbert O'Sullivan charted no less than six worldwide #1 singles between 1970-1980, and although not into touring still writes and records music today.

Myself, I've always found his voice and songwriting style to be a totally unique and refreshing break, there is a certain creative individuality on that island, I'll tell you that: consider U2, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, Cranberries... nobody else like 'em anywhere.

And that goes double for Gilbert O'Sullivan: this has got to be one of the catchiest pop songs to ever grace a turntable...

[YouTube]

Video/more at Reaganite Republican...
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Gilbert O'Sullivan.net    Wikipedia   Allmusic

[Reaganite Republican]

*** PING ***

[My hearts in London - Everett]

I’ve never seen anyone play the piano with their legs crossed before. Lol

[Reaganite Republican]

You mean on Wakka Do Wakka Day?

I thought that was weird too...

[Dr. Sivana]

I appreciate his nonstar like demeanor. When he had to sue the record company for ripping him off (it is what they do). The judge was extremely impressed with how proper and polite and decent the young performer was. Not exactly 2LiveCrew.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Alone Again, Naturally is perhaps the single most depressing piece of music ever recorded. I can't understand why every DJ who had to play it back then did not march immediately out of the studio and jump out the window.

[dfwgator]

Alone Again, Naturally is perhaps the single most depressing piece of music ever recorded. I can't understand why every DJ who had to play it back then did not march immediately out of the studio and jump out the window.

That and Nilsson's "Without You." Which ironically was written by the two members of Badfinger, that did wind up killing themselves.

[Moltke]

I remember that little piece well. Good example for the pop music of that time.

If you’re writing more about that era: The Slade album ‘Slayed?’ was published that year or shortly before, and that one was good rocking fun. ‘Look at last Nite’ ... ‘I Won’t let it ‘Appen Agen’ ... ‘Move Over’ ... ‘GudBuy T’Jane’ ... heck it’s all good.

IMO better than pretty much anything the Beatles or Stones were doing back then. Or later. Way under-rated group.

[SeminoleCounty]

If I remember right...O’Sullivan’s “Get Down” hit top 10 in the USA....I remember hearing it a lot on AFN as a kid....and on Casey Kasem Top 40

Also....O’Sullivan changed the way hip hop/rap handled “sampling” of songs. He sued some crap hop artist in the early 90’s for copyright infringment and won a huge settlement.....I think the crap hop guy used Alone Again without crediting GOS. After that the crap hop people were very careful how they did sampling

If you do not like his music....at least you should thankful that GOS stopped the crappers from plagarizing other artists

[Cyber Liberty]

I can't understand why every DJ who had to play it back then did not march immediately out of the studio and jump out the window.

We became desensitized to it. We had Morris Albert's "Feelings" to play 90,000 times. Believe me, you tune this crap out. "Feelings" was about 3:14 worth of noise to me. My favorite Beatles song? "Penny Lane." 2:10, cold ending. You could stick that puppy anywhere. But I liked the longer songs for bathroom/doobie breaks.

[17th Miss Regt]

Does he sing Gilbert & Sullivan songs?

[Reaganite Republican]

You know, I don’t like the 1980s metal pop that Slade inspired.

BUT Slade themself have a cool sound and were great rock pioneers, Roddy really came up with a totally new rock theme, one that fit right in with the Bowie/Roxy Music glam era

[Starstruck]

Alone Again, Naturally is perhaps the single most depressing piece of music ever recorded. I can't understand why every DJ who had to play it back then did not march immediately out of the studio and jump out the window.

I always thought that about "Those were the days".

[jjotto]

How about “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”?

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I still love “Alone Again.” Sorry. “Get Down” takes me back to my favorite top 40 era. 70-73 was a great period for pop music.

[Moltke]

I wasn’t aware that Slade inspired 1980s metal pop (I don’t mull much over such things), but I’ll admit my post was prompted by bias: That album was the first one I ever bought (only a cassette tape back then), and I still like the drive and groove(?) it has.

[Fiji Hill]

I always thought that about "Those were the days".

I much prefer the original version of the song that became "Those Were the days"--Dorogoi Dlinnoyu (by the long road) by Aleksandr Vertinskii (1926)

[dfwgator]

You know, I don’t like the 1980s metal pop that Slade inspired.

I thought that was Def Leppard.

[Fiji Hill]

Alone Again, Naturally is perhaps the single most depressing piece of music ever recorded

Not to me. It was the song that was playing on the radio when I returned to the US after a year in Germany--and the tune reminds me of the happy day I could once again eat burritos, tacos and cheeseburgers.

[Fiji Hill]

Does he sing Gilbert & Sullivan songs?

He should do "Onward, Christian Soldiers," written by William S. Gilbert's partner Arthur Sullivan.