Gilbert O'Sullivan has a new album for the taking this week, and the singer-songwriter is hitting the road to promote the self-titled opus.
Gilbert's songwriting knack has outlived and transcended fashion, global million-sellers, critical acclaim, court cases and an occasional tendency to reclusiveness.
He's highly acclaimed too - everyone from Morrissey to Paul Weller and Neil Diamond have championed the witty wordplayer.
Gilbert's career has spanned half a century and 20 albums, and he's not about to slow anytime soon, which is great news for his legion of fans.
Gilbert will be live at The Stables on Wednesday (August 29). He talked music with Total MK...
Gilbert will play The Stables on Wednesday (August 29).
He talked all things music with Total MK...
The song which first awakened your musical senses
It Might As well Rain Until September - Carole King
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
Both
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
As a career, not a job - Once two members of our band (Ricks Blues, base and guitar) decided not to turn professional, I came up to London on my own and became Gilbert O'Sullivan
Your best on stage memory...
Every standing ovation we get.
And the worst gig you've ever done
The worst concert was in Dublin, when the sound was so bad I had to walk off, only to return under a great deal of pressure
What made you take up the piano?
The Stairs! To be serious, it was in our family home and I seemed the only one interested in playing it.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written
The Folks Who Live On The Hill - by Peggy Lee, written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
First success with 'Nothing Rhymed' will always be special, or my duet with the great Miss Peggy Lee
Are there any current influences you look to
For melody I go to early 20th century, and for sounds I look to the present, whether it be Adele to Jay Z to John Mayer
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
A few I'm not mad about, but none I cant stand.
Finally, plug your show in Milton Keynes - what can we expect?
This, like other up coming concerts, will unusually be solo shows.
Just myself and my guitarist, one and a half hours, to coincide with the release of my new self titled album, so a good mix of ‘the best of and newest of’
To book your ticket click here
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