Gilbert O’Sullivan to release best of

Gilbert O'Sullivan, one of the country's most revered singers, songwriters and musicians, celebrates an amazing forty-five year recording career with the release of 'A Singer and His Songs - The Very Best Of Gilbert O'Sullivan' on 5th March 2012, through Union Square Music. The album will also be supported by a full UK tour beginning on 17th March through to 15th April.

Part of a major Gilbert O'Sullivan reissue campaign, the album chronicles songs from his debut album, 'Himself' in 1971, through to his most recent album 'Gilbertville' and features no less than 14 top 10 UK hits, including the multi-million US selling and Grammy-nominated, 'Alone Again (Naturally)', the unforgettable UK number 1 'Clair' and 'Get Down, for which he won two Ivor Novello Awards in 1973, for Best Song and Best Songwriter.

Gilbert's first two albums, 'Himself' and 'Back To Front' both stayed in the UK chart for over a year (86 and 64 weeks respectively) and in 1972 Gilbert was the biggest selling UK artist in the world. The incredible success of 'Alone Again (Naturally)' in America catapulted Gilbert into stardom and he made several appearance on US shows hosted by music legends such as Dean Martin and Burt Bacharach.

Gilbert's songs have appeared in TV series including The Simpsons and Life On Mars and in films such as The Virgin Suicides, Stuart Little, Margot At The Wedding and Stuck On You. His songs have been covered by acts as diverse as Elton John, Bobby Darin, The Feeling, Nina Simone, Har Mar Superstar, Sarah Vaughan, Andy Williams, The Pet Shop Boys, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Herb Alpert, and at a recent live show in Dublin Morrissey performed a version of 'Nothing Rhymed' .

'Nothing Rhymed' was also name-checked by Richard Curtis, who on accepting a Bafta for Comic Relief, recited the following lyrics as a motivating factor behind his setting up of the charity: 'When I'm drinking my Bonaparte Shandy, eating more than enough apple pies, will I glance at my screen and see real human beings starve to death right in front of my eyes?' Then he added in his own words 'Eat your heart out, Bob Dylan!'

More recently 'Gilbertville', which was released in January 2011, was hailed as one of his finest albums to date, which led critics and the media to suggest maybe it was time to revisit O'Sullivan's career for re-appraisal.

'Smart kitchen-sink lyrics, super melodic songs, his new stuff just as good as his old; if he'd never had a hit, or worn an oversize flat cap, he'd be hailed as our own Randy Newman – one who references tea (frequently) and frozen peas (occasionally). At his best, he is the missing link between the Kinks and Squeeze' - The Guardian

Along with the release of the album, fans will be delighted to know that Gilbert will be touring with 'A Singer and His Songs', performing 18 live dates across the UK from 17th March 2012.

He will be joined by his amazing 11 piece band, including a string quartet, to present a stunning two hour plus performance.

The full list of dates is as follows:

MARCH
17 TORQUAY Princess Theatre 0844 8713023 www.atgtickets.com/torquay
19 GUILDFORD Glive 0844 7701797 www.glive.co.uk
20 DARTFORD Orchard Theatre 01322 220000 www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
22 BRISTOL Colston Hall 0117 9223686 www.colstonhall.org
24 CYMRU Venue 01492 872000 www.venuecymru.co.uk
25 BIRMINGHAM Town Hall 0121 7803333 www.thsh.co.uk
27 BASINGSTOKE Anvil 01256 844244 www.anvilarts.org.uk
28 BUXTON Opera House 0845 1272190 www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
29 CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange 01223 357851 www.cornex.co.uk
31 ST ALBANS Arena 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

APRIL
01 BRIGHTON Theatre Royal 0844 8717650 www.atgtickets.com/brighton
03 PETERBOROUGH Cresset Theatre 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk
04 YORK Opera House 0844 8472322 www.atgtickets.com/york
05 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic 0151 7093789 www.liverpoolphil.com
07 BRADFORD St. George's Hall 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
12 LEICESTER De Montfort Hall 0116 2333111 www.demontforthall.co.uk
13 DERBY Assembly Rooms 01332 255800 www.derbylive.co.uk
15 GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall 0141 3538000 www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

www.gilbertosullivan.net