Gilbert O'Sullivan UCL Bloomsbury Theatre Mon; From:From Time Out - 21/04/2004 Music: Preview By John Lewis If you wanted to kickstart a Gilbert O'Sullivan reappraisal, you might begin with Morrissey's recent live versions of 'Nothing Rhymed'. O'Sullivan's folksy 6/8 waltz fits Moz like a (hand in) glove, making you wonderwhy no one noticed the link before. Indeed, the appallingly titled new compilation 'The Berry Vest Of Gilbert O'Sullivan' (EMI) contains the DNA of Morrissey's entire career the flat vowels, the waggish wordplay, the selfpitying urchin persona, the mother fixation, the Irish blood, the English heart. O'Sullivan has recorded some of the saddest songs ever to enter the UK chart, flirting with death, bereavement, suicide, poverty, starvation and depression, facing them down with a wry, worldweary wit. And, like Moz, O'Sullivan's parochial lyrics had a curious resonance in the States. Who knows what Andy Williams made of lines like 'I bagsy being in goal' when he covered the exquisite, Nilsson-ish 'We Will'? And why did rap prankster Biz Markie sample the beautifully bleak 'Alone Again (Naturally)'? O'Sullivan has also, of course, recorded lots of reactionary rubbish of late (awarning to Moz, perhaps). But even amid the recent dreck you'll find gems like 1992's 'Can't Think Straight', a Jim Steinman-meets-Steven Sondheim mini-opera recorded with Peggy Lee. This rare live date sees him backed by a second keyboard player, two female singers and a sax/flute soloist. O'Sullivan still has a loyal fanbase, most of them women of a certain age who still thrill to theclavinet-led funk of 'Get Down' like it's George Clinton's 'Get Up For The Downstroke'. Maybe they've been right all along. Copyright 2004 Time Out Group Thanks David for the article!