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Tonight's show was in Ashton-Under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, and I had the pleasure of meeting two women who went from being fans of, to become friends of, Gilbert O'Sullivan. If you have ever read the album credits on the sleeve of "By Larry" or "Every Song Has It's Play" you will have noticed the names of Sue & Lorraine. In the time before the internet, they were the main source of information, and continue to inform the fans today on email and snail mail. Thank you girls!
LORRAINE, BRIAN & SUE
I was also happy to once again meet up with John & Shirley Towers (Durham), also Laura Little, her friend Sue and my friend Julie Roberts from Rochdale. With Julie was three of her children; Cheryl, Curtis and Bradley with girlfriend Bev. Cheryl in fact came with both feet bandaged after an operation the morning of the show. Well done Cheryl!
1st HALF: STARTED AT 19:35 - LASTED 65 MINUTES
IT AIN'T FOR ME - [From the album "BY LARRY / THE LITTLE ALBUM"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Accordion]
THE THING IS - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert welcomed the crowd and explained that just like he couldn't get a venue in Liverpool, he also couldn't get a venue in Manchester. This was as close as he could get. He said "I now know how an asylum seeker feels trying to get in somewhere." (Audience laughter)
NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] The crowd immediately recognised the opening bars of this song and applauded loudly, at which time Gilbert stopped playing and jokingly said "And the next."
NO MATTER HOW I TRY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Foot Stomps] Just before the false ending before "I remember our first anniversary", Julian Webster Greaves stepped forward and stamped his feet to the beat. Lyrics changed slightly from "Is there a bank in town, that might cash me as a pound?" to "Is there a bank in town, that might cash me as a euro?"
IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS - [From
the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "I release an album every two years, that's why I'm here. I've been writing songs for 35 years, I should be on a pension by now. (Audience laughter). I write, record and release records and I'm quite happy with that. I have no control over who hears them or who buys them. I'd love to sell 15 copies of each but I'm quite happy with the 10 copies I do sell.
WE WILL - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Another track from "Piano Foreplay" with Julian Webster Green playing the saxophone ending.
MISS MY LOVE TODAY - [From the album "SOUTHPAW"] [Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth] Gilbert changed to his second keyboard (DX7) for this song and said “I have released 14 albums so far and I write and sing all my own songs. You'll never see me doing The Great American Songbook (Rod Stewart album), not yet anyway. You might see me doing the The Great English Songbook." (Audience laughter).
STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert got the crowd rocking with this one. Julian Webster Green played a solo on saxophone.
CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Harmonica, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert mentioned that there are a lot of good young songwriters around at the moment, naming Tom Baxter and Ed Harcourt. I hesitate to call them singer/songwriters because I don't like that term. If asked I say I'm a singer sewing machine. (Audience laughter). It's a bit depressing though when you see a song title on Ed's album called 'Born In The 70s. As is usual this song was particularly well received by the audience who sang "Oh Clair, Clair" when prompted by Gilbert. Gilbert added, "I shall be calling on you later".
SOMETIMES - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute]
THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] [Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert changed again to his other keyboard for this song. The girls returned on backing vocals.
WHAT'S IN A KISS? - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert asked" Have you noticed how everybody is writing songs lately. People come up to me and say 'I write songs Gilbert but my real job is a plumber, or Gilbert I write songs but my real job is as an electrician', Gilbert added "I write songs and someone once asked me what my real job was." (Audience laughter).
FOREVER WONDERING - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert spoke about the English language and English sayings, and how they can be misunderstood This song has an example in the lines:
"My girlfriend's name is Susan We got engaged last march She was killed while getting off a bus At the top of marble arch"
"I don't mean on top of the arch but instead the top of Marble Arch (place in London), the same way we would say the top of the road" Gilbert explained.
WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] I like reggae music and I like Bob Marley and UB40. This is an old song that I have decided to give a reggae feel to."
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert started this song in the wrong key, stopped and explained how technical keyboards have got. "I can't even change a plug" he joked.
2nd HALF: STARTED AT 21:06 - LASTED 65 MINUTES
A FRIEND OF MINE - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth]
HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU GOT - [From the album "BY LARRY / THE LITTLE ALBUM"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth & Accordion, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
CONVERSATION WITH FLYING PLATES - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth] "They say that music is inspirational and lyrics are perspirational. My inspiration for a song comes from a good title. I thought that this was an interesting title for a song." Gilbert was quick to point out that his wife has never thrown plates at him but he has seen it happen.
OUT OF THE QUESTION - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
READY MISS STEADY - [UNRELEASED] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Harmonica] "For a change I thought I'd add this song in. It's the very first complete song that I ever wrote.
SAY GOODBYE - [From the album "IRLISH"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert sang the usual Spanish chorus.
But proudly impressed the audience by singing the Japanese and French
versions with no problems.
WATER MUSIC - [From the album "IRLISH"] [Gilbert : Vocals] Gilbert introduced this song by explaining how he got the idea for it. "The basis of this song is the rhythmic sound made by women washing clothes on the rocks at the riverside in the Peruvian jungle. Because it is a mundane job the women create a rhythm as they wash the clothes on the riverbank. This sound was recorded for a World Music CD and I got to hear it and found it interesting. I wanted to use it as part of a song but instead decided to use it as a backing with no music". Gilbert stood to sing this song.
WHO WAS IT? - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Vocals, Mick Parker : Electric Piano, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] During this song Gilbert walks and dances around the stage.
After which Gilbert introduced the other people on stage. "Julian Webster Green on saxophone, flute, harmonica, tambourine and foot stomps. On backing vocals we have Helen Hardy and Victoria Hardy, mother and daughter. Last but not least my music director, on synth and piano accordion......Mick Parker."
THE MARRIAGE MACHINE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen Hardy : Backing Vocals] "I don't normally do requests but I have been told that we have some newly weds in tonight on their honeymoon. They could be somewhere better than this but thanks for coming; we need all the support that we can get. This song is about a subject that is dear to my heart, the relationship between men and women." There were cheers from the audience thinking that he was about to sing "Matrimony". "No it's not that one."
WHAT'S IT ALL SUPPOSED TO MEAN? - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone] There was a shout from the audience "If I Don't Get You Back Again" Gilbert replied "what will you do?"
GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY - [UNRELEASED [UNRELEASED [UNRELEASED] [Gilbert : Electric Piano] Gilbert introduced this song by saying "I like Billy Connolly but I can't say that I am a fan of his language, too many Fs. Likewise with the Beautiful South, I like their music but they had a song called Don't Marry Her, F*** Me Instead, and as a song writer I feel that you should avoid the obvious. Gilbert likened bad language to going to the bathroom....good to do, but not good to be seen or heard. This is a song never released by Gilbert but was played here to show his love of words and language.
IF I DON'T GET YOU (BACK AGAIN) - [HIMSELF [HIMSELF [HIMSELF] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth] "Your request is granted" replying to the fan who had earlier called for this song.
A WOMAN'S PLACE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
During the 70s when Feminism was at it's height I wrote this song because I thought that it had a good title. I either had a good sense of humour or a death wish, I've been beaten up so many times by women about it.............and I've loved every minute of it." I could have called this song "A Woman's Place Is On The Phone." We then went on to have the 'Battle of the Sexes" where the men sang the line "A woman's place is in the home" and the women replied "If that's the case you're on your own". The men ran out winners in a close battle.
IS IT A CRIME? - [From the album "LIFE & RHYMES"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] This songs was greeted with shouts of approval.
WHAT COULD BE NICER (MUM THE KETTLE'S BOILING) - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] This was done in reggae style.
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine] Gilbert left the stage momentarily but returned to wild applause.
ENCORE
MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone & backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
GET DOWN - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine & Backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] A large group of fans got up to dance at the front of the stage during "Get Down"
Afterwards in the foyer Gilbert signed autographs, posed for photographs and answered questions. When it was her turn one very enthusiastic female fan from Liverpool threw her arms around Gilbert and continually kissed him, much to his embarrassment and much to the amusement of those watching. Just when Gilbert thought he was safe, she called a friend on her mobile phone and got Gilbert to say hello. Upon leaving her husband apologised to Gilbert for the trauma.
STATS Gilbert played and sang 34 songs tonight representing material from 13 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:
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