This CD is a homerecording. It is my tribute to the genius of the critically acclaimed "Irlish" musician, singer/songwriter, drummer and million-selling recording artist Raymond Sullivan better known as Gilbert O'Sullivan. The pianos and vocals were recorded on April 17 and in the morning hours of the following day, shortly before I headed off to Stuttgart to see him for the first time. Of course I had snagged myself a front row seat.
Except for the bonus tracks I produced all the backings (drums, bass, guitars, strings, flutes) years ago for my piano bar evenings and now in a last-minute rush I added piano and vocals in order to surprise Gilbert with my take on his very own works. As you can see I am glad to say he accepted with a smile.
| €xecutive Producer: | NeoMusic |
| Recording Date: | April 17/18 |
| Location: | My living room |
| Online Booklet: | Wolfgang Liebert |
| Audio Software: | Cool Edit Pro 2.1 |
| Mixer: | the t.mix MicroMix 1 USB |
| E-Pianos: | Roland F-30/Nord electro 6 |
| Playbacks: | Band-in-a-Box (Ver 2010) |
| Microphone: | Beyerdynamic TG V96c |
| OS: | Windows 7 Prof. |
This is the Online Booklet for the CD. Every song can be listened to individually. Lyrics are included along with some background information and personal opinions. The CD is free of charge, in fact at the time of writing there are only 5 copies, one of which I gave Mr. Sullivan. But I will surely make some more copies now and give them away for free during my piano evenings.
I want to stress that I do not pursue any financial or commercial interest. Of course I speculate on the positive reception which is surely not detrimental for me as a musician. The main motivations however, are my ability to sing and play a little bit like him (in a different voice) and the (re-)distribution of this unusual man's best works, my personal favourites.
I usually get to play only a few of his songs during my live performances but all 17+8 gems below are my preferred choice. And Gilbert has so many more like I love It But or Underneath The Blanket Go. There's a plethora of songs stemming from this unique man's brain and it's beyond amazing.
W. Liebert on April 19, 2019
UPDATE: On May 29 I will host An Evening with Elton O'Sullivan at Steve's Bar in Bad Homburg. 25 gems by Elton John juxtaposed to 25 Gilbert O'Sullivan jewels. To me they are the ultimate musical arch rivals. However, Gilbert continues where Elton stops. Elton is a musical genius but he does not write his own lyrics, Gilbert is a musical and a lyrical god. As a genuine Elton John admirer I don't say this lightly.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
Gm
Recorded on:
April 18
Favourite Gilbert song of many of my fellow musician friends. Especially the British ones.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 18
I wonder what pinched Gilbert when he wrote this one?! Is there any other artist who invents stuff like this? I doubt it and I love it. One of my favourite songs for live gigging.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 18
Childhood memories, who doesn't have them? Gilbert is no exception and in this song he reminisced some of his dear and fond moments from the past, with a few Irish idioms sprinkled in here and there.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 18
Listen to these lyrics! Burt Bacharach was so moved by this song that back in the day he invited Gilbert to one of his TV shows and was stunned to learn that Gilbert had made it entirely up. It's all in his fantasy, his creative imagination. When I learned to play and sing this masterpiece some 7 years ago during one of my solitary rehearsals I was literally in tears over the piano because I had lost my parents when I was young. It's not a coincidence that this song still gets so much airplay 47 years after it was conceived.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
Dm
Recorded on:
April 18
This beautiful song became an instant no. 1 and is possibly Gilbert's biggest hit. The background story is so real and sweet that some weird people seemingly couldn't handle the truth and I'm sure Gilbert has suffered at some point after the fallout with his record company who was trying to outsmart the young songwriting prodigy.
Musically and harmonically Clair is once again outstanding. In the middle section Gilbert produces a sudden tonal shift (+1) for only a few bars only to come back unconspicuously to the original key as if nothing. This guy is far and beyond.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
Gilbert once said that he writes much more than what actually gets recorded and released. He creates a lot of musical "overspill" even with regards to each song. This great tune could be a good example for that because it is full of ideas and melodies that burst the frame of normal creativity for what it's worth. The song has two bridges and I'm almost certain Gilbert has at least one more in his drawer.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
If you were ever doubtful as to why people call him a genius try singing the last twin chorus of this song and you will immediately understand in flesh and blood why it is "out of the question" that Gilbert's linguistic monstrosities can make you run out of breath.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
So great and funny this song. It seems he is shaking off these ditties like nothing. Genius work.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 18
This song was the first one I recorded for this Greatest Hits album and it already shows Gilbert's very individual songwriting skills: A beautiful melody, a nice rhythm and some witty lyrics. Do also check the original, it is much better than my slim-line Band-in-a-Box version here.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
G
Recorded on:
April 18
This is one of the songs I almost always play during my live performances. I guess its tongue-in-cheek lyrics have yet to be understood by some dancefloor enthusiasts who have surely moved to the beat without knowing on what to actually "get down".
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
D
Recorded on:
April 18
Heartbreaking and oftentimes so true. I guess most of us have experienced rejection or even sheer cruelty in a relationship but this song despite of no happy ending somehow makes it all forgiving.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
Just beautiful, so up to the minute, so needed!
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
I must confess I don't really understand the story behind the lyrics but the song is beautiful and so are the words.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
G
Recorded on:
April 18
They have called him the ultimate wordsmith, a word acrobat, the Shakespeare of popular music while others have been quoted saying "he can write a song about a slice of bread and make it entertaining, that's how good he is". No matter how you see him personally, this particular song is one of his masterpieces and surely the best possible example of his unrivalled musicianship and lyrical expertise. Try only singing the quick lyrics in the bridge "Oh I'm truly grateful for all the little things in life that have made me so glad...", let alone write them.
Besides this as a professional pianist myself I have yet to learn the drum-style piano pattern Gilbert has come up with for Matrimony. For the time being I can't handle it but watching him play I was now able to figure out how he does it. So consequently on my cover version here I still had to downgrade the piano part but I will probably soon replace it with the original Gilbertesque piano staccato.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
April 18
Tom Jones covered this beautiful ballad that I gave a new twist with my electronic beat. However Gilbert's original is the best version. The song contains one of Mr. Sullivan's most romantic lyrics: "I'll love you true, I'll love you fair, I'll love you when you're old and not just care. I'll love you now, right here and yes, although I love you in so many ways, my favourite is undressed".
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
D
Recorded on:
April 18
The ultimate conundrum "What is in a kiss?" beautified with his trademark shuffle rhythm (Gilbert is also an accomplished drummer) and a wonderfully catchy melody that - mark my words - won't go away easily tonight.
Bonus Tracks
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 27
I only learned about this song after I met Gilbert in Stuttgart because naturally after seeing him in person I became even more curious about his sheer unending catalogue of songs and when I stumbled upon this track that Gilbert penned 47 years ago(!) I felt an immediate urge to reproduce it.
One of my esteemed colleagues has praised my vocals on this one, however I am simply imitating one of Gilbert's very own live performances, including the "smirking at Oliver Twist". I wonder who can sit or stand still during this catchy Burt Bacharach style shuffle.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
April 27
A lovely ballad with another tongue-in-cheek story. This time about an unfortunate girl's fortune by hands of - as I understand it - an unreserved factotum. I admit I put it on the album because it was easy and quick to record.
Sidenote:
The very British expression Twit actually means Schwachkopf in German which may prove a point if you are on Twitter.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
Em
Recorded on:
April 27
Gilbert's heartbreak trance ballad most people can relate to. Missing someone can be so haunting and so can this song.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
F
Recorded on:
May 1
Surely not a political song but Gilbert's viewpoint about the events on 911 from his very personal angle.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
C
Recorded on:
May 8
One of the most romantic love songs ever. I cannot help but being flabbergasted by this man's creativity. Have a tissue at hand for this one.
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals & Piano:
Wolfgang Liebert
My keys:
G#m + F + G
Recorded on:
May 13 + May 26
Three uptempo tracks together in a dance medley. At first I was hesitant to put Ooh Baby on this CD but my musical buddy and fabulous sax player Ron Faust hinted this song to me and after listening to I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You, I noticed the rhythmic similarities between the two and made up my mind. A fortnight later I added Get Down and even though this medley is some kind of quick shot I believe the final result with the modernistic dance beat is not all that bad. Do you agree?
Gilbert's alternative Christmas song:
Music & Lyrics: Gilbert O'Sullivan
Vocals, Piano & fake Children's Choir:
Wolfgang Liebert
My key:
B
Recorded on:
November 29, 2018
I have often used the word genius in this online booklet but how else can you label a man who has musically and lyrically gone where no man had gone before? But in fact Gilbert O'Sullivan is an often misunderstood genius and this song underscores it. He is not delving in kitschy Christmas family bliss but prefers instead to stress the importance of world peace first and foremost as opposed to making another schmaltzy reference to "White Christmas".
This song is already on my Christmas gift CD from 2018 and for the technically interested people, the children's choir is my voice modified and multiplied with the Voice Live 2 harmonizer.