Gilbert O'Sullivan - On the Record

Six decades into a singular career, Gilbert O'Sullivan proves he still has plenty to say on On the Record, his 21st studio album.

The Irish-born songwriter made his name in the early seventies with wry, piano-led pop that sat somewhere between the music hall and the confessional, and he has never really stopped writing. This record finds him producing alongside Andy Wright, who also worked on Driven and Songbook, and the 13 songs were recorded in just five days at Eastcote Studios in London, which lends the whole thing a welcome sense of immediacy.

Growing Old Disgracefully is the cheeky centrepiece, a wink at getting older delivered with a twinkle rather than a sigh. It's Me leans into a smooth seventies soul groove with a hint of Steely Dan polish, while Is That You? brings in Andrea Corr for a gentle, graceful duet. Mixed by Tony Hoffer, the arrangements keep the spotlight on that familiar voice and those deceptively simple melodies.

It's the work of a craftsman who knows exactly what a good song needs and has no interest in cluttering it up.

For longtime admirers, On the Record is a warm reminder of why those melodies stuck around in the first place.