Music / Gilbert O’Sullivan: Greatest Hits Tour Australia. At Canberra Southern Cross Club, May 6. Reviewed by IAN McLEAN.

Canberra was the final stop on the latest concert tour of Australia for this amazing 78-year-old entertainer, and what a show Gilbert O’Sullivan, the Irish born and English raised singer/songwriter delivered. 

He was on stage for well over two hours and sang 40 of his classic songs to the sheer delight of a happy audience who sang along with great enthusiasm.

Despite more than 50 years in the music business his stage presence was still fresh and exuberant and his voice still strong and true of pitch, even in the high register.

Amongst the nostalgic songs from the 20 albums he has recorded there were interesting little stories like how he was taught to play both piano and drums by Rick Davies who later formed Supertramp, and how he met up with Peggy Lee who contacted him asking if they could record a duet together.

At that point in her life Miss Lee was wheelchair bound and required an oxygen tank to aid her breathing but, with patience and determination, the recording proceeded perfectly. Then there was the story of Andy Williams who pleaded with O’Sullivan for permission to record one of his biggest hits, We Will. Not only was permission granted but O’Sullivan flew to New York to assist in the recording process.

In among the tales, the hits were all there – Get Down, Nothing Rhymed, What’s in a Kiss, No Matter How I Try, Out of the Question, Clair and, of course, Alone Again (Naturally).

He explained briefly how he approaches his writing of lyrics then demonstrated that prowess in a moving tune, Peaceful Waters Flow, a commentary on current world trouble spots including Ukraine and Gaza. With his mixture of musical styles, which range from gentle, lilting ballads in a folk-like manner to bright and bouncy soft rock/pop, combined with his heartfelt and introspective lyrics, it was easy and interesting to draw comparisons, despite the gap in generations, with Canberra’s own master singer/songwriter, Fred Smith.

This was a joyous concert filled with lovely melodies that he enjoyed performing as much as his audience enjoyed hearing. At age 78 and after 40 songs he had a right to be a little weary but there was no hint of a need for a rest – the thrill of performing was very obviously still present.