Matrimony - Gilbert O'Sullivan

After a few hit singles with 'Nothing rhymed' and 'Alone again (Naturally)', Gilbert O'Sullivan released 'Matrimony' in May 1972. The single was not released in the UK, but it was a big hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 4.

O'Sullivan's self-created eye-catching visual image comprised a pudding basin haircut, cloth cap and short trousers. His manager reportedly hated the image, but O'Sullivan insisted on using it initially, until he assumed a more modern 'college-like' look in which he often wore a sweater bearing a large letter 'G' - as pictured here on the sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 4743
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Matrimony' / 'January git'

Get down - Gilbert O'Sullivan

'Get down' is a track on Gilbert O'Sullivan's 1973 album 'I'm a writer, not a fighter'. The single spent two weeks at the top of the UK singles chart and reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40.

As young as I was in 1973, the song has always stuck in my head as one of the catchy tunes of that time. I'd all but forgotten about this track until I found the single today.

My collection: 7" single no. 4205
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,30 euro
Tracks: 'Get down' / 'A very extraordinary sort of girl'

Nothing rhymed - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born as Raymond Edward O'Sullivan on December 1, 1946. He attended St. Joseph's and the Swindon College of Art, playing drums in a band founded by Rick Davies (who would go on to be in Supertramp).

In 1967, O'Sullivan signed a recording contract, releasing a handful of unsuccessful singles. It was in 1971, when he signed to MAM records, when he achieved his first major success with the song 'Nothing rhymed'. It reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4203
Found: Flea market, Den Haag, November 15, 2009
Cost: 0,30 euro
Tracks: 'Nothing rhymed' / 'Everybody knows'

What's in a kiss - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born on December 1, 1946 in Waterford, Ireland. After scoring worldwide successes with songs like 'Alone again (naturally)' and 'Get down', he released the 1980 album 'Off centre', with 'What's in a kiss' as the first single from that album.

The single reached number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 21 in Japan. I got to know the song thanks to a compilation album released in the second half of the Eighties, and bought the single not long after that.

My collection: 7" single no. 846
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'What's in a kiss' / 'Down, down, down'