Driven

by Gilbert O'Sullivan

Overview

In the decades after his mid-'70s commercial peak, Irish singer/songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan maintained a prodigious output of well-written, quirky piano pop records, somehow sticking it out long enough to enjoy a career renaissance with his self-titled 2018 album. More than just a pop survivor, O'Sullivan is a consummate craftsman whose devotion to clever, melodic songwriting has kept his hearth fire burning even during the leanest years. He never stopped writing good songs, but the combination of Ethan Johns' warm production, a focused crop of tunes, and a bit of luck helped Gilbert O'Sullivan hit number 20 in the U.K., a remarkable feat given the singer's 44-year absence from that same chart. His 2022 follow-up Driven is, if anything, an even better record. At age 75, O'Sullivan sounds half his age, delivering sharp-witted rockers like "Love Casualty" and "You Can't Say I Didn't Try" with infectious energy and zeal. Produced this time by Andy Wright (Simply Red, Simple Minds), Driven retains some of the fuzzy, laid-back '70s charm that characterized his 2018 set while also harking back to the tasteful soft rock orchestrations of his heyday, especially on standouts like the marvelous "Blue Anchor Bay" and the piano-and-strings ballad "If Only Love Had Ears." Driven also benefits from an inviting group energy with lively backing vocal interactions, a nimble rhythm section, and scintillating guitar leads. O'Sullivan's resurgence is unique in that it's less a comeback than a spotlight returning to a work in progress. He sounds joyful and relaxed with none of the desperation of trying to maintain an unexpected late-career high. It's more as if we simply caught him doing his thing at a particularly good moment. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/22/2022
Label:	Union Square Music
UPC:	4050538791112
Rank:	7115

Tracks

1. Love Casualty
2. Blue Anchor Bay
3. Let Bygones Be Bygones
4. Body and Mind
5. What Are You Waiting For?
6. Let Me Know
7. Take Love
8. Back and Forth
9. If Only Love Had Ears
10. You Can't Say I Didn't Try
11. You and Me Babe
12. Hey Man
13. Don't Get Under Each Other's Skin

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gilbert O'Sullivan   Primary Artist,Piano
KT Tunstall   Featured Artist
Mick Hucknall   Featured Artist
Patrick Murdoch   Charango,Guitar (Electric)
Rich Milner   Organ,Keyboards
Oscar Golding   Bass
Jamie McCredie   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Geoff Holdroyd   Drums

Technical Credits

Jean-Pierre Chalbos   Engineer,Mastering
Emma Marks   Assistant
Andy Wright   Producer
Gavin Goldberg   Mixing,Engineer
Gilbert O'Sullivan   Composer