GILBERT O'SULLIVAN : BACK TO FRONT

  1. Intro / I Hope You'll Stay
  2. In My Hole
  3. Alone Again (Naturally)
  4. That's Love
  5. Can I Go With You
  6. But I'm Not / Outro
  7. I'm In Love With You
  8. Who Was It
  9. What Could Be Nicer (Mum The Kettle's Boiling)
  10. Out Of The Question
  11. The Golden Rule
  12. I'm Leaving / Outro

Label : MAM

Release Date : October 1972

Length : 35:47

Review (AllMusic) : A sudden switch in image accompanied Gilbert O'Sullivan's second album, 1972's Back to Front and its simultaneously released separate single "Alone Again (Naturally)." Gone was the mischievous little scamp sporting a jaunty cap and hand-me-down tweeds, in was a slick, hairy-chested lothario and along with this visual makeover came an aural overhaul, with O'Sullivan's sprightly show tune-inspired pop sounding slicker than before. And it's not just that Back to Front is given a gloss that would not have seemed out of place on a televised variety show from 1972, it's that O'Sullivan is taking great care to write sprightly theatrical tunes, songs that take great pride in their clever-clever twists, smiling, crowd-pleasing melodies, and the proudly cheeky sentimentality that drips off of “Clair,” to name the most obvious example here. In many ways, the unabashed showbiz cheer of Back to Front trumps the bedsit introspection of Himself: in his heart Gilbert O’Sullivan is a song-and-dance man possessing a way with a snappy hook or tearjerking melody, qualities that are amply - and charmingly - displayed here.

Review (Wikipedia) : Back to Front is the second studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan, released in October 1972 by MAM Records. The album follows the success of his 1971 debut album Himself and singles such as "Alone Again (Naturally)". Coinciding with the album, O'Sullivan abandoned his distinctive dress sense, which included a short cap and trousers, and instead presented himself as a more masculine, hairy-chested singer with a perm, wearing sweaters with the letter "G" emblazoned on them, which helped establish him as a sex symbol. O'Sullivan wrote the album's songs at home during night-time writing sessions, and recorded the album with his manager and producer Gordon Mills in London. As with Himself, the album combines show tune-inspired pop music with string arrangements, but also places an emphasis on piano-based songs. O'Sullivan's lyrical style displays his characteristic observational, kitchen sink style, with songs boasting humorous twists and a wide range of musical and lyrical influences, including Fats Domino. Upon release, Back to Front was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and allowing O'Sullivan to become the era's best-selling British-based artist. The single "Clair" was a UK chart-topper. To promote the album, the singer underwent his first nationwide tour. Salvo released a remastered version of Back to Front in February 2012 as part of their Gilbert O'Sullivan – A Singer & His Songs collection.