Billboard #1 Hits: #277: “Along Again {Naturally}- Gilbert O’Sullivan. July 29, 1972. #1 for 6 weeks in Billboard Hot 100.
- Single: “Alone Again {Naturally}- Gilbert O’Sullivan
- Record Company- MAM
- Genre: Pop
- Written by Gilbert O’Sullivan
- Time: 3:36
- B-side: “Save It”
- Grade- C
- Peaked at #1 6 weeks in Billboard Hot 100. #36 in UK Singles Chart.
Gilbert O’Sullivan’s first hit -and it went to #1 for 6 weeks and was the fifth most popular single of the 70’s on the Billboard Singles Chart. O’Sullivan born Raymond O’Sullivan 1946 in Waterford, Ireland -had 5 Top 40 hits in 1972-73- and that was it. 3 made the Top 10. What happened?
O’Sullivan has said that the song isn’t autobiographical. He was 21 when he wrote it. He just viewed it as another song he wrote. I liked it as a teenager-but today this is one of those songs I look back on and can’t believe I actually liked it. I would have gave it an A in the mid 70’s and a gentleman’s C today. Neil Diamond covered the song. It was only a big hit in the U.S. I don’t know what that says about the United States in 1972.
They knew how to package a pop star in these days! What an image!
Kind of a McCartney-esque sounding song.
That never occurred to me but I agree.
Gotta disagree with you on this one – to me another “A” for sure, albeit a fairly downbeat one. 1972 was such a fine year for more or less “one off” hit singles…”Brandy You’re A Fine Girl”, “Go all the Way”, “Without You”, “”Me and Mrs JOnes”, this one …(I know gilbert and Nilsson each had a few other hits but they’re mainly only remembered for the one)
One of the underrated master songwriters is Gilbert O’Sullivan. I had one of his albums and lost it. A friend gave me a lengthy mix CD that I pull out every so often and listen to. He takes me to another place as I listen. He’s gentle, intuitive, and consistently good.
I don’t understand what happened to him- it’s like he disappeared- I know he is still out there but it was like he went into hiding.
I know this sounds like a cliche, but “he’s big in Japan.” There is a short doc/interview with him on youtube where he opens up about some things.
I agree with Dave on this. I adored this song, and couldn’t get enough of it back in 1972. While my love for it has tempered a bit, I still think it’s a great song, and it would rank among my top 40 songs of the 70s.
God what a depressing song.
I agree- that is why I gave it such a low grade- I expect after finishing the song old Gilbert put his head in the oven.
LMAO!