THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

949-Gilbert O’Sullivan-Matrimony.

1971-It wasn’t issued as a single until 1976, when it failed to chart.

Best Bit-At 2.13. Just before the first dance, when the Bride and Groom were cutting the cake, if I was feeling a little bit naughty, I would play this ironic homage to marriage, no one ever commented.

Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan, on December 1st, 1946, in Waterford, Ireland, although he is Irish, music critics have described his quintessentially English song writing as the missing link between ‘The Kinks,’ (see also best songs 1014 and 770) ‘Squeeze,’ (see also best songs 507) and ‘Blur’ (see also best songs 256 and 21.) It is said that Gilbert O’Sullivan has always disliked touring, much preferring to stay home writing songs everyday between 9.0.am-5.0.pm. He has said that he avoided dating during the peak of his career, fearing it would inhibit his songwriting abilities, he didn’t get married until 1980. For a fuller career appraisal, and the discography of Gilbert O’Sullivan see beast songs 111.

‘Matrimony’ was first released as track 5 on side 1 of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s debut studio Album ‘Himself,’ from August 1971.’Matrimony’ and it’s parent Album was written by Gilbert O’Sullivan, with the production credited to Gordon Mills. Gordon Mills (see also best songs 129) was born Gordon William Mills, on May 15th, 1935, in Madras, British India, he died of stomach cancer, in 1986, at the age of 51. Gordon Mills first found success in music as a member of the British Pop group ‘The Viscounts,’ who had chart success in 1961, when reaching Number 21 in the UK with their cover version of the ‘novelty’ song ‘Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp’) Mills then went on to write, or co-write several mid 1960’s hit singles including ‘High Time,’ for Paul Jones, (1966-UK Number 4) ‘I’ll Never Get Over You,’ for Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, (1963-UK Number 4 single, and ‘It’s Not Unusual’ for Tom Jones (1965-UK Number 1.) Also in the 1960’s Mills moved in to management, with his two big signings being Tom Jones, (see also best songs 964 and 129) and Engelbert Humperdinck, it was Mills who gave both of those artists their stage names. In 1970 Gordon Mills, and Tom Jones co-founded ‘MAM Records,’ with Gilbert O’Sullivan being the labels biggest success, followed by the signing of Lynsey de Paul (1948-2014.) After years of working together O’Sullivan sued Mills over ‘cooking of the books,’ Mills had failed to pay O’Sullivan the correct royalties. In 1982 the court found in O’Sullivan’s favour, describing him as a “Patently honest and decent man,’ who had not received a just proportion of the vast income his songs had generated, he was awarded seven million in damages.

Another key player in the recording of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s debut studio Album ‘Himself,’ and on the track ‘Matrimony,’ was Johnnie Spence who did the Albums arrangements. John Spence Abrahams was born on February 4th, 1936, he died suddenly of a heart attack on August 15th, 1977, at the age of 41. Spence was a British musical arranger, and director, who worked on numerous records, and also in the field of light entertainment on television throughout the 1960’s, and 1970’s. Other key artists who Spence worked with included Matt Monro, (1930-1985) Ann Shelton, (1923-1994) and Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996.) (see also best songs 944-702-286-231 and 100) Sir George Martin (1926-2016) who had first worked with Spence in the late 1950’s said in a tribute,’Johnnie Spence was one of the best musicians I’ve ever known.He was a marvellous arranger, a great band man, and his scores for brass, saxes, rhythm and strings were the best I’ve ever had, much better than I could do. His work with Matt Monro was one of the highlights, one of the joys of my life. He always turned up with a very tasteful score. He was a lovely man, a great character. He did tend to burn the candle at both ends though, and in the middle! It was a great tragedy when he died, it was such a shock, he was so young.’

‘Matrimony’ tells the tale of a couple getting married on the cheap, and not telling anyone, as they think that their families wouldn’t approve of the marriage anyway. The narrator wants to go ahead with the wedding, but knows that like many other marriages, it might not work out.

‘I know how you’ve dreamt about being walked down the aisle, but think of the money we’ll save, and you’ll see it’s worthwhile. It won’t please our mums and dads, but they don’t even know, besides if they did what’s the betting they wouldn’t even go.’