FINALLY we have a definitive Greatest Hits compilation from the man who was the most successful UK male solo artist of 1973.

Gilbert first appeared in 1970 with Nothing Rhymed, and his visual appearance was startling; with a pudding-basin haircut, flat cap and boots.

But beneath that image was a songwriter par excellence.

Over the years, the image changed and he became – for a while – a bit of a heart-throb.

Yet whilst the image changed, what remained constant was his exemplary writing.

Hit after hit ensued: Alone Again (Naturally), We Will, No Matter How I Try and What’s In a Kiss kept the chart compilers busy for the rest of the seventies, and along the way he even managed a couple of chart-toppers with Get Down and Clair (a song written about his manager’s daughter who he used to babysit).

He even garnered a couple of Ivor Novello Awards along the way.

Gilbert’s best hits, it seemed, were auto-biographical in content and they are all gathered together in this 22-track collection.

All his hits are here, along with some newer numbers – as he is still writing and recording- like Taking a Chance and All They Wanted To Say.

Gilbert’s star shone very bright, and we can all bask in it’s light with this superb collection of songs by a master craftsman.

Union Square Music.

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