"Alone Again (Naturally)" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. Recorded in 1971, it became a worldwide hit. The song did not originally appear on his 1972 studio album Back to Front, but has been included in reissues (often replacing "Clair").
| "Alone Again (Naturally)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 German single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Gilbert O'Sullivan | ||||
| B-side | "Save It" | |||
| Released | 18 February 1972 (UK)[1] May 1972 (US)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | MAM | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gilbert O'Sullivan | |||
| Producer(s) | Gordon Mills | |||
| Gilbert O'Sullivan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Alone Again (Naturally)" at Studio 10 on YouTube | ||||
The single spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 between late July and early September 1972 in America. It ranked number two in the year-end chart and sold over two million copies.[5]
The song was involved in a notable 1991 court case in which it set a precedent for the music industry that unauthorized sampling of music can constitute copyright infringement.[6]
Lyrics edit
"Alone Again (Naturally)" is a melancholy, introspective ballad. In the first verse, the singer contemplates suicide after having been left at the altar; in the second, he wonders if there is a God; finally, he laments the death of his parents. O'Sullivan has said the song is not autobiographical: for example, his mother was alive during its composition, and he was not close to his father, who was abusive to his mother and died when the singer was 11 years old.[7]
Reception edit
The song received extensive radio airplay in the months after its release and was critically praised. O'Sullivan commented: “Neil Diamond covered 'Alone Again (Naturally)' and said he couldn't believe a 21-year-old wrote it, but for me it was just one song I had written.”[8] Neil Sedaka stated when he covered the song in 2020 that he wished that he himself had written the song, because its complexity was more typical of someone much older than 21.[9]
Chart performance edit
Between late July and early September 1972 in America the single spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 – interrupted by Looking Glass's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" – and ranked no. 2 in the year-end chart. It spent six weeks at number one, 11 weeks in the Top Ten, 15 weeks in the Top 40 and 18 weeks on the Hot 100. In a decade-end survey as counted down on syndicated radio show Casey Kasem's American Top 40, using Billboard statistics, "Alone Again (Naturally)" ranked five. It also spent six weeks at number one on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[10] In April 1972 "Alone Again" peaked at no. 3 on the UK singles chart.[11]
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
All-time charts edit
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Copyright lawsuit edit
Grand Upright Music, Ltd v. Warner Bros. Records Inc. was a copyright case heard in 1991 by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case pitted O'Sullivan against Biz Markie, after the rapper sampled O'Sullivan's song "Alone Again (Naturally)". The court ruled that sampling without permission can be copyright infringement. The judgment changed the hip hop music industry, requiring that music sampling be preapproved by the original copyright owners to avoid a lawsuit.[28]
Notable cover versions edit
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
Several artists have covered the song.
- A recording by Andy Williams was the title track for the U.S. release of his album of cover songs later in 1972.[29]
- Nina Simone, included as a bonus track on the 1988 digital reissue of her 1982 album Fodder on My Wings.[30] Simone's version has rewritten lyrics, and refer to her troubled relationship with her late father
- Lazlo Bane's frontman Chad Fischer, from the 2009 animated film Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Fischer's rewritten lyrics humorously explores the desire of an acorn for the fictional prehistoric squirrel who once chased it.
- Diana Krall released a duet version with Michael Bublé on her 2015 album Wallflower.[31]
- Vulfmon (Jack Stratton, of Vulfpeck) released a version, with vocals by Monica Martin and flute by Hailey Niswanger, for his 2022 album Here We Go Jack.[32]
- Sarah Vaughan had it recorded on her “Feelin’ Good” album released in 1972.
References edit
- ^ a b "Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Fontenot, Robert. "Soft Rock Music and Songs". Oldies.about.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ Kuge, Mara (7 February 2019). "14 Secretly Cruel Soft Rock Love Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (5 March 2019). "The Number Ones: Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
...the popularity of "Alone Again (Naturally)." One of the year's most popular songs was a florid pop trifle...
- ^ '"Alone Again Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan'. Song Facts (undated), accessed 27 November 2022
- ^ Ech, Joey (17 December 2018). "Biz Markie Guilty of Copyright Infringement - Today in Hip-Hop - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ ""Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan". Superseventies.com. 29 July 1972. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ Kernan; Andrews. "'I can still compete with anyone despite being around so long'". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Today's Mini-Concert - 10/22/2020". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 187.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 411. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 13 July 1972. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Alone Again (Naturally)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Gilbert O Sullivan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Gilbert O'Sullivan – Alone Again (Naturally)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Gilbert O'Sullivan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Gilbert OSullivan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Gilbert OSullivan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 8/26/72". Tropicalglen.com. 26 August 1972. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 1972 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". Tropicalglen.com. 30 December 1972. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Music Sampling and Copyright Law (PDF), p. 21
- ^ "Andy Williams - Alone Again (Naturally) Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Nina Simone - Fodder on My Wings Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Diana Krall - Wallflower Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Alone Again, Naturally - Vulfmon (feat. Monica Martin)". Retrieved 20 June 2022 – via YouTube.
