What was your first paid job?

At college I had a Saturday job in a hardware store and I got £1. When I came to London in 1966 and lived in a bedsit, I got a temporary job as a salesman in a C&A store.

I don’t know what I earned: enough to pay the rent, I imagine. Then, in 1967‑68, I worked as a postal clerk for £10 a week.

Have you ever struggled financially?

I don’t think so. When Gordon Mills took me on – he was the manager of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck – I was getting by on £10 a week.

Gordon had a bungalow outside Weybridge so I stayed there under his guidance and it was magical. I had no rent and could play the piano all day. When I was asked what I’d like as income, I said: give me £10 a week.

Are you a spender or a saver?

Online for Laithwaite’s wine or House of Bath homewares, or in an ironmonger’s store, I’m a spender.

My wife and daughters laugh at me but I can’t go into an ironmonger’s without coming out with cloths for cleaning windows or toilet brushes. I have no idea why. I even buy them for the housekeeper. Otherwise, I’m a prudent saver.

What was your first songwriting pay cheque?

Somebody else working at C&A landed a recording contract and I asked if he’d take my demo tape to his publisher, April Music, so he did.

They were really interested and signed me. Occasionally, I’d get a cheque for £30 from them.

Which song has been your biggest earner?

The most successful worldwide is Alone Again (Naturally), which was number one in America for six weeks. I’ve no idea what I’ve earned for it, suffice to say it has done very well.

But because it’s a serious song that people bought for the sensitivity of the lyric, I protect it from being abused.

I’ve turned down vast amounts of money for it. I was offered a washing-machine ad to use the song, where I was looking at $250,000, but no way would I allow that.

Didn’t you take a rapper to court over copyright infringement?

In 1992, Biz Markie, the Kanye West of his day, sampled the intro to Alone Again (Naturally). I’d said no because the association with his comedy rap was totally wrong but he went ahead anyway, so we had to sue him.

I was the one who had to go to New York, spend a fortune on lawyers, get grilled on the stand, and he wasn’t even there. But we got it removed and that set a legal precedent.

Has having money ever gone to your head?

No. I just accepted it. I can give examples of going into MAM, my record label, and a secretary coming down with a cheque for a million pounds for me. I was happy to have it but I didn’t go looking for it.

The joy was that I was able to write successful songs. When Nothing Rhymed took off, within a year I was able to have my own house, in Weybridge. It was important to me to have that privacy.

Yes, it was a really nice house but I wasn’t living ostentatiously. The room where I did interviews was the original owners’ dining room and there were still food stains on the walls.

I have a healthy arrogance towards the music business. I’m very shy. I’m not a red-carpet person.

What’s the most you’ve splashed out on a single item?

About nine years ago I ordered the world’s only transposing grand piano, where you can change it from concert pitch to a semitone down.

I paid maybe £40,000-£50,000 for it. It’s magic for someone like me with a limited vocal range.

Have you ever been ripped off?

I’m not sure about ripped off but 90pc of what I earned when I was first successful, in 1971‑72, went to the Government. I was advised to buy an aeroplane to reduce the tax burden. I never went in it. It’s laughable.

You took your manager to court over unpaid revenue. How did that come about?

When Gordon Mills signed me up in 1969, I was already with a publisher, April Music, with two years to go. They’d offered writers their own little company within the major company, so I had O’Sullivan Songs within April Music.

It was a wonderful scheme, whereby, as well as the 50pc of income from a song that went to the writer, you also got half of the publisher’s 50pc, plus a share of ownership.

Gordon said I could have the same arrangement if I was successful. Occasionally I would ask him about it but it never happened.

By 1976, success was slipping away and Gordon and I broke up for artistic reasons. I thought it was amicable and, when I asked if I would still get the interest in my songs that he promised, he said yes.

But when I went into the office on the Monday I was basically told to eff off [not by Gordon Mills].

The court case gave me far more than I was looking for and I was happy to receive it, no question. I was given a very good financial reward and got back all my master recordings and all the publishing interest, rather than the small amount I’d been looking for.

But I regret the unhappiness it caused Gordon and his family.

How did it affect your earnings?

Winning the case, I became a “know-all” who takes on the business and the business doesn’t like that. I suffered for it for quite a while but I continued to write and eventually got back on course, releasing a new record in 1990.

My catalogue is known around the world, so that stood me in good stead.

What has been your best financial decision?

Before the court case I left the house in Weybridge and moved to Ireland, where you had writers’ exemption from tax. It meant that, had I lost, I could pay the lawyers.

After four years in Ireland I moved to Jersey in 1984. That was my best move – lovely environment, good state education and a beneficial tax system.

And your biggest financial mistake?

After we moved to Jersey I was advised to take out a portfolio of investments. I had no idea what they were talking about but, reluctantly, I agreed – provided they didn’t go for risky stuff.

Within a short time the big crash happened. My losses were great but not as bad as some people suffered. Since then I’ve had good people looking after a small portfolio. I don’t understand it. I understand music.

Do you prefer to pay by cash or card?

Card. I have three cards. I like cards, but I never like the end of the month.

Does money make you happy?

I’m very well off, so I have no complaints. My brother, my daughter and my sister are all on the payroll and I’m happy that I’m able to do that.

We have everything we need. Money is important but what makes me happy is being in reasonably good health and having a good family life.