Handbags and Gladrags

"Handbags and Gladrags"
Stateside (USA) record cover
Single by Chris Farlowe
B-side	"Everyone Makes A Mistake"
Released	17 November 1967 (1967-11-17)
Format	7"
Recorded	Early 1967
Genre	Rock, British R&B, blue-eyed soul
Length	3:30
Label	Immediate
Writer(s)	Mike d'Abo
Producer(s)	Mike d'Abo
Chris Farlowe singles chronology
"Moanin'" (1967) "Handbags and Gladrags" (1967) "Paint It Black" (1968)

"Handbags and Gladrags"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
B-side	"Man of Constant Sorrow"
Released	1972
Genre	Rock
Length	4:24
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Mike d'Abo
Producer(s)	Lou Reizner
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1971) "Handbags and Gladrags" (1972) "You Wear It Well" (1972)

"Handbags and Gladrags"
Single by Stereophonics
from the album Just Enough Education to Perform
B-side	"Have a Nice Day"
Released	2002
Length	4:46
Label	V2
Writer(s)	Mike d'Abo
Stereophonics singles chronology
"Step on My Old Size Nines" (2001) "Handbags and Gladrags" (2002) "Vegas Two Times" (2002)

	"Handbags and Gladrags" Mike d'Abo (1970). The Mike D'Abo Collection, Vol I – Handbags and Gladrags. RPM (2001) via iTunes
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	"Handbags and Gladrags" Rod Stewart (vocal), Mike d'Abo (author, piano). 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rod Stewart, UMG (1999) via iTunes, (Vertigo Records 1970)
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"Handbags and Gladrags" is a song written in 1967 by Mike d'Abo, who was then the lead singer of Manfred Mann. D'Abo describes the song as "saying to a teenage girl that the way to happiness is not through being trendy. There are deeper values."^[1]

The original demo tape of the original version of the song was discovered in 2004 in a closet belonging to Mo Foster. It was amongst a collection of studio recordings d'Abo had recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The collection, including the demo recording, was eventually released on the Angel Air label under the title of Missing Gems & Treasured Friends.^[2]

Chris Farlowe version

In November 1967, singer Chris Farlowe was the first to release a version of the song, produced by Mike d'Abo.^[3] It became a #33 hit in the United Kingdom for Immediate Records. This arrangement of the song featured Dave Greenslade's piano blues-scale riff. The song was included as track 13 (of 14) on Farlowe's 1969 album The Last Goodbye.^[4]

Rod Stewart version

In 1969, Rod Stewart recorded a version for the album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down. This version of the song was arranged by Mike d'Abo, who also played piano on the recording. The song failed to garner significant sales or airplay in the United States, but when it was re-released as a single in 1972, it managed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Introducing the song at the 2004 live recording of One Night Only! Rod Stewart Live at Royal Albert Hall, Rod asked the audience to recall who had a hit with the song (presumably referring to the Stereophonics version) and claimed "I was the first!"

Chase version

In 1971, Bill Chase and his jazz/rock fusion group Chase recorded a version as a single. It was included on their 1971 debut album Chase. It was sung by Ted Piercefield.

Stereophonics version

In 2001, the band Stereophonics released a version of the song on a single. It became so popular it was added to their album Just Enough Education to Perform as track 7. It was also included in 2008 on the Stereophonics best of album Decade in the Sun as the final track on the album.

The Office theme song

In 2000, a version of "Handbags and Gladrags" was specifically arranged by Big George as the theme song on the BBC series The Office. Three versions were recorded:

• a short, instrumental piece as the opening titles theme
• a short, vocal piece as the closing titles theme
• an alternative full studio version

Both vocal versions feature the vocal performance of Waysted vocalist Fin Muir.

In Series One, Episode Four, a version performed by Ricky Gervais (in character as David Brent) was featured over the end credits.

Version release history

References

• Trilogy Rock: Mike D'Abo Interview (2009)