Handbags and Gladrags explained

Handbags and Gladrags
Cover:Handbags and Gladrags Farlowe single.jpg
Caption:Stateside (Australia) record cover
Type:single
Artist:Chris Farlowe
B-Side:Everyone Makes a Mistake
Recorded:Early 1967
Genre:Rhythm and blues, blue-eyed soul
Length:3:30
Label:Immediate
Producer:Mike d'Abo
Prev Title:Moanin'
Prev Year:1967
Next Title:The Last Goodbye
Next Year:1968

"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 first released version of the song was by Chris Farlowe in 1967, followed by Love Affair on their The Everlasting Love Affair album in 1968, and later interpretations by Rod Stewart (1969) and Stereophonics (2001) were also commercially successful. An arrangement by Big George was the theme for The Office starting in July 2001.

The demo tape of the original version of the song was discovered in 2004 in a closet belonging to bassist Mo Foster. It was amongst a collection of studio recordings d'Abo had recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The collection was eventually released in 2004, on the Angel Air label, under the title Hidden 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 included Dave Greenslade's piano blues-scale riff. The song was included as track 13 (of 14) on Farlowe's 1969 compilation album The Last Goodbye.[4]

Rod Stewart version

Handbags and Gladrags
Cover:Handbags and Gladrags Stewart single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Rod Stewart
Album:An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
B-Side:Man of Constant Sorrow
Released:May 1970 (US)
Recorded:1969
Length:4:24
Label:Mercury
Producer:Lou Reizner
Prev Title:Dirty Old Town
Prev Year:1971
Next Title:You Wear It Well
Next Year:1972

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 charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 42 in March.[5] In 1993, Stewart recorded a live version of the song during his session for MTV Unplugged. This version was included on the album Unplugged...and Seated.

Although it was never a hit single for Stewart in the UK, in recognition of its renewed popularity following its use for television series The Office and Stereophonics returning it to the charts, he performed "Handbags and Gladrags" (backed by Phil Collins on drums) as his only song at the Party at the Palace in 2002.

The original record arrangement includes a "plaintive oboe phrasing".[6]

Record World said Stewart "sounds fabulous."[7]

In 1989, Rod Stewart's version of the song was used in the Season One episode of the TV series Midnight Caller entitled "No Exit".

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.

Jon English version

In 1973, English-born Australian musician Jon English released his version as his debut single, from his debut studio album Wine Dark Sea.

Stereophonics version

Handbags and Gladrags
Cover:Handbags and Gladrags Stereophonics single.JPG
Type:single
Artist:Stereophonics
Album:Just Enough Education to Perform
B-Side:
Length:4:46
Label:V2
Prev Title:Step on My Old Size Nines
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Vegas Two Times
Next Year:2002

In 2001, Welsh rock band Stereophonics released a version of the song on single. It was subsequently added to their previous album's re-release Just Enough Education to Perform as track seven and on their first compilation album as the final track.[8] [9] The band originally recorded their version as a demo "for a laugh", but after the record company heard it they saw the potential of it being a single and subsequently had it commissioned as one.[10] Despite receiving criticism, it became one of their most successful singles; in Ireland, it peaked at number three, and it was certified gold in the UK.

Release and reception

"Handbags and Gladrags" was released as a single in the UK on 3 December 2001.[11] Four different releases were made available to the public, including two CDs, 7-inch vinyl, and cassette. The first CD includes two more covers, Ewan MacColl's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and John Lennon's "How?". The second CD contains live acoustic versions of "Caravan Holiday" and "Nice to be Out", both from Just Enough Education to Perform. The 7-inch vinyl only has "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" for a B-side, as does the cassette format. A maxi-CD, released in Europe and Australia, includes all five songs. In Japan, this maxi-CD was released on 9 January 2002.[12]

Following on from the "Mr. Writer" critical backlash, the song received a negative review from Drowned in Sound reviewer Anita Bhagwandas.[13] Bhagwandas described it as the "final drop in the Stereophonics' inevitable descent into pop mediocrity" and criticised the group for "selling out."[13]

Personnel

Stereophonics[14]

Additional[14]

Technical[14]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 63
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 89
Chart (2002)Position
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 57
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 115

Certifications

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:

Both vocal versions were sung by Waysted vocalist Fin Muir.

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

Version release history

YearArtistType
1967Chris FarloweSingle
1967Double FeatureSingle
1968Love AffairAlbum
1969Kate TaylorAlbum & single
1969The RationalsAlbum (CREWE CR-1334)
1969Rod StewartAlbum
1971ChaseAlbum & single
1971Gary BurtonAlbum
1971Jimmy WitherspoonAlbum
1973Jon EnglishSingle
1974Mike d'AboAlbum
1975Chris FarloweAlbum (Live recording)
1977Kirka BabitzinAlbum
1992Mary CoughlanAlbum
1993Rod StewartAlbum (Acoustic recording)
2001StereophonicsSingle
2002Rod StewartAlbum (Live recording)
2003Manfred MannAlbum
2004Royal Philharmonic OrchestraAlbum
2005Chris FarloweAlbum (Live recording)
2005Dark One LiteAlbum
2007Engelbert HumperdinckAlbum
2007WaystedAlbum
2007Jonathan SassAlbum
2008Jackie TrentAlbum
2008Ol' Cheeky BastardsAlbum
2008Karl JenkinsAlbum

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sunday Express . From Gladrags to Riches . Goodman . Chris . Express Newspapers . 66 . 9 February 2003.
  2. Web site: Hidden Gems & Treasured Friends. Angel Air Records. 2009-06-07.
  3. Web site: Chris Farlowe - Handbags And Gladrags / Everyone Makes A Mistake - Immediate - UK - IM 065 . 45cat . 2014-06-28.
  4. Web site: The Last Goodbye - Chris Farlowe | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic. 2014-06-28.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 806.

  6. Web site: Butler. Jackie. A Special Audience with Mike d'Abo . Western Morning News. 23 September 2016. 3 October 2014.
  7. Single Reviews. Record World. February 14, 1970. 8. 2023-04-28.
  8. Web site: Just Enough Education To Perform [Extra Tracks] ]. Stereophonics . 1 July 2006 . 1 April 2014.
  9. Web site: Decade in the Sun: Best of Stereophonics . Stereophonics . 10 November 2008 . 1 April 2014.
  10. Web site: 'Handbags and Gladrags' - Stereophonics keyboardist Tony Kirkham . BIMM . https://web.archive.org/web/20150606034143/http://www.bimm.co.uk/news/handbags-and-gladrags-stereophonics-keyboardist-tony-kirkham/ . 6 June 2015 . live . 5 June 2015.
  11. New Releases – For Week Starting December 3, 2001: Singles . . 23 . 1 December 2001 . 21 August 2021.
  12. Web site: ハンドバッグス・アンド・グラッドラグス ステレオフォニックス. Handbags and Gladrags Stereophonics. Oricon. ja. 26 November 2023.
  13. Web site: Stereophonics Handbags and Gladrags . Anita . Bhagwandas . . 19 November 2001 . 1 April 2001 . 24 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121124090119/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5274/reviews/2590-stereophonics-handbags-and-gladrags . dead .
  14. Decade in the Sun . Stereophonics . 2008 . CD . V2 Records.
  15. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 19. 52. 23. 22 December 2001. 10 September 2020.
  16. Web site: Ireland – Top Singles for 2001. Allcharts. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505011812/http://allcharts.org/music/years/ireland-singles-2001.htm. 5 May 2012. 16 December 2018.
  17. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. 22 November 2018.
  18. Web site: Top 100 Songs of 2002. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040602113021/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2002.html. 2 June 2004. 16 March 2022.
  19. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2002. UKChartsPlus. 22 November 2018.