Songs I Like (28)

~ beetleypete

In 1967, Mike D’Abo wrote the song ‘Handbags and Gladrags’, trying to get over the point that fashionable clothes and designer labels are not the way to find happiness. That same year it was recorded by Chris Farlowe, a British singer with a powerful voice who is almost forgotten now. I bought that single, aged fifteen. Two years later, Rod Stewart recorded his version of the song. Although I still liked Chris’s original, I liked the actual song enough to buy Rod’s album too.

Then much later, in 2001, the Welsh band The Sterophonics released their version of the song, which was also used as the theme song for the TV series ‘The Office’. I liked their version a lot, and bought a copy. Then I decided that I really much preferred their more soulful-voiced and orchestrated version to both of the others.

So for a change, I am presenting all three versions, in time order. I still enjoy them all, for different reasons.

Chris Farlowe. (The date on the video is wrong, it was 1967)

Rod Stewart.

The Stereophonics.

Ever see a blind man cross the road
Trying to make the other side?
Ever seen a young girl growing old
Trying to make herself a bride?
So what becomes of you, my love?
When they have finally stripped you of
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old granddad
Had to sweat to buy you, baby
Once I was a young man
And all I thought I had to do was smile
Well, you are still a young girl
And you’ve borne everything in style
So once you think you’re in, you’re out
‘Cause you don’t mean a single thing without
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old granddad
Had to sweat to buy you
Sing a song of six-pence for your sake
And drink a bottle full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds in a cake
And bake ’em all in a pie
They told me you missed school today
So what I suggest you just throw them all away
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old granddad
Had to sweat to buy, oh-woah
They told me you missed school today
So what I suggest you just throw them all away
The handbags and the gladrags
That your poor old granddad
Had to sweat to buy you
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Mike D’abo
Handbags And Gladrags lyrics © Emi United Partnership Ltd

38 thoughts on “Songs I Like (28)”

  9. Pingback: Songs I Like (28) | beetleypete | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  10. A popular theme. This one immediately reminded me of an obscure Alan Parson’s song. I wonder why, what with all the materialism songs out there. Anyway, I’d never heard the original from the big voiced belter.😳

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    1. Chris Farlowe had a few hits here, including the Jagger-Richards song ‘Out Of Time’, and his versions of ‘Paint It Black’, and ‘Stormy Monday’.

      Best wishes, Pete.

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      Reply

      1. I agree, I never really bought him as a sex symbol (Do ya think I’m sexy? – er, no Rod) but his early stuff was great, with or without the Faces

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