Handbags and Gladrags: The story behind the writing - Mike d'Abo at the Hurlingham Club

[@davidanderson6055]

This is such a powerful song. It speaks to individual disappointment, the reflections of age and the folly of youth, and even generational realities in society. It is cryptic at points and filled with passion and emotional depth about seemingly mundane moments that are more meaningful than they appear, like a young person skipping school. I absolutely believe him that it was given by God.

[@sergeb3158]

Your words reflect so much what I've been feeling myself for many years about this song. There's really some kind of magic hiding behind its music and words, touching upon some universal, almost inherent ancient truth. And the way d'Abo is telling about the way the words and music came to him overnight, only proves that it was a sort of Godsend wave that he just accepted like a receiver. And Rod Stewart felt that magic straight away therefore clutching at the song. He's the best interpreter, sometimes nearing in his singing at the Unplugged gig ,the brink of total despair.." drink a bottle full of rye".. And I hate the Stereophonics' version, they just ruined that magic.

[@megpennywhistle]

OMG! This is the greatest version I've ever heard!

[@seansherrod8725]

one of the absolute greatest and most beautiful piano riffs ever written

[@Boydster318]

Mike, I will never be able to express to you what that song did to my life. Thank You.

[@bernadette607]

I love this man. My teenage years are here when I listen to this divine song

[@mamaurku]

How wonderful to hear the story of how this song was created! Thank you.

[@philiphart6688]

Fabulous song, and even better story of it's genesis.

[@davisworth5114]

Always loved the song and the piano and now we meet Mike d"Abo and see that he is truly a star! What an amazing story, and on one take?! Thank you, now I have to learn this on piano.

[@renetilly]

I remember being 14 and this song so connected with me. Broke my heart. One of the most beautiful songs out there.

[@michaelengland7228]

great voice too, love this song.

[@colincourier]

wow wow wow!!!!! how it happens .then this music transforms milllions of lives. thankyou composer. you give millions hope in this world.

[@jc6594]

Happy 80th Birthday Mike

[@quincyfrancis9454]

Iam impressed......it's just Rod captured a voice to accomadate the concerns of that narrative....

[@warriordrum]

Bravo, amazing story with an even more amazing song. Wonderful clip that I could not have enjoyed more. The Jimi connection ..... wow.

[@craigduncan4826]

Man music is so wild, it’s like certain gifts just come down from god and even the person writing can’t explain it. Incredible and it transcends races, ages, sexes and it’s just pure humanity. Part of the human condition is music - what makes us unique.

[@pandorasullivan777]

Beautiful ❤ What incredible talent!

[@minsterhill]

Excellent!

[@minsterhill]

and a terrible time to take a piss!

[@tgforty5]

Just beautiful.

[@daveclarke05443]

So glad I’ve watched this. What a great story !! Top song

[@merledoughty5787]

Love the stories I never knew that Mike wrote this song

[@merledoughty5787]

I would have given my eye teeth to have been there to listen to Mike,s tales how magic lost on those who don,t get it.. music composition and this si a song that brings tears to my eyes as having grand children and one who has given us so much pain, still we love her and she is becoming a good kid the song says it all

[@1TheMenaces]

Brilliant!! Great all-round musician/song writer

[@DaylightDisinfectant]

Bravo. The creation of s masterpiece.

[@stephenharris]

Always loved this song and thought that nobody who sang it ever did it real justice. Well, all I had to do was find a version by the guy that wrote it. Phenomenal!! It's the gospel touch that was missing.

[@edwardbliss8931]

When he was younger, I liked how he wiggled around to Mighty Quinn.

[@emanueltadeuborges1628]

A so beautiful piano riff that reminds me of the great Nicky Hopkins. But mike d'Abo is also a great piano piano player. And still sings with a beautiful voice!

[@prehistory42]

Wonderful !

[@johndymond1518]

Love this song thanks

[@CandidCorndog]

FABULOUS!!!!!

[@peterwooldridge7285]

Just the best

[@kevinclifford2637]

Fantastic!

[@williefinn4932]

excellent...mike a brilliant pianist as well as singer. what a pity manfred mann didn`t use handbags and gladrags...would have been a huge hit.

[@herbertwells8757]

No, he's an okay pianist and a pretty marginal singer. The song, by the way, actually sounds a lot like a Procol Harum song.

[@ACitizenOfOurWorld]

The added flourish he created at the suggestion of Rod Stewart is what made the song exceptional.

[@stephenkirk1024]

So interesting, once all the pieces of jigsaw fit.....a classic emerges

[@jeffhammers5677]

never, of course could there be a version as good as the original

[@moonlitme]

Delightful!

[@angie42bonponsiero56]

It's amazing how a song can be around for so long, timeless classic. I Iike Rod's version but I think the Steriophonics really nailed it.

[@warrenderbie2003]

Sensational performance.

[@anthonymirabal5053]

He also wrote Build Me Up Buttercup for the Foundations in 68!

[@SuperLeddie]

wow, didn't know that.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Wonderful

[@maxwelldewinter]

Brilliant!!

[@ghosthawk2.073]

Well done Mikey

[@rogerthedodger07946]

I could have sworn the words came from an old English folktale but it seems Mike d'Abo wrote the words.

[@lewinusmone4]

real music

[@hippydippy]

Sweet!

[@ninofunka1106]

GOLDEN

[@danielhaney9992]

Heavenly 🙏

[@pault1964]

I will have the wind cries Mary at my funeral

[@ScottR10]

Its called Channeling...and it happened to Gene Roddenberry, just to name one other...happens a lot. channelingerik.com

[@njuham]

Does he mean Ronnie Lane on bass, not Wood?

[@PatriotSteve]

njuham Ronnie Wood was in the Jeff Beck group. Maybe he played bass at the time.

[@markkerr8657]

Ronnie Wood played bass in The Jeff Beck Group.

[@jamesmcdonald3798]

njuham ronnie lane plyed guitar and woody played bass in the faces i beleive

[@josephbailey4249]

Well he wouldn't be playing guitar in Jeff Becks group would he ? Joking aside Ronnie Wood used to play bass before he turned to playing lead guitar with The Faces.

[@herbertwells8757]

The story about how this guy came up with the meandering lyric is not particularly interesting, but the story of how Rod Stewart came to record the song I found very interesting (not to say exactly riveting). I have a few objections, however: 1) "Grandad" certainly does NOT rhyme with "handbag" or "glad rag". 2) There may be a button labeled "oboe" on that dreadful contraption this guy's playing, but it's w-a-y too much of a stretch to call the result an "oboe sound". 3) For that matter, the "piano" sound is pretty awful too (just not AS awful). Why can't the Hurlingham Club invest in an actual real piano? 4) Around the time Rod Stewart became very popular with his "Every Picture Tells a Story" album, his older recording of "Handbags and Glad Rags" actually did get quite a lot of radio play. This was the early seventies.

[@herbertwells8757]

By the way, people who use the term "inspired by" as a euphemism for "taken from" need to be summarily shot.

[@rikvee]

just respect the man that wrote a great song Herbert....

[@alexandrac9536]

1) actually it does rhyme: it is an internal rhyme, plus assonance.

[@cw7792]

the vowels rhyme in handbag, gladrag and Grandad

[@maetzchenmusik]

Fully in awe. Yes, Mr. d'Abo should have rented a real grand piano along with an oboe. And Mr. Wells should pay the bill. Who is able to please everybody? Mr. Wells? I don't think so, does he?

[@vanessamourot4044]

who are the zombies behind Mr D'abo ?…. go back to ur boring life!!! …u should dance and scream !!!! so wonderful and precious song!!!…..

[@siliconesal]

One big yawn ....

[@robertmcadam2216]

Wonderful