Stereophonics
Stereophonics member Kelly Jones did some acoustic solo shows at the end of last year, in which he included the Mike d'Abo song "Handbags And Gladrags". Then on the December 31, 2000 show of Jools Holland on BBC TV, the Stereophonics included "Handbags And Gladrags" in their show as well.
The New Musical Express reviewed one of the acoustic solo shows of Kelly Jones and even mentioned the track "Handbags And Gladrags" in their review as being a great song and probably more other people react positive on this song, so the Stereophonics decided to release it as a single. It will be the first time the band release a cover version as a single.
On November 5 I heard the song for the first time on Dutch radio. The Stereophonics made a great version of this wonderful song. It's very similar (even the voice) to the Rod Stewart version on the "An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down" album.
The Stereophonics' CD "Just Enough Education To Perform" with the extra track "Handbags And Gladrags" became available on November 26, while on December 3 it will be available in the UK on two CD's (one recorded with Jools Holland and his Rhythm And Blues Orchestra and one recorded live in the Birmingham Irish Centre, November 2000), a 7" vinyl single, DVD and video, so the real Mike d'Abo fans will have to save some money, if you want all items.
On December 9 the Stereophonics single "Handbags And Gladrags" smashed into the UK charts at number 4 !!! One week later it still was at number four, while it's at number 5 in the last week of December 2001. In all three weeks it was NUMBER ONE (yes) in the UK Indie Charts !!! So finally Mike has his smash hit with "Handbags And Gladrags" which should have come many years earlier of course, but still he told me that he was very happy with this success.
In Ireland the Stereophonics scored a number three hit with "Handbags And Gladrags". In Japen the song was quite popular too and 39 became the highest position in the Top 100. In Holland the song is very popular too. The DJ's have been playing the song all through the months December, January and February. However the song was released in December 2001 already, the Dutch DJ's choose the song as "Record of the week" in the second week of February 2002. But however the song could be heard on the Dutch radio many times, it only scored 57 as highest position in the Top 100. That's a shame.
Also the Stereophonics album "Just Enough Education To Perform" with "Handbags And Gladrags" re-entered the UK album charts at number 25 on December 9 and went up the number 16 the next week and was number 14 during the last week of 2001. Now, during January and February 2002, it even was number ONE again for the three weeks !!! It really is a good time for Mike d'Abo fans, and through all these releases I found out that there are a lot Mike d'Abo fans all over the world who found "my" Mike d'Abo website.
On February 26, the Stereophonics were awarded with a gold album of "Just Enough Education To Perform" in Holland. That means only the second country where the CD went gold. However Holland is a small country, we know what good music is. When big stars go on tour, the nearly always do concerts in Holland too.
"Handbags And Gladrags" by the Stereophonics is available in the following formats:
| 2 track CD | V2 Music VVR5017753P (UK) |
| Handbags And Gladrags (radio edit)/Handbags And Gladrags | |
| 3 track CD | V2 Music VVR5017753 (UK) |
| Handbags And Gladrags/First Time Ever I Saw Your Face/How | |
| 2 track CD | V2 Music VVR5018738 (UK) |
| Handbags And Gladrags/First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (cardboard cover) | |
| 5 track CD | V2 Music VVR5018733 (UK) |
|
Handbags And Gladrags/First Time Ever I Saw Your
Face/How/ Caravan Holiday (live acoustic version)/Nice To Be Out (live acoustic version) |
|
| 3 track CD | V2 Music VVR5017758 (UK) |
| Handbags And Gladrags/Caravan Holiday/Nice To Be Out (all three track live acoustic) | |
| 6 track CD | V2 Music VVR5026323P (UK) |
|
Handbags And Gladrags/Don’t Let Me Down (live
acoustic version)/Angie/The Old Laughing Lady/Who’ll Stop The Rain/
Positively 4th Street |
|
| 12 track CD album | V2 Music VVR1018292 (UK) |
| Vegas Two Times/Lying In The Sun/Mr. Writer/Step On My Old Size Nines/Have A Nice Day/Nice To Be Out/Handbags And Gladrags/Watch Them Fly Sundays/Everyday I Think Of Money/ Maybe/Caravan Holiday/Rooftop | |
| 5 track CD | V2 Music V2CP 118 (Japan) |
|
Handbags And Gladrags/First Time Ever I Saw Your
Face/How/ Caravan Holiday (live acoustic version)/Nice To Be Out (live acoustic version) |
|
| 2 track 7" single | V2 Music VVR5017757 (UK) |
| Handbags And Gladrags/First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | |
| Compilation CD "Hits 51" | BMG HITSCD51 (UK) |
| Compilation CD "Top Of The Pops Volume 3" | BBC 583 210-2 (UK) |
| Compilation CD "How Are You ?" | BMG 74321 929062 (UK) |