Mike D'Abo
Collection, Vol. 1: 1964-1970 - Handbags & Gladrags - RPM 2001
Tracks: Tracks:
1. Me / 2. Not True as Yet / 3. Gonna Make a Woman of You / 4. She'll Never Be You / 5. Too Late My Love / 6. (Accept My) Invitation / 7. See the Little People / 8. Miss Me in the Morning / 9. Cinderella Arabella / 10. Because You Are / 11. Let It Roar / 12. Walk a Million Miles / 13. As Long as I Have Loving / 14. Mary, Warm My Bed / 15. Call My Heart Your Home, Girl / 16. Ladder / 17. Maria Maria / 18. Woman in My Life / 19. Clancy / 20. Californian Line / 21. Oh! What a Day / 22. Handbags and Gladrags
Comments:
This Mike D'Abo compilation covers records made in the perod 1964-1970; note that no Manfred Mann recordings are included.
During 1964-65 D'Abo was the lead singer of the obscure band "Band of Angels". The band released 3 singles which are included. Interesting that the first 2 a-sides are hard-rocking, not unlike the syle of early Easybeats, where as the b-side are softer Merseybeat inspired stuff. Though in ways remarkable all singles are really quite solid.
His first solo-single "See the Little People" from 1969 is the closest you get the the well-known Manfred Mann sound - a great song and along with "Californian Line" and "Handbags and Gladrags" my favourites on the CD. His next single "Cinderella Arabella" was a very commercial thing and the b-side "Miss Me in the Morning" is actually much better.
His complete 12 tracks 1970 UNI album rounds up the compilation. A lot of it is pretty uninteresting white-soul/pop. Some of if may remind of John Paul Young though most of it never comes near the power of his best records. Two tracks stand out though; the country-inspired "Californian Line" and of his classic "Handbags and Gladrags" - a song much in the singer -songwriter tradition of people like James Taylor. For fans of Mike D'Abo this compilation is obviously a must!
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