D'Abo

• Artist: Michael d'Abo
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1970
• Genre: Rock

Review

D'Abo's first solo album is a modest, competent, well-sung collection of original material in a subdued blue-eyed soul/singer/songwriter vein, sometimes with a tinge of gospel. Ultimately it lacks enough character, in the music and (to a lesser degree) the vocals, to make much of an impression. On tracks like "As Long as I Have Loving" and "Call My Heart Your Home, Girl," it seems evident that D'Abo had been doing some serious listening to both Randy Newman and Ray Charles; "Mary, Warm My Bed" is a decent facsimile of average 1969-1970 American pop-soul. Certainly the best-known song is "Handbags and Gladrags," much more famous as done by Rod Stewart, though few to this day know that D'Abo wrote it. Some big names help out on the backup, including Albert Lee and Chris Spedding on guitars, and Gerry Conway (from Fotheringay) and John Marshall (later of Soft Machine) on drums. All of the tracks from D'Abo are included on the compilation The Mike D'Abo Collection, Vol. 1: Handbags & Gladrags. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Credits

Albert Lee (Guitar), Chris Spedding (Guitar), Sue Glover (Vocals), Sunny Leslie (Vocals), Doris Troy (Vocals), Mike Leander (Strings), Roy Babbington (Bass), Michael d'Abo (Keyboards), Michael d'Abo (Vocals), Michael d'Abo (Main Performer), Pat Donaldson (Bass), Hugh (Vocals), John Marshall (Drums), Matthew (Harmonica), Nanette (Vocals), John Neil (Vocals), Tony (Vocals)