A pile of Mud...

Music was one of our social currencies back in the day, exchanging likes and tidbits of information in an era devoid of internet, music television and mbile phones.

There were artists you were definately fans of, having posters, fan club memberships albums and singles of apart from seeing your heroes live on stage  which for me was The Rollers, Sweet and the Wombles and there were others you may of liked singles by but weren't your main thing.

 The Carlshalton, Surrey group Mud, originally a rock and roll revival act was one of those having been picked as a means of Rak Records owner and employer of a song writing team of having hits and you could say they went for the ride.

Those chart hits from Crazy, Tiger Feet, The Cat Crept In, Rocket, Oh Boy, Secrets That You Keep and Moonshine Sally were records I did like, fitting in as a cross between Glam Rock with a lead vocalist who could "do" Elvis well.

The Xmas hit Lonely This Christmas remains a favourite seasonal song of mine as while on the one hand its a tongue in cheek Elvis inpersonation, it does touch the very real issue of feeling alone at Christmas were everybody else isn't and that's all you see.

Two albums were issued but here that schism between their act and their chart hits shows because especially with Mud Rock, it's mainly a live album of rock and roll covers with only one full hit, Rocket, which isn't what a fan of the singles would of expected.

Mud Rock Vol: II is more of a fake live album with just odd really live track and the rest overdubbed with crowd noise but is a much easier listen for being better recorded and this did have a couple of full hits on it.

This was a "contractual obligation release" as after one day signing to Rak they signed to another record company Private Stock, home of the seen to take off Blondie and David Soul so Most of Mud Rock II actually was finished by December 1974 although it was a Spring 1975 release that didn't trouble the charts much.

I wouldn't say they were particulary worth seeking out unless you're a completest while that "Let's Have a Party-The Best Of Mud is compilation on cd of this era of the group.

Part of the reason for going to Private Stock records was they wanted more input into their songs and the arrangements  but those albums have been very hard to find so I did get this 2004 double compliation of singles and album tracks instead some years ago with singles and album tracks instead.

This does feature actual hits, not played as much as they might on oldies radio shows such as L L L Lucy, Show Me You're A Woman and Use Your Imagination plus the B side to Beating About The Bush, Under The Moon Of Love  was covered by Showaddywaddy reaching #1 in 1976 but the tide was turning from most of the glam rock era artists seeing sales drop and contracts end and Mud were no exception unfortunately however good this later material was.

If you just want the Rak era hits on vinyl, beyond the original singles I'd suggest Mud's Greatest Hits from late 1975 used as a good copy will sound great given it was mastered and cut at Abbey Road studios.