Mud – The Rak Years 1973-75
70s glam rock and rollers Mud – Les Gray (lead vocals), Rob Davis (guitars, vocals), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals), Dave Mount (drums) – had their greatest chart successes while part of the then unstoppable ChinniChap conveyor belt (aka songwriters and producers Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman, who also helped put The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie and many others high in the charts and on Top Of The Pops).
Mud’s three years of fame is celebrated by the 2CD collection The Rak Years 1973-1975, which features every song the band recorded while part of both the ChinniChap brand and Micky Most’s record label Rak, via their two Mud Rock albums and Mud Rak!, a compilation of singles and associated B-sides.
Mud Rock, released in the autumn of 1974, was led off by 'Rocket,' the band's sixth successful Chinn & Chapman penned single.
While there was also a medley re-recording of three of their biggest hits ('Dynamite'/ 'Cat Crept In'/ 'Tiger Feet'), Mud Rock was primarily a rock and roll covers party album, with the featured late 50s/ early 60s classics separated by (and sometimes interjected with) party voices.
Mud Rock highlights included a handclaps and A Cappella arrangement of 'Blue Moon,' Les Gray’s crooning tones on 'End Of The World,' a Shadows-esque rendition of 'In The Mood' and two other medleys – The Tremeloes 'Do You Love Me' and the Small Faces 'Sha La La la Lee,' plus a Bill Haley & The Comets double of 'Shake, Rattle And Roll' and 'See You Later Alligator.'
The album wasn’t without it’s humour, or at least an attempt at such – as every original Mud Rock owner will recall, there was an intentionally awkward intro and outro from Radio Trent employee "Geoffrey," while the cover of Johnny Preston’s 'Running Bear' had a chant of "Indian streaker!" (geddit?) accompanying the tribal drum rhythm intro (I know, but let's remember this was 1974).
In a classic case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix the glam rock 'n' roll, the summer of 1975 saw the release of Mud Rock II.
Using the same formula (including the return of "Geoffrey" and party atmosphere) the second installment turned out to be even more successful; both albums achieved Gold selling status but Mud Rock II went, title fittingly, two rungs higher up the UK Album Chart ladder, peaking at #6.
Both albums started similarly as well, with MRII opening with another Chinn-Chapman penned hit, 'The Secrets That You Keep.' That was the only original however, although in hit single terms there was also the cover of The Crickets 'Oh Boy,' Mud’s third and final #1 single.
Other highlights included a slow rhythm & blues take of Cliff Richard’s 'Living Doll,' the chance for Les Gray to croon on Elvis hit 'One Night' and The Paris Sisters 'I Love How You Love Me,' and a rockin' take of Wanda Jackson’s 'Let’s Have a Party.'
Those looking for the band in all their Glam glory can crank up and enjoy Mud Rak!, a compilation featuring both hits and B-sides (the album doesn’t include singles or B-sides that appear on the Mud Rock albums).
Opening with their first Chinn & Chapman hit 'Crazy,' and including chart-topping Mud gems 'Lonely This Christmas' and the outrageously infectious 'Tiger Feet' (its very mention should have those of us 'of an age' with hands on hips ready to do the associated "lads (and ladettes) rock" dance), Mud Rak! reminds of what a great team Mud, Chinn and Chapman were.
On the flip (make that B) side, many of the Mud-penned tunes make you realise why they needed the ChinniChap help.
That said 'Mr Bagatelle,' with its US west coast/ soft rock vibe, would probably have been successful that side of the mid-70s pond, as would the semi-funky soul-pop of 'I Can’t Stand It.'
Mud Rock. Mud Rak. When Mud Ruled.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Mud’s three years of fame is celebrated by the 2CD collection The Rak Years 1973-1975, which features every song the band recorded while part of both the ChinniChap brand and Micky Most’s record label Rak, via their two Mud Rock albums and Mud Rak!, a compilation of singles and associated B-sides.
Mud Rock, released in the autumn of 1974, was led off by 'Rocket,' the band's sixth successful Chinn & Chapman penned single.
While there was also a medley re-recording of three of their biggest hits ('Dynamite'/ 'Cat Crept In'/ 'Tiger Feet'), Mud Rock was primarily a rock and roll covers party album, with the featured late 50s/ early 60s classics separated by (and sometimes interjected with) party voices.
Mud Rock highlights included a handclaps and A Cappella arrangement of 'Blue Moon,' Les Gray’s crooning tones on 'End Of The World,' a Shadows-esque rendition of 'In The Mood' and two other medleys – The Tremeloes 'Do You Love Me' and the Small Faces 'Sha La La la Lee,' plus a Bill Haley & The Comets double of 'Shake, Rattle And Roll' and 'See You Later Alligator.'
The album wasn’t without it’s humour, or at least an attempt at such – as every original Mud Rock owner will recall, there was an intentionally awkward intro and outro from Radio Trent employee "Geoffrey," while the cover of Johnny Preston’s 'Running Bear' had a chant of "Indian streaker!" (geddit?) accompanying the tribal drum rhythm intro (I know, but let's remember this was 1974).
In a classic case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix the glam rock 'n' roll, the summer of 1975 saw the release of Mud Rock II.
Using the same formula (including the return of "Geoffrey" and party atmosphere) the second installment turned out to be even more successful; both albums achieved Gold selling status but Mud Rock II went, title fittingly, two rungs higher up the UK Album Chart ladder, peaking at #6.
Both albums started similarly as well, with MRII opening with another Chinn-Chapman penned hit, 'The Secrets That You Keep.' That was the only original however, although in hit single terms there was also the cover of The Crickets 'Oh Boy,' Mud’s third and final #1 single.
Other highlights included a slow rhythm & blues take of Cliff Richard’s 'Living Doll,' the chance for Les Gray to croon on Elvis hit 'One Night' and The Paris Sisters 'I Love How You Love Me,' and a rockin' take of Wanda Jackson’s 'Let’s Have a Party.'
Those looking for the band in all their Glam glory can crank up and enjoy Mud Rak!, a compilation featuring both hits and B-sides (the album doesn’t include singles or B-sides that appear on the Mud Rock albums).
Opening with their first Chinn & Chapman hit 'Crazy,' and including chart-topping Mud gems 'Lonely This Christmas' and the outrageously infectious 'Tiger Feet' (its very mention should have those of us 'of an age' with hands on hips ready to do the associated "lads (and ladettes) rock" dance), Mud Rak! reminds of what a great team Mud, Chinn and Chapman were.
On the flip (make that B) side, many of the Mud-penned tunes make you realise why they needed the ChinniChap help.
That said 'Mr Bagatelle,' with its US west coast/ soft rock vibe, would probably have been successful that side of the mid-70s pond, as would the semi-funky soul-pop of 'I Can’t Stand It.'
Mud Rock. Mud Rak. When Mud Ruled.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ