Mud were an English glam rock band, whose style was described by allmusic as "an uncomplicated blend of pop and rockabilly". They were formed in 1966 but had no commercial success until they signed to Mickie Most's RAK label and recorded material written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman: the result was a string of fifteen top forty UK hits between 1973 and 1976. Their career high point was 1974, when Tiger Feet was the best-selling single in the UK and Lonely This Christmas was the UK Christmas number 1. The band left RAK for Private Stock in 1975, but that label's financial difficulties prompted Mud to relocate to RCA. Their decline in popularity coincided with the advent of punk and glam rock's subsequent loss of profile, despite efforts to crack the disco market. Vocalist Les Gray left to pursue a solo career and the band dissolved permanently in the 80s. Gray died in 2004 of a heart attack pursuant to throat cancer, and drummer Dave Mount died in 2006.
Links to Peel[]
It seems that the darker, artier side of glam rock, as exemplified by David Bowie and Roxy Music, interested Peel far more than the poppier sound of the Sweet and Mud: in fact, the only occasion he is known to have played any of the latter's records is on the Christmas show, 20 December 2001. Lonely This Christmas was purposely written as a pastiche of Elvis Presley, in particular Blue Christmas, a frequently played Christmas favourite of Peel's.
In Sounds, published on 4th January 1975, Peel wrote that readers should avoid their album but may find the singles to be a reasonable hedge against inflation. He suggested that their tracks, Tiger Feet, The Cat Crept In, Rocket and Lonely This Christmas have all been entertaining and the latter he considered their best ever, as good as anything 10cc have done.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
- None
Other Shows Played[]
- 20 December 2001: 'Lonely This Christmas (7")' (RAK)