For those wondering, this is a wondrous 37-track 2CD digipack set featuring everything Mud recorded for the seminal RAK Records label between 1973 and 1975.

Disc 1 includes the band’s first two albums. ‘Mud Rock’ spent 35 weeks in the UK National Charts, eventually peaking at No.8 whilst ‘Mud Rock II’ hit No.6 during a three month Top 30 chart run.

Featured are the UK hit singles ‘Rocket’ (No.6), ‘The Secrets That You Keep’ (No.3) and ‘One Night’ (No.32).

The second disc includes all the non-LP 45s from the era. Includes the UK hit singles ‘Crazy’ (No.12), ‘Hypnosis’ (No.16), ‘Dyna-Mite’ (No.4), ‘Tiger Feet’ (No.1), ‘The Cat Crept In’ (No.2), ‘Lonely This Christmas’ (No.1), ‘Oh Boy’ (No.1) and ‘Moonshine Sally’ (No.10).

Disc One: Mud Rock (1974)
1. Rocket
2. Do You Love Me / Sha La La La Lee
3. Running Bear
4. The Hippy Hippy Shake
5. Shake Rattle And Roll / See You Later Alligator
6. Dyna-Mite / The Cat Crept In / Tiger Feet (Medley)
7. The End Of The World
8. Blue Moon
9. In The Mood
10. Bye Bye Johnny

At this phase, Mud used to represent the less glitzy interpretation of the so-called glam rock: not at all the creative, arty styles of David Bowie or Sparks, but instead, late 1950’s and early 1960’s rock & roll with a vibrant 1970’s sound.

The album was produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman (who also co-operated with Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, Racey, and so forth), and it features a couple of Chinn/Chapman-penned hits. But most of it is just rock & roll and pop standards with then-contemporary sounds, which worked well for them, of course.

So what we get are their very own renditions of classics such as The Hippy Hippy Shake, Shake, Rattle and Roll, See You Later Alligator and The End of the World, and as much as they do not match the originals, they are as fun and as robust as you would expect

So did a crowd of young guys and especially girls need this back in the 1970s? Yes. Mud Rock was nice to listen to, as was what was to follow, of course.

Mud Rock II (1975)
11. The Secrets That You Keep
12. Living Doll
13. One Night
14 Tallahassee Lassie
15. Let’s Have A Party
16. Tobacco Road
17. Oh Boy
18. I Love How You Love Me
19. Hula Love
20. Diana

Like their first album, Mud Rock II featured a selection of covers, this time with only one Chinn/Chapman song, “The Secrets That You Keep”. However, the album also featured MUD’s third and last number one single, “Oh Boy”.

The follow-up album has a more refined sound than their first album, despite the return of the party noises. Additional musicians were used in the recording including Brass (Gonzalez), Strings (Phil Dennys), Pedal Steel Guitar (Harvey Hinsley), Piano (Pete Wingfield) and Female Backing Vocals from Ellie Hope (of Liquid Gold).

By the time the album was released in June 1975, news of MUDs split with RAK and Chinn and Chapman had become common knowledge. “The Secrets That You Keep” was the last Chinn and Chapman song to be recorded by the band (“Moonshine Sally” was released later but had been recorded some time earlier).

MUD’s rock ’n’ roll credentials are very evident in “Tallahassee Lassie” and “Let’s Have A Party”, and Les gets to do his Elvis bit on “One Night” which became their last single for RAK.

Disc Two: Mud RAK
1. Crazy
2. Do You Love Me
3. Hypnosis
4. Last Tango In London
5. Dyna-Mite
6. Do It All Over Again
7. Tiger Feet
8. Mr. Bagatelle
9. The Cat Crept In
10. Morning
11. The Ladies
12. Watching The Clock
13. Lonely This Christmas
14. I Can’t Stand It
15. Still Watching The Clock
16. Moonshine Sally
17. Hula Love

The second disc contains all the non-LP 45s from the era, including their UK hit singles ‘Crazy’ (No.12), ‘Hypnosis’ (No.16), ‘Dyna-Mite’ (No.4), ‘Tiger Feet’ (No.1), ‘The Cat Crept In’ (No.2), ‘Lonely This Christmas’ (No.1), ‘Oh Boy’ (No.1) and ‘Moonshine Sally’ (No.10).

In the grand construct of glam rock, Mud were (and putting it as politely as possible) definitely hod-carriers, but this second set of their hits really showcase the band at their very best.

Chock full of old Rock ’n’ Roll standards, Mud were not nearly as cool as glam slammin’ Sweet, and the Surrey group made the boot stompin’ Slade look like Jeopardy champions, but the fact they stayed at it all those years, always made the charts, and never let their fans down just goes to prove that even they knew they had something great to bring forth.

The included booklet features liner notes plus numerous picture sleeves from across the globe.

Official Purchase Link