The Singles '67-'78 Mud Artist

Although countless {|Mud|} compilations have been released over the years, none of them managed to cover every phase of the group's career. This was remedied in 1997 with the release of {|The Singles '67-'78|}. This overwhelmingly generous collection... Read more

Although countless {|Mud|} compilations have been released over the years, none of them managed to cover every phase of the group's career. This was remedied in 1997 with the release of {|The Singles '67-'78|}. This overwhelmingly generous collection spans two discs and includes the A- and B-sides of each single the group released. Of course, the most impressive tracks are the hits from the group's stint at {|RAK Records|}: the combination of {|pop|} hooks and guitar firepower utilized for stomping {|glam|} classics like {|Tiger Feet|} and {|Dynamite|} still sound fresh and exciting today. However, this set also unearths some surprisingly good tracks from the group's oft-overlooked periods at {|Private Stock|} and {|RCA Records|}: {|L'L'Lucy|} is a full-throttle {|rock|} tune built on a smile-inducing vocal stutter hook and the languid yet catchy {|Slow Talking Boy|} is unlike anything else in the {|Mud|} catalog. Unfortunately, this generous array of material means the listener has to sit through more than one dud along the way, like the pleasant but inconsequential covers of {|Lean on Me|} and {|Drift Away.|} Even hardcore {|Mud|} fans may be tempted to scan through filler tracks like these. That said, {|The Singles '67-'78|} remains the definitive way for any {|glam|} fan to explore the full history of this underrated group and it further enhances its value with a nice set of liner notes that include track-by-track commentary from lead vocalist {|Les Gray|}. Casual listeners will probably be better off with a single-disc compilation, but {|The Singles '67-'78|} is the collection of choice for {|Mud|} enthusiasts. ~ Donald A. Guarisco Less