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
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
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"
"Drift Away."
Even hardcore
fans may be tempted to scan through filler tracks like these. That said,
remains the definitive way for any
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
is the collection of choice for
enthusiasts. ~ Donald A. Guarisco