1976

MUD continued to have minor chart successes during 1976 - the disco inspired “Shake It Down” (May) and the more basic rocker “Nite on The Tiles” (October). Their biggest hit of the year and their last top ten single, was an excellent cover of the Bill Withers song “Lean On Me”, which reached number 7 in November.

The ‘glam’ period was by now well and truly over. Like many of their contemporaries MUD found themselves out of favour with the younger audience who were by now more interested in the disco beat or the upcoming new sound - punk rock.

MUD were once again in the studio during 1976 and released their fourth album, “It’s Better Than Working”, in November. Produced by Pip Williams (producer of Status Quo’s Rocking All Over The World), the album contained all new songs and introduced a very different sound from any of their previous recordings. The album also featured Ray Stiles on lead vocal for two of the tracks.

1977 - present

In 1977 Les Gray signed to Warner Brothers as a solo artists, releasing his own version of the Mindbenders’ “Groovy Kind Of Love” in March.

1977 also saw MUD change labels again, this time signing to RCA. Several singles followed, along with two further albums, “Mud Rock On” and “As You Like It”.

The last single to make any kind of impact was “Cut Across Shorty” released in March 1978. Although it was not a great chart success, it did get a lot of airplay and secured the band some of their last TV appearances.

When their contract with RCA ended in 1978 Les left the band and appeared in Jack Good’s “Oh Boy” show and TV series.

Rob and Ray worked together under the name of ROLY, releasing two singles for Logo Records in 1978. I have no other information about this project.

In 1979 MUD released one of their last singles “Drop Everything And Run” on Carrere Records, which featured female vocalist Margo Henderson. A further single, “Rico” was released in 1980 with Margo on vocals but this time under the name Ring.

Neither of these singles charted, so in early 1980 Mud finally called it a day.

After releasing several solo singles, including a tribute to Elvis Preseley under the name Tulsa McLean, Les Gray assembled a new version of MUD in the early 1980s. For a short time Dave Mount and Rob Davis worked with the band, but eventually went their own ways.

Les Gray’s Mud continued to tour throughout Europe until Les’ illness forced them off the road in 2003. Les died on Saturday 21st February 2004 in hospital in Portugal, after suffering two heart attacks.

Rob Davis continues to play, write and produce dance records. [see biographies for more details]

After working with Rob in Roly, Ray Stiles went on to release one single with a group called Foton (Bamboo Curtain) before joining the Hollies, who he continues to record and tour with.

Dave Mount left the music business entirely in the early 1980s. He continued to live and work in London with his family until his untimely death on 3rd December 2006.

During the 1980/90s (not sure of the exact dates) the “new” MUD re-recorded all the old RAK hits for a CD that was sold at concert. The CD also featured a new song “When Holy Rocks”.

Bits and Pieces 

• BBC Radio 2 broadcast a two hour special about Niky Chinn and Mike Chapman that inevitably included MUD. As a bonus the presenters had a copy of the original 16-track recording of The Secrets That You Keep which they played and discussed.
• MUD have featured in several retrospectives of the 1970s broadcast on the BBC. Both Les and Rob were featured being interviewed for the “I Love 1974” programme which went out at the end of the summer 2000. The guys also featured in another retrospective which showed their mid-70s “Green Cross Code” advert which also features on the compilation video “Charlie Says”.
  
• Rob and Dave were involved in an ITV show “Bring Back The Christmas No 1.” The programme was hosted by Justin Lee Collins who managed to bring together a host of 1970’s stars to record a new Christmas single. The final song was written by Rob and the recording featured people such as Dave Mount, David Essex, Dave Hill, Don Powell, Jona Lewie, Dave Bartrum and Trevor Oaks. The single was never released but was available briefly for download.

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