The 20th of February 1974
Official U.K. Singles Chart results from Sunday the 17th to Saturday the 23rd of February 1974
Cut-off for sales figures was up to the end of Saturday the 16th of February
Results counted from Sunday the 17th,
published on Tuesday the 19th,
and broadcast on B.B.C. Radio 1 on Sunday the 24th of February 1974.
Mud
Tiger Feet
At No.2, on the “The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart”, the week of my 2nd Birthday, are Mud with Tiger Feet.
If there was ever one song…
…to describe the collective decade of the 1970’s and the British music scene at this most resolute of times, then this song has got to be a strong contender. One of my all time favourites, and also one of my earliest TV memories watching Top of the Pops, which my oldest sister Susan would tune into every Thursday evening. I can still picture that moment to this day, which is just as well, as I think that particular TV performance from around my 2nd birthday in February is currently lost.
The four merry rocking men…
…from Mitcham in Middlesex; Rob, Ray, Dave and Les, had hit the magic formula of the Glam plan.
A brilliantly good-natured party Rock ‘n’ Roll outfit with a big sound, who never took themselves too seriously, whose beaming grins and well polished songs shone through the gloominess of the 3-day weeks; their overall fun personality was addictive; their intentions as playful as beer and skittles.
And what name for this joyful and entertaining, radiantly gleaming and lighthearted charismatic foursome of fun?
Mud.
I can’t help but smile at the amusement of it all; especially from their own wry grins.
Signed by RAK records;..
…Mickie Most‘s record label, which he had named after the racks he would put records into in his first job selling music in stores, and which is now as familiar to the music-buying public as their own flares and platform shoes; and also getting the biggest source of producing and songwriting assistance from the now unstoppable hit-makers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman (whose presence could often be found in each weekly chart around this time). Altogether this collective troop of talent would bring some much needed cheeriness to the radio and TV airwaves.
Their previous single,..
…Dyna-mite, which had been a cast-off that was initially meant for The Sweet, had given them their first Top 10 hit; but it is this next single which is cementing them fully into the upper-echelons of Glam Rock stardom.
The single…
…pounced straight into the Top10 at No.10 on the 13th of January and by the following week it had already outsold every other single in the chart, to sit proudly at No.1; and for the next four weeks nothing could touch it; until this week, where it has slipped to the No.2 position.
From here,..
…the single will drop another 4 places to No.6 next week, before falling out of the Top 10 at the beginning of March, to land at No.16.
In the next three consecutive weeks, it will journey back and eventually hop out of the Top 20, then skip out of the Top 30, and then jump out of the Top 40, before ultimately prowling out of the Top 50 after the penultimate day of that month.
In the 11 weeks it purrs away in the chart, it has become, in my humble opinion, one of the most enjoyable songs, not just of the 1970’s, but one of the best feel-good party rockers of all time.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
Mud – Tiger Feet (Promotional Video)
Mud – Tiger Feet (“TopPop” TV appearance)
Mud – Tiger Feet (TV Live Vocal Performance)
Mud – Tiger Feet (“Top of the Pops” TV appearance – 27th December 1974)
Mud – Tiger Feet (“Never Too Young To Rock” Film Clip – 1975)
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear this music, and watch the footage, once again.
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