Smooth Sailing: Summertime & Easy Living

I announced this Smooth Sailing part almost 4 weeks ago on my Facebook page, but I was not satisfied with the beginning and the ending. After hearing Retiree and Ray Munnings I knew which tracks could open and close the mix. So here it is, enjoy!

Glam rock band Mud was founded by guitarist Rob Davis and drummer Dave Mount almost 50 years ago. They formed a band with bass player Ray Stiles and singer Les Gray, after placing an advert in Melody Maker. They struggled for success for years, but soon after they had been discovered by producer Mickie Most during a gig, things lightened up. They were hooked up with the most successful writers and producers of that time: Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman (Sweet, Suzie Quatro). Hits followed very fast and during the mid-seventies they had several number ones all over Europe. After Mud had left Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman and started to write their own material the hits dried up. They could not compete with disco and punk and the band decided to quit in 1980. A few years later Les Gray reformed Mud as a rock & roll act with different members for golden oldies festivals. He died of a heart attack in 2004. Rob Davis is a well-known dance producer/writer nowadays. He wrote hits for Kylie Minogue ('Can't get you out of my head') and Sophie Ellis-Bextor ('Groovejet'), among others. Ray Stiles joined the Hollies and Dave Mount sadly committed suicide in 2006. A short version of Mud's 'Tiger Feet' was played at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 'I can't stand it' (with some nice percussion in it) was written by the guys themselves and the b-side to their number one 'Lonely this Christmas'. The a-side is some kind of Elvis Presley impersonation and not half as good as the b-side.

Picture Joan Smalls for V Magazine Fall Preview 2014 by MarioTestino

Tracklist:

Retiree – Altruisme (2014)
Richard Schneider Jr. – Hello Beach Girls (1977)
MFSB – Summertime (1976)
Love Unlimited ‎– I'm So Glad That I'm A Woman (1981)
The Vast Majority ‎– Ocean's Apart (1975)
Nielsen/Pearson ‎– If You Should Sail (1980)
Breakaway – Who Was It This Time
Ahmad Jamal – Boat Ride (1979)
Side Effect – Goin' Bananas (1977)
Linda Lewis – I Do My Best To Impress (1975)
Zwol – Southern Part Of France (1978)
Steely Dan – Bad Sneakers (1975)
Bob James – Night Crawler (1977)
Barrabas ‎– Four Season Woman [The Apple Scruffs Edit] (1976)
Mud – I Can't Stand It (1974)
The Doobie Brothers – Losin' End (1977)
Sam Dees ‎– Say Yeah (1978)
Ray Munnings – Let's Boogie (1979)

Smooth Sailing: Summertime & Easy Living by Professor Eddy on Mixcloud