Andy Ball

Andy worked as keyboard player with Mud during their time on the Private Stock label (1975-77). He co-wrote Blagging Boogie Blues on It’s Better Than Working.

Before working with Mud Andy was a member of the band Candlewick Green. They won the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks and had a minor hit with the song “Who Do You Think You Are?” in spring 1974.

Brian Tatum

Brian took over from Andy Ball as keyboard player in 1978, playing on both RCA albums. He wrote and sang lead vocals on Heaven Was Meant For Youand sang lead vocals on Dream Lover and Why Do Fools Fall In Love (As You Like It).

Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman (Chinnichap)

Nicky Chinn originally was trained as a motor mechanic and only took to music when he was in his mid-twenties.

Mike Chapman was born in Queensland, Australia. He moved to Britain where he became a member of the group Tangerine Peel and in 1970 met Nicky Chinn while working as a waiter at a London hotel. The pair struck up a songwriting partnership and were hired by producer Mickie Most as in-house writers and producers for his new RAK Records label.

The team produced all of Mud’s recordings for RAK (1973-75), writting 9 of their 11 singles.

Chinn and Chapman were also responsible for writing hits for Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Racey and Smokie.

Despite notching up an impressive run of hits in the UK and Australia, it wasn’t until 1978 that they managed a hit in the US - Exile’s “I Wanna Kiss You All Over.” By the 1980s Mike had carved out a solo career as a producer, working on albums for Pat Benatar, Blondie and The Knack.

Chinn and Chapman started their own label - Dreamland - in 1979, but it folded in 1981. The duo’s last hit was Toni Basil’s “Mickey,” which toped the charts in 1982. Theygradually separated during the early 1980s, and Chinn himself did not continue in the music business.

Chapman remained in demand through the ‘80s and ‘90s as a songwriter and producer. His compositions have included Tina Turner’s “(Simply) The Best” and Pat Benatar's “Love Is A Battlefield” (both co-written with Holly Knight), while he has produced albums for Altered Images, Agnetha Fältskog, Divinyls, Rod Stewart, Lita Ford, Pat Benatar and Bow Wow Wow.

In 2006 he wrote “Back To The Drive”, the title track for a new Suzi Quatro album.

[ more @ wikipedia: Nicky Chinn | Mike Chapman ]

[ an interview with Chinn and Chapman (1974) ]

Pip Williams

Produced the album It’s Better Than Working, and the singles Shake It Down and Lean On Me. Co-wrote the tracks Sweet And Sour Lady and Vambo Rools.

Born October 7, 1947, in Hillingdon, Middlesex. He started his musical career as guitarist for The Fantastics and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Progressing from performer to session player in the early 1970s under the patronage of Sweet producer Phil Wainman, he became one of the most in-demand session guitarists of the era, playing on early hit records for Sweet and Mud.

He moved into production in the late 1970s and is probably best remembered for his work with Status Quo.

[ more: wikipedia | glitter ]

Phil Wainman

Produced the album Use Your Imagination and co-wrote the tracks Use Your Imagination, She’s Got The Devil In Her Eyes and 43792 (I’m Bustin’ You).

Other artists produced by Phil include Sweet, Bay City Rollers, Sensational Alex Harvey Band and the Boomtown Rats.

[ more: a 70s survivor | glitter | discogs.com ]