Mud on TopPop – “Nite on the Tiles” and the Value of Creative Stubbornness
When Mud appeared on TopPop performing “Nite on the Tiles,” the charts no longer told the triumphant story they once had. In the UK, the single peaked at a modest No. 22, a far cry from the era when Mud routinely dominated the top of the singles chart. Yet focusing solely on numbers would miss the deeper truth of what this moment represented.
By 1976, Mud were consciously stepping away from the hit-factory security of Chinnichap and insisting on something riskier: writing their own songs. “Nite on the Tiles,” composed by Rob Davis and Ray Stiles, was not designed to chase trends. Instead, it carried a tougher, more urgent edge, reflecting a band refusing to soften its identity even as glam rock itself was losing ground to punk and disco.
Interestingly, while the UK response was restrained, the song performed far better on the continent, reaching Top 5 positions in countries such as the Netherlands, where Mud’s popularity remained strong. Their appearance on TopPop underscored this international connection, reminding viewers that Mud’s appeal extended well beyond British chart statistics.
In hindsight, this creative stubbornness proved invaluable. Guitarist Rob Davis, co-writer of “Nite on the Tiles,” would later reinvent himself as one of pop’s most successful songwriters and producers, famously co-writing “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” for Kylie Minogue, one of the most iconic global hits of the 21st century.
Seen through this lens, “Nite on the Tiles” is more than a mid-chart single. It captures Mud at a genuine crossroads: commercial momentum slowing, but artistic independence taking root. That decision unfashionable at the time, ultimately ensured that the band’s legacy, and its members’ careers, would extend far beyond the glam rock boom that first made them stars.