A Spirited Burst of Rock and Roll Joy That Reclaims a 50s Classic Through Pure Glam-Era Exuberance
When Mud included “The Hippy Hippy Shake” on their 1974 album Mud Rock (Volume 1), the band folded a late-50s rock and roll classic into the glittering, good-hearted swagger that had already made them chart favorites of the glam era. While the album produced several successful singles that carried Mud further up the UK charts, this particular track functioned less as a chart-chasing release and more as a statement of identity: a joyful, lovingly rowdy reminder that beneath the platform boots and the theatrical sheen, Mud were students of rock and roll’s earliest, wildest years.
Originally written and recorded by Chan Romero in 1959, “The Hippy Hippy Shake” had already lived several lives by the time Mud revisited it. What makes their version compelling is the way they approached the song not as a museum piece, but as something alive, elastic, and hungry for reinvention. Musically, Mud inject the track with a heavier rhythmic pulse than earlier renditions, letting the guitars bite a little harder and the beat thump with a good-natured stomp. Les Gray’s unmistakable vocals carry the lyrics with a buoyant, slightly mischievous edge, giving the performance a sense of spontaneity even within the tight, polished framework of the band’s studio sound.
As with much of Mud Rock (Volume 1), the band’s interpretation captures their affection for the era that shaped them. They understood that the early foundations of rock and roll were built on simplicity, movement, and the freedom of youthful energy. Thus, their version of “The Hippy Hippy Shake” feels like a conversation across decades: 50s innocence refracted through the glitter of 70s glam. In their hands, the song becomes louder, brighter, and more playful, yet still rooted in the spirit of those early dance-floor anthems that inspired teenagers to move with abandon.
One of the song’s quiet strengths lies in how faithfully Mud preserve the original’s sense of kinetic joy while giving it a modern attitude. They do not overcomplicate it, nor do they use it merely as nostalgic filler. Instead, they let its natural momentum do the work. The band’s chemistry radiates through every bar, as if they are rediscovering the thrill of rock and roll’s first spark and inviting the listener to jump into the moment with them.
Within the context of Mud’s career, “The Hippy Hippy Shake” occupies a delightful corner where homage meets reinvention. It shows the band’s ease with bridging genres, decades, and moods, reminding listeners that glam rock at its best was never just about theatrics. It was also about breathing new life into the music that made everything possible. Their rendition stands as a joyful testament to continuity, celebration, and the enduring pleasure of a great rock and roll song played with heart, humor, and irresistible energy.