The Mock Turtles

The Mock Turtles are an English indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their most famous song "Can You Dig It?", which was released in the UK in 1991, charted at number 18. When the song was re-released in slightly remixed form in 2003, it again reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.

For the comic opera, see Mock Turtles (opera). For the Lewis Carroll character, see The Mock Turtle.

The Mock Turtles
OriginMiddleton, Greater Manchester, England
GenresMadchester, Indie rock, Baggy, Indie pop
Years active1985–present
LabelsImaginary, Siren, Virgin

Career

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, elder brother of actor/comedian Steve Coogan,[1] the band began to pick up attention around 1990, with debut album Turtle Soup and tracks such as "Lay Me Down" and "And Then She Smiles" on the Imaginary label.[2] It was "Can You Dig It?", however, which gained them wider attention. Originally a b-side to "Lay Me Down", the band's new record label, Siren, re-issued it with additional guitar work,[2] and "Can You Dig It?" breached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] Their follow up single "And Then She Smiles" failed to replicate the success of the previous single,[2] only reaching no. 44 in the chart.[4]

In March 1991, the British music magazine NME reported that the band were appearing at the 'Great Indie Festival – A Midsummer's Day Dream' at Milton Keynes Bowl in June that year. Also on the bill were 808 State, Gary Clail, Shades of Rhythm, The Shamen, Paris Angels plus Flowered Up.[5]

The Mock Turtles, however, were unable to follow up the early success and were dropped by their label, three members briefly joining up as Ugli in the mid-1990s,[2] remaining in limbo until Vodafone used "Can You Dig It?" for an advertising campaign in late 2002 and more famously in 2003. This saw the band make a comeback with Norman Cook doing a remix of the song,[6] taking the track to No. 19 in the United Kingdom. Eight new tracks were included on a new Greatest Hits album, together with older songs from their early 1990s peak. Most recently, the track "And Then She Smiles" has been used as the theme song for the television programme Stella on Sky1.

Turtle Soup was reissued in 2017 with additional non-album singles and B-sides and covers.[7]

Members
  • Martin Coogan - vocals, guitar, percussion (1985–present)
  • Martin Glyn Murray - guitar (1985–present)
  • Andrew Stewardson - bass, viola, guitar (1989–present)
  • Steve Cowen - drums (1985–93)
  • Joanne Gent - keyboards, cello, guitar (1989–present)
  • Steve Green - bass (1985–89)
  • Krzysztof Korab -keyboards (1985–89)
  • Steve Barnard - drums (1993–present)

Discography

Albums

Singles
  • "Pomona" (12") Imaginary Records 1987
  • "Wicker Man" (12") Imaginary Records 1989
  • "And Then She Smiles" (12") Imaginary Records 1989
  • "Lay Me Down" (12"/CDS) Imaginary Records 1990
  • "Magic Boomerang EP" (7"/12"/CDS) Imaginary Records 1990
  • "Are You Experienced?" (12") Imaginary Records 1990
  • "Can You Dig It?" (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records 1991 UK No. 18[3]
  • "And Then She Smiles EP" (7"/12"/CDS) Siren Records 1991 UK No. 44[3]
  • "Strings And Flowers" (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records 1991
  • "Can You Dig It?" (Fatboy Slim remix) (CDS) Virgin Records 2003 UK No. 19

Compilation appearances
  • Beyond the Wildwood – A Tribute to Syd Barrett – "No Good Trying" – 1987, Imaginary Records
  • Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute To Captain Beefheart – "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" 1988 Imaginary Records
  • Shangri-La – A Tribute to the Kinks – "Shangri-La" / "Big Sky" 1989 Imaginary Records
  • Time Between – A Tribute to the Byrds – "Time Between" / "High" 1989 Imaginary Records
  • Indie Top 20 Volume X – "Lay Me Down" 1990 Beechwood Music
  • Ouch. Relativity Sampler – "Mary's Garden" 1991 Relativity
  • Fifteen Minutes: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground – "Pale Blue Eyes" 1994

Compilations that feature "Can You Dig It?" are:

  • The Best Bands... Ever! Virgin/EMI, 2002
  • Q: The Album Virgin/EMI/Universal, 2003
  • I Luv Smash Hits Virgin/EMI, 2003
  • Now That's What I Call Music! 54 Virgin/EMI, 2003
  • The X-List Virgin/EMI, 2003
  • "Smash Hits Chart Summer 2003" Virgin/EMI, 2003
  • "EPIC" Sony Music Entertainment UK, 2010
  • 101 Indie Classics EMI TV, 2010

References
  1. "Coogan's Bluff". The New Yorker. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 860. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 373. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Artist Chart History: Mock Turtles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  5. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 482. CN 5585.
  6. "One-hit wonders | | guardian.co.uk Arts". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  7. Rough Trade https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/the-mock-turtles/turtle-soup-expanded-edition
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