The Mock Turtles

For the comic opera of the same name, see Mock Turtles (opera).

The Mock Turtles
Origin	Middleton, Greater Manchester, England
Genres	Alternative rock Britpop Indie rock Madchester
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Imaginary Records Siren Records Virgin Records
Members
Martin Coogan Martin Glynn Murray Andrew Stewardson Steve Cowen Joanne Gent

The Mock Turtles are a Manchester based indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their best-known song is "Can You Dig It?" which was released in 1991.

Career

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, older brother of Steve Coogan, the band began to pick up attention around 1990, with tracks such as "Lay Me Down" and "And Then She Smiles" on the Imaginary label. 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, and "Can You Dig It?" breached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

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.^[2]

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, 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 Fatboy Slim doing a remix of the song, taking the track to #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.

Coogan was presenter of the breakfast show on The Revolution in Oldham until the station was bought by Steve Penk, who took over the show himself having 'flipped' back to its original Adult Contemporary format. Now Coogan, along with fellow ex-Revolution DJs including Mani, Mike Joyce and Alex Carter, are launching an internet service called Radio Republic to pick up where The Revolution left off. From 27 October 2008, Martin Coogan and Phil Beckett present a regular late programme on 103.6FM Tameside Radio. This programme is known as 'Radio Republic' and serves as a possible temporary measure until the new radio station is launched in the near future.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Albums

• Turtle Soup (LP/CD) - Imaginary Records 1990
• 87-90 (LP/CD) - Imaginary Records 1991
• Two Sides (LP/CD) - Siren Records 1991
• Can You Dig It - The Best Of The Mock Turtles - Virgin Records 2003

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 #18^[1]
• "And Then She Smiles EP" (7"/12"/CDS) Siren Records 1991 UK #44^[1]
• "Strings And Flowers" (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records 1991
• "Can You Dig It?" (Fatboy Slim remix) (CDS) Virgin Records 2003 UK #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 - "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

The following are compilation albums that feature "Can You Dig It?".

• 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
• 101 Indie Classics EMI TV, 2010^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 373. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
2. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 482. CN 5585.