The Mock Turtles

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

The Mock Turtles
File:The-Mock-Turtles.jpg From left to right Steve Cowan, Andrew Stewardson, Martin Coogan, Joanne Gent, Martin Glynn Murray.
Background information
Origin	Heywood, Greater Manchester, England
Years active	1985 – present
Members	Martin Coogan: vocals, guitar Martin Glynn Murray: guitar Andrew Stewardson: bass, viola, guitar Steve Cowen: drums Joanne Gent: keyboards, cello
Website	none registered.

The Mock Turtles are a Manchester-based indie rock band, formed in Heywood, Greater Manchester in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their best-known song is "Can You Dig It?"

History

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, older brother of television regular 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 Twenty in the UK singles chart.

Follow-up

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-1990's, remaining in limbo until Vodafone used "Can You Dig It?" for an advertising campaign in 2003. This saw the band make a comeback. No fewer than eight new tracks were included on a new Greatest Hits album, together with older songs from their early 1990s peak.

Recent Activities

The band has recently been quiet, but a return is not out of the question. Some of their songs have a slightly psychedelic edge, with intricate guitar riffs and keyboards.

Discography

Album(s)

• "Turtle Soup" (LP/CD/C) Imaginary Records 1990
• "87-90" (LP/CD/C) Imaginary Records 1991
• "Two Sides" (LP/CD/C) Siren Records (UK) 1991

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
• "Can You Dig It ?" (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records (UK) 1991
• "And Then She Smiles EP" (7"/12"/CDS) Siren Records (UK) 1991
• "Strings And Flowers" (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records (UK) 1991
• "Can You Dig It?" (CDS) Virgin Records(UK) 2003

Compilation Appearances

• "Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute To Captain Beefheart" (LP/CD) - "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" Imaginary Records 1988
• "Shangri-La - A Tribute To The Kinks" (LP) - "Big Sky" Imaginary Records 1989
• "Time Between - A Tribute To The Byrds" (CD) - "Time Between" / "High" Imaginary Records 1989
• "Indie Top 20 Volume X" (2xLP/CD) - "Lay Me Down" Beechwood Music 1990
• "Ouch. Relativity Sampler" (CD) - "Mary's Garden" Relativity 1991