Description
Mock Turtles – Turtle Soup – Cassette
Turtle Soup is the debut studio album by the English indie rock band Mock Turtles, released in 1990. The Mock Turtles gained popularity with their hit single “Can You Dig It?” which reached the UK Top 20 charts and became their most well-known song. 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.
“Turtle Soup” captures the band’s distinctive sound, blending jangly guitars, catchy melodies, and psychedelic influences. The album showcases the band’s knack for crafting infectious pop songs with a touch of whimsy. The lyrics often explore themes of nostalgia, love, and introspection, delivered with a mix of sincerity and wry humor.
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.
Apart from “Can You Dig It?,” other notable tracks on the album include “And Then She Smiles,” “Wicker Man,” and “Lay Me Down.” These songs showcase the Mock Turtles’ ability to create memorable hooks and engaging melodies, drawing from the musical influences of the ’60s and ’70s while maintaining a contemporary edge.
Turtle Soup was well-received by critics, praising its melodic songwriting and the band’s ability to create a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh. While the Mock Turtles didn’t achieve the same level of mainstream success as some of their peers, “Turtle Soup” remains a beloved album among indie pop enthusiasts and a testament to the band’s talent for crafting catchy and enjoyable songs.
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 with Fatboy Slim doing a remix of Can You Dig It?’. Eight new tracks were included on a new Greatest Hits album, together with older songs from their early 1990s peak.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Relativity Records
Song List
1. Kathy Come Home
2. Head Run Wild
3. Lay Me Down
4. Another Jesus Walks On Water
5. Oh Helen How ?
6. How Does It Feel ?
7. And Then She Smiles
8. Willow Song, The
9. Mary’s Garden
10. Can You Dig It ?
11. Wicker Man
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