The Mock Turtles - Biography
By Eric Brightwell
When the Mock Turtles are recalled, it’s usually primarily for one song that was used in a telephone commercial. For aging baggies, they’re remembered for several minor hits, their appearances on tribute albums and for the fact that the singer is the brother of comedian/actor Steve Coogan. Though they lacked a distinct voice that could’ve elevated their identity, the band did enjoy a fairly long career illuminated by several highlights.
Martin Coogan was the lead singer in a band called Judge Happiness. After winning a Battle of the Bands, they released one single in 1985, “Hey Judge/Big in Pink.” Not only was it their debut, but also their last. That year, Coogan next formed Mock Turtles in Middleton with bassist Steve Green, keyboardist Krzysztof Korab and drummer Steve Cowan. After signing to Alan Duffy’s Imaginary, they released their debut EP, Pomona (1987-Imaginary) on which they often sound like Suede before Suede. After its release they added guitarist Martin Glyn Murray.
After their debut, they practically transmogrified into a covers band, appearing on almost countless tributes released by the label including 1987’s cover of Syd Barrett’s “It’s No Use Trying,” 1988’s cover of Captain Beefheart’s “Big Eyed Beans From Venus,” 1989’s cover of The Saints’ “I Dreamed of Marie Antoinette” The Kinks’ “Shangri-La,” The Byrds’ “Time Between / High, “Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced?” In 1989, Green and Korab left and they added bassist Andrew Stewardson and keyboardist Joanne Gent. By the end of the decade, The Stone Roses were widely heralded as not only the best band in Manchester, but likely the world. When Mock Turtles re-emerged from their covers period, their psychedelic and post-punk influences had gelled to reveal a similar sound.
In 1990, the band were set to release Roses-y “Lay Me Down.” They were also booked to record the B-side and the studio called Coogan so that they could complete the single’s artwork. He gave them the throwaway title “Can You Dig It?” Having still not written the song in question, whislt hosting his girlfriend and her brother, he excused himself during dinner for half an hour and cranked out the song before returning to the table. Though “Lay Me Down” had its champions, it was the almost gratingly catchy B-Side that inevitably was preferred by the masses. When Turtle Soup (1990-Imaginary Records) hit the shelves, it sounded a bit like the work of several bands. Newer songs shuffled to the baggy groove whilst moldy oldies like the twangy jangle-pop “Wicker Man” and the stadium-glam of Mary’s Garden seemed decidedly out of place. Coogan, for his part, possesses a nice voice, several in fact. On various songs he channels Ian Brown, Mark Burgess, David Bowie and even the Johns from They Might Be Giants.
In March 1991, “Can You Dig It?” was released as a single and it lingered on the charts for eleven weeks and got the band on Top of the Pops twice. The follow-ups, “And Then She Smiled” and “Strings and Flowers” were, in comparison to “Can You Dig It?,” utter failures. After “Two Sides” was similarly ignored, Mock Turtles were dropped. Their label released another album, 87-91 (1991-Imaginary Records), which featured a great deal of overlap with their debut, compiling some tributes, B-sides, and album tracks. Two Sides (1991-Siren Records) was another frustrating compilation, once again featuring new songs alongside singles and more album tracks taken from Turtle Soup. Not long after, the band split up.
Coogan re-joined first generation Mock Turtles members Green, Korab and Murray in a short-lived band called Ugli in the mid-‘90s. Smiley went on to work with Robbie Williams, Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, King Louis and his current band, Archive. Murray went on to act in a bit part on the soap opera, Families.
Coogan no doubt ruffled Paul Calf’s lovely feathered hair when in 2002, for a few million pounds, he agreed to allow his band’s biggest hit to be featured in ads for Vodaphone, then sponsor for Man Utd. The song, dusted off and given a remix by Norman Cook, climbed back up the charts more than a decade after its release, ultimately reaching #19. Buouyed by renewed interest, Coogan predictably reformed Mock Turtles but wisely called it a day when audiences proved unreceptive to new material. They did release another compilation, however. Seeing as a greatest hits would probably just be a re-release of the “Lay Me Down / Can You Dig It?” single, they opted for a best of Can You Dig It? - The Best of the Mock Turtles (2003-EMI). In addition to featuring songs from their previous releases, it also included eight unreleased tracks. The later songs reveal a considerable shift in direction, from baggy to glam rock falling in sound and quality between Suede and Kinky Machine.
Coogan went on to work as presenter of the breakfast show on The Revolution in Oldham. After the station switched formats and the station’s owner took over as presenter, Coogan, Mani, Mike Joyce and Alex Carter have joined forces to launch an internet radio service, Radio Republic, in the near future.
