The Mock Turtles are a Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

 based indie rock

Indie rock

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...

 band

Band (music)

In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...

, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester

Middleton, Greater Manchester

Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...

 in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their best-known song is "Can You Dig It?

Can You Dig It (song)

"Can You Dig It" is a single from the British rock band The Mock Turtles, released in 1991 as a single from the band's album Turtle Soup.It charted at No. 18 in the UK charts in 1991....

" which was released in 1991.

Career

Led by former Judge Happiness singer Martin Coogan, older brother of Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan

Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...

, the band began to pick up attention around 1990, with tracks such as "Lay Me Down" and "And Then She Smiles" on the Imaginary

Imaginary Records

Imaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Lancashire, England, which specialised mainly in indie rock and post-punk. It was created and owned by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to Porcupine Tree's first two albums, On the Sunday of Life and Up the...

 label. It was "Can You Dig It?", however, which gained them wider attention. Originally a b-side

A-side and B-side

A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...

 to "Lay Me Down", the band's new record label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

, Siren

Siren Records

Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy , and Tracy Magan Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy (owner of York Street Recording Studios), and...

, re-issued it with additional guitar work, and "Can You Dig It?" breached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

.

In March 1991, the British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 music magazine, NME

NME

The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...

, 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

808 State

808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...

, Gary Clail

Gary Clail

Gary Clail is an English singer and record producer. He was part of On-U Sound Records and led Gary Clail's Tackhead Sound System.-Biography:...

, Shades of Rhythm

Shades of Rhythm (band)

Shades of Rhythm was a British based electronic dance music group in the late 1980s and early 1990s, formed in Peterborough in 1988. They are best known for being a part of the rave music scene.-Career:...

, The Shamen

The Shamen

The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...

, Paris Angels

Paris Angels

Paris Angels were a seven piece band, hailing from Guide Bridge, Ashton-under-Lyne, England, associated with the Madchester scene of 1989 -1991. Their music fused indie guitars with electronic dance music...

 plus Flowered Up

Flowered Up

-Career:The band was formed in mid-1989 by singer Liam Maher, along with his younger brother Joe . After a few changes in personnel, the settled line-up included Tim Dorney , Andy Jackson , and John Tuvey , with dancer Barry Mooncult adding to their live shows...

.

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

Vodafone

Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...

 used "Can You Dig It?" for an advertising campaign

Advertising campaign

An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...

 in late 2002 and more famously in 2003. This saw the band make a comeback with Fatboy Slim

Fatboy Slim

Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...

 doing a remix

Remix

A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....

 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

The Revolution (radio station)

The Revolution is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the areas of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...

 in Oldham

Oldham

Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...

 until the station was bought by Steve Penk

Steve Penk

Steve Penk is a British radio and TV presenter. He was born Stephen Penkethman on 28 September 1961, in Rusholme, Manchester and is renowned for his wind-up calls. Penk has worked for various national and local radio stations...

, 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

Gary Mounfield

Gary Manny "Mani" Mounfield , is an English rock bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove...

, Mike Joyce

Mike Joyce

Mike Joyce is an English drummer. He is best known as the drummer for The Smiths.-Career:...

 and Alex Carter

Alex Carter (British actor)

Alex Carter is an English actor and radio presenter.Carter got his TV break in 1999 when he was cast as Craig Harrison in 9 episodes of the Sunday evening drama Where the Heart Is. He then had a small walk on role in Coronation Street...

, 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

Tameside Radio

Tameside Radio is a radio station across Tameside in the eastern area of Greater Manchester. It is broadcast on 103.6 FM across Ashton-under-Lyne, Dukinfield, Hyde, Denton, Audenshaw, Longdendale, Droylsden, Stalybridge, Mossley, surrounding areas, and online...

. 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.

Albums

• Turtle Soup (LP/CD) - Imaginary Records
  Imaginary Records
  Imaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Lancashire, England, which specialised mainly in indie rock and post-punk. It was created and owned by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to Porcupine Tree's first two albums, On the Sunday of Life and Up the...
  
   1990
• 87-90 (LP/CD) - Imaginary Records 1991
• Two Sides (LP/CD) - Siren Records
  Siren Records
  Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy , and Tracy Magan Siren Records is an independent music label based in Auckland, New Zealand. It was formed in 2000 by Adrien de Croy (owner of York Street Recording Studios), and...
  
   1991
• Can You Dig It - The Best Of The Mock Turtles - Virgin Records
  Virgin Records
  Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
  
   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?
  Can You Dig It (song)
  "Can You Dig It" is a single from the British rock band The Mock Turtles, released in 1991 as a single from the band's album Turtle Soup.It charted at No. 18 in the UK charts in 1991....
  
  " (7"/12"/CDS/C-s) Siren Records 1991 UK #18
• "And Then She Smiles EP" (7"/12"/CDS) Siren Records 1991 UK #44
• "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
  Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute to Captain Beefheart
  Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute To Captain Beefheart was an album released by Imaginary Records in the UK in 1988, consisting of contemporary artists performing cover versions of songs by Captain Beefheart.-Track listing:...
  
  - "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