"Mother Universe" is a single taken from the Soup Dragons album Lovegod. The original version, "hinging on a Marc Bolan riff",[1] was initially ignored and regarded according to Rage Magazine as 'weird'.[2] However, after the considerable success of the album's second single, "I'm Free", Mother Universe was reworked to give it a similar feel, substituting a gospel-style chorus for guitar chords and adding various whoops and small elements of toasting.[3][4][5] The new version reached 26 in the UK Charts[6] and was later re-issued in the US backed by "Sweetmeat". Despite the latter version's greater success, lead singer Sean Dickson has stated his preference for the original version.
| "Mother Universe" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Soup Dragons | ||||
| from the album Lovegod | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, dub | |||
| Length | various | |||
| Label | Big Life | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sean Dickson | |||
| The Soup Dragons singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Cover Art
editThe original version featured a bowed headed Madonna figure in colour reversed reds.[7] The remix version cover art featured a stylised blue fly with orange wings.[8]
Track listing
editUK downtempo promo 7-inch; 1989
editUK, October 1990 Remix
edit- Mother Universe (7" Version) 3:50[8]
- Dream-E-4-Ever (Live) 4:05
- Mother Universe (12" Version) 7:29
UK, October 1990 CD
edit- Mother Universe (Love Dub)
- 4-Way Brain
- Mother Universe (Solar Dub)
US Release
editCanadian Release
edit- Mother Universe (12") 7:30
- Dream Forever (Live) 5:35
- Sweetmeat (12") 6:14
- Softly (Live) 4:16
- Backwards Dog (12") 6:07
- 4-Way Brain 2:33
Charts
edit| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 76 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[12] | 45 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 26 |
References
edit- ^ Encyclopedia of Popular Music quoted on Shockhound
- ^ Soup Dragons interview, Rage Magazine, October 1990
- ^ Rage Magazine's October 1990 Soup Dragons interview
- ^ Original version
- ^ Second version
- ^ a b Discoogle
- ^ Discoogle
- ^ a b c Single artwork
- ^ Outlab Track Listing
- ^ Track Listing
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 November 1990. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "THE SOUP DRAGONS - MOTHER UNIVERSE". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
