"Mother Universe" is a single taken from the Soup Dragons album Lovegod. The original version, "hinging on a Marc Bolan riff",Encyclopedia of Popular Music quoted on Shockhound was initially ignored and regarded according to Rage Magazine as 'weird'.Soup Dragons interview, Rage Magazine, October 1990 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.Rage Magazine's October 1990 Soup Dragons interviewOriginal versionSecond version The new version reached 26 in the UK ChartsDiscoogle 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.
Cover art The original version featured a bowed headed Madonna figure in colour reversed reds.Discoogle The remix version cover art featured a stylised blue fly with orange wings.Single artwork
Track listing
UK downtempo promo 7-inch; 1989 Mother Universe 7:28 Mother Universe (Mother Dub) 6:23Outlab Track Listing
UK, October 1990 Remix Mother Universe (7" Version) 3:50 Dream-E-4-Ever (Live) 4:05 Mother Universe (12" Version) 7:29
UK, October 1990 CD Mother Universe (Love Dub) 4-Way Brain Mother Universe (Solar Dub)
US Release Mother Universe (12" Version)Track Listing Mother Universe Sweetmeat Softly
Canadian Release 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 Chart (1990)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100) 76New Zealand (RIANZ)45UK Singles (OCC)26
References
External links Original version of "Mother Universe" on YouTube Second version of "Mother Universe" on YouTube