Dig That Groove Baby

Recording

The album was recorded in February 1983 at Guardian Studios, which were located in a terraced house in the unusually named village of Pity Me in County Durham. The album only took three days to record and mix, which left no time to fix any mistakes. The rushed production also meant that Happy Bob recorded his drum parts whilst on a lunch break from a local hospital that he worked at.

Songs

Algar said "My favourite songs on it are "Dougy Giro" (it's written from the heart and its' completely true; we knew Dougy well,) and also "Glenda and the Test Tube Baby" (I really love the chorus, it has minor chords which I like a lot, and it's one of our best)"

Reception

In his 2004 book Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984, music journalist Ian Glasper called the album "brilliant" and said it "set the madcap tone that the Toy Dolls would become well loved for." Algar said that "I actually think the album has aged very well, and it's always sounded fresh–unlike some of the garbage we have written. It's the most special album for me anyway, because it was our first, but it's also one of the best."

Track listing

All writing by Michael "Olga" Algar, except where noted.

1. "Theme Tune" – 0:20
2. "Dig That Groove Baby" – 3:00
3. "Dougy Giro" – 3:16
4. "Spiders In The Dressing Room" – 1:56
5. "Glenda And The Test Tube Baby" – 3:15 (Referring to a storyline in Crossroads)
6. "Up The Garden Path" – 2:43
7. "Nellie The Elephant" (Ralph Butler, Peter Hart) – 3:27
8. "Poor Davey" – 3:22
9. "Stay Mellow" – 2:18
10. "Queen Alexandra Road Is Where She Said She'd Be, But Was She There To Meet Me... No Chance" – 2:17
11. "Worse Things Happen At Sea" – 2:39
12. "Blue Suede Shoes" (Carl Perkins) – 2:16
13. "Fiery Jack" – 2:53
14. "Theme Tune" – 0:20

Personnel