When I was a kid the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were the most popular cartoon characters out there. The miniscule terrapins had entranced the nation's children and the youngsters (self included) were buying everything with Ninja Turtle branding from action figures to VHS tapes to glowing ooze and bathroom toiletries. The merchandising was insane, but no merchandising gimmick was as insane as the Turtles' arena rock concert tour dubbed the Coming Out of Their Shells tour. It may be hard to believe, but the teenage turtle butt-kickers totally bypassed the "on ice" treatment and opted rather, assuming fictional characters can opt to do anything, to rock the hearts and minds of America's children (and the parents who begrudgingly dolled out the money for concert tickets and parking).

What's unusual, and wonderfully so, is that the songs were good. More than being about things like the wheels on the bus going round and round, the tunes carried themes of integrity, inner strength, rebellion and unity. Plus, those turtles could sing their damn asses (shells) off! Listen to Raphael on "No Treaties" if you don't believe me. What's more, the songs weren't all pop ditties. They touched upon a wide variety of genres and styles including hip-hop, jazz, power ballads, surf rock and straight ahead rock anthems.

From time to time I still listen to the MP3s I made from the cassette that I got at Pizza Hut (who officially sponsored the tour, I guess) oh so many years ago, but the rest of you will have to go to YouTube. I have no idea who thought of the tour, who sang the songs, played the instruments or who performed on stage as giant turtles on a nightly basis, but I'm mighty glad it all happened.

If you have any info about the session musicians who made the record, please let me know, because I want to buy everything they've ever performed on. Cowabunga, dude!