In the case of "Wake Up", apparently Boo Radleys made it as a joke. Still by far their best work though (but might have been disappointing to those who were used to them being more of a shoegazing act)
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Friday, 28 October 2011 22:56 (twelve years ago) link
I still think the entirety of their 'Giant Steps' album is their best work. There are moments on that that one could call a bit shoegaze-y, like 'Run My Way Runway' (which is awesome, IMO), but I don't consider it a shoegaze album at all.
― Turrican, Friday, 28 October 2011 23:02 (twelve years ago) link
I adore their noisy buzzy, early single "Kaleidoscope" - my favourite Boos song.
― kraudive, Friday, 28 October 2011 23:11 (twelve years ago) link
I've quite fond of early Boos as well, some great stuff on 'Ichabod & I' and 'Everything's Alright Forever'.
― Turrican, Friday, 28 October 2011 23:21 (twelve years ago) link
*I'm
oh god, yeah. I've not even seen this programme and the memories are flooding back. I have so much love for this Creation stuff I grew up with. I have very fond memories of seeing the MBV, Ride & Slowdive cardboard CD covers in a strange little plastic temporary shop in the Quiggins centre in Liverpool. That place was awesome.
― kraudive, Friday, 28 October 2011 23:40 (twelve years ago) link
They're definitely one of two record labels which helped to shape my tastes. The other was Mute!
― Turrican, Friday, 28 October 2011 23:47 (twelve years ago) link
I would say "Everything's Alright Forever" was a shoegazing album. "Giant Steps" was sorta transitional towards the rest of their output. "Giant Steps" was.... hard to categorize..... while the last one I guess had a bit of the Britpop feel of "Wake Up" to it against.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:02 (twelve years ago) link
again
"C'mon kids" was hard to categorize, I mean.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:03 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, 'C'mon Kids' is a bit of a weird one. There were some interesting tracks on 'Wake Up!' to go alongside the chirpy Britpoppiness of the singles, I thought. 'C'mon Kids' is strange because sometimes it does come across as a bit of a reaction against the previous record, yet sometimes it seems like Martin Carr/Sice wants to be in Oasis (as on the title track and parts of 'Ride The Tiger'). It's like this crazy mixed bag of shoegaze elements, psychedelic elements, a tiny bit of dub... all mashed together with elements of Oasis.
Ultimately it's one of those records that I admire rather than love - I'm pleased that the band made it and made an attempt to try some new things (for them) out, and I listen to parts of it and think 'wow, that's a bit of a neat idea, I like that' - but I'd never dig it out to listen to for enjoyment.
― Turrican, Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:22 (twelve years ago) link
may i ask to what extent MBV is talked of? i just sorta imagine them getting a brief "they thought they were the irish reaction to husker du... TEHY WERE WRONG" and then cue creation's demise
― kelpolaris, Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:30 (twelve years ago) link
My Bloody Valentine are talked about quite favourably, actually. McGee acknowledges he didn't know what he had when he signed them, and he also mentions that even though 'Loveless' cost a great deal of money to make, it was far more likelier that a combination of amount of drugs that were being done at the label and the general carelessness of McGee/Dick Green/Creation was far more likely a factor in the labels financial problems than My Bloody Valentine making 'Loveless'.
― Turrican, Saturday, 29 October 2011 00:38 (twelve years ago) link
such a shame lawrence was ill during the filming of this
― Spikey, Saturday, 29 October 2011 01:33 (twelve years ago) link
i still thing that the Boo Radleys are the best band ever, EVER.
most say that Giants Steps is the best album but i still (until my death bed) will say Kingsize is their very best. C'mon Kids is absolutely brilliant, loud, fucked up and simmering with life. "Fortunate Sons" still might be their best song.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 29 October 2011 06:13 (twelve years ago) link
"Fortunate Sons" "Four Saints"
― Bee OK, Saturday, 29 October 2011 06:17 (twelve years ago) link
i still want to add The Boo Radleys to the ILM ballot poll but haven't got the nerve to add it. plus i have my hands full with New Order.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 29 October 2011 06:20 (twelve years ago) link
"To be honest I am now seriously thinking about restarting Creation, or maybe Re-Creation if I can find the right people at a label to work with. Music needs a kick in the balls, and I have got the music buzz back.
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.flysoftware.com/images/products/html_plug-ins/html_radio_button.png Godhttp://www.globalintake.com/images/radio_button_off.pngAlan McGeehttp://www.globalintake.com/images/radio_button_off.pngMorrissey
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:04 (twelve years ago) link
i reckon he just heard that flats record
― Crackle Box, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I have mixed feelings about that. Of course, the reputation of a label is only as good as the acts they sign, and what chances does McGee have these days of finding bands of the same calibre as what he signed during Creation's glory days? If he's able to pull it off, then fair play, but I'm extremely skeptical. Especially since he was talking about being bored of, and wanting to have nothing to do with music in recent years.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Thursday, 13 September 2012 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
"I'm so bored with music, I want nothing to do with it."
(checks bank balance)
"I have the music buzz back! Time to kickstart the ol' label."
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 13 September 2012 16:09 (twelve years ago) link
To be fair, you can totally go through a phase of being bored by music and then regain your passion. I wouldn't necessarily think that he was lying. It's just... the shit he signed during Creation's late period, man, what greater depths will he sink to next? I don't believe that with restored passion will come a restoration of taste.
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 September 2012 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
Oh, yeah, I was just being a little snarky about the process.
― heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 13 September 2012 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
the shit he signed during Creation's late period, man, what greater depths will he sink to next?
answer : poptones.
― mark e, Thursday, 13 September 2012 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
It feels like McGee's acumen at discovering bands is a bit overstated. How many of the successful Creation acts would you say McGee actually "discovered"? There's Primal Scream, JAMC (who were both friends from way back), Ride and Oasis. The other acts with significant success or influence on the label had previously been involved with other labels and would likely have had a career with or without him. I'm thinking SFA, Boo Radleys, Teenage Fanclub, MBV, The Pastels, Felt, and so on. The real value of Creation is not that they released Oasis records but that they helped provide a platform for dozens of other bands who went nowhere but made some cool records and maybe played some good gigs for a year or two.
― everything, Thursday, 13 September 2012 19:44 (twelve years ago) link
There must have been a lot of luck involved. Sure, he got in there early with mates: Primal Scream and J&MC. But until Ride started having hits the label was no more successful than some of the other UK Indies. I guess he lucked upon Ride - and some other label WOULD have found them if he hadn't first. That led to the Creation I loved: Slowdive, TFC, Boos, Swervedriver arguably all signed because of what he did with Ride, getting them in the charts. Oasis was a different era as far as I'm concerned and again - some other label would have signed them - he discovered them only in as much as he was there at the time. Liam was a big Ride fan from what I remember. Did he gain his reputation from hearing Drive Blind before anyone else? (kinda LOL - reaching a little here maybe).
I guess maybe House Of Love was the one thing I'm not sure of - they signed how? They had chart hits, didn't they?
― kraudive, Thursday, 13 September 2012 23:37 (twelve years ago) link
Just watched this documentary last night. The thing that really struck me was what a year Creation/McGee had in '91. Loveless, Screamadelica and Bandwagonesque all out at the same time, that's a heck of a hat trick. And the backstory on Screamadelica seemed about what I'd always figured -- band + drugs + Weatherall = months of seemingly useless hedonism suddenly producing this thing nobody expected.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 5 August 2014 13:06 (ten years ago) link
I think McGee said something like, "Just when you'd completely given up on them, suddenly they'd show up in the office with 'Higher Than the Sun.'"
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 5 August 2014 13:07 (ten years ago) link
that Screamadelica tour, changed my life and wrote about it somewhere on here...
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 6 August 2014 06:53 (ten years ago) link
How did I miss this documentary?
Thanks for posting this, it prompted me to watch it. Wasn't bad! Would have liked more on Loveless, the gestation of which I don't feel has ever been described in enough detail.
― fields of salmon, Friday, 8 August 2014 07:31 (ten years ago) link
So they are putting out an early years box 1983-1985.
First two discs are basically a reissue of the first half of the Creation Soup series - ie. the first 23 singles but this time including Upside Down/Vegetable Man.
Third disc is "rarities". There's no logic behind the choices except 7 of the 14 tracks here are the McGee's own bands. A bit self-serving of McGee especially since some not released on Creation or don't fit the 83-85 era on the box (plus there are other Biff Bang Pow "rarities" included on other discs, jeez). Has two JAMC tracks that have been freely available since day one, most recently on the last reissue of Psychocandy. This disc also includes a reissue of Alive In The Living Room - no biggie since it's mostly a historical document that I think everyone interested will know is practically unlistenable.
Fourth disc is demos - barrel scrapings admittedly. Could be interesting but does anyone need this much X-Men in their lives?
Fifth disc is the best: radio sessions. Bodines, Meat Whiplash, The Loft etc well recorded in nice studios. I WANT THIS.
DISC 1: SINGLES
1. THE LEGEND! – ‘73 In’832. THE LEGEND! – You (Chunka Chunka) We’re Glamorous3. THE LEGEND! – Melt The Guns4. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM – Flowers In The Sky5. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM – In The Afternoon6. BIFF BANG POW! – Fifty Years Of Fun7. BIFF BANG POW! – Then When I Scream8. THE JASMINE MINKS – Think!9. THE JASMINE MINKS – Work For Nothing10. THE PASTELS – Something Going On11. THE PASTELS – Stay With Me Till Morning12. THE X-MEN – Do The Ghost13. THE X-MEN – Talk14. BIFF BANG POW! – There Must Be A Better Life15. BIFF BANG POW! – The Chocolate Elephant Man16. THE JASMINE MINKS – Where The Traffic Goes17. THE JASMINE MINKS – Mr Magic18. THE LOFT – Why Does The Rain19. THE LOFT – Like 20. THE LOFT – Winter *21. THE LEGEND! – The Legend! Destroys The Blues22. THE LEGEND! – Arrogant Bastards23. THE X-MEN – Bad Girl24. THE PASTELS – Million Tears25. THE PASTELS – Surprise Me26.THE PASTELS – Baby Honey* Bonus tracks
DISC 2: SINGLES
1. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Upside Down2. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Vegetable Man3. THE LOFT – Up The Hill And Down The Slope4. THE LOFT – Your Door Shines Like Gold5. THE LOFT – Lonely Street6. THE LOFT – Time7. THE BODINES – God Bless8. THE BODINES – Paradise9. PRIMAL SCREAM – All Fall Down10. PRIMAL SCREAM – It Happens11. THE JASMINE MINKS – What’s Happening12. THE JASMINE MINKS – Black & Blue13. MEAT WHIPLASH- Don’t Slip Up14. MEAT WHIPLASH – Here It Comes15. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Singing In Braille16. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Aunt Nelly17. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Silk Brain Worm Women18. THE MOODISTS – Justice And Money Too19. THE MOODISTS – You’ve Got Your Story20. THE MOODISTS – Take Us All Home21. THE PASTELS – I’m Alright With You22. THE PASTELS – Couldn’t Care Less23. THE PASTELS – What It’s Worth24. BIFF BANG POW! – Love And Hate *25. THE WEATHER PROPHETS – Worm In My Brain ** Bonus tracks
DISC 3: RARITIES & ALBUM TRACKS
1. THE LAUGHING APPLE – Participate!2. THE LAUGHING APPLE – Wouldn’t You?3. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM – In The Afternoon (Early Vsn)4. THE JASMINE MINKS – The Thirty Second Set Up5. THE JASMINE MINKS – Somers Town6. BIFF BANG POW! – Fifty Years Of Fun (Almost Live Version)7. BIFF BANG POW! – Waterbomb!8. J.C. BROUCHARD with BIFF BANG POW! – Someone Stole My Wheels9. J.C. BROUCHARD with BIFF BANG POW! – Sunny Days10. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Upside Down (Demo Version)11. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Just Like Honey (Oct 84 Demo)12. THE BODINES – God Bless (Alternative Version)13. THE MEMBRANES – I Am Fish Eye14. THE MEMBRANES – Gift Of LifeALIVE IN THE LIVING ROOM:
15. THE JASMINE MINKS – Seven And Seven Is16. THE JUNE BRIDES – I Fall17. THE LEGEND! – Arrogant Bastards18. THE THREE JOHNS – A.W.O.L.19. THE LOFT – Your Door Shines Like Gold20. THE MEKONS – Rock’n’Roll Shoes21. THE LEGEND! & HIS SWINGING SOUL SISTERS – Sweet Soul Music22. THE JASMINE MINKS – Green Fuz23. ALTERNATIVE TV – Lonely LennyBONUS TRACKS
24. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES – A Picture Of Dorian Gray (live)25. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES – The Dream Inspires (live) *26. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES – Family Affair (live)* * = previously unissued
DISC 4: DEMOS
1. THE JASMINE MINKS – All Fall Down *2. THE JASMINE MINKS – Work *3. THE JASMINE MINKS – Second Post *4. THE LEGEND! – Boredom (Is) *5. MEAT WHIPLASH – Losing Your Grip *6. MEAT WHIPLASH – Always Sunday *7. MEAT WHIPLASH – Walk Away *8. THE LEGEND! – Victorian Values *9. THE X-MEN – Home *10. THE X-MEN – Planet Of The X *11. THE MOODISTS – The Train From Kansas City *12. THE MOODISTS – The Day They All Wake Up *13. THE MOODISTS – I Guess I’m Dumb *14. THE LEGEND! – Social Protest (By Numbers) *15. THE JASMINE MINKS – Mr Magic *16. THE JASMINE MINKS – Friends *17. THE LEGEND! – Do You Remember *18. BIFF BANG POW! – Lost Your Dreams (Demo)19. BIFF BANG POW! – I’m Okay Me (Demo)20. THE LEGEND! – Picture The Scene *21. THE X-MEN – A Tryst For Liszt *22. THE X-MEN – Stone Cold One Note Mind *23. THE JASMINE MINKS – Choice *24. THE JASMINE MINKS – Everybody’s Got To Grow Up Sometime ** = previously unissued
DISC 5: BBC SESSIONS
1. THE X-MEN – The Witch (John Peel 13/9/1984)2. THE X-MEN – Little Girl (John Peel 13/9/1984)3. THE X-MEN – Xtramental (John Peel 13/9/1984)4. THE LOFT – On A Tuesday (Janice Long 9/12/1984)5. THE LOFT – Skeleton Staircase (Janice Long 9/12/1984)6. THE LOFT – The Canal And The Big Red Town (Janice Long 9/12/1984)7. THE LOFT – Lonely Street (Janice Long 9/12/1984)8. THE MOODISTS – Other Man (John Peel 10/7/85)9. THE MOODISTS – Bullet Train (John Peel 10/7/85)10. THE MOODISTS – Take The Red Carpet Out Of Town (John Peel 10/7/85)11. THE MOODISTS – Justice And Money Too (John Peel 10/7/85)12. MEAT WHIPLASH – Loss (John Peel 28/10/1985)13. MEAT WHIPLASH – Walk Away (John Peel 28/10/1985)14. MEAT WHIPLASH – Eat Me To The Core (John Peel 28/10/1985)15. MEAT WHIPLASH – She Comes Tomorrow (John Peel 28/10/1985)16. THE BODINES – Scar Tissue (Janice Long 13/10/1985)17.THE BODINES – Therese (Janice Long 13/10/1985)18. THE BODINES – William Shatner (Janice Long 13/10/1985)19. THE BODINES – The Back Door (Janice Long 13/10/1985)BONUS TRACKS
20. THE LOFT – Beware (Live)21. THE LOFT – Wide Open Arms (Live)22. THE LOFT – Worm In My Brain (Live)23. THE LOFT – Up The Hill And Down The Slope (Live)
― everything, Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:03 (nine years ago) link
Hmmm, I'll be interested in hearing old Jasmine Minks songs I don't know. My hopes were up that there might be one or two of the "Another Age" demos which I had once on a much loved much missed tape, guess that's a bit late.
Struck as ever thinking about this lot how good the good stuff was and how shitty the shit.
― Tim, Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:22 (nine years ago) link
That is very true. And the good stuff has all been reissued so many times now...Like I say, only the radio sessions interest me at this point.
― everything, Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:41 (nine years ago) link
The more I read about this label, the more I'm convinced that it was Dick Green (rather than Alan McGee) who was responsible for a lot of the good stuff that happened on Creation.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:44 (nine years ago) link
I mean, if you wanna see what Creation would have put out if they hadn't folded, all you need to do is combine the Poptones catalogue (McGee's label) with Wichita Recordings (Dick Green's label) and the artists that were on Creation when it folded.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:46 (nine years ago) link
Yes, his track record after Creation was more solid and successful than McGee. Think the whole thing was very collaborative and McGee's importance massively overstated. Joe Foster...apart from being experienced with production, promotion and record labels he also produced most of the good early ones I think. And Ed Ball a bit later.
― everything, Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:49 (nine years ago) link
I think signing Oasis probably led to McGee's importance being overstated, he seemed to hate a lot of the stuff that a lot of people see as Creation's high points.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 25 June 2015 19:59 (nine years ago) link
I mean, didn't McGee once say he would have dropped The Boo Radleys if it wasn't for Dick Green being massively keen on having them on the label?
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 25 June 2015 20:00 (nine years ago) link
He did.
― Mark G, Thursday, 25 June 2015 21:24 (nine years ago) link
A theory: he doesn't have a unique, curious or intuitive musical taste. His favourites are all refered to him by others: Foster, Ball, Bobby Gillespie, the guys from the TV Personalities, the Reid brothers etc. He's always remembering how one of those guys gave him a tape or something and told him it was good. The one exception that comes to mind is Oasis and in that case he was blown away by a version of I Am The Walrus for fuxake.
Of the early "good" ones, most were a friend's band, or a friend of a friend (all the Scottish ones basically) and so the quality control wasn't really there either - just luck.
With the Boo Radleys - I don't think he even knew whether it was good or bad. He thought it sounded noncommercial and was surprised when it hit.
So yeah -McGee was successful on the non-musical side of things. Attitude, scene building, making friends, dishing out drinks, talking to the media etc.
― everything, Thursday, 25 June 2015 22:03 (nine years ago) link
The Boo Radleys were a good deal, they had already recorded "Everything's alright forever" for Rough Trade, but when the label went bust they got custody of the rights (purchased or what, I don't know) and as a band were improving and on the up. So, it made business sense to sign them.
― Mark G, Thursday, 25 June 2015 22:07 (nine years ago) link
In Paolo Hewitt's Creation book, McGee has Giant Steps as one of his top 12 Creation Records. Maybe he was largely just thinking business-wise because almost all the rest were huge hits.
― everything, Thursday, 25 June 2015 22:16 (nine years ago) link
Interesting theory, Everything.
I was about to say "He signed The Montgolfier Brothers so can't be all bad" but then I have a vague feeling that I've read that this was on his wife's recommendation.
― djh, Thursday, 25 June 2015 22:27 (nine years ago) link
McGee probably included it because it got great reviews at the time, and didn't want to be seen as being the one who didn't like it.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 25 June 2015 23:36 (nine years ago) link
Sounds like running Creation Records was a bit of a stressful time for Green, actually...
Q: It’s been quoted that you kept Creation going through the mid 90’s when Alan was ill, did you enjoy the challenge and do you think it sowed the seeds for you to set up Wichita?A: I managed to pull a team together and keep it together but was in constant touch with Alan, and only really doing what i had been doing anyway, I dont think it sowed the seeds… nearly put me off for life more like…..Q: Were you upset when Creation came to an end?A: Nope
A: I managed to pull a team together and keep it together but was in constant touch with Alan, and only really doing what i had been doing anyway, I dont think it sowed the seeds… nearly put me off for life more like…..
Q: Were you upset when Creation came to an end?
A: Nope
From this interview
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Friday, 26 June 2015 01:00 (nine years ago) link
So, the "Creaton" box set was mooted in 2002, and now it's here!
― Mark G, Friday, 26 June 2015 11:06 (nine years ago) link
Also, funny they've dropped the A side (but not the B side) from the X-men's 2nd single, and dropped Les Zarjaz completely.
― Mark G, Friday, 26 June 2015 11:11 (nine years ago) link
Slaughter Joe also missing, which is surprising.
― mahb, Friday, 26 June 2015 11:15 (nine years ago) link