Creation Records

See, Noel could not write a 1min59 song to save his bacon!

― Mark G, Friday, October 28, 2011 10:25 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

Ah, now that I can agree with. Even on the first couple of albums the tracks go on maybe a bit longer than they should... but he took it to an extreme on 'Be Here Now', with songs that were nowhere near as good!

AlanM didn't "like" Loveless or "Wake Up"

So, that's the influential album, and Creation's first number one hit sorted then.

Nice to see Shields and McGee acknowledging their internal flaws at the time of Loveless. Otherwise I just hate all these Friday night ads for good honest music.

Be here Now got written out of history, that ws good.

But he did 'like' Oasis.

(Actually, just checked, Oasis got Creation's first number one. Then again, they were 'leased' to Cre, so maybe not)

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)

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.

I adore their noisy buzzy, early single "Kaleidoscope" - my favourite Boos song.

I've quite fond of early Boos as well, some great stuff on 'Ichabod & I' and 'Everything's Alright Forever'.

*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.

They're definitely one of two record labels which helped to shape my tastes. The other was Mute!

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.

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.

again

"C'mon kids" was hard to categorize, I mean.

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.

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

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'.

such a shame lawrence was ill during the filming of this

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.

"Fortunate Sons" "Four Saints"

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.

"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.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

http://www.flysoftware.com/images/products/html_plug-ins/html_radio_button.png God
http://www.globalintake.com/images/radio_button_off.pngAlan McGee
http://www.globalintake.com/images/radio_button_off.pngMorrissey

i reckon he just heard that flats record

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.

"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."

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.

Oh, yeah, I was just being a little snarky about the process.

the shit he signed during Creation's late period, man, what greater depths will he sink to next?

answer : poptones.

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.

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?

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.

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.'"

that Screamadelica tour, changed my life and wrote about it somewhere on here...

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.

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’83
2. THE LEGEND! – You (Chunka Chunka) We’re Glamorous
3. THE LEGEND! – Melt The Guns
4. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM – Flowers In The Sky
5. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM – In The Afternoon
6. BIFF BANG POW! – Fifty Years Of Fun
7. BIFF BANG POW! – Then When I Scream
8. THE JASMINE MINKS – Think!
9. THE JASMINE MINKS – Work For Nothing
10. THE PASTELS – Something Going On
11. THE PASTELS – Stay With Me Till Morning
12. THE X-MEN – Do The Ghost
13. THE X-MEN – Talk
14. BIFF BANG POW! – There Must Be A Better Life
15. BIFF BANG POW! – The Chocolate Elephant Man
16. THE JASMINE MINKS – Where The Traffic Goes
17. THE JASMINE MINKS – Mr Magic
18. THE LOFT – Why Does The Rain
19. THE LOFT – Like 20. THE LOFT – Winter *
21. THE LEGEND! – The Legend! Destroys The Blues
22. THE LEGEND! – Arrogant Bastards
23. THE X-MEN – Bad Girl
24. THE PASTELS – Million Tears
25. THE PASTELS – Surprise Me
26.THE PASTELS – Baby Honey
* Bonus tracks

DISC 2: SINGLES

1. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Upside Down
2. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN – Vegetable Man
3. THE LOFT – Up The Hill And Down The Slope
4. THE LOFT – Your Door Shines Like Gold
5. THE LOFT – Lonely Street
6. THE LOFT – Time
7. THE BODINES – God Bless
8. THE BODINES – Paradise
9. PRIMAL SCREAM – All Fall Down
10. PRIMAL SCREAM – It Happens
11. THE JASMINE MINKS – What’s Happening
12. THE JASMINE MINKS – Black & Blue
13. MEAT WHIPLASH- Don’t Slip Up
14. MEAT WHIPLASH – Here It Comes
15. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Singing In Braille
16. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Aunt Nelly
17. FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA? – Silk Brain Worm Women
18. THE MOODISTS – Justice And Money Too
19. THE MOODISTS – You’ve Got Your Story
20. THE MOODISTS – Take Us All Home
21. THE PASTELS – I’m Alright With You
22. THE PASTELS – Couldn’t Care Less
23. THE PASTELS – What It’s Worth
24. 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 Up
5. THE JASMINE MINKS – Somers Town
6. 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 Wheels
9. J.C. BROUCHARD with BIFF BANG POW! – Sunny Days
10. 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 Eye
14. THE MEMBRANES – Gift Of Life
ALIVE IN THE LIVING ROOM:

15. THE JASMINE MINKS – Seven And Seven Is
16. THE JUNE BRIDES – I Fall
17. THE LEGEND! – Arrogant Bastards
18. THE THREE JOHNS – A.W.O.L.
19. THE LOFT – Your Door Shines Like Gold
20. THE MEKONS – Rock’n’Roll Shoes
21. THE LEGEND! & HIS SWINGING SOUL SISTERS – Sweet Soul Music
22. THE JASMINE MINKS – Green Fuz
23. ALTERNATIVE TV – Lonely Lenny
BONUS 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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

He did.

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.

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.

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.

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.