The Creation, Lost UK ’60s Band, Gets Compiled

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The Creation’s Action Painting cover

Although they were not nearly as well known, especially in the United States, The Creation is considered by many aficionados to be one of the great bands of the ’60s British Invasion era. Falling into both the Mod camp occupied by The Who and Small Faces, and the nascent psychedelic sound, they enjoyed a very brief run and then disappeared into the back pages of the rock history books.

Now Numero Group has compiled, for the first time ever, the complete studio recordings of the Creation. The 2-CD set, titled Action Painting, will be released March 17.

All 42 tracks the group recorded between 1965-1968 have been remastered from the original tapes by producer Shel Talmy, and given fresh stereo mixes where previously unavailable. New essays by music historians Dean Rudland and Alec Palao tell the Creation story while scores of previously unpublished photographs adorn the accompanying 80-page hardbound book. Numero Group has rounded out the package with four tracks by pre-Creation freakbeat quartet the Mark Four.

According to a press release, “The Creation was a dynamic quartet with an equally engaging image. They would burn brightly for just two years, yet would leave an indelible mark upon music history. With producer du jour Shel Talmy at the helm (The Who, Kinks, Easybeats, Cat Stevens, et al.) the Creation went on an incredible two-year tear of singles, including ‘Making Time,’ ‘How Does It Feel to Feel,’ ‘Tom Tom’ and ‘If I Stay Too Long.’ By 1968 the paint was dry and the band split. Eddie Phillips’ trademark guitar bowing would be nicked by Jimmy Page and Boney M would cheese up ‘Painter Man,’ the band’s highest-charting single.”

The Creation

Over the nearly five decades since, the release continues, “The Creation has seen a tremendous resurgence in interest. First it was the Jam flossing ‘Making Time’ on the inner sleeve of All Mod Cons. A few years later Alan McGee formed the band Biff Bang Pow and his Creation record label. By the turn of the century a new generation had discovered the band via a strategic placement in Wes Anderson’s Rushmore.”

According to Talmy, “My biggest regret is that they didn’t achieve the standing they should have. I truly believe they could have been as big as the Who.”

Separate from the 2-CD/2-LP collection, Numero will release a limited-edition, breakaway spindle 45 featuring the Creation’s “Making Time” backed with a previously unissued instrumental version.

Track Listing

Disc 1
1        Making Time
2        Try and Stop Me
4        Biff Bang Pow
5        Sylvette (edit)
6        If I Stay Too Long
7        Nightmares
8        Life Is Just Beginning
9        Through My Eyes
10       How Does It Feel to Feel
11       Tom Tom
12       Can I Join Your Band
13       Midway Down
14       The Girls Are Naked
15       Bonie Maronie
17       For All That I Am
18       Uncle Bert
19       Cool Jerk
20       I Am the Walker
21       Ostrich Man
22       Sweet Helen
23       How Does It Feel to Feel (US version)

Disc 2
1         THE MARK FOUR – Hurt Me If You Will
2         THE MARK FOUR – I’m Leaving
3         THE MARK FOUR – Work All Day (Sleep All Night)
4         THE MARK FOUR – Going Down Fast
5         How Does It Feel to Feel (US version) New stereo mix
6         Biff Bang Pow   New stereo mix
7         For All That I Am   New stereo mix
8         Can I Join Your Band New stereo mix
9         Through My Eyes New stereo mix
10       Tom Tom New stereo mix
11       Midway Down New stereo mix
12       Nightmares   New stereo mix
13       Life Is Just Beginning New stereo mix
14       Painter Man New stereo mix
15       If I Stay Too Long New stereo mix
16       How Does It Feel To Feel (UK version) New stereo mix
17        Cool Jerk New stereo mix
18       Hey Joe   New stereo mix
19       Like a Rolling Stone New stereo mix
20       Making Time (backing track) take 1 Previously unissued
21       Sylvette (full length)
22       Instrumental 1
23       How Does It Feel to Feel (version 1) (backing track – Previously unissued)