Creation Records

Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although it was revived at one point in 2011 for the release of the compilation album Upside Down.

Over the course of its sixteen-year history, Creation predominantly focused on alternative rock, releasing several influential indie rock, shoegaze, and Britpop records, but also featured bands performing various other styles of rock, including indie pop and post-punk, as well as some electronic, folk, and experimental artists. Their roster has included The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Felt, My Bloody Valentine, and Oasis.

Early years

McGee formed Creation Records following the culmination of various projects, including fanzine Communication Blur, his own rock outfit The Laughing Apple (with future Primal Scream guitarist and long-time friend Andrew Innes), and his running of the venue The Communication Club. Initially, McGee wished to provide an outlet for like minded musicians and an opportunity for young bands to see their work on vinyl. Primarily the label was in opposition to the "manufactured" synth pop of the era, that bore little resemblance to the work of his favourite acts including Public Image Ltd and the Sex Pistols.

McGee started the label by putting out the "'73 in '83" single by The Legend!, Around the same time, he started a club called The Living Room in Tottenham Court Road,

Mid-period

Following an unsuccessful attempt to run an offshoot label for Warner Brothers (Elevation Records), McGee regrouped Creation and immersed himself in the burgeoning dance and acid house scene starting in the late 1980s. Those scenes had influenced Creation mainstays such as Primal Scream and Ed Ball, as well as newer arrivals such as My Bloody Valentine.

Upside Down, a film on Creation Records premiered at the BFI in London on 23 and 24 October 2010. It was released on DVD in the UK on 9 May 2011. Additionally, a soundtrack album compiled by Joe Foster featuring 34 tracks which covered the entire career of Creation Records was released. This album was released on Creation Records, which was revived for the release of the album only.

In numerous interviews in 2012, McGee said he was "seriously considering" resurrecting Creation Records but took up an offer from Cherry Red Records to launch 359 Music instead.

After the partnership with Cherry Red came to an end, McGee launched label specialising in releasing 7 inch vinyl records. This label was called Creation23 and was seen as the new incarnation of Creation Records. Acts who had singles released by the label included The K's, Shambolics, Rubber Jaw, Young Garbo and Juggs.

"It's Creation Baby"

On 1 February 2021, McGee relaunched Creation23 as the "It's Creation Baby" record label and became the sole owner of the company. The label would now sign acts and put out albums as well as 7 inch singles, with Astrid's Charlie Clark releasing a solo album called Late Night Drinking as the label's first album release. By December 2021, McGee had overseen releases by acts such as Marquis Drive, Shambolics and The Illicits (bands who had been previously part of Creation23) as well as singles by Caterina Speranza's band CAT SFX and Cast member John Power, who released a solo single called "Grounded Truth" via the label. McGee also launched an indie music festival using the Creation name, set up by McGee to showcase his acts on a bill which also includes named headliners from the indie music scene. The festival, now called the Utilita Creation Day Festival, was due to be held in Wolverhampton in 2021 but was postponed until 2022.

Discography

Roster

Principal bands or musicians

3 Colours Red
18 Wheeler
Adorable
Arnold
Heidi Berry
Biff Bang Pow!
Blow Up
BMX Bandits
The Bodines
The Boo Radleys
Bernard Butler
A Certain Ratio
The Chills
The Cramps
The Creation
Dreadzone
Bill Drummond
Felt
Five Go Down to the Sea?
Fluke
Glen Matlock
Guided by Voices
Heavy Stereo
The House of Love
Hurricane #1
Hypnotone
Idha
The Jasmine Minks
The Jazz Butcher
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Legend!
The Lilac Time
The Loft
Love Corporation
Meat Whiplash
Medicine
The Membranes
Momus
Moonshake
Bob Mould
My Bloody Valentine
Nikki Sudden
Oasis
The Pastels
Primal Scream
The Revolving Paint Dream
Ride
Kevin Rowland
Ruby
Saint Etienne
Silverfish
Slaughter Joe
Slowdive
The Sneetches
Sugar
Super Furry Animals
Swervedriver
Technique
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Filmstars
The Telescopes
The Times
Ultra Living
Velvet Crush
The Weather Prophets

Sublabels

Infonet

Infonet was an electronic music sublabel to Creation Records, run by Chris Abbot. It was active between 1992 and 1997. Main bands on the label were Bandulu (with various aliases) and Reload. Infonet also released records with Andrea Parker and David Morley, Eddie Fowlkes, Sulphuric, Syzygy, among others.

August Records

August Records was a short-lived Creation Records offshoot A&R'd by former Fire Records boss Dave Barker. It was active between 1992 and 1994. Acts included 18 Wheeler (later transferred to Creation), Eugenius (ex-Fire Records), Shonen Knife and Ween.

Icerink

Icerink was a sublabel to Creation Records, run by Saint Etienne. It was active between 1992 and 1994. It released ten singles (by Shampoo and Earl Brutus, among others) and a compilation, We Are Icerink.

Ball Product

Ball Product was a short-lived Creation sublabel, run by Edward Ball. It released four albums during 1992–1993, by Link Wray, The Dentists, Further, and Brenda Kahn.

Eruption Records

Eruption Records was a sublabel to Creation Records, Richard Norris was the label's A&R Consultant. It was active between 1996 and 1999. Acts include Wamdue Project, among others.

References

External links

Creation Records website
Reviews of the entire collection of Creation Records' albums