Editing Creation Records

{{short description|British record label}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox record label
| name        = Creation Records Ltd.
| image       = File:CREREC.png
| parent      = [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
| founded     = 1983
| founder     = [[Alan McGee]]<br />Dick Green<br />[[Slaughter Joe|Joe Foster]]
| defunct     = 1999
| distributor = 
| genre       = Various
| country     = United Kingdom
| location    = [[London]], England
| url         = {{URL|creation-records.com}}
}}

'''Creation Records Ltd.''' was a British [[independent record label]] founded in 1983 by [[Alan McGee]], Dick Green, and [[Slaughter Joe|Joe Foster]]. Its name came from the 1960s band [[The Creation (band)|The Creation]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Eddie Philips Interview|title=Creation Records|url=http://www.creation-records.com/interviews/the-creation/|work=The Creation Interview|date=27 February 2010 }}</ref> 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 music|rock]], including [[indie pop]] and [[post-punk]], as well as some [[electronic music|electronic]], [[folk music|folk]], and [[experimental music|experimental]] artists.

== 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.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|pages=582/3}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Early Years">Yates, Brendan, ''Out of the Void; The Primal Scream Story'' (2003), p. 21</ref>

McGee started the label by putting out the "'73 in '83" single by [[The Legend!]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> after taking out a £1,000 bank loan.<ref name="Dee">Dee, Johnny (1988) "It's Different For Domeheads: Alan McGee recalls the most memeorable Creation creations", ''Underground'', April 1988 - Issue 13, p. 28</ref> Around the same time, he started a club called The Living Room in [[Tottenham Court Road]],<ref name="LarkinGE"/> through which he met several people who would go on to record for Creation, including [[Peter Astor]] and [[Lawrence (musician)|Lawrence]].<ref name="Dee" /> Distributor [[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]] soon began funding releases.<ref name="Dee" />

Creation was among the key labels in the mid-1980s [[Independent music|indie]] movement, with early artists such as [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]], [[The Membranes]] and [[Primal Scream]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> The Jesus and Mary Chain went to record for Warner Brothers in 1985, yet McGee remained as their manager. With the profits he had made from the band, he was able to release singles by label acts such as [[Primal Scream]], [[Felt (band)|Felt]], and [[The Weather Prophets]].

McGee had enthusiasm and an uncanny ability to attract the weekly music media, and he was able to get a growing underground following. In their early days, he was able to project a notorious image of [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]], which had often courted violence and loutish behaviour.

The early years of Creation feature prominently in 2017 documentary, ''[[Teenage Superstars]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/110041/teenage-superstars-sequel-to-big-gold-dream-edinburgh-film-festival|title=Teenage Superstars doc to receive its premiere at Edinburgh Film Festival|website=Gigwise.com|access-date=2018-06-08}}</ref>

== 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 (musician)|Ed Ball]], as well as newer arrivals such as [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/>

Creation Records' releases at this time tended to be critically acclaimed, without being major commercial hits.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Creation had run up considerable debt that was only held off until McGee sold half the company to [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony Music]] in 1992. There were reports of McGee's escalating drug use, as well as numerous and conflicting reports of the label being nearly bankrupted after funding the two-year-long recording of My Bloody Valentine's 1991 ''[[Loveless (My Bloody Valentine album)|Loveless]]''.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

== Sony years ==
After selling to Sony, Creation signed [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], whose debut album ''[[Definitely Maybe]]'' became a huge critical and commercial success. The band went on to epitomise the cultural [[Britpop]] movement of the mid-1990s. The success of Oasis was unprecedented for an act on an independent label. Their second album, ''[[(What's the Story) Morning Glory?]]'' became the biggest selling British album of the decade.

In the 1990s, Creation launched the subsidiary [[Rev-Ola Records]], which was formed by Joe Foster. Rev-Ola is now a part of the PoppyDisc group of labels.

The revitalised [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] took note of McGee's accomplishments with Creation. They got McGee to spearhead a media campaign prior to the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] in order to appeal to Britain's youth culture. He was largely responsible for changing government legislation in relation to musicians being able to go on the [[New Deal (United Kingdom)|New Deal]] which gave musicians three years to develop and be funded by the government instead of having to take other jobs to survive.

''[[Omnibus (UK TV series)|Omnibus]]'' went on to make a documentary on McGee and Creation in 1998 for [[BBC One]]. Creation Records was awarded 'Independent Label of the Year' every year between 1995 and 1998 by ''[[Music Week]]'', and McGee was awarded the ''[[NME]]'' 'Godlike Genius' award in February 1995.

In the United States and Canada, some of Creation's catalogue was licensed to various non-Sony record labels such as [[A&M Records]] (Swervedriver), [[DGC Records]] (Teenage Fanclub [outside Europe]), [[Reprise Records]] (Oasis), [[SBK Records]] (Adorable, Slowdive), and [[Sire Records]] (My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, Ride [outside the United Kingdom]).

== Dissolution ==
According to the documentary ''Upside Down'', McGee and Foster opted to close Creation in December 1999 after McGee began to suffer [[Burnout (psychology)|burnout]] and disillusionment with the label. The label's final release was ''[[XTRMNTR]]'' by Primal Scream, issued in January 2000, shortly after the label ceased functioning.

The dissolution of Creation Records in 1999 led to McGee and Foster forming [[Poptones]]. The label saw a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation, and had most notably launched the career of [[The Hives]] in the UK.

In May 2007, McGee told ''[[The Independent]]'' newspaper that he was winding down Poptones for financial reasons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alan-mcgee-why-im-giving-up-my-label-448270.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517145011/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alan-mcgee-why-im-giving-up-my-label-448270.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 May 2008|title=Alan McGee: "Why I'm giving up my label" |newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

''Upside Down,'' a film on Creation Records premiered at the [[British Film Institute|BFI]] in London on 23 and 24 October 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/london-film-festival-announces-screening-of-creati-879878|title=London Film Festival announces screening of Creation Records film|first=James|last=McMahon|date=22 September 2010|website=Nme.com|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref> It was released on DVD in the UK on 9 May 2011.<ref>Topping, Alexandra. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jan/08/film-creation-records-upside-down Film to Immortalise Lords of Creation Records]. "[[The Guardian]], 8 January 2010"</ref> 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<ref name="nme.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-3170-1263892|title=Alan McGee set to bring back Creation Records|first=Jenny|last=Stevens|date=11 September 2012|website=Nme.com|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref> but took up an offer from [[Cherry Red Records]] to launch 359 Music instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/creation-records-founder-alan-mcgee-to-launch-new-label-359-music-with-cherry-red-records/|title=Creation Records founder Alan McGee to launch new label 359 Music with Cherry Red Records|date=8 May 2013|website=Thevinylfactory.com|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cherryred.co.uk/label/359-music/|title=359 Music|website=Cherryred.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref>

After the partnership with Cherry Red came to an end, McGee launched label specialising in releasing 7 inch vinyl records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/alan-mcgee-new-label-creation-23/|title=Alan McGee Launches New 7" Record Label, Creation 23|first=Tim|last=Peacock|website=Udiscovermusic.com|date=3 August 2018|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.xsnoize.com/alan-mcgees-creation23-record-label-celebrates-first-year-strongest-line-up-yet/|title=ALAN MCGEE's CREATION23 Record Label Celebrates First Year & Strongest Line-Up Yet &#124; XS Noize &#124; Online Music Magazine|website=Xsnoize.com|date=August 2019 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> Shambolics, Rubber Jaw, Young Garbo and Juggs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alan-mc-gee-launches-new-record-label-creation-23-2363065|title=Alan McGee launches new record label, Creation23|website=Nme.com|date=3 August 2018|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://creation23.co.uk/splash/4651|title=Creation 23 Official Online Store : Merch, Music, Downloads & Clothing|website=Creation23.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/alan-mcgee-2020-interview-2647465808.html|title=Alan McGee Goes It Alone With New Label Creation 23|website=Popmatters.com|first=Ian|last=Rushbury|date=10 September 2020 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref>

=="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 (band)|Astrid's]] Charlie Clark<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.xsnoize.com/interview-scotlands-best-kept-musical-secret-charlie-clark-on-his-new-single-being-signed-by-alan-mcgee/|title=INTERVIEW: Scotland's best-kept musical secret CHARLIE CLARK on his new single & being signed by Alan McGee &#124; XS Noize &#124; Online Music Magazine|website=Xsnoize.com|date=9 February 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> releasing a solo album called ''Late Night Drinking'' as the label's first album release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/alan-mcgee-on-creation-stories-and-his-passion-for-new-music|title=Alan McGee On Creation Stories, And His Passion For New Music|website=Clashmusic.com|date=16 February 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/weekender/19039155.charlie-clarks-album-released-via-creation-baby/|title=Charlie Clark to release first album on Alan McGee's new imprint|website=Alloaadvertiser.com|date=26 January 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rocknloadmag.com/news/charlie-clark-new-single-on-alan-mcgees-its-creation-baby-label-5-feb-2021/|title=CHARLIE CLARK – New single on Alan McGee's 'It's Creation Baby' Label – 5 Feb 2021|date=12 January 2021|website=Rocknloadmag.com|access-date=21 August 2021|archive-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808131207/https://rocknloadmag.com/news/charlie-clark-new-single-on-alan-mcgees-its-creation-baby-label-5-feb-2021/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishmusicnetwork.co.uk/new-single-charlie-clark-scottish-songwriter-readies-single-on-alan-mcgees-its-creation-baby-label-5-feb-2021/|title=NEW SINGLE : CHARLIE CLARK - Scottish songwriter readies single on Alan McGee's 'It's Creation Baby' Label - 5 Feb 2021|website=Scottishmusicnetwork.co.uk|date=24 January 2021|access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> 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)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://creation23.co.uk/|title=Creation 23 Official Online Store : Merch, Music, Downloads & Clothing|website=Creation23.co.uk|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> as well as singles by Caterina Speranza's band CAT SFX<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/cat-sfx-alan-mcgee-creation-23-reunite-2805301|title=Cat SFX: "Alan McGee is so punk. He hasn't lost that 'Fuck everyone' attitude"|website=Nme.com|date=30 October 2020|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://creationdayfestival.com/welcome-to-creation-day/|title=Announcing a brand new festival for 2021: Creation Day  |website=Creationdayfestival.com|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> and Cast member John Power, who released a solo single called "Grounded Truth" via the label.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rocknloadmag.com/news/john-power-releases-grounded-truth-via-alan-mcgees-its-creation-baby-today/|title=JOHN POWER – Releases 'Grounded Truth', via Alan McGee's It's Creation Baby Today|date=22 July 2021|website=Rocknloadmag.com|access-date=12 December 2021|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209225650/https://rocknloadmag.com/news/john-power-releases-grounded-truth-via-alan-mcgees-its-creation-baby-today/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlyanorthernone.co.uk/news/alan-mcgee-unveils-new-festival-celebrating-legacy-of-creation-records|title=Alan McGee Unveils New Festival Celebrating Legacy of Creation Records|website=Onlyanorthernone.co.uk|date=19 October 2020 |access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://creationdayfestival.com/|title=Home - Utilita Creation Day Festival |website=Creationdayfestival.com|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://creationdayfestival.com/amazing-line-up-and-new-sponsor-unveiled-for-citys-utilita-creation-day-festival/|title=Amazing line-up and new sponsor unveiled for city's Utilita Creation Day Festival |website=Creationdayfestival.com|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/news/amazing-line-and-new-sponsor-unveiled-citys-utilita-creation-day-festival|title=Amazing line up and new sponsor unveiled for city's Utilita Creation Day Festival &#124; City Of Wolverhampton Council|website=Wolverhampton.gov.uk|date=9 September 2021 |access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://accessaa.co.uk/creation-records-boss-to-curate-new-creation-day-festival/|title=Creation Records boss to curate new Creation Day festival|first=Christopher|last=Barrett|website=Accessaa.co.uk|date=16 October 2020|access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|Creation Records discography}}

== Roster ==

===Principal bands or musicians===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[3 Colours Red]]
* [[18 Wheeler (band)|18 Wheeler]]
* [[Adorable (band)|Adorable]]
* [[Arnold (band)|Arnold]]
* [[Heidi Berry]]
* [[Biff Bang Pow!]]
* [[Blow Up (band)|Blow Up]]
* [[BMX Bandits (band)|BMX Bandits]]
* [[The Bodines]]
* [[The Boo Radleys]]
* [[Bernard Butler]]
* [[A Certain Ratio]]
* [[The Chills]]
* [[The Cramps]]
* [[The Creation (band)|The Creation]]
* [[Dreadzone]]
* [[Bill Drummond]]
* [[Felt (band)|Felt]]
* [[Five Go Down to the Sea?]]<ref name="rte">"[https://www.rte.ie/culture/2020/0422/1134088-the-sounds-of-finbarr-donnelly-corks-cult-hero-remembered/ The sounds of Finbarr Donnelly - Cork's cult hero remembered]". [[RTÉ]], 25 April 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.</ref>
* [[Fluke (band)|Fluke]]
* [[Glen Matlock]]
* [[Guided by Voices]]
* [[Heavy Stereo]]
* [[The House of Love]]
* [[Hurricane No. 1|Hurricane #1]]
* [[Quadrastate|Hypnotone]]
* [[Idha]]
* [[The Jasmine Minks]]
* [[The Jazz Butcher]]
* [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]]
* [[Everett True|The Legend!]]
* [[The Lilac Time]]
* [[The Loft (British band)|The Loft]]
* [[Ed Ball (musician)|Love Corporation]]
* [[Meat Whiplash]]
* [[Medicine (band)|Medicine]]
* [[The Membranes]]
* [[Momus (musician)|Momus]]
* [[Moonshake]]
* [[Bob Mould]]
* [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]]
* [[Nikki Sudden]]
* [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]
* [[The Pastels]]
* [[Primal Scream]]
* [[The Revolving Paint Dream]]
* [[Ride (band)|Ride]]
* [[Kevin Rowland]]
* [[Ruby (British band)|Ruby]]
* [[Saint Etienne (band)|Saint Etienne]]
* [[Silverfish (band)|Silverfish]]
* [[Slaughter Joe]]
* [[Slowdive]]
* [[The Sneetches (band)|The Sneetches]]
* [[Sugar (American band)|Sugar]]
* [[Super Furry Animals]]
* [[Swervedriver]]
* [[Technique (band)|Technique]]
* [[Teenage Fanclub]]
* [[Teenage Filmstars]]
* [[The Telescopes]]
* [[The Times (band)|The Times]]
* [[Ultra Living]]
* [[Velvet Crush]]
* [[The Weather Prophets]]
{{div col end}}

== 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 [[Global Communication|Reload]]. Infonet also released records with [[Andrea Parker (DJ)|Andrea Parker]] and [[David Morley (musician)|David Morley]], [[Eddie Fowlkes]], [[Kris Needs|Sulphuric]], [[Dominic Glynn|Syzygy]], among others.

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

===Icerink===
Icerink was a sublabel to Creation Records, run by [[Saint Etienne (band)|Saint Etienne]]. It was active between 1992 and 1994. It released ten singles (by [[Shampoo (duo)|Shampoo]] and [[Earl Brutus]], among others) and a compilation, ''We Are Icerink''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Icerink |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/13483-Icerink?sort=catno&sort_order=asc |website=Discogs |access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>

===Ball Product===
Ball Product was a short-lived Creation sublabel, run by [[Ed Ball (musician)|Edward Ball]]. It released four albums during 1992–1993, by [[Link Wray]], [[The Dentists]], [[Further (band)|Further]], and [[Brenda Kahn]].

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

==See also==
*[[Creation Stories (film)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|author-link=David Cavanagh|first=David|last=Cavanagh|title=The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|year=2000|isbn=978-1852277758}}
* {{Cite book|author-link=Paolo Hewitt|first=Paolo|last=Hewitt|title=Alan McGee and the Story of Creation Records: The Ecstasy Romance Cannot Last|publisher=[[Mainstream Publishing]]|year=2000|isbn=978-1840183504}}
* {{Cite book|author-link=Alan McGee|first=Alan|last=McGee|title=Creation Stories: Riots, Raves and Running a Label|publisher=[[Sidgwick & Jackson]]|year=2013|isbn=978-0283071775}}

==External links==
*[http://www.creation-records.com Creation Records website]
*[http://www.isolationrecords.co.uk/creation%20records.html Reviews of the entire collection of Creation Records' albums]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Creation Records| ]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1983]]
[[Category:Record labels disestablished in 1999]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 2011]]
[[Category:Re-established companies]]
[[Category:Indie rock record labels]]
[[Category:British independent record labels]]