NUM064
Album cover

The Creation

Action Painting

The Creation were a go. A dynamic band with an equally engaging image, they would burn brightly for less than 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 it was over. Eddie Phillips’ trademark guitar bowing would be nicked by Jimmy Page and Boney M would cheese-up “Painter Man.”

Over the nearly five decades since, 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.

Presented here for the first time are the complete Creation studio recordings. All 42 tracks have been remastered from the original tapes by Shel Talmy, and given fresh stereo mixes where previously unavailable. New essays by Dean Rudland and Alec Palao tell the band’s story and dive into their complete studio sessions. Scores of previously unpublished photographs adorn the accompanying 80 page hard bound book. We’ve rounded the whole package out with four tracks by pre-Creation freakbeat quartet the Mark Four, making Action Painting the definitive collection of this legendary UK band.

Track List

  1. The Creation Making Time
  2. The Creation Try And Stop Me
  3. The Creation Painter Man
  4. The Creation Biff Bang Pow
  5. The Creation Sylvette (Edit)
  6. The Creation If I Stay Too Long
  7. The Creation Nightmares
  8. The Creation Life Is Just Beginning
  9. The Creation Through My Eyes
  10. The Creation How Does It Feel
  11. The Creation Tom Tom
  12. The Creation Can I Join Your Band
  13. The Creation Midway Down
  14. The Creation The Girls Are Naked
  15. The Creation Bonie Maronie
  16. The Creation Mercy Mercy Mercy
  17. The Creation For All That I Am
  18. The Creation Uncle Bert
  19. The Creation Cool Jerk
  20. The Creation I Am The Walker
  21. The Creation Ostrich Man
  22. The Creation Sweet Helan
  23. The Creation How Does It Feel To Feel (UK Version
  24. The Mark Four Hurt Me If You Will
  25. The Mark Four I'm Leaving
  26. The Mark Four Work All Day (Sleep All Night)
  27. The Mark Four Going Down Fast
  28. The Creation How Does It Feel To Feel (US Version)
  29. The Creation Biff Bang Pow (Stereo Mix)
  30. The Creation For All That I Am (Stereo Mix)
  31. The Creation Can I Join Your Band (Stereo Mix)
  32. The Creation Through My Eyes (Stereo Mix)
  33. The Creation Tom Tom (Stereo Mix)
  34. The Creation Midway Down (Stereo Mix)
  35. The Creation Nightmares (Stereo Mix)
  36. The Creation Life Is Just Beginning (Stereo Mix)
  37. The Creation Painter Man (Stereo Mix)
  38. The Creation If I Stay Too Long (Stereo Mix)
  39. The Creation How Does It Feel To Feel (UK Version - Stereo Mix)
  40. The Creation Cool Jerk (Stereo Mix)
  41. The Creation Hey Joe (Stereo Mix)
  42. The Creation Like A Rolling Stone (Stereo Mix)
  43. The Creation Making Time (Instrumental)
  44. The Creation Sylvette (Full Length)
  45. The Creation Instrumental 1
  46. The Creation How Does It Feel To Feel (Instrumental)