A sublime set of roots, vocal and dubbed out instrumental magic, Close Encounters Of The Third World is a real lost gem in the treasure-filled Creation Rebel back catalogue. A true cross-atlantic collaboration - initial rhythm tracks were laid down in London in 1978, with horns and vocals overdubbed at Channel One in Jamaica, before bandleader Crucial Tony returned to London with the tapes for the album to be mixed by a visiting Prince Jammy.

Originally released on pre-On-U Sound label Hitrun, and the second album released by the group chronologically. Unavailable for 45 years, it has been carefully pieced back together, for this new edition featuring extended 12” discomix versions of “Beware” and “Natty Conscience Free”, re-cut by Frank Merritt at The Carvery. Includes new sleevenotes by reggae scholar David Katz that tells the story of the album in full, plus download card

TRACK LISTING

1. Know Yourself
2. Conspiring
3. Beware
4. Dangerous And Deadly
5. Shouldn’t Do That
6. Creation Fever
7. Natty Conscience Free
8. Joyful Noise

Out of print for many years and regarded as one of the greatest music books ever written, My Magpie Eyes are Hungry for the Prize: The Creation Records Story is the definitive account of the iconic British record label, republished for the label's 40th anniversary.

'The greatest book ever written on British independent music' Guardian 'One of the best British music books of the last ten years' Mojo

Founded by Alan McGee in 1983, Creation Records achieved notoriety as the home of Primal Scream, the Jesus and Mary Chain and other anti-Establishment acts. During the Britpop boom of the mid-90s, the astonishing success of Oasis brought Creation fame on the world stage. In 1999, however, McGee announced his shock departure as his label's influence over a generation of British music came to a confusing and disappointing end. Containing interviews with Creation musicians, employees, supporters and detractors, this is the inside story of Creation Records - and of British music since the 1980s.

The Creation was formed in 1966 from beat combo The Mark Four, and was quickly signed to a production deal with Shel Talmy, The Who’s producer. The first release was the urgent “Making Time”, which featured guitarist Eddie Phillips playing his guitar with a violin bow, two years before Jimmy Page started doing so.

Creation Records founder Alan McGee named his label after the band, and named his band Biff Bang Pow after one of their songs. So perhaps it was no surprise when in 1995 he came up with the idea of The Creation recording a song called “Creation” to be released on the Creation label. In the wake of reunion shows at The Mean Fiddler in 1993 and 1995, the original line-up re-convened, and the recordings expanded into an album. “Power Surge” was released in 1996.

TRACK LISTING

1. Creation
2. Power Surge
3. Someone’s Gonna Bleed
4. Shock Horror
5. That’s How I Found Love
6. Killing Song
7. Nobody Wants To Know
8. City Life
9. English Language
10. Free Men Live Forever
11. Ghost Division
12. O+N 

The first reissue of this private press late 1970 San Franciscan psychedelic soul masterpiece. Led by Leon Patillo, this self-contained group took their influences from Sly And The Family Stone and Santana. Patillo would later go on to sing with his heroes Santana on their ‘Borboletta’ and ‘Festival’ albums before establishing himself as a successful gospel singer.

Alan McGee was such a big fan of The Creation that he named his record label after the band, and named his own band after one of their songs – Biff Bang Pow. The Creation was formed in 1966 from beat combo The Mark Four, and was quickly signed to a production deal with Shel Talmy, The Who’s producer.

The first release was the urgent “Making Time”, which featured guitarist Eddie Phillips playing his guitar with a violin bow, two years before Jimmy Page started doing so. Whilst very popular in Germany, UK success largely eluded the band, and after a number of non-charting singles and line-up changes (including Ron Wood), the band broke up in 1968 without ever having released an album.

Phillips and lead vocalist Kenny Pickett recorded an album in 1987 that remained unreleased until 2004, and in 1995, following reunion concerts at Harlesden’s Mean Fiddler, Alan McGee and Joe Foster managed to persuade the original line-up to record a new album, for release on Creation Records.

Compiled with the assistance of Eddie Phillips himself, this limited edition deluxe media book presents a chronological history of the band. The four CDs include all eight single sides by The Mark Four (and three live reunion recordings from 1985), all of The Creation’s legendary recordings for Shel Talmy, in both mono and brand new stereo mixes, the 1987 album and the Creation Records album, and some solo recordings by Eddie from 1990 and 2011.

The DVD features a lengthy new interview with Eddie, filmed in October 2016, five songs from The Creation’s two live appearances on the legendary German 60s TV show “Beat Beat Beat” (from the original tapes, three songs appear on DVD for the first time), and 21 songs from the band’s two reunion concerts at the Mean Fiddler in the 90s.

TRACK LISTING

CD 1:
Rock Around The Clock
Slow Down
Try It Baby
Crazy Country Hop
Hurt Me If You Will
I'm Leaving
Work All Day (Sleep All Night)
Going Down Fast
Making Time
Try And Stop Me
Painter Man
Biff Bang Pow
Sylvette
If I Stay Too Long
Nightmares
Cool Jerk
Like A Rolling Stone
Can I Join Your Band
Hey Joe
Life Is Just Beginning
Through My Eyes
How Does It Feel To Feel [UK Version]
Tom Tom
How Does It Feel To Feel [US Version]
I Am The Walker / Ostrich Man / Sweet Helen

CD 2:
Midway Down
The Girls Are Naked
Bony Moronie
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
For All That I Am
Uncle Bert
Making Time [instrumental]
Painter Man
Biff Bang Pow
Sylvette [full length]
If I Stay Too Long
Nightmares
Cool Jerk
Like A Rolling Stone
Can I Join Your Band 
Hey Joe
Life Is Just Beginning
Through My Eyes
How Does It Feel To Feel [UK Version]
TomTom
How Does It Feel To Feel [US Version]
Midway Down / For All That I Am
Instrumental # 1
How Does It Feel To Feel [instrumental]
CD 3:
Hurt Me If You Will
Got My Mojo Workin'
That's How Strong My Love Is
Lay The Ghost 
Psychedelic Rose
Radio Beautiful
United
Doing It My Way
Making Time [new Version]
Far From Paradise
White Knight
Spirit Called Love
The Jimi Hendrix Trilogy

CD 4:
Creation
Power Surge
Someone's Gonna Bleed 
Shock Horror
That's How I Found Love
Killing Song
Nobody Wants To Know
City Life
English Language
Free Men Live Forever
Ghost Division
O+N
Woodstock Daze
Good Times

DVD:
Eddie Phillips Interview
Making Time
I'm A Man
That's How Strong My Love Is
Try And Stop Me
Painter Man
Try And Stop Me
Life Is Just Beginning
I'm A Man
Nightmares
If I Stay Too Long
Batman
Biff Bang Pow
Try And Stop Me
Life Is Just Beginning
I'm A Man 
Nightmares
If I Stay Too Long
Hey Joe
Making Time
Creation
Power Surge
Tom Tom 
That's How Strong My Love Is
How Does It Feel To Feel
Painter Man
Biff Bang Pow

"Upside Down: The Creation Records Story", produced & directed by Danny O'Connor, is the definitive and fully authorised documentary of the highs & lows of the UK's most inspired & dissolute independent record label - Creation Records. This is the accompanying 34 track, double disc set, compiled by Creation label founders Alan McGee and Joe Foster, featuring Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Oasis, Ride, Jesus & Mary Chain, House Of Love, BMX Bandits, Boo Radleys and many more...

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: Superb compilation from the label that soundtracked many of our lives. Some amazing songs and inspiring attitude. But where's The Pastels?

TRACK LISTING

CD 1:
1. The Jesus And Mary Chain - Upside Down
2. Oasis - Rock N Roll Star
3. Primal Scream - Loaded
4. Ride - Leave Them All Behind
5. The House Of Love - Shine On
6. BMX Bandits - Serious Drugs
7. Teenage Fanclub - The Concept
8. The Telescopes - Perfect Needle
9. Biff Bang Pow - There Must Be A Better Life
10. Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station
11. Slaughter Joe - I’ll Follow You Down
12. The Jasmine Minks - Think
13. The Boo Radleys - Lazarus
14. Revolving Paint Dream - In The Afternoon
15. Sugar - If I Can’t Change Your Mind
16. Swervedriver - Son Of Mustang Ford
17. Super Furry Animals - Something 4 The Weekend

CD 2:
1. Oasis - Wonderwall
2. Ride - Taste
3. Primal Scream - Swastika Eyes
4. Swervedriver - Duel
5. Teenage Fanclub - Mellow Doubt
6. Biff Bang Bow - It Makes You Scared
7. Slowdive - Alison
8. Revolving Paint Dream - Flowers In The Sky
9. The House Of Love - Destroy The Heart
10. BMX Bandits - I Wanna Fall In Love
11. Slaughter Joe - So Out Of Touch
12. The Jazz Butcher - Girl Go
13. The Creation - Creation
14. The Telescopes - Perfect Needle
15. Primal Scream - Imperial
16. The Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo!
17. The Jesus And Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking