Guide to British Music of the 1960s
April 1998
CD Review
The Creation- Painter Man
The Creation was never as successful as the Who or Small Faces but they still have an important place in the 1960s music scene. Painter Man is a compilation album, one of several that have been released in recent years. During their main career there were no UK album releases although We Are Paintermen was released for the German market.
The group had two hits in the UK and both of these are included on the CD. The CD cover shows the classic Creation line-up. This includes the late Kenny Pickett on the left. He later co-wrote Clive Dunn's number one Grandad. On the far right is Eddie Phillips who was using a violin bow on his guitar before Jimmy Page. Eddie once turned down the chance to join the Who as second guitarist. Later incarnations of the group included former members of the Birds, John Dalton and Ron Wood, who later went on to find success in the Kinks and the Jeff Beck Group/Rolling Stones respectively. Kim Gardner of Ashton Gardner and Dyke was also a member.
The first three tracks on the CD are probably the group's best and best-known. Making Time had the power of the Who with its clipped guitar. Anyone who heard the song performed when the original group played a series of London gigs in the early 1990s can testify to the great sound here. Painter Man was also a UK hit for the Creation and later number 10 in the UK for Boney M. At gigs, even during the 1990s, the song would be illustrated by Kenny Pickett painting huge pictures around the stage. Both of these early singles feature Eddie Phillips use of the violin bow on his guitar. Painter Man's B-side is included. Biff Bang Pow features the great session pianist Nicky Hopkins and it rocks along with a similar feel (too similar?) to My Generation. This is pop-art on music.
The remaining tracks on the CD are a mixture of classic Creation and lesser-known songs. Sweet Helen is so obscure that there are no writing credit given. Life is Just Beginning is a Garner/Phillips song recorded during the time that Pickett had left the group with Bob Garner taking over vocals.
Painter Man is by no means the definitive Creation CD but it is a good introduction to one of the most innovative and exciting British bands but largely overlooked of the 1960s.
mp, March 1998
Released: 1993
Essential Tracks:
- Making Time
- Painter Man
- Biff Bang Pow
Track Listing:
- Painter Man
- Making Time
- Biff Bang Pow
- Life is Just Beginning
- How Does it Feel?
- Bony Maronie
- Mercy Mercy Mercy
- Sweet Helen