I was playing around on the
www.bravecaptain.co.uk web site tonight. Found out that Martin Carr is releasing a live album later this month and I will have to own limit to 250 copies. Anyways through their message board I found out that a bunch of Creation Records anthologies are coming out very soon.
From
www.poptones.co.uk
Are the rumours true about the re-issues of the early classic Creation albums?
Yes, I'm working with Sanctuary records on this...it's all very exciting!
What's the first one?
It's Hurricane 1.
Hurricane 1?
Oh I know....They were never one of the indie-gods I suppose, but you know what - when I finished sequencing the album, with the outtakes and the rarities and remixes, it sounds pretty damn good. I think there's interest initially because Andy is in Oasis now, though that's fairly irrelevant, so there will be a reappraisal. Hopefully this time without the indie snobbery they were subjected to first time round. I still love Oasis by the way though I never go to their shows anymore. I always had fans staring down at me like they are about to give me the beat-down. Probably because I'm better dressed then them.
After Hurricane 1, we will be releasing a Slowdive anthology. I've finished the tracklisting with the anthology, and the band are pretty happy with it....
You were part of Creation - how does it feel to be working on the legacy of Creation?
The bands really trust me, because I'm more than a record company suit doing the reissues I was their friend, or their producer, or their publisher or a mate of Alan McGee's, or something...I was the nice one! I think the Creation reissues will be very choice. It's strange working on a history project partly consisting of my own life though....I'm waiting for people to try correcting my take and my memories..which I'm sure they will....!
What are the other plans for Creation reissues?
We'll be doing a number of compilations, fairly imaginative and let people get an idea of the back catalogue and don't worry we won't put any Legend! on there...
I rather like the Legend!
Each his own I would guess. I suppose the second single is not bad but the first is atrocious....yes, OK, I admit it, I produced the second one....and played on it too....mea culpa.
You've also reissued a number of Creation records on your own Revola imprint.
Jasmine Minks, Jazz Butcher, Biff Bang Pow even my own stuff yes, I'll be continuing with those imprints. It's mostly artists that were rather delighted to know that they own their own material. It can just go through as the early Creation artists all know me and if I mess up then they know where I live and they can come over and have a go!
What is the next reissue of Creation for Revola?
The next reissue is up for it are The Telescopes. They have one album that they said was never released. I don't know how a released album can never be released but it is a very long and complicated story with a lot of facts and I had to take a nap afterwards. The facts are that it is an excellent album, and should be out there....
What were the reactions of the bands involved in the reissue project?
Slowdive's reaction was the most humorous - they wondered if they had enough songs for the anthology that is coming out. Swervedriver, after I contacted them, their attitude was - 'Oh let Joe and Alan (Moulder) take care of it - they can do all the technical stuff that needs to be done'. Moulder will make sure all the best versions make the cut, and the band are very involved in the whole thing and Martin Carr and myself worked very hard to present the best Boo Radleys anthology possible.
Was there any difficulty with the Boo Radleys release?
Martin? Martin Carr was very easy. There was originally going to be a 'Best Of' coming out on Sony. And Martin was horrified at the tracklisting. It gave no picture of the band at all, it was basically Wake Up Boo! and all the songs that sounded like Wake Up Boo!. And unbeknowst to Sony, Martin had written in his contract, a clause that gave him right to refuse any anthology tracklisting. Martin and I worked up the new Boo's tracklisting and it is very good and very comprehensive, it includes all the early singles and goes up to the Creation years, and is much more a picture of what the Boos were about.
What else has the mighty Joe Foster been doing?
I've been managing Brian Jonestown Massacre. I wouldn't say managing though. I guess you could say advising. Well, I vouch for him, bail him out on occassion.
