The Creation were from Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were three members in the group: Al O’Donnell on lead and rhythm guitar, his brother Mike O’Donnell on bass, and Ernie Phillips on rhythm guitar. All three contributed lead and harmony vocals.

The Creation recorded two singles within a few months of each other. The first was “What The Daisies Know” / “Sun And Stars (I Miss Her So)” on Centurion 45-3001, recorded in October 1967 and released by December. Both sides were written by O’Donnell and Phillips for Tenmand Music, BMI. The publishing contracts list Joe Green with Tenmand Music. Distribution was by Lance Music Enterprises on SW 4th St.

The second single is “No Silver Bird” backed with “The Warmth of Love” on Centurion 45-3002, recorded December, 1967. The quality of the band’s performance is very different from the Creation’s first 45, more disciplined and better-recorded, with a droning, trance-inducing sound.

The label design is also not much like Centurion 45-3001, with a different typeface, nor does it have the Lance distribution credit at the bottom. The Wakefield plant in Phoenix pressed both singles.

Lyrics to “No Silver Bird” consist of only six lines!

Go on, take an airplane ride,
Get on that big silver bird and fly,
The world would be so heavenly,
If you would come along trippin’ with me,
Go on, take an airplane ride,
Don’t need no silver bird by my side.

The Creation’s single of “No Silver Bird” is very rare; until 2018 the only image circulating was a poor quality b&w photo of a DJ promo label. With nothing known about the Creation, there was speculation that their version of “No Silver Bird” was an ’80s recording made in an older style.

On July 7, 1968, the Hooterville Trolley recorded their own versions of “No Silver Bird” and “The Warmth of Love” at Norman Petty’s recording studio in Clovis with producer Tommy Bee. The Hooterville Trolley and the Creation did not share any band members.

The labels give Ernest Phillips sole credit for both songs, and publishing changes to Reginald Music Publ. and Stinger Music. The Hooterville Trolley single wasn’t released until January of 1969.

In 2018 Al O’Donnell contacted me, and together with his brother Michael, answered my questions about the group and provided the scans of the contracts, lyrics and radio survey seen here.

Al O’Donnell:

The Creation was short-lived and we mostly wrote and arranged songs.

I have been playing guitar since very young. I usually played lead and rhythm on tracks. Mike picked up the bass as a new undertaking at the time we formed the band and became good very quick. Earnie played rhythm. The drummer and keyboard were always hired out and not part of the music development or lyrics.

Q. Who sang on the songs?

In all the songs Earnie, Mike and I sang and/or harmonized.

Q. Did the Creation play live shows? Are there any photos of the group?

Not really and no photos, [we were] just song writers composers and hopeful performers.

A couple of older gentlemen came to us and wanted to make us big. We had a backer and recorded both records that did get lots of airplay in the local area. Several thousand records were distributed.

“The Warmth of Love” was played locally as well, just did not get a local spotlight note.

On “No Silver Bird”, the guitar I was playing used a sound effect pedal and the repeater was adjustable with which I could set the tempo, that was the sound you refer to. Not even sure of what brand all the equipment was … I have had so many.

After several months of air play and not hearing from the guys who were doing the distribution, we went to their office and it was empty. Gone, along with the proceeds from the record shops. Being young and broke we could not pursue.

I never heard the Hooterville Trolley version [before recently]. I was not involved with Hooterville.

“Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling” recorded by the Fortunes and “Signs” recorded by the Canadian group Five Man Electrical band sounded suspiciously like ones we wrote, can’t prove it today as the originals were on Earnie’s machine, gone forever. Both were credited to have been written by others.

Phillips died some time ago.

I am the only one who plays today for fun. I own a Martin 6 and a Seagull 12 with pickups for larger occasions. I have some some originals I have written since then but no real connection to the industry, and just copywriting for the heck of it seems a waste of time knowing the industry.

Al ODonnell, 2018

Michael O’Donnell:

Earnie was in sales so he actually found Green [Joe Green, Tenmand Music publisher]. Green had advertised in the paper looking for local talent and Earnie responded after telling us about what he found, at least that is how I remember it.

After we made contact Earnie, Al and myself went and met Green and sang something for him and that is where it started.

I believe the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” were recorded in December 1967. I do remember hearing the song on KQEO while I was driving down the street, that is not something you easily forget.

Q. I checked BMI and the Library of Congress lists online but couldn’t find registration of any of your songs. I noticed Phillips was listed as sole writer of “No Silver Bird” on the label. Was that a mistake?

Ernie is no longer with us to speak for his recollection so I can only say I remember that no one could claim individual credit for anything the group did. There was collaboration in the lyrics, music and arrangement by each member for everything recorded. I have included the original note paper lyrics that I wrote down as we all worked together.If you looked at the initial contract for the second record, “Warmth of Love” and “No Silver Bird” you will see all three individuals were credited for writing etc. Not that it makes any difference, the history is just fun.

I seem to recall that Ernie fronted a larger portion of the money to record the second record (“No Silver Bird”) so I can only assume that this is how he negotiated with the promoter to be repaid.

There were different “tasks” each undertook in the process and Ernie took on the task of getting paperwork processed with the promoter etc.  When I found the paper-work concerning the contracts, I also found uncompleted copy-right paperwork so I suppose that was one task that did not get completed.

When you are very young and naive, things like this attention to detail sort of slips. We were just having fun and trusting the promoters, contracts and each other.

Michael O’Donnell, 2018

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There was one additional single on Centurion 45-3003/4. One side is Los Gallegos y Sr. Max Roybal “San Martin des Porres”, written by Jose Green and arranged by Ramon Gallegos. The other side is Sean & the Junction with “My Little Girl” written by Ernest Phillips and Joseph E. Green, and produced and arranged by Ernie Phillips. “My Little Girl” starts slow and immediately picks up tempo, with an unusual middle section, and a lead vocal in what I consider a crooning or song-poem style. Unlike the Creation’s songs, Tenmand Music registered both of these with the Library of Congress on December 9, 1968. Al and Michael O’Donnell do not recall these artists or know who was involved with Sean & the Junction.

Thank you to Al and Michael O’Donnell for answering my questions about the group and also for providing scans of contracts, lyrics and the KQEO survey.

Thank you to Jeremy Sloan for alerting me to the third Centurion single.