Reviews
Below are some of the many reviews Joe has received...
Toorak Times 25 October 2015 by Rob Greaves:
New Album 'Running Free'
The Courier Mail Sat Sept 15 2001
The Vault Noel Mengel
Joe Creighton 'Holywell'
Melbourne based Creighton has been an in-demand musician for decades, in Ross Hannaford's reggae-driven, post Daddy Cool band Billy T, with Joe Camilleri in the occasional but high quality covers band The Revelators, and as long-time member of John Farnham's band.
He can sing too. He was in the band for the All You Need Is Beatles tour with George Martin as musical dirictor as Australian performers sang the hits of The Beatles. At the end of Hey Jude he walked up to the mike and nailed the 'Judy, Judy, Judy,' part with all the verve of Macca himself.
This independently released 1992 album snuck under the radar, but the music pulses as powerfully as ever. The main inspiration is plain: soul music in general and the rootsy swampy R&B grooves of the Neville Brothers in particular. Holywell might have been made in Melbourne, but the humid, sweaty funk of New Orleans seeps from it's pores.
Take a listen to My Oh My, where Creightons urgent guitar grooves intertwine with Mick O'Connor's soulful Hammond, or Simple Things, where Louis Shelton(guitar player on Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On album, we should point out) helps re-create the mix of church and street that Al Green cooked up at his peak.
Those are mighty talents to be compared with, but Creighton handles it with casual ease. The tragedy is that, being Australia, too few people have heard it. But no one who has is in any doubt that Holywell is a buried treasure worthy of mention in such company.
Australian Musician Issue 22 Winter 2000
By Rob Walker
Smokin' Joe Creighton
Many great Australian artists who need some serious bass or vocals captured on their live or recording project, seem to turn to Joe Creighton. Certainly this has been the case with the legendary "Voice" John Farnham, "The Impossible Princess" Kylie Minogue , and recently Olivia Newton-John for her USA tour. Rob Walker recently caught up with Joe for a chat.
full review...
Billboard November 21 1992
Global Music Pulse
Glenn A. Baker
Australia: Though not exactly a household name, Joe Creighton can lay claim to an exceptional pedigree. Born Belfast N. Ireland, he grew up devoted to Van Morrison, an influence that was evident when his first Australian band Melissa recorded an album in 1969. Since then Creighton has sung and played bass with Billy T, The Black Sorrows, The John Farnham Band, The Ian moss Band, Hunters And Collectors, Tim Finn and many others, and would seem an obviously viable signing for any record company. Not so as he found when he tried to secure a deal for his superb solo debut album 'Holywell', which he describes as 'ambient celtic funk' and which critics have compared with the work of Daniel Lanois, Robbie Robertson and, inevitably, Morrison. Uncertain of how to market him, every label passed on it leaving Creighton to form his own imprint, Innisfree, and arrange distribution though Siren. The 43-year-old singer may yet have the last laugh. A month after release he has already sold 1,000 copies of the album, picked up selective FM airplay, and had approaches from record companies in Germany and Holland.
InPress 16th September 1992
Andrew Watt
Holywell
Whilst this is a debut album to describe Joe Creighton as a new artist is making a huge mistake. The guy has been producing great musical art for years. He's best known as a bass player and many would argue that in this discipline he's the best in the country able to effortlessly lay down awesome grooves that also sparkle with a fluid breezy surefootedness.
It's a testament to the respect that his work with the likes of Steve Cummings, The Black Sorrows, Mark Gillespie etc, has earnt him from his peers that the musicians featuring on Holywell are the best Melbourne has to offer. Featured here are the likes of Peter Luscombe, Alex Pertout, Ray Pereira, Mick O'Connor, Venetta Fields, Christine O'Sullivan, Louis Shelton, Shane Andalou, Vika Bull and Dan Bourke. The album is produced by Creighton and Gus Til who also features heavily on the electronic instrumentation.
Although the album is long on subtlety and far from confrontational it is, in a word 'brilliant'. A short hand comment is that the fans of everyone from Van Morrison to the Neville Brothers will love this album such is it's soulfulness, it's depth and it's musical purity.
Creighton's voice is a revelation-it's got a beautiful tone and if it were heard (sight unseen) in America it would probably rapidly feature on soul and R&B radio.
The songs are personal and heart-felt and there's an overall feeling of true class about everything done on this disc.
In a music industry that was fair and just Joe Creighton would be a big, big star. As it stands Holywell is a true gem waiting to be discovered. It would be a tragedy if it were overlooked.
On The Street 4th November 1992
Greg Perano
HolyWell (Innisfree)
Heavy, bass driven, southern soul, with production that falls somewhere between Massive Attack and Daniel Lanois' work with The Neville Brothers. There's some heavy groove, southern-fried funk and sexy, laidback grooves. It has a percussive and edgy feel- Dr. John, The Meters, Tony Joe White, Husky vocals and good old Hammond B3. Dynamite production and programming from Third Eye's Gus Til adds character all of it's own. Not unlike Chris Whitely's material, it's evocative of space and earthiness, but transported to Victoria.
Sunday Herald-Sun Sept 27 1992
Records Mike McClellan
Joe Creighton's Holywell is a first release for the respected bass player/singer/guitarist from Melbourne.
You'll hear a little J.J Cale, a hint of former Lovin' Spoonful writer John Sebastion, particularly on 'Simple Things' and even a touch of Sam Cooke on 'One More Time'
Holywell is unpretentious down-home funk with a dash of 60s rock 'n roll.
Time Off
Joe Creighton is one of this country's most respected studio singers. He has contributed to the works of Cummings, Farnham, The Black Sorrows and Kate Ceberano to name a few. Produced by Gus Til and Creighton, Holywell is a groove record of the best calibre. Skipping from reggae to soul Creighton shows how he's earned his chops
Holywell is well crafted and superbly recorded. Helping out are the likes of Ray Pereira percussion), Vika Bull, Peter Luscombe, Venetta Fields and a swag of others. Despite Till's slickness and the rank of his co-stars, Creighton still manages to capture a certain intimacy on the album. This sounds like a record made by somebody who cares - not somebody who wants to be the next year's model.
The hallmark of Holywell lies in it's subtlety. Better still, the album is interesting - which is a rare thing for the fraternity of smooth Australian voices. Give this record a listen during Australian music week. It's a gem.
Sunday Age
FROM THE GODS
Best Music (Brian Wise)
Holywell Joe Creighton
Creighton is an Irish-born bass player and singer/songwriter who has toured and recorded with The Black Sorrows, Mark Gillespie, John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, Stephen Cummings and Ian Moss. The credentials are impeccable as is this record. Celtic roots mix with New Orleans rhythms and more in an absolutely wonderful concoction.
