Historic city has taken up recording revolutionary creative work (5)
I believe the answer is:
petra
'historic city' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'taken up recording revolutionary creative work' is the wordplay.
'taken up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'recording' becomes 'EP' (extended play vinyl record).
'revolutionary' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (letters revolve around).
'creative work' becomes 'art' (artwork).
'ep' back-to-front is 'pe'.
'art' backwards is 'tra'.
'pe'+'tra'='PETRA'
'has' is the link.
(Other definitions for petra that I've seen before include "Rock-hewn city of Jordan" , "Burgon's rose-red city" , "A rose-red city - 'half as old as Time'! (Burgon)" , "Historic city in Jordan" , "Long-lost city of Jordan rediscovered in 1812" .)