Luscious Jackson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Luscious Jackson | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York, USA |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Pop Rock Hip Hop Dance |
| Years active | 1992-2000 2006–present |
| Label(s) | Grand Royal Capitol |
| Members | |
| Jill Cunniff Gabby Glaser Kate Schellenbach Vivian Trimble |
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Luscious Jackson was an alternative/pop-rock group formed in 1991. They are named after former Philadelphia 76ers pro basketball player Lucious Jackson, whose name was mispronounced "luscious" during a sportscast.
The original band consisted of Jill Cunniff (vocals, bass), Gabby Glaser (vocals, guitar), Kate Schellenbach (drums) and Vivian Trimble (keyboards, vocals). The band played nearly every instrument heard on their records, and with the exception of a few non-LP cover songs wrote all of their own material, the majority penned by vocalists Jill Cunniff and/or Gabby Glaser.
Between 1993 and 2000 they released one EP, three full length LPs and ten singles on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal record label. Their biggest hit-—and only Billboard Top 40 entry—-is "Naked Eye" (#36, March 22, 1997). Other notable singles include "Here", "CitySong (NY State Of The World)", "Under Your Skin" and "Ladyfingers".
Vivian Trimble left the group in 1998, and in 2000 (after releasing one album as a trio) the group officially announced the break up of Luscious Jackson.
February 2007 saw the release of Luscious Jackson's "greatest hits" compilation, and in the Fall of 2006 the band announced that they have reunited and are to begin work on a new children's album.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1991-1993
In 1991, Jill Cunniff and Gabby Glaser created the first Luscious Jackson demo with tip money from their restaurant jobs. Their first live performance was opening for Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill at the now-defunct Building in lower New York City. The Beastie Boys asked Luscious Jackson to be the first band on their Grand Royal label.
Former Beastie Boys band member Kate Schellenbach soon joined the band on drums, and Vivian Trimble took keyboard and backing vocal duties.
Three tracks from the original Luscious Jackson demo and four new songs were released in 1992 as the In Search of Manny EP. "Let Yourself Get Down" and "Daughters Of The Kaos" were issued as promotional singles. A video was also filmed for the ISOM track "Daughter's of the Kaos".
[edit] 1994-1995
After previewing two new recordings from their forthcoming album on the promotional Daughters Of The Kaos EP, Luscious Jackson released their first full length LP for the Grand Royal label, Natural Ingredients (1994). The album spawned three minor hits with "CitySong (NY State Of The World)," "Deep Shag" and "Here", the latter featured in the Alicia Silverstone film Clueless. In addition, all three singles had music videos which could be seen on MTV.
Throughout 1994 and 1995 Luscious Jackson were seemingly everywhere. They took part in the Lollapalooza tour and were the musical guest on numerous television shows including Saturday Night Live, Viva Variety and MTV's 120 Minutes. They were also featured in a fashion segment on MTV's House of Style with Cindy Crawford and on the Nickelodeon TV series The Adventures of Pete and Pete in the episode titled "Dance Fever". The band performed "Angel," "Satellite," "Pele Merengue," and "Here" at Little Pete's first junior high dance.
While on tour in 1995, Trimble and Cunniff recorded a collection of mellow, acoustic driven songs under the name Kostars titled Klassics With A "K". The album was released in 1996 and featured contributions by Kate and Gabby as well as Gene and Dean Ween of Ween and was produced by Josephine Wiggs, bass player of The Breeders.
[edit] 1996-1997
The time between 1996 and 1997 were Luscious Jackson's most commercially successful period. While promoting the release of their second full-length album Fever In, Fever Out, they scored their first Billboard Top 40 Hit "Naked Eye". Two follow up singles were released, "Under Your Skin" and "Why Do I Lie?" which was featured in the Gus Van Sant film Good Will Hunting.
During this time Luscious Jackson "Nice Duds" fan club members were treated to an exclusive 10 track CD album of demos and live rarities titled Tip Top Starlets, now a highly sought after rarity.
[edit] 1998-2000
Luscious Jackson were featured in an ad campaign for The Gap throughout 1998 and 1999. Their Christmas ad "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" was voted the most popular of the campaign in TV Guide. One of the commercials can be seen on YouTube here:[1].
Tired of touring and wanting to pursue other musical projects, Vivian Trimble left Luscious Jackson. Two years later Vivian Trimble and Josephine Wiggs (formerly of The Breeders) released an album under the name Dusty Trails.
Returning to 1999, Luscious Jackson (recording as a trio) released their third full-length LP Electric Honey. The single "Ladyfingers" was a moderate success with the video put into heavy rotation on VH1. "Ladyfingers" was also featured in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Beer Bad". A second single "Nervous Breakthrough" was issued without a music video or commercial single release. Plans for a third single from Electric Honey, "Devotion" were scrapped as interest in the album waned, though a radio/single remix was prepared.
In 2000, Luscious Jackson officially announced they would no longer be recording or touring. This seemed to be the final chapter for the band.
[edit] Reunion plans and solo albums
In 2006, after a "break up" lasting more than six years, Luscious Jackson announced plans to reunite to record a new album of songs for children. In February 2007, they released a Greatest Hits album on the Capitol label, covering their recordings for Grand Royal between 1992-1999.
On February 20, 2007, vocalist/bassist Jill Cunniff released her first solo album, City Beach, on The Militia Group label.
On June 26, 2007, vocalist/guitarist Gabby Glaser released her debut solo album, Gimme Splash on Latchkey Records.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- In Search of Manny [EP] (1992)
- Natural Ingredients (1994)
- Fever In Fever Out (1996)
- Electric Honey (1999)
- Greatest Hits (2007)
[edit] Special releases
- Daughters Of The Kaos [Promotional EP] (1993)
- Tip Top Starlets [Exclusive 'Nice Duds' Fan Club Release] (1997)
[edit] Singles
The following songs were issued as singles commercially and/or promotionally (to radio/clubs). Many of these songs had accompanying music videos (see Promotional Films below)
- Let Yourself Get Down (Edit)
- Daughters Of The Kaos
- CitySong (NY State Of The World) (Radio Re-mix)
- Deep Shag (Sunny Ray Mix)
- Here (Squirmel Mix)
- Naked Eye (Radio Edit)
- Under Your Skin [Single Version remixed by Tchad Blake, uncredited on label]
- Why Do I Lie? (Remix)
- Ladyfingers (Guitar Up Version)
- Nervous Breakthrough (Single Version)
[edit] B-Sides & Non-LP tracks
The following are recordings—commercially available or confirmed unreleased—that do not appear on proper Luscious Jackson albums. The majority were issued on various artist compilations, film soundtracks or on one of Luscious Jackson's many single releases.
- Radiating (from the 'Citysong' single)
- Daddy (from the 'Deep Shag' single)
- Queen Of Bliss (from the 'Here' single)
- 69 Année Érotique (from the compilation 'Ain’t Nuthin’ But A She Thing')
- Banana’s Box (from the 'Naked Eye' single)
- Foster’s Lover (from the 'Naked Eye' single)
- Roses Fade (from the soundtrack to the film 'The Saint (soundtrack)')
- Love Is Here (from the soundtrack to the film 'A Life Less Ordinary')
- Love That’s Real Suite (from the soundtrack to the film 'Half-Baked')
- I’ve Got A Crush On You (from the compilation 'Red Hot + Rhapsody: The Gershwin Groove')
- Gridlock (from the 'Ladyfingers' single)
- To Sir With Love (from the 'Ladyfingers' single)
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (from the 'Nervous Breakthrough' single and the promotional 'Capitol Chestnuts' compilation)
- Down To Earth (from the soundtrack to the film 'Titan A.E.')
- Stone Fox (unreleased song; featured in GAP commercial)
- Ursuline (unreleased song; 1997)
- We Got Next (unreleased song; 1997)
- Joy Rider (unreleased song; 1998)
- Mum’s The Word (unreleased song; presumably from 1999)
[edit] Side & Solo projects
- Klassics With A "K" by Kostars (1996)
- Dusty Trails by Dusty Trails (2000)
- Punk Debutante by Cooler Kids (2003)
- City Beach by Jill Cunniff (2007)
- Gimme Splash by Gabby Glaser (2007)
[edit] Promotional films
- Life Of Leisure
- Daughters Of The Kaos
- CitySong
- Deep Shag
- Here
- 69 Année Érotique
- Naked Eye
- Under Your Skin
- Ladyfingers
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
- No Preservatives
