Luscious Jackson

This article is about the band. For the basketball player, see Lucious Jackson.
Luscious Jackson
Background information
Origin Manhattan, New York, USA
Genres Alternative rock, alternative hip hop, indie rock
Years active 1991–2000, 2011–present
Labels Grand Royal, Capitol
Website www.lusciousjackson.us
Members Jill Cunniff
Gabby Glaser
Kate Schellenbach
Past members Vivian Trimble

Luscious Jackson is an alternative rock group formed in 1991. The band's name was inspired by now-retired American basketball player Lucious Jackson.[1]

The original band consisted of Jill Cunniff (vocals, bass), Gabby Glaser (vocals, guitar), and Vivian Trimble (keyboards, vocals). Drummer Kate Schellenbach joined the band midway through recording of their debut EP In Search of Manny. With the exception of a few non-LP cover songs, the band wrote all of their own material, the majority penned by vocalists Cunniff and/or Glaser.

Between 1993 and 2000, they released one EP, three full-length LPs, and ten singles on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label. Their biggest hit—and only Billboard Hot 100 entry—is "Naked Eye" (March 22, 1997). Other notable singles include "Here," "Daughters Of The Kaos", "Citysong", "Under Your Skin" and "Ladyfingers".

Keyboardist Vivian Trimble left the group in 1998,[1] and in 2000 the group announced their breakup, after releasing one album as a trio. February 2007 saw the release of Luscious Jackson's Greatest Hits compilation.

In 2011 the group announced they had re-united and they were planning to make new music.[2]

History

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.[3]

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 "Daughters of the Kaos".

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).[4] 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.

The years 1994 and 1995 brought continued success for the band. 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 Schellenbach and Glaser as well as Gene and Dean Ween of Ween and was produced by Josephine Wiggs, bass player of The Breeders.

1996–1997

The time between 1996 and 1997 was Luscious Jackson's most commercially successful period. While promoting the release of their second full-length album Fever In Fever Out (produced by Daniel Lanois), 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's "Nice Duds" fan club members received a 10-track CD album of demos and live rarities titled Tip Top Starlets.

1998–2000

In 1998 Luscious Jackson recorded George Gershwin's "I've Got a Crush on You" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. Luscious Jackson were featured in an ad campaign for The Gap throughout 1998 and 1999.[5] Their Christmas ad "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" was voted the most popular of the campaign in TV Guide.

Tired of touring and wanting to pursue other musical projects, Vivian Trimble left Luscious Jackson and was replaced by Singh Birdsong. 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 announced they would no longer be recording or touring as they wanted to spend more time with their families.[3]

Greatest hits and solo albums

In February 2007, Capitol Records released a Greatest Hits album.

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.

Reunion (2011–present)

In 2006, Luscious Jackson announced plans to reunite to record a new album of songs for children; by September of that year, the band had completed eleven tracks for the album, and was seeking a label to release it; it was untitled, though Cunniff told MTV she wanted to call it It's All Goo.[6]

On the July 8, the official Twitter and Facebook accounts became active and confirmed the band had reunited. Jill Cunniff, Gabrielle Glaser and Kate Schellenbach all returned to the band but Vivian Trimble has not. Working with Pledgemusic as part of a fundraising drive, the band hope to finish their album for children that had first been planned in 2006. They have also revealed they plan to make a new studio album, their first since 1999.[7]

A previously unreleased track from 1999 called "Girlscout" was also made available by the band as a free download.[8]

On February 8, 2012, Rolling Stone magazine posted an article on how the band has reunited. The band quietly reunited in 2011 after more than a decade apart to begin work on their first album of new material since Electric Honey was released in 1999. The band have opted to skip the traditional label route this time around in favor of funding their new project with Pledgemusic, a site that helps bands connect with their audience and offers an interactive pre-sale option with exclusive rewards for fans. Although still in the process of recording new music, a track titled "Are You Ready?," is available via internet stream.[9] In September 2013, the lead single "So Rock On" from the forthcoming album Magic Hour was premiered on NPR's All Songs Considered program.[10]

The trio released Magic Hour in November 2013, and briefly toured in support of the 10-song album with two east-coast stops: Philadelphia on November 23 and New York on December 7.[11]

Discography

Albums

The group has released four albums and one EP:[12]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US US Heat.
1992 In Search of Manny [EP] – –
1994 Natural Ingredients
  • Released: August 23, 1994
  • Label: Capitol / EMI / Grand Royal
114 2
1996 Fever In Fever Out
  • Released: October 29, 1996
  • Label: Capitol / EMI / Grand Royal
  • Format:
72 – RIAA: Gold
1999 Electric Honey
  • Released: June 29, 1999
  • Label: Capitol / EMI / Grand Royal
102 –
2007 Greatest Hits
  • Released: February 20, 2007
  • Label: Capitol
 – –
2013 Magic Hour
  • Released: November 5, 2013
  • Label: City Song
– –

Singles

The following songs were issued as singles commercially and/or promotionally (to radio/clubs). Many of these songs had accompanying music videos.

Promotional films and videos

Other releases

Special releases
B-sides and non-LP tracks

The following are recordings that do not appear on Luscious Jackson albums. The majority were issued on various artist compilations, film soundtracks or on one of Luscious Jackson's single releases.
  • "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" (featured in Gap commercial)
  • "Ursuline" (unreleased song; 1997)
  • "We Got Next" (WNBA theme song; 1997)
  • "Joy Rider" (unreleased song; 1998)
  • "Mum’s The Word" (unreleased song; presumably from 1999)

Side and solo projects

Band members have been involved in the following side and solo projects:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Luscious Jackson Loses Trimble". Rolling Stone magazine. Apr 7, 1998. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  2. ↑ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  3. 1 2 "From Then to Now: Kate Schellenbach talks Beastie Boys, Luscious Jackson, and everything in between". tomtommag.com. Tom Tom Magazine. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  4. ↑ "Luscious Jackson". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Luscious Jackson :Gap advertisement". YouTube. June 9, 2006. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  6. ↑ "Luscious Jackson Reunite — To Make Children's Album". MTV. September 26, 2006. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  7. ↑ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  8. ↑ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  9. ↑ Matthew Perpetua (2012-02-08). "Exclusive: Luscious Jackson Return With First New Song in a Decade | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Fall Music Preview". National Public Radio. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  11. ↑ TownTalk Delaware County edition |date=2013-11-13 |author Joe Szczechowski
  12. ↑ "Discography". Luscious Jackson. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
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