Luscious Jackson: Whatever Happened To The Band Behind Naked Eye?
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- The history of the 90's alternative group Luscious Jackson, best known for the song Naked Eye.
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#lusciousjackson
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
Luscious Jackson would be a staple of the 90’s combining their influences of hip-hop, funk, old soul, punk and vintage samples. They would be hailed as one of the most unique bands of the 90’s, while also being difficult to characterize. Some characterizations included labeling the group as lazy bluesy hip hop or the sister group to the beastie boys. Today, let’s talk about the history of luscious Jackson
The group’s lineup would be made up of bassist and vocalist Jill Cunniff, guitarist and vocalist Gabby Glaser, drummer Kate Schellenback and keyboardist Vivian Trimble. ¾ of the band were raised in New York City in the 80’s, Trimble wasn’t. While she was born in the city, she would instead move to europe with her parents being opera musicians living in Switzerland Austria and France until she was an adult.
Luscious Jackson’s origins began in the 80’s when a 13 or 14 year old Cunniff, Glaser and Schelleback would meet. Cunniff would tell NPR "I think I met Gabby on a stoop on St. Mark's Place, and I believe Kate, as well adding "We were all about 13, 14, and it was an amazing time, as far as not only bands playing but also the early rap scene and the breakdancing scene,". "It was all kind of colliding at the same time." "I remember meeting Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys in front of the UK Club at a Bad Brains show. There were probably 20 of us, all underage, running around to clubs." While the members were too young to get admitted to these shows they would put fake stamps on themselves to get in. Cunniff would celebrate her 13th birthday at club CBGB’s while Glaser would hang out with the clash during the recording of their record Sandanista. Meanwhile Trimble who was living across the pond would get into the same type of hijinx. Trimble and her french friends who hang out at popular parisian nightspots\
Glaser would go to a diverse school made up of Puerto Ricans, African American with her high school being mostly Asian. Despite her fellow students having already chosen their careers by middle school, Glaser thought that maybe she would become a graphic designer or an architect, but she soon realized, it was too much work. She would also be the niece of Milton Glaser who designed the logos for i love new york and DC Comics among many others.
Cunniff meanwhile was looking at a career in comedy or becoming a veterinarian. However, it would be a trip to the vets office when she saw someone bring in a dead cat, that she soon decided, being a vet wasn’t for her. Schellenbach meanwhile was already in show business by the time she age 13, appearing in a broadway show.
As the members grew up, Cunniff goes to France to study and returns to New York, while Glaser is taking going to film school. They’re both working dead end jobs and the origins of Luscious Jackson would begin with both women assembling in a friend’s basement studio drinking coffee, coming up with samples, doing low key rapping and playing guitar. Cunniff would play bass while Glaser played guitar and they would sometimes switch instruments. It was in their friend’s basement that seven songs emerged that would make it on their first EP In Search fo Manny and while the first four tracks were done, the last two needed drums and keyboards. So the girls would soon enlist drummer Kate Schellenbach and keyboardist Vivian Trimble to round out the demos. Jill Cunniff would tell billboard why the band heavily used samples revealing “we did a lot more work with samples in the past mostly because we could never get immediate results with live instruments ”
Trimble would tell an interviewer about what she had been up to until this point revealing “I had been part of the performance scene in New York for years with people like John Kelly. My mother’s a concert pianist and my father’s an opera singer. I’d never pursued any of that seriously, but I started writing music for myself and for other directors and choreographers. I met Jill when we were teaching adult education together. The first time
Fan of Luscious Jackson?
They had some great songs in the 90s. Naked Eye is my favorite. Jill and Vivian also recorded an excellent alternative rock album under the name "Kostars," in 1996.
I love everything they released throughout the 1990s. Have yet to give Magic Hour a listen.
They broke thru the 99.1 hfs Techno Trans with Naked Eye.
Dj shit radio ep with a full on band without a mixing dude. Glad I was there in real time.
Naked Eye, and then pissed the album version wasnt what I heard on a radio.. so.. in the cassette days, I just recorded over it, and made that bass line turn the song into over 7 minutes.
No.
I bought Manny in 93 have been a lifelong fan ever since. They put on a great show, every song is a hit and they’ve always been part of my adult life ❤❤❤
Saw them back in the 90s on a triple bill with Urge Overkill and the Breeders. Talk about a great night out. 'City Song' was a great track.
What a gig!
What a lineup!!!
FIFO is one of my all time favorite albums! Mood Swing is probably my favorite on the record. Naked Eye and Under Your Skin are bangers as well
Wish I could have seen them live. They were a great band and easy on the eyes
As a kid, naked eye hit a weird emotion inside for me. I can't explain. Now as an adult it's just a killer radio hit.
I agree, I was a 19 year old dude in 1996 and I had an immediate emotional response to this song, can't explain it. Now when I listen to it I still feel a heaviness but I still can't explain it but it's not a bad thing at all, just a strange vulnerable sensation. Be well! ✌️
One hit ponder
I never remember hearing this song before about 2013 when i was about 26 but its one of my favs
@@archstanton4365 absolutely. It's so odd.
that song is great (except when the cheesy rapping occurs)
I worked at Sam Goody in Texas when the Naked Eye music video came out on MTV....I thought it was a brilliant innovative single. Surprised it wasn't a bigger hit. Still have the promo single on vinyl with all the remixes ❤ The 90s were the most fun times of my life 😊
Yeah I agree. I can't think of anything bad about the 90s
@@southwestxnorthwestI would argue the 90’s rivals the 60’s music catalogue
@@stephen4631 Saw Wesley live in Dallas back then too.....still have my promo CD of Fabian Road Warrior .
Oh man. It’s absolutely iconic
Mine too, buddy.
I remember when "In Search of Manny" came out. I fell in love with Luscious Jackson. I was waiting outside Tower Records for it to open just to buy Fever In, Fever Out. Glad I found your video. Now I'm going to grab my old tapes and spend the evening listening to Luscious Jackson.
I toured with them and Live and they were such a fun group to hang with.
Edit: tour poster at 10:40, cooooool!!!!
Jimmies Chicken Shack?
@@OmahaGTP yes sir!
@@DoubleDguitar haha, that’s awesome
@@OmahaGTP I really loved those ladies in that band. Had a huge crush on Gabby.
@@DoubleDguitar how cool! I saw you open for 311 on 3/17/2000 in Madison, WI and on 3/18/2000 in Milwaukee, WI. Such great music and memories! Keep on rocking brother! 🤘
I had always wondered what had happened to them. Naked Eye was a great song and I wish they had had more success. My condolences to Vivian's family and the band.
Love Luscious Jackson. Totally shocked at the end of this. I did not know Vivian Trimble passed away. Heartbroken. I highly recommend anyone who's never listened to them, Check them out! Jill and Vivian also did a side project at the same time Luscious Jackson was operating with all 4 members. Comprised of songs they wrote on the road, their side project was called the Kostars, and the album was 'Klassics with a K'. Hard to find. I highly recommend fans of Luscious Jackson check that out. It's good road trip, camping, chill by the bonfire music. 'Klassics with a K' is one of my favorite albums ever. Vivian also did a side project with one time Breeders bass player Josephine Wiggs in 2000. They were called Dusty Trails. The same kind of vibe as the Kostars. Equally amazing, chill vibes album.
RIP Vivian.
Totally underrated band. City Song, Deep Shag, Naked Eye and Ladyfingers were great songs that should have been bigger hits.
My first memory of them was seeing them perform “Here” for MTV’s Clueless movie premiere. Instantly loved them! ❤
Same here. That was the song that got me started and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in this video.
Do you or the Content Creator know why?
Besides that, great video and some great Nostalgia
Cheers from Montreal Quebec Canada:)
I was fortunate to have seen Luscious Jackson at the 1993 Lollapalooza tour (they also did the 94 tour). Like many at that time, I came to discover them through the Beasties Boys. Fascinating to hear their backstory. Amazing group.
Fever In, Fever Out is actually a very good album. It’s mellow and dreamy, while also being dark and moody.
Agree. Great production and solid song writing
I saw them live on the second stage at Lalapalooza 94 in Philadelphia. It was the first time I'd ever heard of them at the time. Like most new music in the early 90s it was quite refreshing
Natural Ingredients was an amazing album. I loved it so much!
Same here
Cheers from Canada
Still Blast Naked Eye & Fantastic Fabulous like it came out yesterday ❤ One of my favorite band so I’m super intrigued for this
Always liked the song naked eye..wow this was a blast from the past!
Thank you for the video essay. I owned Fever In Fever Out on cassette and absolutely LOVED it! That, among many other fantastic albums in tape form, came with me on my travels cross country for years. I couldn't understand back then, though sensed money and possibly sexism played a part, what prevented the band from shooting to superstardom. Glad they are getting more recognition now, but wish all members had a chance to see the band to their full potential back in the day. 💙
I had a wicked acid flashback one time while driving my car and listening to "Pele Merengue" by LJ. I was driving through a residential area past a park, and there was one of those signs with the teeter totter, and it started moving and teeter tottering on its own. For about 5 seconds I was in trip land and it scared the ever loving crap out of me.
I did a lot of different drugs but for some reason Acid scared me and I wouldn't touch it.
For me it was schools.
They were great the first 7 or 8 times but I always had weed to bring me down slowly.
On New Years eve 97 I was missing the weed and the shrooms took over! 7 very tough hours and I did them only one other time but it was a neutral trip.
Anyway thanks for reading,,Lucious Jackson for life! And now that I know about the Basketball player, I gots to have at least one of his card, if he had one. Most of my Basketball cards were from 88 to 93.
Cheers from Montreal Quebec Canada
RIP Vivian - Saw them open for REM. They played great
This tour came around to Columbus. unfortunately I couldn't make it because I had a French Final in the evening...
Absolutely love them still!!! Thank you for doing this . They are truly underrated!! ❤❤️
R. I. P. Vivviane and MCA✨
Thank for making this video :) As mentioned on the Lush video comments, great band, history many people don't know about..
Their song naked eye was one amongst many others that truly reminds me of the 90s what a time that was
Huge fan and I remember specifically That they had done a rendition of let it snow on a commercial for the gap and it was while I was working at the gap lol.
Clips from that commercial are in this very video.
They have the best music! I use to listen to them in the 90s .. fantastic vibe. I just recently looked them up , had no idea they made a few new albums and I love them all! I wish they would keep going !!! Its true we dont have rock stations anymore, and sometimes if i go out of state im in nyc, I'll hear alt radio, I guess most people have sirius or something. But you'll never hear the new stuff just maybe naked eye, which is good but by far not their best! There is soooo much more! Id recommend listening to all their songs!! Brings me back to a time that was more fun more simple, just cooler! I hope they know they still have fans and I had no idea they had new music, they have a tiktok or something??? they need one if they dont!
R.I.P. Vivian Trimble (1963 - 2023)
Did she have a song on her own called Dusty Road?
Angel is a great song! I first heard it and saw the band on The Adventures of Pete and Pete episode Dance Fever. These girls could really play. Kate is a great drummer and Jill is a very tasteful bassist and makes really interesting choices in her playing. Perfect song bassist and great singer. Gabbie and Vivian are awsome too. Loved these girls growing up.
Sadly, due to copyright issues and licensing rights, Luscious Jackson prevented the release of the Adventures of Pete and Pete Season 3 DVD set.
not true @@13lood13ath
I played "In Search of Manny" repeatedly. The Luscious Jackson concert at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, NYC, took place on a beautiful and sunny 4th of July. They were extraordinary.
I love to listen to all their albums back to back. They are such a special band. It'd be beautiful if some real jams lined up for them again. Very special music man. Really
Man I miss the music in the 90's it was such a great time to come of age. I started playing music right before Nevermind came out. It blew my little mind.
Naked eye is such an amazing song
Naked Eye and Ladyfingers really take me back..
Kate was an original member of the Beasties.
Man I'd completely forgotten about them, seen their videos on MTV a lot but I couldn't tell you what a single one of their songs sounds like now
I’ll always be grateful to LJ for helping me get through pulling my wisdom teeth.
Naked Eye is one of my all time favorite songs.
Thanks for giving some coverage to LJ, they were a huge part of my high school years.
This definitely takes me back. Always loved their sound. 90’s kid here, LJ were one of the bands I loved that most of my other friends just didn’t get, why. It was the groove and funk. It was just everything. A mashup of so many elements to make something beautiful and unique.
I wish they had a producer to help establish a cohesive style - especially with the first one on Grand Royals.
There are a few killer songs, and they disappeared at just the wrong time to get lost in the shuffle with Liz Phair, The Breeders, etc.
Glad for this video. I think I need to listen to City Song and check out their later albums.
RIP Vivian Trimble. Shocked to hear of her passing.
I've been a hardcore fan of this band and didn't know their story 😮 I just found their songs so relatable and well produced, Jill's voice is so clear and pleasant. I just forget real ppl were behind those tracks
love this band . IN SEARCH OF MANNY was my intro to them. To hear them evolve, and then on the radio, was so cool. They deserved better, just to many bands saturating the airwaves at the time. It was the last era of signing bands for stardom and profit
I remember their popularity waning pretty quickly. They sort of felt like a collision between Beck and Moby but with vocals that were just too chill to be very interesting.
Amazing band, still listen to them reglarly now. They're one of my favourites bands. I wish they were a lot more well known as they are seriousl a unique band that blends many genres together. I love their direct connection to Beastie Boys.
Loved these guys when it came out in college. Perfect to chill out to.
They remind me of Cibo Matto in a way.
They should get an episode too 😎
YES!!!!!!!!!!! White pepper ice cream
noted.
+1 vote for Cibo Matto and another +1 for Shonen Knife
I heard Naked Eye on the radio a couple times when I was in college and ended up getting Fever in/out on a whim from BMG as one of my "12 for a penny" orders. It's a shame the record label didn't invest more in them as far as production and promotion. If they could have ended up with just one hit they definitely would have gone down in history with other legendary 90s bands. They certainly had the talent and the looks to be huge but up against Hole, The Breeders, Veruca Salt, etc etc they never were able to hold their own commercially
I hit the like button before I even finished the reading the title!
I actually love Electric Honey and find myself going back to the album the most.
Never heard the album but Ladyfingers is a beautiful song.
What a pleasant surprise! I LOVE Luscious Jackson! The most badass women to come out of NYC!
I remember loving their track ‘Naked Eye’ back when it came out. I listened to it not long ago and didn’t feel like it held up.
During the 90s, I was working on my geology degree and sitting in Puerto Rico... I realized that many Americans were brought up we all loved the "Underdog" which portrayed our "youth and struggles" while growing up with arms wide open, not realizing how "suffering polishes the Diamond ".
Hanging out with the "Punk" and "alternative" band while smoking up with the lights and sound tech.
Wisdom isn't something that everyone is born with it's like trust it has to be earned!!!
We're all suffering! The only difference is "that we weren't all born at the same time!!"
Be a Shepard for the future generations of America 🇺🇸 and the world 🌎
With every breath 😅 prosperity for all!!!
Naked Eye was such a rad song
I found out about them in an episode of Pete and Pete back when I was like 13 lol, loved growing up in the 90s.
In search of Manny was one of my best tape purchases ever
Great video. Always liked them.
LOVED seeing the tour flyer with Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Live, that was my first concert. Speaking of, where's the JCS mini doc? Now THAT was a highly underrated band!
Jill Cunniff later did voicework for the Sega Saturn horror game "Enemy Zero".
I just love lushious Jackson just listened to the album natural ingredients.
Best Cameo on Adventures of Pete & Pete ever!
Luscious Jackson returned prior to 2011. They got back together years earlier for a song that ended up on the soundtrack to the Matt Damon led animated movie ‘Titan A.E.’
I'd forgotten about that!
Got to see them at lollapolloza in 94. I was 14. One of the best days ever. Unfortunately someone threw a muddy bottle and hit the singer of the Breeders in the eye, so they didn’t finish the set. Everything else was magic and Luscious Jackson was solid
Saw them at LSU in a small venue in the 90’s Great Concert. They fell apart after the keyboardist left. RIP man that hurts that she passed.
411vm introduced me to LJ, so thankful for this
Gabby and her husband Nick were neighbors of mine for almost 15 years when I lived in Brooklyn (I moved from that neighborhood in 2014). Very nice people, they had (and assume still have) a great life going for themselves, so I'd say things worked out pretty well for her, not sure that "sad story" are the words I'd use in her case.
They were on The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Thanks I was just trying to remember where I knew them from
The infamous final season episode with Iggy Pop crooning for a dance with Micehelle Tractenburg! Gabby had a speaking role too. Funny memories!
Thanks so much for this 🎉😂❤
Honestly, it’s the UA-cam vids that don’t have the licensed music that have the best research
I thought about Luscious Jackson a few days ago when watching "Joan is Awful" from the series "Black Mirror." The Joan character shares the hairstyle of Jill Cunniff from the "Naked Eye" video.
It was actually called “Joan is Awful.” Just looked it up and I’ve added it to my watchlist lol. Seems like a cool little episode to watch, thanks!
@@Mysteriuminiquitatis1998I don’t know why I said “Joan is Angry.” LOL! I edited my comment to correct it. I thought that episode was one of the best from the current season of “Black Mirror.” I hope you like it as well!
Saw them in Manchester 95 ish. They were awesome. Love LJ.
I think it's a shame that you missed "The Kostars", an album that Cunniff and Trimble put out between FIFO and Elec Honey. It's a very acoustic, smoky coffee house sort of vibe, but, IMO, is the best work Cunniff has put out to date. Also, Ween guest stars on the last track. Look it up, it's good stuff.
I think I had a fundamental misunderstanding what Luscious Jackson were when Naked Eye became that big breakthrough single for them. I had no idea they were so musically eclectic to the point there other songs may not resonate at the time.
"The album was a colossal failure, selling only 200,000 copies." This is exactly what's wrong with the music industry. The executives seldom invest in the artists, instead knee jerk reacting to stats that have little to do with the actual intrinsic value of the music. I looked at this video because I'm a musician and played a venue somewhere in the northeast back in 1998. It was a 2 story venue, 2 stages. Luscious Jackson was upstairs and I was downstairs. My band played 3 songs before LJ started their set and everyone could hear fine. Once LJ started playing, their bass was so loud that we couldn't hear ourselves play, nor could the audience. It was just an impenetrable wall of low end. Eventually we gave up and tried to play along with the LJ setlist. Good times. The record I was touring on sold a total of 4,000 copies. So if 200,000 was a colossal failure, what does that make my record? Hmmm. I ask because a few weeks back Paste magazine named that same obscure record of mine one of the top 25 Americana albums of all time. When sales is your only criterion, you got the cart pulling the horse.
@El_Peto I have about twenty out. The most successful is No Such Place. When I was touring that we played a venue with and upstairs and downstairs stage. We were downstairs, then three songs into our set Luscious Jackson started playing upstairs. Loud. Like so loud we couldn't hear our own instruments. Eventually we gave up and started playing along with their songs.
@El_Peto "The Mysterious Tale of How I Shouted Wrong Eyed Jesus". A song from it ended up in Breaking Bad, among other film placements.
They are dope. 😉💯sounding and looking. 😆🤟
I love them. Didn't know any else that liked them as a kid.
Toured with these in 1997 on that Live tour....great band..RIP Viv
“Naked Eye” has some of the thickest, clearest bass and fantastic melodies.
No mention of them appearing on The Adventures of Pete and Pete???
Playing in front of Iggy Pop!
I saw Luscious Jackson open for Live.
I still listen to Natural Ingredients. LOVE that whole album. Great vibe. Find Your Mind bumps on that record. Always thought they were very underrated and should’ve been bigger. But I will agree that Fever in Fever Out, the follow up to NI was a bit underwhelming and a bit too polished and mellow. I remember thinking this was gonna be their big breakthrough and they were primed from the buzz of NI…but then it fizzled cause the album was underwhelming and lacked the energy of Natural Ingredients.
Hung out with them and Ben Harper behind a Streetside Music. Chilled with them. Skated a little with Ben.
Good folks
Jill has a lovely, clear voice. I'd almost say its up there with Ronnie Spector. Her contribution to Love and Rockets' "Holy Fool" was icing on the cake.
I bought their 1st CD (which I still have) but couldn't even give it 1 full listen 😞
And I saw them at Lolopalooza & was completely non-plused .
Admittedly, I never really listened to anything of their past Naked Eye. But goddamn, what a great song that was
I have no idea why they didn't get huge. Maybe it was the lack of touring. They were pretty popular in NYC because they seemed to have their own musical space.
They were AWESOME!!
Please help me find any articles and rolling stone that talked about them. Ing albums because I have several back issues from the 1990s.
I still love electric Honey.
Great album, the song "Christine" is truly luscious
Why does every video from this channel end like they are out of time? Abruptly signing off as quick as possible. 😂
Great video.
I remember on Yahoo News and CNN when they displayed keyboardist Vivian Tremble died from fighting cancer. She was 59 years old.
love them!
Loved them !
One of the best girl band I ever heard
"In Search of Manny" is the only Luscious Jackson recording you need to own. "Let Yourself Get Down" is the only LJ song that matters. Period.
I saw LJ during the Natural Selection tour, and when they opened up for REM during Monster. They made the best music, and they felt like my little secret. I wish they would do something again. Their shows were so cool, and it was majority women, so everyone felt safe & free. I felt super lucky to be a part of that when I was so young.
If you ever feel safe or free remember I'm out there
Life of Leisure is still one of my favorite songs
Lady Fingers, Naked Eye and Under Your Skin were great tracks. i had a crush on Jill during the Electric Honey era. So sexy!
I have their first 2 cds and I love them
Still listen to LJ to this day. They are great. Also like the members solo albums. Check out Kostars- Klassics with a K.