Love Jones is an American band from Louisville, Kentucky formed in 1990 and consists of Ben Daughtrey (vocals, percussion), Barry Thomas (bass), Chris Hawpe (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Palmer (vocals), and Stuart Johnson (drums).[1]
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Love Jones was prominent among the "Cocktail Nation" groups of the early 1990s. The genre — which included Combustible Edison, The Cocktails and Donkey — was a reaction to the grunge music of the early 1990s.[3] Cocktail Nation bands celebrated the aesthetics and music of the 1950s and early 1960s — lounge jazz, crooning pop, and martinis. Love Jones played any sort of pop music that fit within that label: pop, blues, R&B, bossa nova, doo wop.
Love Jones formed in Louisville in 1990, along with bands like Slint and Palace Brothers, demonstrating the diversity of the Louisville music scene. In 1992, Love Jones moved to Los Angeles and staged a weekly Thursday night residency show at the famed nightclub Largo. The show featured frequent guest performer Jon Brion, who appears on several Love Jones recordings.
In 1992 Love Jones signed with Zoo Entertainment/BMG shortly after releasing a single on Minty Fresh Records. The band was first brought to the attention of Zoo Entertainment/BMG by guitarist Adam Jones of Tool, who were with the label at the time. The band would eventually contribute the hidden track "Santa Monica and Orange" to Love Jones' debut album for Zoo, 1993's Here's to the Losers.
Here's to the Losers—co-produced by the band and Rod O'Brien—contains a wide mix of styles, including disco, Blaxploitation film soundtracks, samba, soul and funk. Key tracks include "Central Avenue," "Li'l Black Book," "Custom Van," "Drive-In," "Ohio River" and "Fragile." Jon Brion is featured on many tracks, playing piano and organ. Ben Daughtrey directed the music video for "Pineapple."
1995's Powerful Pain Relief—co-produced by the band and Paul duGré—reveals more of Love Jones' influences, including Isaac Hayes, early Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire and Chic. Key tracks include the title track, "World of Summer," "You Don't Know Me" and "The Thing." Jon Brion again contributes, playing various keyboards on several tracks. Liz Friedlander directed the music video for "The Thing."
2010's independent release Forever—co-produced by Love Jones and Matthew Libman—includes key tracks "Charm City" and "Hey California."
More information Year, Title ...
Year |
Title |
Notes |
1993 |
I Like Young Girls b/w Lil' Black Book[4] |
45 RPM Single on Minty Fresh Records |
1993 |
Here's To The Losers[5] |
Track 4 is Tool covering "Paid For Loving" |
1995 |
Powerful Pain Relief[5] |
Jon Brion plays keyboards |
1995 |
Love Jones - Live In Hollywood[6] |
Vinyl only release on Classic Records |
1996 |
Swingers soundtrack[7] Certified GOLD [8] |
"Paid For Loving" (1993) |
2010 |
Forever...[9] |
|
2018 |
Here's To The Losers Vinyl - 25th Anniversary Reissue - 2 LPs [10] |
Track 4 is Tool covering "Paid For Loving" Side 4 is previously unreleased material |
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