Jack (band)
Encyclopedia
Jack were a British
alternative rock
band formed in Cardiff
, Wales
, in 1992. Their orchestral pop was heavily influenced by artists such as Scott Walker
and drew comparisons to Pulp
, Tindersticks
and The Divine Comedy
. The band attracted a cult following in the United Kingdom
and continental Europe
, particularly France
, but they failed to match the commercial success of their britpop
contemporaries. They split in 2002.
and guitarist Matthew Scott. The pair moved to London in 1993, where they recruited Richard Adderley (guitar), Audrey Morse (violin), Patrick Pulzer
(drums), Colin Williams (bass) and George Wright (keyboards).
They signed to Too Pure
in 1995, with their first release for the label being the limited-edition "Kid Stardust" single, released in November that year. Their debut album, Pioneer Soundtracks
, was released in June 1996.
Produced by Peter Walsh, the album garnered excellent reviews, but despite considerable touring both in the United Kingdom
and Europe
, the four initial singles drawn from the album, "Kid Stardust" (a tribute to Charles Bukowski), "Wintercomessummer", "White Jazz", and "Biography Of A First Son", failed to pick up any serious airplay and as a result sales were disappointing.
Morse had left the band a year after recording their debut. She was replaced by Lucy Wilkins in summer 1996. Wilkins was in turn replaced by Ruth Gottlieb the following year.
Following a renegotiation of their contract with Too Pure, they returned to the studio with Divine Comedy producer Darren Allison
in autumn 1997 to work on their second album.
The Jazz Age
was released in August 1998. Despite more excellent reviews and further European touring, the two singles from the album, "Lolita Elle" and "Steamin’" received little airplay and sales were once again disappointing.
A mooted third album, An Anatomy Of Melancholy, was abandoned after the band was dropped by Too Pure and both Adderley and Gottlieb left the band.
A five-track mini-album, La Belle et la Discotheque, produced by former Cocteau Twins
bassist Simon Raymonde
, was released in September 2000. Although reviews were once again excellent, sales were low - although two tracks, "Sometimes" and "Disco-Cafe-Society" were playlisted on Spanish national radio. By this time Williams, Wright and Pulzer had the left the band and Scott and Reynolds elected to continue as a duo.
A final album, The End Of The Way It’s Always Been was released in April 2002. The group disbanded later that year after an extensive European tour, including an appearance at the Benicàssim festival
. They played their final concert in Cardiff in November.
Pulzer and Adderley later resurfaced as members of The Boyfriends
.
Pioneer Soundtracks
was reissued in a belated 'Tenth Anniversary Edition' on the Spinney label in March 2007, with an additional CD of alternative versions, B-sides and live tracks.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band formed in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in 1992. Their orchestral pop was heavily influenced by artists such as Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
and drew comparisons to Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
, Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
and The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
. The band attracted a cult following in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, particularly France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but they failed to match the commercial success of their britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
contemporaries. They split in 2002.
History
The band was formed in Cardiff in 1992 by singer-songwriter Anthony ReynoldsAnthony Reynolds
Anthony Reynolds is a Welsh musician. He has worked as a solo artist, and also in collaboration with others in his bands Jack and Jacques.-Jack:...
and guitarist Matthew Scott. The pair moved to London in 1993, where they recruited Richard Adderley (guitar), Audrey Morse (violin), Patrick Pulzer
Paddy Pulzer
Patrick Pulzer is a drummer/percussionist from Oxford, England who has been in numerous British indie bands. He started out in 1984 with the band Shake Appeal, who eventually evolved into Swervedriver after Pulzer's departure. Pulzer left Shake Appeal in 1989 to join the band Jack. He has also...
(drums), Colin Williams (bass) and George Wright (keyboards).
They signed to Too Pure
Too Pure
Too Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
in 1995, with their first release for the label being the limited-edition "Kid Stardust" single, released in November that year. Their debut album, Pioneer Soundtracks
Pioneer Soundtracks
-Track listing:# ".... Of Lights" – 7:21# "Wintercomesummer" - 3:37# "White Jazz" - 2:43# "Biography Of A First Son" - 3:09# "Filthy Names" - 4:49# "I Didn't Mean It Marie" - 5:11# "F.U." - 7:40# "Dress You In Mourning" - 7:19# "Hope Is A Liar" - 5:49...
, was released in June 1996.
Produced by Peter Walsh, the album garnered excellent reviews, but despite considerable touring both in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the four initial singles drawn from the album, "Kid Stardust" (a tribute to Charles Bukowski), "Wintercomessummer", "White Jazz", and "Biography Of A First Son", failed to pick up any serious airplay and as a result sales were disappointing.
Morse had left the band a year after recording their debut. She was replaced by Lucy Wilkins in summer 1996. Wilkins was in turn replaced by Ruth Gottlieb the following year.
Following a renegotiation of their contract with Too Pure, they returned to the studio with Divine Comedy producer Darren Allison
Darren Allison
Darren Allison , is a British record producer, musician, and recording engineer, best known for his work on the epic soundscapes of such artists as The Divine Comedy, Spiritualized, and ,more recently, Efterklang.-Selected Discography:...
in autumn 1997 to work on their second album.
The Jazz Age
The Jazz Age (album)
The Jazz Age is the second album by the British alternative rock band Jack, released in August 1998. It was recorded in Wales and London in late 1997 and early 1998, and was produced by Darren Allison, who had previously worked with The Divine Comedy....
was released in August 1998. Despite more excellent reviews and further European touring, the two singles from the album, "Lolita Elle" and "Steamin’" received little airplay and sales were once again disappointing.
A mooted third album, An Anatomy Of Melancholy, was abandoned after the band was dropped by Too Pure and both Adderley and Gottlieb left the band.
A five-track mini-album, La Belle et la Discotheque, produced by former Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
bassist Simon Raymonde
Simon Raymonde
Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer, Ivor Raymonde.-Career:...
, was released in September 2000. Although reviews were once again excellent, sales were low - although two tracks, "Sometimes" and "Disco-Cafe-Society" were playlisted on Spanish national radio. By this time Williams, Wright and Pulzer had the left the band and Scott and Reynolds elected to continue as a duo.
A final album, The End Of The Way It’s Always Been was released in April 2002. The group disbanded later that year after an extensive European tour, including an appearance at the Benicàssim festival
Festival Internacional de Benicàssim
The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is an annual music festival which takes place in the village of Benicàssim, province of Castelló, Valencian Community in Spain. It focuses mainly on pop, rock and electronica artists, as well as having other elements besides music like short films,...
. They played their final concert in Cardiff in November.
Pulzer and Adderley later resurfaced as members of The Boyfriends
The Boyfriends
The Boyfriends were an indie four-piece musical group from London, England, who consisted of Martin Wallace on vocals, Richard Adderley on guitar, David Barnett on bass and Paddy Pulzer on drums...
.
Pioneer Soundtracks
Pioneer Soundtracks
-Track listing:# ".... Of Lights" – 7:21# "Wintercomesummer" - 3:37# "White Jazz" - 2:43# "Biography Of A First Son" - 3:09# "Filthy Names" - 4:49# "I Didn't Mean It Marie" - 5:11# "F.U." - 7:40# "Dress You In Mourning" - 7:19# "Hope Is A Liar" - 5:49...
was reissued in a belated 'Tenth Anniversary Edition' on the Spinney label in March 2007, with an additional CD of alternative versions, B-sides and live tracks.
Singles
- "Kid Stardust" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1995) - "Wintercomesummer" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1996) - "White Jazz" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1996) - "Biography of a First Son" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1996) - "Fall In Love With Me Again" (Elefant, 1997)
- "Lolita EP" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1998) - "Steamin'" (Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1998) - "Sleepin' Makes Me Thirsty" (Crepuscule, 2002)
Albums
- Pioneer SoundtracksPioneer Soundtracks-Track listing:# ".... Of Lights" – 7:21# "Wintercomesummer" - 3:37# "White Jazz" - 2:43# "Biography Of A First Son" - 3:09# "Filthy Names" - 4:49# "I Didn't Mean It Marie" - 5:11# "F.U." - 7:40# "Dress You In Mourning" - 7:19# "Hope Is A Liar" - 5:49...
(Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1996) - The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age (album)The Jazz Age is the second album by the British alternative rock band Jack, released in August 1998. It was recorded in Wales and London in late 1997 and early 1998, and was produced by Darren Allison, who had previously worked with The Divine Comedy....
(Too PureToo PureToo Pure is a London-based independent record label that was formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox.-History:Too Pure started off as a small experimental label and had built their reputation by releasing primarily alternative/independent music which they felt was being ignored by the major...
, 1998) - La Belle et la Discotheque, (Acuarela, 2000)
- The End of the Way It's Always Been (CrepusculeLes Disques du CrepusculeLes Disques Du Crépuscule was a Belgian independent record label.The label was started in 1980 by Michel Duval and Annik Honoré, residents of Brussels who had previously organised and promoted concerts in the city. Initial releases were by Factory Records artists, and were labelled as being...
, 2002)