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G. Love & Special Sauce

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G. Love & Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce in 2015
G. Love & Special Sauce in 2015
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active1992–present
LabelsBrushfire, 550, Okeh
Members
Past members
  • Mark Boyce
  • Timo Shanko

G. Love & Special Sauce is an American rock band from Philadelphia.[1] They are known for their unique, "sloppy", and "laid back" sound that encompasses blues, hip hop, rock, and soul. The band features Garrett Dutton, better known as G. Love; Jeffrey Clemens on drums; and Jim Prescott on bass.[2][3]

History

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The band formed in January 1993, when Dutton was performing at a Boston bar, The Tam O'Shanter.[1] There he met drummer Jeffrey Clemens. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, and were joined a few months later by bassist Jim Prescott,[2] and became the house band at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1994, they released their self-titled debut album on Okeh Records.[1] On the strength of the single "Cold Beverage", due in part to the song's rotation on MTV, the album nearly went gold. Trying to capitalize on the success of the album, the group subsequently toured heavily, eventually landing a spot on the H.O.R.D.E. tour.

In 1995, they released their follow-up album Coast to Coast Motel.[1] Although it did not sell as well as the first album, it is considered by many critics as the stronger of the two. On tour following the release of the second album, the group nearly broke up, due to disagreements about the group's finances. Deciding on a hiatus the three members went their separate ways, working on various side projects.

G Love and Special Sauce performing at Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, July 22, 2023.

By October 1997, the group had reconciled their differences and released their third album, Yeah, It's That Easy,[2] which along with their own work, showcased their collaboration with several other bands and musicians, including All Fellas Band, Philly Cartel, King's Court, and Dr. John. This soul-influenced album was more similar to their debut album than their previous release.

Soon after G. Love & Special Sauce set out on another world tour, returning to Philadelphia in 1999 for the release of their fourth album, Philadelphonic.[2] Philadelphonic was followed up with Electric Mile in 2001, an album that shows the wide-ranging influences of the trio, incorporating hip-hop, funk, psychedelica, blues, and soul in equal and ambitious measure. Ever the road band, Mile was followed by extensive touring. During this time they performed as the house band for Comedy Central's show Turn Ben Stein On, which ran from 1999–2001.

G. Love & Special Sauce in 2007

In summer 2005, the band featured in an advertisement for the launch of Coca-Cola Zero, featuring the group's own unique version of the noted Coca-Cola advertising song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing". On June 24, 2008, Superhero Brother was released. On January 15, 2009, G. Love announced on the band's website that bassist Jimi "Jazz" Prescott is no longer a member of the band.[4] On January 21, 2014, G. Love posted a release containing the announcement of the album Sugar, and stating that Jimi Prescott had returned to the band.[5] In 2014 Cadillac released a commercial featuring "Come Up Man".

Solo albums

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G. Love has released four solo albums. His first, The Hustle, was the first G. Love release under Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records banner. Johnson had been a guest on the Special Sauce album Philadelphonic. G. Love performed a series of shows in 2004 with Jack Johnson and fellow Brushfire Records artist Donavon Frankenreiter, and the trio also found time to issue a live EP. His solo albums include:

  • The Hustle (Brushfire Records – 2004) #100 US
  • Lemonade (Brushfire Records – 2006) #39 US
  • Fixin' to Die (Brushfire Records – 2011) #36 US
  • The Juice (Philadelphonic Records – January 17, 2020)

Musical style

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The band's music encompasses blues,[6][7][8][9] hip hop,[6][8][9] alternative rock,[10] blues rock,[10] folk,[9] funk,[9] Philadelphia soul,[11] psychedelic rock,[10] rock and roll[8] and soul.[10]

Members

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Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums – with Special Sauce

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Studio albums – solo

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  • The Hustle (Brushfire Records – 2004) #100 US
  • Lemonade (Brushfire Records – 2006) #39 US
  • Fixin' to Die (Brushfire Records – 2011) #36 US
  • The Juice (Philadelphonic Records – January 17, 2020)

Bootlegs, demos or outtake albums

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  • Back in the Day (1993)
  • In the Kings Court (1996/1998)
  • Oh Yeah (1998) [solo]
  • G. Love Has Gone Country (1998)
  • Rappin' Blues EP (1999)
  • Front Porch Loungin' (2000)
  • Long Way Down (Philadelphonic Records – 2009)

Compilation albums

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  • The Best of G. Love and Special Sauce (Sony – 2002)
  • Playlist: The Very Best of G. Love & Special Sauce (The Okeh Years) (Epic/Legacy – 2013)

Live albums

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  • A Year and a Night with G. Love and Special Sauce CD/DVD (2007)
  • Live at Boulder Theater 2xLP Limited Edition(2019)

Singles

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Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Modern Rock US
AAA
[14]
1994 "Cold Beverage" — — G. Love & Special Sauce
"Baby's Got Sauce" — —
1995 "Kiss and Tell" — — Coast to Coast Motel
"Sweet Sugar Mama" — —
1997 "Stepping Stones" 30 — Yeah, It's That Easy
"I-76" — —
1999 "Rodeo Clowns" 39 — Philadelphonic
"Dreamin'" — —
2001 "Free at Last" — — Electric Mile
"Unified" — —
2004 "Astronaut" 37 — The Hustle
2005 "Booty Call" — —
"Love" — —
2006 "Hot Cookin'" — 22 Lemonade
2007 "Beautiful" — —
2008 "Peace, Love, and Happiness" — 15 Superhero Brother
2011 "Fixin' to Die" — 20 Fixin' to Die
2014 "Nothing Quite Like Home" — — Sugar
2015 "Muse"

(featuring Citizen Cope)

— 26 Love Saves the Day
2019 "Go Crazy"

(featuring Keb' Mo')

— 30 The Juice

Music videos

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Year Song Director
1994 "Baby's Got Sauce" Alain Duplantier[15]
"Cold Beverage" Mark Romanek[16]
1995 "Kiss & Tell" Tamra Davis
1997 "I-76" Liz Friedlander

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 500. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 166/7. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  3. ^ Woodward, Garret K. (May 5, 2024). "G. Love's Debut Was a Quintessential Philly Album. 30 Years Later He's Still Stirring the Special Sauce". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "G. Love – Philadelphonic – Archives". Philadelphonic.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  5. ^ "G. Love & Special Sauce to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with New Album Reuniting Original Members". Philadelphonic.com. January 21, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Parker, Jessica (December 9, 1999). "G. Love and Special Sauce". Dallas Observer.
  7. ^ Staff, SF Weekly (September 13, 1995). "Recordings". SF Weekly.
  8. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Coast to Coast Motel Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Philadelphonic". EW.com.
  10. ^ a b c d Henderson, Alex. "The Electric Mile Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Prato, Greg. "Yeah, It's That Easy Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  12. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Bio". Timoshanko.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs – February 22, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "G. Love & Special Sauce celebrate 30 years". Boston Herald. January 20, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Call, Alan Sculley | Special to The Morning (August 21, 2024). "A special magic: G. Love previews opening show at Wind Creek Event Center". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
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