Glory Box

"Glory Box" is a song by English electronic band Portishead, released on 2 January 1995 as the third and final single from their debut album, Dummy (1994). It samples "Ike's Rap II" by Isaac Hayes and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.

For the chest used to collect items of clothing or household linen, see hope chest.

"Glory Box"
Single by Portishead
from the album Dummy
B-side"Toy Box"
Released2 January 1995 (1995-01-02)
GenreTrip hop[1]
Length5:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Portishead singles chronology
"Sour Times"
(1994)		 "Glory Box"
(1995)		 "All Mine"
(1997)
Music video
"Glory Box" on YouTube

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said that "Glory Box" "is definitely one of the more gloriously slinky indie records released in ages".[3] A reviewer from Music & Media commented: "Put the violin of the late Papa John Creach on top of it, and you get the Jefferson Airplane for the '90s. Based on a sample from Isaac Hayes's Isaac Moods it's 'suspense dance'."[4] Maria Jimenez from the magazine's Short Grooves wrote: "This bluesy, emotional and hypnotic number is set to a very mellow, minimalistic and spacious hip hop musical backdrop. Potent vocals reminiscent of Cowboy Junkies and intense guitar energy and dub bass amplify the power of "Glory Box"."[5] Andy Beevers from Music Week rated it four out of five, describing it as "another highly original and atmospheric song that is probably too downbeat and leftfield for daytime radioplay, but will still sell well".[6] David Sinclair from The Times noted, "This is a strange, shimmering affair, which mixes a scratchy hip-hop rhythm track, descending bass line (a la Python Lee Jackson's "In a Broken Dream"), wailing blues guitar and the icily seductive vocals of Beth Gibbons into a highly addictive concoction."[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Alexander Hemming and released on 14 November.[8] It is set in the 1950s, featuring lead singer Beth Gibbons as a jazz singer at a club while various office workers watch her perform. Sexual tension begins to rise between certain characters, as eventually, all of the workers, as separate couples, attend the club where Beth is performing. Apart from the band members, the entire cast of the video appears in drag.

The video for "Glory Box" was later published on Portishead's official YouTube channel in March 2015. It has amassed more than 19.7 million views as of September 2021.[9]

John Martyn covered the song on his 1998 album, The Church with One Bell.

In 2020, musician Leo Moracchioli created a metal version of the song.[10]

In 2021, Heineken released a commercial featuring 'Glory Box' starring actor Daniel Craig to mark the release of Craig's new film: No Time to Die, acknowledging the long wait that preceded the release of the film due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

One-man industrial metal band Author & Punisher covered the song on the 2022 album Krüller.

Impact and legacy

Slant Magazine listed the song at number 21 in their ranking of "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s" in 2011, writing: "Second only to its flawless production, which includes a sample of Issac Hayes's 'Ike’s Rap II', is Beth Gibbons's impeccable lyrics and vocal performance on 'Glory Box'. Her voice sounding like it’s coming out of an antique radio, she’s at once coquettish and despondent, like a lounge singer delivering her final torch song before slinking off to her dressing room to drown her sorrow in booze and heroin. Her voice blossoms with momentary optimism during the second verse ('A thousand flowers could bloom!') and, of course, during the song’s rousing chorus: 'Give me a reason to love you/Give me a reason to be a woman.' A post-feminist anthem from the hungry, seedy depths of lust."[12]

Track listings
  • 12"

Side one

  1. "Glory Box"
  2. "Scorn"
  3. "Sheared Box"

Side two

  1. "Strangers"
  2. "Wandering Star"
  • CD single
  1. "Glory Box" (edit)
  2. "Toy Box"
  • CD maxi
  1. "Glory Box" (edit)
  2. "Toy Box"
  3. "Scorn"
  4. "Sheared Box"

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Gold 400,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 2 January 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Go! Beat [27]
United States 3 April 1995 Alternative radio
[28]

References
  1. Nyre, Lars (2009). Sound Media: From Live Journalism to Music Recording. Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 978-1135253776.
  2. ASCAP entry for song
  3. Masterton, James (15 January 1995). "Week Ending January 21st 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  4. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. Jimenez, Maria (8 October 1994). "Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. Beevers, Andy (24 September 1994). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  7. Sinclair, David (5 November 1994). "Pop Singles; Recordings". The Times.
  8. "Promos in Production" (PDF). Music Week. 5 November 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  9. "Portishead – Glory Box". 9 March 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Portishead – Glory Box (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli)" – via YouTube.
  11. "NO TIME TO DIE – Worth The Wait". 15 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  12. "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s". Slant Magazine. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 221.
  14. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Jun 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 2 June 2016 – via Imgur.
  15. "Portishead – Glory Box" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  16. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9238." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 5. 4 February 1995. p. 36. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  18. "Portishead – Glory Box" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  19. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.2 '95 – 25.2 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 February 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Glory Box". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  22. "Portishead – Glory Box" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  25. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  26. "British single certifications – Portishead – Glory Box". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  27. "Glory Box – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  28. "April New Music Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1087. 24 March 1995. p. 63.
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