Did you know that in their decade-long history, Detroit's premiere alternative/blues-rock duo the White Stripes have never released any sort of demos or outtakes? Well, if you did, you're clearly an obsessed fan. If you didn't, well, there's not much we can say. You know that little Cliff Claven-ish tidbit of trivia now.
Of course, there's a point to this set-up: all of that is about to change. Making good on the promise to reissue the entire White Stripes catalogue, Jack White has announced the Stripes will release some long-lost material via his own Third Man Records label soon. The soon-to-be-released recordings have been culled from the same sessions that yielded the White Stripes' debut seven-inch Let's Shake Hands and will feature alternate versions of both the title track and the B-side "Look Me Over Closely."
However, you can only get the stuff if you're a part of Third Man's exclusive online subscription service the Vault, so you better head over to Third Man's website if you want a copy and get out the old plastic money.
To ensure pure value, Third Man is giving subscribers yet another exclusive: a 180-gram gatefold version of White's other band the Raconteurs' double-LP The Raconteurs, Live in London captured last year.
Just to make this sound even more like some sales pitch on late night television, we should note that the LP also comes with a limited-edition Rob Jones-designed screen printed poster for another Third Man band, the Dead Weather.
All of this may sound extraordinary, but it's really just business as usual for Third Man. Their mandate is to provide platinum members with two pieces of exclusive vinyl not available in stores or online, a limited-edition T-shirt or screen print every three months, as well as access to audio and video previews, pre-sale concert tickets, early entry to gigs, live-to-video performances and direct contact with Third Man artists.
What self-respecting indie rocker could say no?
And really, have you ever seen the words "exclusive" and "limited-edition" used so much outside of a comic convention?
Of course, there's a point to this set-up: all of that is about to change. Making good on the promise to reissue the entire White Stripes catalogue, Jack White has announced the Stripes will release some long-lost material via his own Third Man Records label soon. The soon-to-be-released recordings have been culled from the same sessions that yielded the White Stripes' debut seven-inch Let's Shake Hands and will feature alternate versions of both the title track and the B-side "Look Me Over Closely."
However, you can only get the stuff if you're a part of Third Man's exclusive online subscription service the Vault, so you better head over to Third Man's website if you want a copy and get out the old plastic money.
To ensure pure value, Third Man is giving subscribers yet another exclusive: a 180-gram gatefold version of White's other band the Raconteurs' double-LP The Raconteurs, Live in London captured last year.
Just to make this sound even more like some sales pitch on late night television, we should note that the LP also comes with a limited-edition Rob Jones-designed screen printed poster for another Third Man band, the Dead Weather.
All of this may sound extraordinary, but it's really just business as usual for Third Man. Their mandate is to provide platinum members with two pieces of exclusive vinyl not available in stores or online, a limited-edition T-shirt or screen print every three months, as well as access to audio and video previews, pre-sale concert tickets, early entry to gigs, live-to-video performances and direct contact with Third Man artists.
What self-respecting indie rocker could say no?
And really, have you ever seen the words "exclusive" and "limited-edition" used so much outside of a comic convention?