Jack recently sat down with Joe Levy for an in-depth Billboard magazine cover story interview. Jack and Joe discussed the resurgence of vinyl, music preservation and much more, but most importantly, Jack’s recent acquisition of an item many people feel is the holy grail of rock & roll history. Read all about it here now and pick up a copy of the magazine on newsstands March 10th.
In the interview, Billboard reveals that Jack was the mystery high bidder on Elvis Presley's first-ever record. Third Man Records will release this recording for Record Store Day 2015.
Utilizing the actual unrestored audio as it currently exists on the sole original copy of "My Happiness" b/w "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" Third Man will make a limited facsimile, 10-inch 78rpm disc available on April 18, 2015. From reproducing the typewritten labels (printed on the reverse of extra Prisonaires labels that happened to be laying around Sun Records in July 1953) to being packaged in a plain, nondescript, of-the-era sleeve, the utmost attention to detail has been paid in order to create an object so close to the historic original as to almost be indistinguishable from one other.
Later this year, Third Man will release a widely available 7-inch 45rpm featuring newly restored versions of the two songs. Working from a transfer done by industry expert Alan Stoker at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the audio will be as clean as modern technology can make it without losing the feeling and soul that makes these two songs both haunting and breath-taking.
Listen to a clip of "My Happiness" and get a glimpse of this spinning piece of American musical history in the video and images below:
so excited!
That image of Jack burning the Sea of Cowards vinyl really says a lot of things to a lot of different people…. Its hugely powerful and defiant to a fault but i have been there and know without question that it has a healing impact in the long view of things…. Such a great and bold move combined with such an interesting story in the same week as the absolutely definitive revelation associated with the production of the BBL Triptych Video… And all this measured in with Jacks acquistion of the Captain Beefheart Single… Great minds of music!!!! Carry on!!!!!
Just ordered a copy from Billboard! Going in a frame.
I remember when this auction happened and they announced it was a mystery who won them. I had no idea the mystery bidder was Jack White. Jack is so full of secrets. Good ones. Thank you Jack for helping to preserve great music. I’m a big fan of Elvis and while I can’t go down to Record Store Day at TMR to get one of those sweet 78 records, I hope to at least get the 7" version of these. Oh, and BTW Jack the photos from Marilyn Monroe’s last photo shoot are now going to be auctioned off. Just giving you the heads up in case you want to be the mystery bidder on those. :)
of course is was $’3’00,000
So very beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with the world.
How does one earn the highest degree of respect and honor? By tirelessly working to honor those that have gone before.
Congratulations Jack that is so very cool. You have done some many amazing things for the music industry Thank You! You Rock!
Jack, thank you so much for preserving this wonderful music and giving it a chance to live forever. This is too awesome.
I am going to every store till I find that magazine!!! Can’t wait for Record Store Day!!!