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:
There ain’t no surprise like a Jack White surprise.
I have been in love with Elvis since I was 4 years old so this is really something so touching and heartfelt.
In other news, so glad JDubs has ditched the makeup and is showing how truly handsome his face is. Not that he needs any more lady fans but at least my dad gets it now.
Too much fun! Thanks TMR.
Elvis fan in me just got to the ceiling and back and then clicked her heels three times and got the head blown up out of excitement and gratefulness. Thank you thank you thank you. Now I have to find the way to get this record.
Wow! This is amazing!
This is truly the Holy Grail- only to ever be nearly equaled by the copy of That’s Alright Mama the first single he put out dedicated to Gladys…
Gah, now I’ll need to buy a 78rpm player.
Will he 78 be TMR only, or nationwide (nationwideee)?
I need to find some new synonyms for the word “excited” and all of it’s variations because it feels like I’m using that word continuously anymore in discussions about Jack and Third Man. In this particular case, the excitement is combined with intense pleasure and appreciation for the fact that we fans will reap the benefit of Jack shelling out all that money for something so special (yet again, since he had to have bankrolled those gorgeous Paramount sets that may or may not sell enough to cover their own cost). It’s just one more instance that makes me proud to be a fan of him and TMR. And I’m so happy for him for both of his recent rare acquisitions. See y’all on Record Store Day.
This is amazing. I grew up listening to vinyl in large part because my mom was such a big Elvis fan and had all of his LPs and 45s. Picked a good year for my first trip to TMR for RSD! Cannot wait!
Hurray!!!
This is so beautiful. Jack is because of things like this that God blesses you everyday. You always share the best you got. Gracias.