The White Stripes' first three albums on cassette tape. Image credit: Third Man Records
The Whites Stripes have reissued their first three albums on cassette tape. It will be the first time their LPs will appear on this retro music format, familiar to many who grew up in the 1980s.
They were released on October 14 to coincide with Cassette Store Day, an international event held since 2013 to honour Compact Cassettes. Not dissimilar to Record Store Day which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, it features re-released albums on old school-style audio tapes.
Meg White & Jack White, of the White Stripes, play live at the Glastonbury Festival, 2002. © Jill Furmanovsky
To mark the occasion 1999's The White Stripes, 2000's De Stijl and 2001's White Blood Cells were printed on white cassettes by Third Man Records (Jack White’s label).
They were released at certain participating independent stores, but likely they’ve now sold out and if you don’t fancy paying a fortune for one on eBay, don’t fret. Because black versions will be released at some point in the future.
The White Stripes before their gig at an amphitheatre in Berkeley, San Francisco in September 2004. © Andy Willsher
This year also marks the band’s 20th anniversary and to celebrate that they’re also releasing a live album. Called The White Stripes Live in Detroit: 1999-2000-2001, it’s available through Third Man Records' Vault Package. It features two shows they performed in Detroit and Ferndale in Michigan, USA.
The Detroit show, which took place in 2001, was their last performance at the legendary rock bar Gold Dollar. And as one of the supporting shows for their recently released White Blood Cells LP it saw them perform the whole album in its entirety.
The cover for Jack White and Elinor Blake's children's book 'We're Going to be Friends'. Image credit: Third Man Books
In other news from Third Man Records, the label will be releasing a children’s book authored by Jack White. Titled We're Going to be Friends it takes its name from the much-adored White Stripes song and is based on the track’s lyrics.
It will illustrated by Elinor Blake (aka April March), a celebrated animator who used to work on Nickelodeon cartoon Ren and Stimpy alongside its creator John Kricfalusi. Speaking about White and Blake’s children’s book Kricfalusi said:
“I am a big fan of classic children’s book illustrations and an even bigger fan of Elinor Blake. I’m also a huge fan of pure Rock and Roll so naturally I’m a dedicated Jack White fan. Jack has written a perfect story and Elinor’s art is enchanting. It harkens back to 1940s Golden Books. Read it while listening to either Jack or Elinor sing the story. It’s a sonic/optic treat.”
The book is out November 7 and you can pre-order it here. Go here to order The White Stripes live album.
Listen to The White Stripes song ‘We’re Going To Be Friends” below.
Rockarchive is delighted to offer these The White Stripes images as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here.
