The White Stripes (album)

Last updated

The White Stripes
The White Stripes - The White Stripes.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 15, 1999 (1999-06-15)
RecordedJanuary 1999
StudioGhetto Recorders and Third Man Studios, Detroit, Michigan
Genre
Length43:38
Label Sympathy for the Record Industry
Producer
The White Stripes chronology
The White Stripes
(1999)
De Stijl
(2000)
Singles from The White Stripes
  1. "The Big Three Killed My Baby"
    Released: March 1999

The White Stripes is the debut studio album by American rock duo the White Stripes, released on June 15, 1999. The album was produced by Jim Diamond and vocalist/guitarist Jack White, recorded in January 1999 at Ghetto Recorders and Third Man Studios in Detroit. White dedicated the album to deceased blues musician Son House.

Contents

Recording and production

The album was recorded in a week at Ghetto Recorders with "Screwdriver", "Sugar Never Tasted So Good", "St. James Infirmary", and "Astro" recorded at Jack White's home. [2] [3] Johnny Walker of the Soledad Brothers played slide guitar on two songs: "Suzy Lee" and "I Fought Piranhas". Walker is credited with having taught Jack White how to play slide, a technique featured heavily on the White Stripes' first two albums. Walker explains, "[Jack] had a four track in his living room and invited me to come by and do some recording. In return, I showed him how to play slide." [4]

The duo covered "St. James Infirmary Blues" after being introduced to the song from a Betty Boop cartoon. [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Pitchfork 8.3/10 [6]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]

The album received mostly positive reviews. Norene Cashen of The Metro Times said the LP "serves better to remind us that [Detroit's] local identity has more options than a membership card to the latest cliché...or a one-way ticket to the coast." [8]

Much of the media feedback came two or three years after its initial release, following the duo's fame spreading beyond Detroit. AllMusic said of the album, "Jack White's voice is a singular, evocative combination of punk, metal, blues, and backwoods while his guitar work is grand and banging with just enough lyrical touches of slide and subtle solo work... Meg White balances out the fretwork and the fretting with methodical, spare, and booming cymbal, bass drum, and snare... All D.I.Y. punk-country-blues-metal singer-songwriting duos should sound this good." [1]

BBC DJ John Peel first spotted the album in a record shop and said, "I just liked the look of it and I looked at the titles – you develop an instinct, d'you know what I mean? And it looked like the sort of record I would like, so I took it out and I did like it, and started playing it." [9] His endorsement was key in heightening their popularity in the UK. [9]

Track listing

All music is composed by the White Stripes, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Jimmy the Exploder" 2:29
2."Stop Breaking Down" Robert Johnson 2:20
3."The Big Three Killed My Baby" 2:29
4."Suzy Lee" 3:21
5."Sugar Never Tasted So Good" 2:54
6."Wasting My Time" 2:13
7."Cannon" Son House (See: John the Revelator)2:30
8."Astro" 2:42
9."Broken Bricks"lyrics by Jack White and Stephen Gillis1:51
10."When I Hear My Name" 1:54
11."Do" 3:05
12."Screwdriver" 3:14
13."One More Cup of Coffee" Bob Dylan 3:13
14."Little People" 2:22
15."Slicker Drips" 1:30
16."St. James Infirmary Blues"Traditional2:24
17."I Fought Piranhas" 3:07
Total length:43:38
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
18."Let's Shake Hands"2:01
19."Lafayette Blues"2:15

Personnel

The White Stripes

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP) [10] 159
UK Albums (Official Charts Company) [11] 142

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [12] Gold100,000^
United States335,000 [13]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesJune 15, 1999 Sympathy for the Record Industry LP album SFTRI 577
Compact DiscSFTRI 577
United KingdomNovember 26, 2001 XL Recordings Compact DiscXLCD 149
LP albumXLLP 149
United StatesJune 11, 2002 V2 Records Compact Disc63881-27131-2
JapanMarch 19, 2003V2 Records JapanCompact DiscV2CP 148
United StatesNovember 30, 2010 Third Man Records LP albumTMR-042

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The White Stripes</span> American rock duo (1997–2011)

The White Stripes were an American rock duo formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1997. The group consisted of Jack White and Meg White. They were a leading group of the 2000s indie rock and garage rock revival.

<i>Elephant</i> (album) 2003 studio album by the White Stripes

Elephant is the fourth studio album by the American rock duo The White Stripes. It was released on April 1, 2003, through V2, XL, and Third Man records. The album was produced by the band's guitarist and lead vocalist Jack White, and continues their "back-to-basics" approach seen in White Blood Cells (2001). It was mostly recorded at Maida Vale and Toe Rag Studios across two weeks in April 2002, and was produced without the use of computers, instead utilizing a duct-taped 8 track tape machine and various gear no more recent than 1963.

<i>De Stijl</i> (album) 2000 studio album by The White Stripes

De Stijl is the second studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes, released on June 20, 2000, by the Sympathy for the Record Industry. Produced by the band's guitarist and lead vocalist Jack White, the album was recorded on an 8-track analog tape in his living room following the covert divorce of members Jack and Meg White, who nevertheless continued working together. The album takes its name from the art movement of the same name, and features their early blues-inspired sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack White</span> American musician (born 1975)

John Anthony White is an American musician who served as the guitarist and lead singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. A key artist of the 2000s garage rock revival, he is known for his distinctive musical techniques and eccentricity. He has won 12 Grammy Awards among other accolades. Rolling Stone included him on their 2010 and 2023 lists of the greatest guitarists of all time. The New York Times called White "the coolest, weirdest and savviest rockstar of our time" in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg White</span> American retired musician (born 1974)

Megan Martha White is an American retired musician who served as the drummer and occasional singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. A key artist of the 2000s garage rock revival, White is noted for her "primal" style of playing and elusive media image. Though she typically performed backing vocals for the band, she occasionally sang lead for one song on each album, including "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "Passive Manipulation".

<i>Get Behind Me Satan</i> 2005 studio album by the White Stripes

Get Behind Me Satan is the fifth studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes, released on June 7, 2005, on V2 Records. Though still basic in production style, the album marked a distinct change from its guitar-heavy 2003 predecessor, Elephant. With its reliance on piano-driven melodies and experimentation with marimba on "The Nurse" and "Forever For Her ", Get Behind Me Satan plays down the punk, garage rock and blues influences that dominated earlier White Stripes albums. Frontman Jack White plays with different technique than in the past, replacing electric guitar with piano, mandolin, and acoustic guitar on all but a handful of tracks, as his usual riff-conscious lead guitar style is overtaken by a predominantly rhythmic approach.

<i>Under Blackpool Lights</i> 2004 video by The White Stripes

Under Blackpool Lights is the first official DVD released by The White Stripes. The DVD consists of 26 tracks recorded at The Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in the English seaside resort of Blackpool on January 27 and 28, 2004, and directed by Dick Carruthers using super 8 film. Among these tracks, as with most White Stripes live performances, are several cover songs – such as "Take a Whiff on Me", "Outlaw Blues", "Jack the Ripper", "Jolene", "Death Letter", "Goin' Back to Memphis", and "De Ballit of de Boll Weevil".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There's No Home for You Here</span> 2004 single by the White Stripes

"There's No Home for You Here" is a song by American alternative rock band the White Stripes, featured on their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). It was released as the fourth single from the album on March 15, 2004, in the United Kingdom. The B-side of the 7-inch vinyl record is a medley of "I Fought Piranhas" and "Let's Build a Home" – from The White Stripes (1999) and De Stijl (2000), respectively – recorded at Electric Lady Studios on November 16, 2003. The single failed to chart. Of the track, Jack said, "Our idea was to see how far we could go with an eight track recorder, and I think how far we went is too far."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground</span> 2002 single by the White Stripes

"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is a song by American garage rock band the White Stripes, featured on their 2001 third studio album White Blood Cells. Written by the band and produced by vocalist and guitarist Jack White, "Dead Leaves" was released as the third single from the album in July 2002, charting at number 19 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're Going to Be Friends</span> 2002 promotional single by The White Stripes

"We're Going to Be Friends" is a song by American alternative rock band White Stripes from their album White Blood Cells. It was released in 2002 and tells the story of meeting a new friend at the beginning of a school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Yorba</span> 2001 single by the White Stripes

"Hotel Yorba" is the lead single from White Blood Cells, by American garage rock band the White Stripes. It was released on November 12, 2001.

<i>Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit</i> 2001 compilation album by Various artists

Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit is a compilation album of American garage rock and punk bands from Detroit, released in 2001. Put together by Jack White of the White Stripes, it featured bands such as the Von Bondies, the Dirtbombs, and the Detroit Cobras. It was recorded in the home of Jack White, and he, along with nephew and the Dirtbombs drummer Ben Blackwell can be heard singing backup on "Shaky Puddin'," a Soledad Brothers track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Greenhornes</span> American garage rock band

The Greenhornes were an American garage rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Craig Fox, bass guitarist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler. They released their debut album Gun For You in 1999, followed by a self-titled album in 2001. A third studio album, Dual Mono, was released in 2002, with the band taking a small hiatus. The Greenhornes returned in 2005 to release a new EP, East Grand Blues, and a compilation album, Sewed Soles. During this time, Lawrence and Keeler formed The Raconteurs with Detroit musicians and personal friends Jack White and Brendan Benson, leaving very few performances and interaction with Fox. In 2010, the band reunited once again to record a studio album, Four Stars, their first in eight years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soledad Brothers (band)</span> American garage rock band

Soledad Brothers were an American garage rock trio from Maumee, Ohio. Taking strong influence from blues rock, the band consisted of Ben Swank on drums, Johnny Walker on guitar and vocals, and Oliver Henry on sax and guitar. The band produced four albums: Soledad Brothers (2000), Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move (2002), Voice of Treason (2003), and The Hardest Walk (2006).

Jim Diamond is an American music producer, studio engineer, and bass guitar player based in Detroit, Michigan. He worked on the first two White Stripes albums and played bass with The Dirtbombs.

The Upholsterers were an American garage punk band in 2000, from Detroit, Michigan. The two-piece band was composed of Jack White and Brian Muldoon of The Muldoons. Muldoon provided drums, while White played on guitar and created sounds with a worm gear saw. They were originally called Two Part Resin.

<i>Icky Thump</i> 2007 studio album by The White Stripes

Icky Thump is the sixth and final studio album by American rock duo The White Stripes, released through Warner Bros. and Third Man Records in June 2007, with XL Recordings handling the United Kingdom release. Its first release came on June 15, 2007, in Germany, with the release for the rest of Europe occurring on June 18 and the rest of the world on June 19.

<i>Vague Premonition</i> 1999 studio album by Elevator Through

Vague Premonition is an album by the Canadian band Elevator Through. The album was released on April 20, 1999, by Sub Pop on CD; it was released in June 1999 by Sonic Unyon on vinyl. Most of the album's songs were recorded in one take. Jack Endino mixed the record at CMS Studios, in Moncton, in November, 1998. An expanded reissue of the album was released through Blue Fog Recordings in July 2022, which included the original LP remastered from the original tapes by Rick White, The Such soundtrack extended play, March 1998 Home demos of outtakes of songs originally recorded for the album or The Such soundtrack, which weren't used, as well as included a digital download code for a sequenced home demo version of Vague Premonition, recorded in Spring and Summer, of 1998, which were originally released separately on their own, in 2018.

"Suzy Lee" is a love song by the American rock band The White Stripes from their 1999 self-titled album.

<i>White Blood Cells</i> 2001 studio album by The White Stripes

White Blood Cells is the third studio album by American rock duo the White Stripes, independently released by the Sympathy for the Record Industry on July 3, 2001. Recording took place in Memphis, Tennessee at Easley-McCain Recording over three days, and was produced by guitarist and lead vocalist Jack White. Production was rushed in order to capture a "real tense feeling" and the band's energy, and was their first album to be mastered in a studio.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Handyside, Chris. "The White Stripes" at AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  2. "The White Stripes: What Made Them Such A Revolutionary Rock Duo?". YouTube. Amplified - Classic Rock & Music History. November 6, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. The White Stripes (booklet). Sympathy For The Record Industry. 1999.
  4. Soledad Brothers: Band History Archived July 6, 2009, at the Portuguese Web Archive Soundclick, (accessed June 20, 2008).
  5. Series 40, episode 2, Later...with Jools Holland. Series 40. Episode 2. April 24, 2012
  6. Bowers, William (June 17, 2002). "The White Stripes: 'The White Stripes' and 'De Stijl'". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  7. "White Stripes: Album Guide". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  8. Cashen, Norene (May 26, 1999). "Detroit duo White Stripes mixes basic elements into simple beauty". The Metro Times .
  9. 1 2 White Stripes, BBC.co.uk. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. "Lescharts.com – The White Stripes – The White Stripes". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  11. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: Kristine W – Tammy Wynette". zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. "British album certifications – The White Stripes – The White Stripes". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  13. Center, Marc (June 13, 2009). "Weather Report" (PDF). Billboard. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2022 via American Radio History.