Ongoing History of New Music

Ongoing History: Jack White’s hidden songs

When you own your own record label and vinyl pressing facility, you have a chance to experiment with some really weird things. Jack White is one of those guys.

If you go back to the Lazaretto album in 2014, you’ll see that Jack left a few things for fans to discover with the vinyl version of the record. For example, there are two untitled songs hidden under the inner label. Peel it back and you’ll see the grooves. But you need to change the speed of your turntable. One of these songs needs to be played at 45 RPM while the other requires 78 RPM. This could make Lazaretto the first three-speed record.

There are also two mixes of a song called “Just One Drink”—an acoustic and an electric version. Which one you get is determine by where exactly you drop the tonearm. There are two sets of grooves, so the version you get depends on where the stylus gets picked up. 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “Ongoing History: Jack White’s hidden songs

  • Monty Python did the 2 groove trick with their Matching Tie & Handkerchief album

    Reply
    • I remember that. I was programming a comedy show for a radio station back in the day and this record confused the hell out of me.

      Reply

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