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Rare Jack White Record Found Just Where He Left It: Inside a Couch

Way back in the 1990s, a young Detroit guitar player named Jack Gillis (soon to be rechristened Jack White) worked as an apprentice upholsterer by day with a fellow musician named Brian Muldoon. Eventually, Jack went out on his own and opened his own shop called Third Man Upholstery, which carried the slogan “Your Furniture’s Not Dead.” Jack continued to work with Brian in a band called–surprise–The Upholsters who released two singles. This was the first.

But where was the second single?  It was allegedly called “Your Furniture Was Always Dead…I Was Just Afraid to Tell You.” Legend had it that Jack and Brian randomly secreted 100 copies inside couches and chairs that they worked on. Their customers had no idea.

So far, only two of those singles have turned up. Third Man has this to say on their website:

Recently Third Man Records has been made aware of the discovery of two different copies found by two separate individuals of the 2nd single by the Upholsterers. This duo, comprising of actual upholsterers Jack White and Brian Muldoon, pressed 100 copies of this single and proceeded to hide them in furniture being reupholstered by Muldoon in 2004, in celebration of his 25th year in the business. In celebration of these discoveries, Third Man would like to share with everyone the cover art for this single, done by noted Detroit artist Gordon Newton.”

I haven’t been able to find audio yet, but here’s the artwork. What do you suppose something like this will go for on the collectibles market?  And how many people in the Detroit area are now tearing their old sofas apart?

Upholsters - Your Furniture

 

(Via Consequence of Sound)

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.

Alan Cross has 38035 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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