THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

HOUSE Jake Kennedy celebrates Third Man Records, the USbased label founded by Jack White that has reinvigorated the 7” format

In 2009’s It Might Get Loud documentary, Jack White explained his work ethos: “If it takes me three steps to get to the keyboard in a song, I’ll put it four steps away to make it more difficult for myself, so I have to run.”

Now look at the Third Man discography in this article. Note everything in it was released in 2009/10. It seems Jack has set the same hard work ethic for completists of his fledgling Nashville-based record label. The company slogan is “Your Turntable Is Not Dead” and, by putting out vinyl-only releases across a multitude of pressings, and most with limited quantities, Third Man has become something of a modern-day assault course for obsessives.

With The White Stripes on hiatus – though for how long no one can be sure – White has not only funded his label, but busied himself as a producer, label boss, A&R man, design consultant and session musician for Third Man. That aside, he’s also been in not one but two bands full time – The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, both of whom are expected to release albums in 2010. Plus there’s talk of a solo album. But you get the impression that Third Man is where Jack’s heart lies; a company entrenched in a format often associated with the blues and rock’n’roll he adores – from the …

by Jake Kennedy
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