As one of the greatest rock duos of all time, The White Stripes have been long overdue for a greatest hits album. Although the band officially dissolved back in 2011, the legacy of Jack and Meg White remains, thanks to their unforgettable tri-color aesthetic and larger-than-life blues/garage rock sound.
Third Man Records, which is fronted by none other than Jack White himself, released “The White Stripes Greatest Hits” on vinyl for U.S. fans on December 4, 2020. With a little help from Cardboard Cutout Standees on the promotion, it’s no surprise that the long-awaited album has been an immense success thus far.
We had the privilege of chatting with Cam Sarrett of Third Man Records about all things related to the release of “The White Stripes Greatest Hits”—check it out below.
Can you tell us about Third Man Records?
A little history, and what the studio is all about?
Third Man Records is the brainchild of Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather) and opened up a physical headquarters in Nashville, TN in 2009. It includes a record shop, 300 person capacity venue, photo darkroom, label offices, video suite, graphic design suite, shipping and distribution center, and a direct-to-vinyl studio.
In 2015, we opened our second label shop in the Cass Corridor neighborhood of Detroit with a modern, high-quality record pressing plant built out shortly thereafter. Third Man’s focus is on the tangible, digital and collectible aspects of music.
What’s the story behind The White Stripes Greatest Hits album?
What was the motivation behind its release and how did it come about?
All of the greats should have a compilation of their greatest. While they’ve more recently been co-opted in the music world by what the Spotify algorithm thinks a Greatest Hits would be, we thought it would be a more personal move to put together a greatest hits album that came from the artist side.
Describe the point of purchase display you used to promote the album release
What was it and how did you come up with the idea? Was there a particular marketing/promotional challenge it helped to overcome? How was this display utilized in the record stores?
The display was provided to record stores, first come first served, mainly in the US but also a few scattered in Canada, the UK, Europe and Japan. It was able to hold a handful of LPs and CDs and was produced almost to scale with Jack and Meg’s height, so we saw a lot of amazing fan photos taken on social media.
How did the point of purchase display help to raise awareness and promote the album and your brand?
How did it give you the edge? Did it meet your expectations/goals?
No doubt. Especially with a band that has such a fervent fandom, we saw these bring people out in droves.
What has been the reception to The White Stripes Greatest Hits so far?
“The White Stripes Greatest Hits” vinyl sold out of the first pressing within a month of release in the US. So, pretty okay.
Why do you think it’s important for artists to continue recording and making new music, especially in the current climate of the country amid the pandemic and political situation?
Artists have the power to speak for their communities and enlighten others to gray areas, challenging ideas and cultural taboos. Creating new things is also incredibly therapeutic for the artist, both in practice and symbolically. Considering these things and the times we’re living through, there is no more important time than right now to be putting your all into your art.
How was your overall experience working with us?
A+. Quick turnaround, great communication, and amazing to have the option to ship directly from your warehouse.
Be Sure to Check Out “The White Stripes Greatest Hits” Album!
“The White Stripes Greatest Hits” will be released worldwide on February 12, 2021. You can order the album here, or check out Third Man Records on Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify.
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