White, with help from collaborators, released what is said to be the fastest record every made – from the moment of the recording, through the pressing of the vinyl, to the distribution – just under four hours.
As a promotional stunt on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 19th, White assembled a select group of media, friends and fans at his Third Man Records‘ headquarters in Nashville where he put on a live show, and performed and recorded a live version of “Lazaretto,” the title track from his upcoming sophomore solo album, due to drop in June.
White was joined by some of the same band members that worked with him on his critically-acclaimed, and gold-certified, debut solo album, Blunderbuss. The live set started at 10 a.m. with the previously released instrumental track, “High Ball Stepper,” one of the tracks from Lazaretto. The following features clips from the press conference, events of the day and interviews with fans who waited outside Third Man Records on Saturday for copies of the fastest vinyl single ever (that we know of).
As soon as the single, “Lazaretto,” was recorded in studio, the master tape was rushed across town to be pressed to vinyl. White returned, with escorts and an entourage, to his Third Man studio with the still-warm vinyls in hand, and distributed them to eager and excited press folks, area record store owners and others.
“I never even looked into who has the fastest record,” White revealed during the press conference later that afternoon.
It turns out that Guinness World Records’ digital database contains no established category for “fastest released record,” and there were no officials from Guinness present at the event – which we understand means it will not be recorded officially by Guinness since they must have a representative present for any record-breaking milestones. However, some blogs are mistakenly reporting that White’s achievement – which is undeniably impressive and newsworthy – is a new Guinness record.
But White was more focused on making sure the record got recorded, cut and distributed on RSD, than on setting a record for the fastest vinyl recording and release ever.
“I woke up at about 4 in the morning last night [Saturday], and I thought, ‘Wow. I think there’s about 12 or 13 things that could really go wrong tomorrow,’ White said. “I just thought how difficult it was going to be to explain to people if we didn’t pull it off, so thank God we did.”
While we’ve not been able to get an audio copy of the vinyl single quite yet, we’re working on it, and hope to have the full version included in IRC’s full RSD 2014 report and playlist that will be published later today (and will include all kinds of great RSD tracks – many of which are re-mastered classic rock and indie/alternative songs). Follow IRC on Twitter or Facebook to be notified as soon as it’s published.
In the meantime, Al Ford, program director of the Edmonton radio station Sonic 102.9, travelled on an invitation to Nashville from Canada for the event, and returned to explain the experience itself, and to play the vinyl single, in the following YouTube video.
White accomplished his goal to record, press and distribute the “Lazaretto” vinyl in under four hours, shattering the reported previous record held by Swiss polka trio Vollgas Kompanie. White was able to accomplish the goal in approximately three hours, 55 minutes and 21 seconds, just under his initial four hour target.
Two weeks ago, White released the advanced instrumental track, “High Ball Stepper,” with a visually striking music video to compliment the crackling, heavily distorted guitar riffs that smoke and blaze relentlessly throughout, and unlike any other rock song we’ve heard so far in 2014. Leave it up to White to top himself once again in just how far one can push an electric guitar to new heights. Is it too much to say that White is perhaps the closest Gen-X has ever come to having its own Hendrix?
“High Ball Stepper” – Jack White from Lazaretto (due in June)
Check out the videos below that include the press conference White held at Third Man headquarters in Nashville.