White Magic

Much sought after, it seems, bootlegged compilation of early singles, later B sides, rarities and live tracks from the Detroit duo.

A completist's dream this, as many of the original sources are extremely unobtainable and unquestionably overpriced.

For me the triplet of Beefheart numbers is the real highlight of this collection.
Originally released as a very limited e.p. on Sub Pop records, it's now almost mythical in its aloofness.
Obviously Jack plays up the blues elements Beefheart's songs were so rooted in, but he does appropriately manage to bring his own sense of strangeness to the songs.
'China Pig' particularly benefits from this; packed with White's idiosyncrasy, truly making the song his own.
A pretty difficult thing to achieve with such iconic music.

Their cover of 'Jolene' is pure homage - no satire, no irony - Jack just loves this stuff, and The Stripes really big it up with their interpretation.
And yeah, he really can hit those highs!

And Dolly isn't the only icon covered in this collection. Marlene Dietrich, Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Blind Willie McTell and Robert Johnson all get the White Stripes' treatment.

Quality is rather variable throughout, but never dissonant.
A few of the live tracks are of poorer quality, but they're really there because of their exclusivity, many not having been released in any form.
(And hey, if it's quality live Stripes you want, just drop to the post below.)

But it's the early rare, obscure studio recordings that this now elusive boot is valued for.
Elusive no more. Enjoy!

The White Stripes - Life on the Flipsides (2004)

Let's Shake Hands
Look Me Over Closely
Lafayette Blues
Sugar Never Tasted So Good
The Big Three Killed My Baby
Red Rolling Ball Ruth
Hello Operator
Jolene
Hand Springs
Party of Special Things To Do
China Pig
Ashtray Heart
Lord, Send Me an Angel
You're Pretty Good Looking
Candy Cane Children
Red Death at 6-14
Rated X (Live)
Hotel Yorba (Live)
Lovesick (Live)
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Suzy Lee (Live)
Stop Breaking Down (Live)
Screwdriver (Live)
Hotel Yorba (Live)
You're Pretty Good Looking (Live)
Fell in Love With a Girl (Live)
Fell in Love With a Girl (Live)

CD rip to mp3s
Get more of the White stuff here

Things Go Better With

The White Stripes captured at their most uncompromising, uncommercial best, performing to an enthusiastic audience as part of BBC Radio 1's 'Big Weekend' back in 2003.

Jack's on blistering form and manically ploughs through a short but dynamite punk/blues set of the most hyperbolic order.
Boy is he into this; solipsistically doing his thing and having what seems like a whale of a time.

True, they do perform 'the hits', but perform them with such vitriol and gusto you get the impression Jack just wants to get on with reinterpreting Leadbelly and Sophie Tucker numbers.
Although the version here of 'The Hardest Button to Button' is immense; a real freak out: quite superb and well worth the download on its own.

Meg does what Meg does, but even she seems infected by Jack's mania; managing to perform the most animated version of 'In the Cold, Cold Night' I've ever heard.

The briskness of it all (just over twenty minutes in total) adds a great deal to the intensity of this set; they're determined to pack it in, and the way they've decided to do that is by going flat out.
Quite takes your breath away.

White Stripes - Live in Manchester
Originally broadcast as part of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend event, 4th May, 2003.

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
I Think I Smell a Rat - Take a Whiff On Me
Blues Jam & Medley
The Hardest Button to Button
Seven Nation Army
In the Cold, Cold Night
Hotel Yorba

Excellent cassette rip @320kbs
Get the White stuff here