The White Stripes (album)

The White Stripes
Studio album by The White Stripes
Released	June 15, 1999
Recorded	January 1999 at Ghetto Recorders and Third Man Studios, Detroit, Michigan
Genre	Alternative rock, garage rock, blues rock
Length	43:38
Label	Sympathy
Producer	Jack White, Jim Diamond
The White Stripes chronology
The White Stripes (1999) De Stijl (2000)
Singles from The White Stripes
"The Big Three Killed My Baby" Released: March, 1999

The White Stripes is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The White Stripes, released on June 15, 1999. The album was produced by Jim Diamond and vocalist/guitarist Jack White, recorded in January 1999 at Ghetto Recorders and Third Man Studios in Detroit. White dedicated the album to deceased blues musician Son House.

Recording and production

Johnny Walker of the Soledad Brothers played slide guitar on two songs: "Suzy Lee" and "I Fought Piranhas". Walker is credited with having taught Jack White how to play slide, a technique featured heavily on the White Stripes' first two albums. Walker explains, "[Jack] had a four track in his living room and invited me to come by and do some recording. In return, I showed him how to play slide."

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork Media	(8.3/10)
Allmusic

Allmusic said of the album:

"Jack White's voice is a singular, evocative combination of punk, metal, blues, and backwoods while his guitar work is grand and banging with just enough lyrical touches of slide and subtle solo work... Meg White balances out the fretwork and the fretting with methodical, spare, and booming cymbal, bass drum, and snare... All D.I.Y. punk-country-blues-metal singer/songwriting duos should sound this good."

Track listing

All songs written by Jack White, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jimmy the Exploder"	2:29
2.	"Stop Breaking Down" (originally written and performed by Robert Johnson)	2:20
3.	"The Big Three Killed My Baby"	2:29
4.	"Suzy Lee"	3:21
5.	"Sugar Never Tasted So Good"	2:54
6.	"Wasting My Time"	2:13
7.	"Cannon" (Influenced by Son House (See: John the Revelator))	2:30
8.	"Astro"	2:42
9.	"Broken Bricks" (written by The White Stripes, Stephen Gillis)	1:51
10.	"When I Hear My Name"	1:54
11.	"Do"	3:05
12.	"Screwdriver"	3:14
13.	"One More Cup of Coffee" (originally written and performed by Bob Dylan)	3:13
14.	"Little People"	2:22
15.	"Slicker Drips"	1:30
16.	"St. James Infirmary Blues" (traditional)	2:24
17.	"I Fought Piranhas"	3:07

Japanese edition
No.	Title	Length
18.	"Let's Shake Hands"	2:01
19.	"Lafayette Blues"	2:15

Personnel

The White Stripes

• Jack White – vocals, guitar, piano, production
• Meg White – drums

Additional personnel

• Johnny Walker – slide guitar on "Suzy Lee" and "I Fought Piranhas"
• Jim Diamond – production, engineering
• Ko Melina Zydeko – photography
• Heather White – photography

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	June 15, 1999	Sympathy for the Record Industry	LP album	SFTRI 577
			Compact Disc	SFTRI 577
United Kingdom	November 26, 2001	XL Recordings	Compact Disc	XLCD 149
			LP album	XLLP 149
United States	June 11, 2002	V2 Records	Compact Disc	63881-27131-2
Japan	March 19, 2003	V2 Records Japan	Compact Disc	V2CP 148
United States	November 30, 2010	Third Man Records	LP album	TMR-042

References

General

• "White Stripes, The - The White Stripes". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/White-Stripes-The-White-Stripes/master/10338. Retrieved September 11, 2009. 

Specific