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July 3, 2007

Top Ten Ways To Prove You're A Martyr For Your Love For The White Stripes

The frenzied squeals of the Winnipeggers on the Whites' bus reminded us about a piece we saw in the Stripes-covered NME, in which the band's "official historian" (read: super-fan) Ben Blackwell offers pics and quotes on his top ten Stripes collectibles. It's a White 'n' nerdy spread of records (and one CD), all presumably high in eBay value -- though the best one is #9 on the list...

Top Special
Three-inch, Third Man Records (2005)

"Only available at live shows on the 'Get Behind Me Satan' tour and only playable on Bandai-manufactured Tripe Inchophone record players. Never released on any other format. Limited to 1,000 copies, yet Triple Inchophones were limited to 400 machines.
Just so we're clear: More Top Special vinyls exist than players upon which to enjoy 'em? How fantastically geeky! Though you're no better, closet vinyl freak. Quick, name your single most treasured slab of acetate. (If you took longer than ten seconds, this one's not for you.) Then take the jump for pics and descriptions of Ben's primer course in super Stripes geekdom.

Click your fave to enlarge.

Posted at 5:49 PM
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29 Comments

My most prized has to be my Ricky Watters aka The Jet Black Hawk "Eye of the Hawk" single produced by Kutmaster Kurt.

Posted by: Gooseninja at 07/03/07 6:33 PM  | Reply
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hand springs & party of special things to do are the only ones i've heard, but they're both worth seeking out- i found 'em in the peel singles box.

my favorite vinyl record i actually own is this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/GENE-WISNIEWSKI-LP-Polish-House-Party-Vol-4_W0QQitemZ280128638861QQcmdZViewItem

Posted by: Jim at 07/03/07 6:35 PM  | Reply
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Wikipedia (in an entry which has since been deleted) claims that isn't quite the truth: its assertion is that Bandai had manufactured a lot of them, but that by the time the White Stripes put in an order so that they could sell the players on their tour, Bandai had stopped production and all but 400 had been destroyed.

So, it seems that there may be more than 1000, but probably mostly in Japan. White Stripes only got their hands on 400.

Posted by: no one in particular at 07/03/07 6:43 PM  | Reply
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I've got Hatebreeds first 7", on all five colors pressed, first pressing. I've also got a Bane record on "Clear blood splatter vinyl" limited to 25, and a test press of Jane Doe by Converge that's half orange half red and limited to 125.

stupid hardcore colored vinyl rules.

Posted by: greg at 07/03/07 7:44 PM  | Reply
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not much of a rarity yet,
but dan deacon's limited edish white vinyl pressing. only 500 copies available. a couple years down the road, it might actually be worth something.

go dan!

Posted by: Dre at 07/03/07 7:57 PM  | Reply
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For the record (ha!) Ben Blackwell isn't just a "super-fan" he's Jack White's nephew and roadie. Rumor has it that he has recordings of almost every White Stripes show.

Posted by: Billy Holiday at 07/03/07 8:14 PM  | Reply
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thanks, billy. i jumped on here just to point that out, but you did the tough work for me.

i mean, i suppose your nephew can be a "super-fan" of your band, but it still doesn't sound 100% true, being as though he's employed by the band.

Posted by: douglas martin at 07/03/07 9:14 PM  | Reply
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My favorite would probably be the Unwound "You Bite My Tongue" 7" with all of the lyrics etched on to the B-side. Probably not rare, but really nifty.

Posted by: tk. at 07/03/07 10:24 PM  | Reply
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Haven't been able to find much info on Triple Inchophones, but it seems to me like a capable record player with variable speed control & no auto arm pick up would be able to play those things.

Posted by: Ferris at 07/03/07 11:36 PM  | Reply
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That Let's Shake Hands just sold on ebay for over $600. The V2 record is on ebay as well as the Hand Springs 7".

Posted by: JJ at 07/04/07 1:08 AM  | Reply
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Why wasn't Get Behind Me Satan released on vinyl?

I don't have any particularly rare or valuable vinyl, but my most treasured piece is Muse - Absolution signed by the band. I picked up the record at Amoeba a while before that album was ever officially released in America, and it was the only time I ever saw one there, and I brought it to the signing they did at Tower Records in Sherman Oaks the week after Coachella. I was the only one there with something other than an Absolution CD, too.

Posted by: Bort at 07/04/07 1:57 AM  | Reply
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i always wanted the stereolab/spectrum split limited to 25, thats a real rare lease, colours dont mean anything to me.

Posted by: James at 07/04/07 12:10 PM  | Reply
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Got a couple of ltd edition Muse singles on Clear Vinyl, not sure of the numbers but limited edition was good enough for me :)

Posted by: Ben at 07/04/07 2:19 PM  | Reply
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I have a bootleg Nirvana 45 called "Household Drugs" that Krist Novoselic signed after I ambushed him crossing the street in Pittsburgh.

Posted by: Ferris at 07/04/07 4:01 PM  | Reply
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I HAVE that Hello Operator/Jolene picture disk. Haha!

I've been trying to get my paws on the Sub Pop single for years...if I had it, that'd definitely be my favorite. In the interim, my favorite vinyl record is probably Tim Buckley's Starsailor, original issue copy.

Posted by: D at 07/04/07 5:14 PM  | Reply
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"Complete" Unrest Peel Sessions 7", edition of 1000

Posted by: vino at 07/04/07 7:36 PM  | Reply
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Saturday Looks Good To Me. Their self-titled self released vinyl limited to 330 pressings with screenprinted sleeve.

Got it at some flea market for 5 bucks... score!

Posted by: e. at 07/04/07 10:50 PM  | Reply
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i'm very fond of my man or astroman 7"s.

Posted by: ryan at 07/04/07 11:14 PM  | Reply
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I have a promo copy of the last unofficial Smashing Pumpkins album (Machina 2). I found it at the local store in college and nobody there had any clue how they got it. I have yet to find any info about my particular copy anywhere but it isn't a bootleg as far as I know.

Posted by: Justin at 07/05/07 12:05 AM  | Reply
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Folsom Prison Blues, Sun Records 7"

Posted by: Dane at 07/05/07 9:44 AM  | Reply
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verve "voyager one"

Posted by: guitar stuff at 07/05/07 10:05 AM  | Reply
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I've got my dad's vinyl bootlegs of the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour with Bob Dylan, and those are just awesome.

Posted by: WMT at 07/05/07 10:14 AM  | Reply
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Looks like someone's selling off his Triple Inchophone along with every White Stripes 3" single produced for it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/The-White-Stripes-Triple-Inchophone-incl-7-3-Singles_W0QQitemZ330140203103QQihZ014QQcategoryZ306QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bids are at $725 at the moment.

Posted by: Cooper at 07/05/07 10:34 AM  | Reply
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Lynyrd Skynyrd "Street Survivors" vinyl with the fire still engulfing the band members who died in the plane crash. After the crash, they re-released it without the flames. Last LP the original members put out prior to the plane crash.

Posted by: jdubs at 07/05/07 5:19 PM  | Reply
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I have a copy of Grandaddy's first single 'Could This Be Love', hand-numbered 4 out of 500. I've always liked the thought that at least one of the band members doesn't have one of the first five prints. I reckon mine was Jason's.

Posted by: Steve at 07/05/07 5:45 PM  | Reply
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Bad news, collectors! Bandai have started re-releasing those old red and white ban-8s, and they've been floating about Japan for years. I picked one up for about £25. Post and packaging cost a bit since I bought it direct from Japan, but much better than paying $1000, don't ya think?! lol

Posted by: V420 at 07/12/07 5:29 PM  | Reply
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the "inchophone" had been being made in japan for a while. it was a childrens toy.
the white stripes inchophone is different as the rarity comes from the records made for it.

so you may be able to grab a red and white player, but you'll still pay out the butt for the records.

Posted by: TheWatcher at 10/19/07 2:55 PM  | Reply
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Ive got a red and white triple inchophone for sale on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=320207649749&Category=86011&_trksid=p3907.m29

It still has original box and instructions, and one japanese single.

Posted by: djehnron at 01/14/08 1:11 PM  | Reply
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I've got Top Special but not the other discs or the little record player. Gotta be worth something on its own though I'd imagine.

Posted by: matt at 03/02/08 10:23 AM  | Reply
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