Last year, Jack White's label Third Man Records joined forces with guitarist John Fahey's Revant Records to release The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records, Vol.1 (1917-1927), a six-LP box set of remastered recordings from the legendary Wisconsin-based blues label. It also included several hundred pages of biographical material, a lengthy art book and an elegant case to carry the whole set.
Now he is releasing the second volume with another 800 digitally remastered tracks, 6 LPs on vinyl and much more. The former White Stripes frontman went on CBS This Morning over the weekend to talk about the project that took many years to compile, what his inspiration was behind it and why it is such an important collection of music.
In the four-minute interview, Jack White explains his reasoning behind the project, jokingly saying that it was to show "how ludicrous I can be with my free time." As the interview goes on, you see White's reverence for the artists in the box set and the artistry that went into Paramount Records.
One of his main goals is to try and resurrect these records and give someone in the future a source of inspiration so they may create something new and great. With legends like Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey, Charley Patton and so many others on the box sets, the record label established itself as a pioneer in the blues and jazz community before the war.
The second volume, released Nov. 18, will feature 90 drawings that were featured in the Chicago Defender, a black newspaper, from an unknown artist and a 400-page encyclopedia of artist bios and portraits with a full Paramount discography. The music is all on a customized Paramount Records metal USB drive.
All of items will be housed in a stainless steel cabinet that folds out like a vintage record player.
If you have a friend or family member who is really into blues, this might be the perfect gift for the holiday season.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
