MUMBAI: In January, the first-ever recording that Elvis Presley made was sold at an auction for $300,000. However, at that time, the winning party remained anonymous. In a new interview for Billboard, Jack White revealed himself as the record’s proud new owner. White also stated that he plans to reissue the single on vinyl on 18 April 2015, which is International Record Store Day.
Billboard Editor-at-large Joe Levy was waiting in Memphis, Tennessee for his interview with White, but instead was greeted by a strange man who handed him a black suitcase. Then, he was told to drive three hours across the state to meet White in Nashville at Third Man Records, White’s independent record label. Once there, Levy was asked to walk to the conference room where, on receiving the case, White addressed a crowd of employees. He said, “This, is the first recording ever made by Elvis Presley. On Record Store Day, Third Man Records will issue this on vinyl.”
The 10-inch acetate vinyl disc was recorded in 1953 and features covers of two ballads from the 1930s ‘My Happiness’ and ‘That’s When Your Heartaches Begin’. The limited release will be as close a replica to the original as possible. From running at a speed of 78rpm to precise reproductions of the typewritten labels, which were originally “printed on the reverse of extra Prisonaires labels that happened to be laying around Sun Records in July 1953, and the sleeves will be era-appropriately plain” stated a Third Man Records statement. Third Man Records also stated that it will be making a 45rpm restored version of the release available on 7-inch vinyl later this year.