The Raconteurs are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album with an archival companion release titled Broken Boy Soldiers XX, arriving as the 70th installment of Third Man Records’ Vault subscription series.
Spread across three 180-gram colored vinyl LPs, the 23-track collection features 22 previously unreleased recordings from the group’s early days. This includes nine demos and outtakes alongside a recording of their first-ever live performance, which took place about two months before the album was released. Signups for Vault #70 are open through October 31st.
Debut Album Celebration
The studio material digs into the sessions surrounding Broken Boy Soldiers, which the four-piece recorded at band member Brendan Benson’s Le Grand Studios in his Detroit home. Among the unearthed recordings is a demo of “Level,” a seven-minute take of “Blue Veins,” and the previously unheard “Mech Royal.” The package also features alternate versions of “Yellow Sun,” “Store Bought Bones,” “Bedridden Blues,” and “Steady, As She Goes.”
The remaining material captures The Raconteurs’ debut concert at Liverpool’s Carling Academy on March 20th, 2006. In addition to songs from their first LP, the 13-track set also features covers of Love’s “A House Is Not a Motel” and the Flamin’ Groovies’ “Headin’ for the Texas Border.”
Vault Package Details
Each vinyl record comes in a different color: Metallic Copper, Grand Green, and Coke Bottle Clear. The bundle also includes one of four collectible cards from Third Man’s Tripppl imprint as well as a strip of 35mm film containing frames of each band member from Jim Jarmusch’s “Steady, As She Goes” music video.
Broken Boy Soldiers earned The Raconteurs two Grammy nominations in 2007. The band have since released two more albums, Consolers of the Lonely in 2008 and Help Us Stranger in 2019.
Meanwhile, Jack White has kept The Raconteurs’ material in rotation throughout his solo career. Last month, The Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi joined him in Los Angeles for a performance of “Broken Boy Soldier.”
Broken Boy Soldiers XX Tracklist:
Live in Liverpool — March 20th, 2006
1. Level
2. Intimate Secretary
3. Hands
4. Steady, As She Goes
5. Together
6. A House Is Not a Motel
7. Store Bought Bones
8. Call It a Day
9. Yellow Sun
10. Broken Boy Soldier
11. Five on the Five
12. Blue Veins
13. Headin’ for the Texas Border
Demos / Outtakes
1. Steady, As She Goes (previously released studio demo)
2. Mech Royal (studio demo)
3. Level (studio demo)
4. Blue Veins (alternate studio take)
5. Steady, As She Goes (alternate studio take, no vocals)
6. Yellow Sun (alternate studio take, rough guide vocals)
7. Store Bought Bones (alternate studio take, no vocals)
8. Bedridden Blues aka. The Bane Rendition (alternate studio take)
9. Hands (partial studio fragment)
In conclusion, the release of Broken Boy Soldiers XX is a significant event for fans of The Raconteurs, offering a unique glimpse into the band’s early days and creative process. With its extensive collection of previously unreleased material, this archival companion release is a must-have for anyone who loves The Raconteurs and their music.
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