*poster by Rob Jones will be available on Black Friday at Third Man Records Cass Corridor

Those with an ear to the underground and a foot on the third rail of the overground, blearing Bambi-like into the oncoming head lamps of progress,will no doubt be clued to the news that nearly lucky 7 years after we champagne-launched our flagship HQ in Nashville, Tennessee, Third Man Records is expanding / repatriating itself to the blessed Rust Belt origin story environs of the Cass Corridor in Detroit, Michigan. D-Day approaches and with it a myriad of updates and exciting announcements of surprise releases, limited editions, exclusive Detroit merchandise, eye-popping in-house attractions and contraptions, and much more will be rolling out in the lead up to our Grand Opening... To wit, and without further ado...

Live and in-person Grand Opening in-store performances from Nashville's finest and Detroit's dearest:

 

Margo Price - The Midwest Farmer's Daughter, and latest and greatest Third Man recording artist joins us for a country soul in-store performance to get the day kicked off right.

Lillie Mae Rische - Nashville's sweetheart and Jack White's fiddler will be backed by Dominic John Davis and Fats Kaplin (also of JW backing band fame themselves) for this special performance.

The Gories - With us for our opening and their FIRST EVER IN-STORE PERFORMANCE, the Wolf Kings and Queen of the Cass Corridor. The slop that launched a thousand bands returns in all its groovy downbeat R&B glory. We couldn't be more proud to have them with us for our opening.

We will be teasing out more news of what to expect (more surprises! guest DJs!) in the coming days, but before we get bogged down in the details, we have a dream-come-true announcement to make...

*Tamla Records' Berry Gordy

In 1959 a former amateur boxer started a record label out of his home in Detroit, Michigan. Employing the colors yellow and black and open to releasing any genre that could become a hit, Tamla Records and Berry Gordy laid the foundation for what would become a global empire. Just in time for the grand opening of Third Man Records Cass Corridor, we are proud to announce an ongoing partnership with Universal Music to bring Tamla's classic early Motown records back to vinyl. On Black Friday, we return to Detroit with nine reissues from Tamla's early years.

Tamla's stripes label era (1959-61) produced million-sellers, debut releases from soon-to-be global icons, quasi-doowop anthems, and proto-surf experiments, all just looking for the next big thing. To say that they were successful would be an understatement.

 

These are cornerstones of American popular music and they were all housed on this label that was headquartered at an unassuming home on Detroit's West Grand Boulevard, which would soon become known to the world as Hitsville USA.

On Black Friday, exclusively at our brand new, come-full-circle Motor City store, look for the following 7"s, housed in reproduction Tamla company sleeves, and pressed on fresh black vinyl, all using the classic, inimitable stripes label designs.

  • Barrett Strong - "Let's Rock" b/w "Do the Very Best You Can"
  • Chico Leverett - "Solid Sender" b/w "I'll Never Love Again"
  • The Swinging Tigers - "Snake Walk (Part 1)" b/w "Snake Walk (Part 2)"
  • The Satintones - "Going to the Hop" b/w "Motor City"
  • Barrett Strong - "Money" b/w "Oh I Apologize"
  • Nick & the Jaguars - "Ich-i-bon #1" b/w "Cool and Crazy"
  • The Miracles - "Way Over There" b/w "(You Can) Depend on Me"
  • Marvin Gaye - "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" b/w "Never Let You Go"
  • The Supremes - "Buttered Popcorn" b/w "Who's Lovin You"

Stay tuned in the next week for more details about Black Friday... We've got plenty more up our sleeves...