Happy Birthday Jack White: Playing Cover Songs Spotify Playlist

Multi-talented musician, producer, label owner, actor and furniture upholster Jack White celebrates his 41st birthday today. The Detroit native rose to fame with Meg White as the garage rock duo The White Stripes and he’s since gone on to perform in groups such as The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, in addition to a successful solo career. For the man born John Anthony Gillis’ birthday today, this week’s celebratory installment of Saturday Stream features a Spotify Playlist of 24 cover songs White’s recorded with the various projects he’s been involved in.

Nearly all of The White Stripes albums feature at least one cover song, and the playlist includes Robert Johnson’s “Stop Breaking Down,” Son House’s “Canon,” Bob Dylan’s “One More Cup Of Coffee” and the traditional “St. James Infirmary Blues” from their self-titled 1999 debut LP. Son House was also covered on 2000’s De Stijl via a version of “Death Letter” and Blind Willie McTell’s “Your Southern Can Is Mine” was also recorded for their sophomore record.

In 2003 the duo issued Elephant with a cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” and their final album, 2007’s Icky Thump included a take on Corky Robbins’ “Conquest.” A Spanish version titled “Conquista” was also issued as a B-side to the single. The White Stripes recorded several other covers as B-sides, including playlist selections “Look Me Over Closely” by Marlene Dietrich, “Lord, Send Me an Angel” by Blind Willie McTell, “Rated X” by Loretta Lynn, “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” by Tubeway Army and “Ashtray Heart,” “China Pig” and “Party Of Special Things To Do” by Captain Beefheart.

White covered Rudy Toombs’ “I’m Shakin’” for his 2012 debut solo album and added his arrangement of U2’s “Love Is Blindness” as a bonus track. Covers made for B-sides to singles on 2014’s follow-up Lazaretto include “Power of My Love” by Elvis Presley, “Blue Light, Red Light (Someone’s There)” by Harry Connick Jr. and “Parallel” by White’s The Dead Weather band mate Dean Fertita. With The Dead Weather White covered Dylan’s “New Pony” and Terry Reid’s “Rich Kid Blues.” Finally, the playlist features White’s recent collaboration with The Muppets on “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” by Stevie Wonder.