The White Stripes Celebrate ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ 20th Anniversary With New Vault Release

Third Man Records’ 63rd Vault offering celebrates the 20th anniversary of The White Stripes’ 2005 album, Get Behind Me Satan with Get Behind Me Satan XX available to Third Man Vault subscribers through January 31. Third Man also shared a performance video of album standout “Blue Orchid” live from Mexico City in 2005.

The 2LP, disc one on opaque red vinyl and disc two on white vinyl, 7” vinyl and 1 Blu-ray set contains songwriting demos, alternate studio takes and live versions of Get Behind Me Satan cuts. The Blu-ray contains footage of the band’s 2005 Central and South American Tour shot by David James Swanson and gives visual context to the era along with an archival booklet.

A press release detailed the reception of Get Behind Me Satan:

Get Behind Me Satan is without question the most misunderstood entry in the White Stripes discography. Often mistaken as a break-up album, a treatise on fame, or a “piano” album, the record is most accurately described in Jack White’s own words as focused on the truth. The fact that it was in no way Elephant, Part 2 only further confused, infuriated, and/or beguiled many.

There are several notable inclusions across Get Behind Me Satan XX. The demos side of disc one contains an early version of Jack White working out “Over And Over And Over” on fuzz bass. Jack later included the song on his 2018 solo LP, Boarding House Reach. He also sketches Get Behind Me Satan’s “I’m Slowly Turning Into You” on pump organ and “My Doorbell” on both piano and guitar.

Side B of disc one sees a more fleshed-out, albeit instrumental, take on “Over And Over And Over” and an energetic version of “The Denial Twist.” Get Behind Me Satan closer “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)” is a stripped-down gospel-tinged piano number on the 2005 record. The outtake rendition has mandolin, Meg White on drums and, as press materials noted, “sounds more like a celebration, the optimism shining through more clearly, more pronounced, forcing the listener to completely rethink the tenor and impact and intent of the song.”

The 7” includes a pair of rehearsal recordings. Side A sees Jack leading Meg through “Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)” while Side B boasts “one of the great white whales in Stripes history.” Jack wrote “Spitting Tacks” while still working as an upholsterer in Detroit.

Disc two contains never-before-released live Get Behind Me Satan songs from The Stripes’ worldwide touring in 2005 including “The Nurse” in Guatemala City, “My Doorbell” in Glasgow and “Blue Orchid” in Buenos Aires.

While not on Get Behind Me Satan XX, Third Man shared an explosive rendition of “Blue Orchid” from Mexico City on the same tour as the 20th anniversary Buenos Aires version. Watch The White Stripes perform “Blue Orchid” in Mexico City below:

Head to Third Man Records to check out the complete Get Behind Me Satan XX tracklist and subscribe to the Vault subscription service.