In a move that takes Internet mash-up/remix success a step further, Jack White’s Third Man Records announced the 7-inch vinyl release of the incredible Carl Sagan remix, A Glorious Dawn.
When we featured this video in a post last month, we didn’t imagine at the time that it would end up getting a record release. While a handful of artists have been able to parlay YouTube success into record deals, this kind of direct success is usually the exception for an underground mash-up/YouTube sensation.
The 7-inch will be released on Nov. 9th, which, according to Third Man’s website, happens to be the 75th anniversary of Carl Sagan’s birth. The details of the release get even better. From Third Man Records‘ website:
Also happening that day is a reception in United States’ Congress with speeches by senators, NASA officials and assorted scientists, all hosted by the Planetary Society, which was co-founded by Sagan.
Third Man Records, in conjunction with United Record Pressing, fabricated a special “Cosmos Colored Vinyl” of which 150 copies will be available…50 randomly inserted into mail orders for “A Glorious Dawn” and the remainder to be made available at the Third Man Records Nashville store front at noon on November 9th.
The one-sided single features a very special etching on the flipside. Reproduced from the original artwork, the etching copies the etching included with the Voyager Golden Record, set off into space in 1977 as the most elaborate message-in-a-bottle idea ever imagined. With its inclusion of Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was The Night” it goes without saying that the Voyager Golden Record is one of Third Man’s favorite releases of all-time.
The actual Voyager Golden Record; a copy of which will be etched on the b-side of "A Glorious Dawn." Courtesy of NASA.
It still remains to be seen how this record will sell, especially when the video and digital download remain free on YouTube and creator John Boswell’s site. Third Man Records takes a smart approach to this release in offering the consumer a truly unique and tangible experience that can’t be replicated by simply downloading the track. By doing so, Third Man effectively changed what could have simply been an overpriced version of the free track (that very few people would have interest in purchasing) into a product that stands on its own or even enhances the free version.
Kudos to creator John Boswell and Third Man Records for making this happen. Hopefully, we’ll continue to see artists transition their online success into more than just exploded Internet chatter. Hopefully record labels will follow Third Man’s lead and craft more meaningful products for their fans. And hopefully, in the words of Carl Sagan, a still more glorious dawn awaits, not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise.
