Hand Springs

Infobox Single |
Name = Hands Springs/Cedar Point '76
Artist = The White Stripes and The Dirtbombs


Released = 1999
Recorded = September 9, 1999
Length = 5:10
Label = Extra-Ball
Producer = Jack White
Chronology = The White Stripes
Last single = "The Big Three Killed My Baby" (1998)
This single = "Hand Springs" (2000)
Next single = "Hello Operator" (2000)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = The Dirtbombs singles
Type = singles
Last single = "Stuck Under My Shoe" (1998)
This single = "Cedar Point '76" (1999)
Next single = "Headlights On" (2000)

"Hand Springs/Cedar Point '76" is a split 7" single released in 1999 by Detroit garage punk bands The White Stripes and The Dirtbombs. The White Stripes song "Hand Springs" is on the A-side and "Cedar Point '76" by The Dirtbombs is on the B-side. 2,000 copies came free with the pinball fanzine "Multiball". Currently, the record is extremely rare, and a highly-prized collector's item.

On "Hand Springs", between interludes of raucous, power chord-dominated riffage and crash cymbal bashing, Jack White calmly recounts the details of one particularly fateful day over a palm-muted open low E string and the rhythmic ticking of eighth notes on Meg White's hi-hat. In the song, Jack takes his girlfriend to a bowling alley and treats her to a Coke to atone for an earlier argument, but soon notices her flirting with a boy playing pinball. Out of fear of losing her, he drops a bowling ball through the pinball machine ("Are you quick enough to hit "this" ball, Mr. Clean?"), but despite his subsequent apology, he finds his girlfriend leaving with the other boy nevertheless. Noting that he had just thrown everything away, Jack muses "isn't it all just a big game?"

"Cedar Point '76" is a soul rock song dominated by Mick Collins' fuzzed-out guitar playing and soulful vocals. It too mentions a pinball game. This was one of numerous singles they have released that are featured on their 2-disc compilation "If You Don't Already, Have a Look".

"Hand Springs" was later featured on the 2000 compilation "Hot Pinball Rock, Vol. 1".

Also, a large number of copies of the "White Blood Cells" album were packaged with a bonus DVD that included audio tracks of "Hand Springs" (as well as "Lafayette Blues").

Track listing

# The White Stripes - "Hand Springs" - 2:57
# The Dirtbombs - "Cedar Point '76" - 2:13

References

* [http://www.whitestripes.net/releases-singles.php White Stripes.net] Retrieved January 1, 2006.
* [http://www.whitestripes.com The White Stripes Official Site]