View source for Let's Shake Hands

{{Refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{short description|1998 single by The White Stripes}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Let's Shake Hands
| cover         = Let's Shake Hands.jpg
| alt           = 
| type          = single
| artist        = [[The White Stripes]]
| album         = 
| released      = March 1998
| recorded      = 1997
| studio        = 
| venue         = 
| genre         = [[Garage punk]]
| length        = 2:01
| label         = [[Italy Records]]
| composer      = [[Jack White]], [[Meg White]]
| lyricist      = Jack White
| producer      = Jack White
| prev_title    = 
| prev_year     = 
| next_title    = [[Lafayette Blues]]
| next_year     = 1998
| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vGMI7Tdd014|"Let's Shake Hands"}}}}
}}

"'''Let's Shake Hands'''" is the debut [[single (music)|single]] of American [[garage rock]] band [[the White Stripes]]. It was released in March 1998, and marks their first recording. A live recording of the song is featured on ''[[Under Blackpool Lights]]'' as well as ''[[Under Great White Northern Lights]]''.

"Let's Shake Hands" was the first song the band recorded in their living room for [[Dave Buick]], who offered to finance the release of their first single.<ref name=Wilkinson>Wilkinson, Alec (March 13, 2017), [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/jack-whites-infinite-imagination "JACK WHITE’S INFINITE IMAGINATION"]. ''[[The New Yorker]]''. Retrieved March 6, 2017.</ref>  The style surprised Buick based on the band's live performances, but—according to an interview with ''[[The New Yorker]]''—Jack said it was "a declaration that the White Stripes weren’t going to observe [[punk rock|punk]] proprieties."<ref name=Wilkinson/> The song showcases the early [[Garage punk (fusion genre)|garage punk]] sound of the band in its infancy.{{according to whom|date=March 2017}} The single is backed with a cover of "Look Me Over Closely," a song written for [[Marlene Dietrich]] by folk musician [[Terry Gilkyson]].

A second edition of 1,000 copies was pressed on black vinyl in 2002. The cover for this repressing was a better quality version of the original photo. There was a "secret" third pressing in 2008 with a stenciled version of the original cover art by Dion Fischer. It was pressed on black vinyl and 1,000 hand-numbered copies were produced. Highly coveted among diehard fans, this 7" remains one of the rarest and priciest items in The White Stripes' entire discography.

== Track listing ==
{{tracklist
| title1  = Let's Shake Hands
| length1 = 2:01
| title2  = Look Me Over Closely
| length2 = 2:09
| note2   = [[Marlene Dietrich]] cover
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.whitestripes.net/releases-singles.php White Stripes.net]. Retrieved January 1, 2006.
*[http://www.whitestripes.net/faq.php#letsshakehands White Stripes.net FAQ]. Retrieved January 1, 2006.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s7u33lqhDU Live recording of "Let's Shake Hands," Silverlake, California, 2001]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHHkXa22fCY Live recording of "Look Me Over Closely," Berlin, Germany, 2005]

{{The White Stripes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1997 songs]]
[[Category:1998 debut singles]]
[[Category:The White Stripes songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jack White]]
[[Category:Wikipedia requested audio of songs]]