The Strokes
ListenThe Modern Age · 2001
The Strokes — “The Modern Age,” original Rough Trade version, 2001.
Listen on YouTube ↗
2001 · Rough Trade
The Modern Age / Last Nite
The Strokes’ first release began as an inexpensive demo session. Producer Gordon Raphael offered the unsigned band three songs in three days; the recordings became The Modern Age, and the basement sound they made together became something the band wanted to keep. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0059 |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Strokes |
| Release | 2001 · United Kingdom |
| Label | Rough Trade · RTRADES010 |
| Format | 7-inch vinyl single · 45 rpm |
| Issue | U.K. limited edition |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | NM |
Release history and significance
Raphael met the group after a Luna Lounge show in New York. Guitarists Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi visited his nearby studio, and the band agreed to a quick recording session. With only eight inputs, Raphael recorded the musicians together, aiming for the sound of a band playing in one room. [1]
The apparently casual session revealed an exacting group. Julian Casablancas listened closely to the balances and kept asking for small changes; Raphael recalled learning to trust the singer’s judgement. Rough Trade released the demos, and NME’s enthusiasm brought the producer an attention he had not experienced before. [1]
This U.K. seven-inch presents “The Modern Age” and “Last Nite.” It belongs to the debut EP campaign but contains two tracks, rather than the three found on the CD edition. [2]
Market context
Discogs records sales for this U.K. seven-inch reference edition from US$50 to US$125, with a median of US$70.95, as listed on 13 September 2026. The latest recorded sale was 28 August 2026. [2]
Physical Description
A Rough Trade RTRADES010 seven-inch with “The Modern Age” on side A and “Last Nite” on side B. [2]
Condition
The disc is graded Near Mint. It is housed in a generic sleeve with a barcode, graded VG+.
Provenance
Acquired on 27 November 2025 through Discogs from poochfood.
Sources
- Richard Buskin interviews Gordon Raphael, Sound on Sound, April 2002. First meeting, demo session and the band’s approach to recording.
- Discogs, The Strokes, release 685898. Rough Trade RTRADES010 U.K. seven-inch, track pairing and sales history.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.