Stephen Colbert, Jack White cut a record together

New York: Stephen Colbert wants to climb the charts.

Colbert debuted his new Jack White-produced single, ‘Charlene II (I`m Over You)’ on ‘The Colbert Report’ Thursday night. Colbert has featured White on ‘The Colbert Report’ all week during his ‘rock odyssey’ series, ‘Dr. Pepper Presents StePhest ColbChella `011 — Rock You Like a Thirst-Icane.’ The former White Stripe and his Nashville-based record label, Third Man Records, produced the track. The Black Belles, a goth girl rock band on Third Man, performed backup. The reference of the song is one only die-hard members of the Colbert Nation likely will grasp. It`s a follow-up to his mock `80s new wave song, ‘Charlene (I`m Right Behind You).’ Since 2006, Colbert has occasionally alluded to the song and suggested that before his conservative pundit character became a TV show host, he was the lead singer in a group called Stephen and the Colberts. But the sequel, ‘Charlene II (I`m Over You),’ is entering the real world. The song is to be available from iTunes and Third Man Records, including on vinyl copies. There`s even a limited edition red-white-and-blue edition, with the vinyl dyed in the colors of the flag. Colbert and White will be selling copies Friday in Manhattan from the Third Man Records` ‘rolling record store’ — a truck that travels the country selling the label`s music. This is White`s second collaboration with a late-night talk show host. Last year he released a live rockabilly album with Conan O`Brien. Colbert has taken every chance to remind White that he`s a Grammy winner. Colbert`s ‘A Colbert Christmas’ won the Grammy for best comedy album in 2010. But this is far from the comedian`s first foray into musical performance. Among his greatest hits are a performance of ‘Empire State of Mind’ with Alicia Keys, a ‘shred-off’ with the Decemberists and a rendition of Rebecca Black`s ‘Friday.’ Bureau Report