While the rest of America mobs the big-box retailers in a frenzied bloodlust to lock down that mega-discount deal on Playstations, dish towels and underpants, music lovers far and wide will be enjoying the Black Friday version of Record Store Day.
The Record Store Day initiative, aimed at supporting independent record stores, was founded in 2007 and has generated increased sales and attention toward participating retailers in the years since its inception. It’s getting harder and harder these days to find the local record stores we grew up with- the ones where show posters line the walls, beautifully alien sounds blare from the speakers and spiked & tatted employees with encyclopedic knowledge of the most abstract musical history imaginable mock your every anti-cool move.
Now, Black Friday brings a bit of a halftime offering in the year for Record Store Day enthusiasts, mirroring the April deals of the original event with a particularly strong focus on the massive resurgence of vinyl. A barrage of releases are underway from independent music retailers, with special edition and first-time vinyl and CD offerings hitting shelves from an impressive lineup of musicians including The Decemberists, Jenny Lewis, Mastodon, Metallica, Neil Young, Faith No More, Death Grips, St. Vincent and many more.
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While you can check out the entire massive list right here, we’ve compiled some highly recommended selections below to streamline your shopping plans.
There’s a little something for everyone, and as long as you’re awake early enough on Nov. 28, chances are you’ll be able to snag at least a few items on your musical wish list. As for which stores are taking part and which aren’t, you can check out the full list of participating shops here.
RSD Exclusive Releases
The Afghan Whigs — ‘Gentlemen at 21′ (12-inch vinyl)
Against Me! — ‘The Daytrotter Sessions’ (7-inch vinyl)
Beatles — ‘Long Tall Sally’ (7-inch vinyl)
David Bowie — ‘Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)’ (10-inch vinyl)
Chvrches — ‘Under the Tide’ (12-inch colored vinyl)
Miles Davis — ‘Blue Xmas’ (7-inch vinyl)
Miles Davis — ‘Miles Davis: The Prestige 10 Inch LPs Collection Vol. 1′ (10-inch vinyl box set)
Miles Davis — ‘Engima’ (10-inch vinyl)
Dead Milkmen — ‘Big Lizard In My Backyard’ (12-inch colored vinyl)
Decemberists — ‘Make Me Better’ b/w ‘Fits and Starts’ (7-inch vinyl)
The Doors / Peter LaFarge — ‘Honor the Treaties’ (12-inch vinyl)
Fantomas — ‘Wunderkammer’ (Vinyl box set)
Fishbone — ‘Truth and Soul’ (12-inch colored vinyl)
The Flaming Lips — ‘Imagene Peise — Atlas Eets Christmas’ (12-inch vinyl)
Genesis — ‘From Genesis to Revelation’ (12-inch vinyl)
Husker Du — ‘Warehouse: Songs and Stories’ (12-inch vinyl)
Chrissie Hynde — ‘Stockholm Live at the 229 Club, London, England’ (10-inch colored vinyl)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts — ‘Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ (Book)
Jenny Lewis — ‘Pax-Am Sessions’ (7-inch vinyl)
J. Mascis — ‘Fade Into You/Outside’ (7-inch vinyl)
Mastodon — ‘The Motherload’ (12-inch picture disc)
Metallica – ‘Lords of Summer’ (12-inch vinyl)
Mother Love Bone — ‘Hold Your Head Up’ (7-inch vinyl)
Outkast — ‘Player’s Ball’ (10-inch vinyl)
Joey Ramone — ‘Christmas Spirit … In My House’ (10-inch vinyl)
The Ramones — ‘Morrissey Curates the Ramones’ (12-inch vinyl)
Sneakers — ‘Sneakers’ (10-inch vinyl)
St. Vincent — ‘Pieta’ (10-inch vinyl)
They Might Be Giants — ‘Flood’ (12-inch colored vinyl)
Various Artists — ‘For the People Part 1′ (7-inch vinyl box set)
Various Artists — ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (12-inch colored vinyl)
Various Artists — ‘The Big Lebowski’ (12-inch vinyl)
The Velvet Underground — ‘Last Christmas’ (12-inch vinyl)
Neil Young — ‘Official Release Series Discs 5-8′ (Vinyl box set)
Neil Young — ‘Zuma’ / ‘On the Beach’ / ‘Time Fades Away’ (T-shirt)
RSD Limited Run / Regional Focus Releases
Death Grips — ‘Government Plates’ (12-inch vinyl)
Los Straitjackets — ‘Los Straitjackets Play Some of the Great Instrumental Hits’ (10-inch vinyl)
Ra Ra Riot — ‘Two Hearts Beat as One’ (7-inch vinyl)
Umphrey’s McGee — ‘Seven Inches’ (7-inch vinyl)
‘RSD First’ Release
Dave Matthew Band — ‘Recently’ (10-inch vinyl)
Echosmith — ‘Cool Kids’ (12-inch picture disc)
Faith No More — ‘Motherfucker’ (7-inch vinyl)
Jimi Hendrix — ‘Hear My Music’ (12-inch vinyl)
The Kinks — ‘Muswell Hillbillies’ (2 x 12-inch vinyl)
Elvis Presley — ‘Showroom Internationale’ (12-inch vinyl)
Various Artists — ‘American Hustle’ (2 x 12-inch colored vinyl)
