Our Top 20 Picks From Record Store Day’s Black Friday
Get out there and buy some records.
Thanksgiving, once solely known for feasting upon roast beasts, pie, and then extreme couching, is now but a holding pattern for the day that follows…Black Friday. The term ‘Black Friday’ originated way back in the nineteenth century as a descriptive term for the financial crisis of 1869. The first use of Black Friday to describe it’s modern definition: a post-Thanksgiving shopping spree, appeared in the December 1, 1961 issue of The Shortsville-Manchester Enterprise. And now, in 2015, its name goes hand in hand with getting trampled in a local Walmart while sprinting for a reasonably priced flat screen TV. But not on my watch…
Record Store Day, held each year on the third Saturday of April and heralded as the one day out of the year where it’s seen as a civic duty to leave your house and fork over your money in exchange for albums, is now doing a Black Friday sale of its own at participating stores. Here are our picks from their extensive list of RSD: BF exclusives — we guarantee that there’s something here for everyone. Now, go forth. Buy records.
1) David Bowie — Earthling
180 Gram Audiophile Translucent Green vinyl in tri-fold cover. Hot damn. Not quite sure what “audiophile translucent green” means, but I want it.
Track List:
“Little Wonder”/”Looking For Satellites”/”Battle For Britain (The Letter)”/”Seven Years In Tibet”/”Dead Man Walking”/”Telling Lies”/”The Last Thing You Should Do”/”I’m Afraid Of Americans”/”Law (Earthlings On Fire)”
2) Johnny Cash — Man in Black Live in Denmark 1971
This is a double LP on white and red vinyl of a live recording of his now infamous music-variety TV show tour session in Denmark, and it’s being made available on vinyl for the first time ever. This will go fast, so set your alarms.
Track List:
“A Boy Named Sue”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, “I Walk The Line”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Matchbox, “Me And Bobby Mcgee, “Guess Things Happen That Way”, “Bed Of Roses”, “Flowers On The Wall”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Darlin’ Companion”, “If I Were A Carpenter”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, “Man In Black”, “Introduction To The Carter Family”, “A Song To Mama”, “No Need To Worry”, “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”
3) Eazy-E — Merry Muthaphuckkin’ Xmas
This 45-inch single on red vinyl is sure to be a new holiday classic in your home. Gather round the fire, children.
Track List:
“Merry Muthaphuckkin’ Xmas”/”Niggaz My Height Don’t Fight”
4) Garbage — Garbage 20th Anniversary
This is a double LP remaster of Garbage’s first album to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary. Look how pretty it is.
Track List:
“Supervixen”/”Queer”/”Only Happy When It Rains”/”As Heaven is Wide”/”Not My Idea”/”A Stroke of Luck”/”Vow”/”Stupid Girl”/”Dog New Tricks”/”My Lover’s Box”/”Fix Me Now”/”Milk”
5) Howlin’ Wolf — The London Howlin’ Wolf London Sessions
We now know that Howlin’ Wolf had a big musical influence on Glenn Danzig. The super deluxe version of this album, with gatefold and a special foil stamp, would make for a great introduction, or addition to your already existing collection.
Track List:
“I Ain’t Superstituous”/”Poor Boy”/”The Red Rooster”/”Worried About My Baby”/”Do The Do”/”Built For Comfort”/”Sittin’ On Top Of The World”/”Highway 49″/”What A Woman!”/”Who’s Been Talking?”/”Rockin’ Daddy”/”Wang-Dang-Doodle”
6) Janis Joplin w/ Big Brother & The Holding Company — Live at Winterland 68
This live recording is being released on vinyl for the first time as a double LP with gatefold and a 20-page booklet inside. Classic.
Track List:
“Down on Me” (Janis Joplin)/”Flower in the Sun” (Sam Andrew)/”I Need a Man to Love” (Janis Joplin, Sam Andrew)/”Bye Bye Baby” (Powell St. John)/”Easy Rider” (James Gurley)/”Combination of the Two “(Sam Andrew)/”Farewell Song” (Sam Andrew)/”Piece of My Heart” (Jerry Ragovoy, Bert Berns)/”Catch Me Daddy” (Janis Joplin, Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, David Getz, James Gurley)/”Magic of Love “(Mark Spoelstra)/”Summertime” (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward)/”Light Is Faster Than Sound” (Peter Albin)/”Ball and Chain” (Big Mama Thornton)/”Down on Me” (second version) (Janis Joplin)
7) The Jesus & Mary Chain — Barbed Wire Kisses
Blood red vinyl. Spooky and perfect.
Tracklist: None given, and I don’t want to presume. I guess you’ll find out when you buy it!
8) John Malkovich — Like a Puppet Show
This double LP features Malkovich reading a translation of “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave” backed by abstract musical soundscapes from folks like Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Ric Ocasek, and Dweezil Zappa. Terrifying, and very cool.
Track List:
SIDE A 1. “Cryocarbon 14C” Mixed by Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark; 2. “Cryolife 7:14 A.M.” Mixed by Yoko Ono & Sean Lennon; 3. “Cryoblue Cheese O” Mixed by Ric Ocasek – SIDE B 1. “CryoZolon X” Mized by Dweezil Zappa; 2. “Darqgenia X” Mixed by Andy Summers; 3. “Cryoparoxysm A” Mixed by Young the Giant SIDE C 1. “Platogenia X And The Caves” Mixed by The Dandy Warhols; 2. “Optimogenia Z” Mixed by Harry Waters; 3. . “[Unnamed]” Mixed by Dave Stewart SIDE D 1. “Cryoplacebo 47/XXY” Mixed by Palcebo; 2. “Photogenia C (Ruler Of Light)” Mixed by Chris Stein; 3. “Cryopian D” Mixed by Dolores O’Riordan
9) B.B. King — The Thrill is Gone EP
This rarity includes tracks that have either never before been released on vinyl, or are otherwise out of print.
Track List:
A1 “The Thrill Is Gone” A2 “You’re Mean” B1 “The Thrill Is Gone (Live at the BBC, from Hammersmith Odeon, 1978)” B2 “Goin’ Down Slow (Live in Chicago, 1966)”
10) Jerry Lee Lewis — Jerry Jee Lewis
Well goodness, gracious, this album was originally released in 1958 on Sun Records and has been out of print for 25 years. Now it’s back, on beautiful 180 gram color vinyl, and I literally want it right this second.
Track List:
A1 “Don’t Be Cruel” A2 “Goodnight Irene” A3 Put Me Down A4 “It All Depends” A5 Ubangi “Stomp” A6 “Crazy Arms” B1 “Jambalaya” B2 “Fools Like Me” B3 “High School Confidential” B4 “When The Saints Go Marching In” B5 “Matchbox” B6 “It’ll Be Me”
11) Megadeath — The Threat is Real
For die-hard fans, this exclusive pre-release of two tracks off of their upcoming Dystopia album on a white vinyl is a must-grab.
Track List:
“The Threat is Real”/”Foreign Policy”
12) Nine Inch Nails — HALO I-IV
This limited edition box set includes the original 12” singles for “Down In It,” “Head Like A Hole” and “Sin” on 120-gram black vinyl and the 1989 version of “Pretty Hate Machine” on 180-gram black vinyl. Holy shit.
Track List:
Halo One: Down In It (original release date 9/15/89): A1 “Down In It (Skin)” A2 “Down In It (Shred)” B1 “Down in In (Singe)” / Halo Two: Pretty Hate Machine (original release date 10/20/89): A1 “Head Like A Hole” A2 “Terrible Lie” A3 “Down In It” A4 “Sanctified” A5 “Something I Can Never Have” B1 “Kinda I Want To” B2 “Sin” B3 “That’s What I Get” B4 “The Only Time” B5 “Ringfinger” Halo Three: Head Like A Hole (original release date 3/22/90): A1 “Head Like A Hole (Slate)” A2 “Terrible Lie (Sympathetic Mix)” A3 “Head Like A Hole (Clay)” B1 “Head Like A Hole (Copper)” B2 “You Know Who You Are” B3 “Head Like a Hole (Soil)” B4 “Terrible Lie (Empathetic Mix)” Halo Four: Sin (original release date 10/10/90): A1 “Sin” A2 “Sin” B1 “Get” B2 “Sin”
13) Outkast — Stankonia
Sorry Ms. Jackson, but you’re gonna have to fight someone for this double LP on Orange/Yellow/Purple/Black splatter vinyl. There are only 3,000 numbered copies available. Period.
Tracklist: Didn’t give one, but I’m assuming it’s the same as the original release.
14) Carl Perkins — Dance Album of Carl Perkins
This has been out of print for actual decades and has been remastered on colored vinyl just for RSD: BF. Grab your grandma and cut a rug.
Track List: A1 “Blue Suede Shoes” A2 “Movie Magg” A3 “Sure To Fall “A4 “Gone Gone Gone” A5 “Honey Don’t “A6 “Only You” A7 “All Mama’s Children” B1 “Tennessee” B2 “Wrong Yo Yo” B3 “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby” B4 “Matchbox” B5 “Your True Love” B6 “Boppin’ The Blues”
15) Elvis Presley — If I Can Dream
Aside from the fact that this exclusive features a previously unreleased B-side, you should buy it because of how badass the cover photo is.
Track List:
Side A: “If I Can Dream” Side B: “Anything That’s Part of You”
16) Run DMC —The Singles Collection
All the best hits from Run DMC in one slick-looking ensemble.
Track List:
1A: “It’s Like That” 1B: “Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1)”
2A: “Here We Go (Live At The Funhouse)” 2B: “Here We Go (Live At The Funhouse Bleeped Version)”
3A: “Walk This Way (7″ Version)” 3B: “King Of Rock (7″ Version)”
4A: “My Adidas” 4B: “Peter Piper”
5A: “Run’s House” 5B: “Beats to the Rhyme”
17) Sunn O))) — Kannon
This band is loud in such a way that you might possibly poop your pants while listening to them. Seriously. Like they quake your innards. You can buy their latest album a week before it’s officially out, but only on RSD:BF
Tracklist: Not given. But assured to be loud and dark.
18) Ween —The Pod
This classic from Ween originally came out in 1991 and is being re-issued on clear vinyl.
Tracklist: Same as original
19) Various Artists — Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Original Soundtrack
Limited edition blood red vinyl, no less? Oh hell yes!
Track List:
Quint – “(The Ballad Of) Sharknado,” Daniel Davies and Sebastian Robertson – “Wave Of Mutilation,” CamperVan Beethoven – “Long Way to Go (Sharknado),” Eddie Cole – “Sharkshake,” Dave Days – “Shark Fight,” East Bay Ray – “Shark Beach,” MartinLuther Lennon – “Armageddon Surfer Girl,” Camper VanBeethoven – “Infinite Ocean,” JustinLassen – “Jaws Theme (Sharkando Mix),” Barnaby Austin – “Shark Attack,” East Bay Ray – “Shark Truck,” Geno Lenardo and Nina Bergman – “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver,” Quint – “Crash”
20) Jimi Hendrix — Burning Desire
This has never before been issued on vinyl, or even sold in stores on CD. About as rare as it gets. Limited to a run of 5,000 copies.
Track List:
DISC 1 – LP – Side A “Izabella”, “Cherokee Mist/Astro Man”, “Cherokee Mist”, “Astro Man”, “Villanova Junction Blues
DISC 1 – LP – Side B “Ezy Ryder/MLK Jam (Captain Coconut)”, “Ezy Ryder”, “MLK Jam (aka Captain Coconut)”
DISC 2 – LP – Side A “Burning Desire”, “Stepping Stone/Villanova Junction Blues”, “Stepping Stone”, “Villanova Junction Blues”
DISC 2 – LP – Side B Record Plant 2x “Slow Time Blues 2. “Ezy Ryder/MLK (aka Captain Coconut)” 3. “Cherokee Mist/Astro Man” 4. “Record Plant 2X” 5. “Villanova Junction Blues” 6. “Burning Desire” 7. “Stepping Stone/Villanova Junction Blues” 8. “Slow Time Blues”
Photos by Getty Images
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