Record Store Day Black Friday, held on November 24, 2023, offers music enthusiasts an opportunity to explore exclusive vinyl releases at local record shops. This event serves as a counterpart to the main Record Store Day celebration in April, drawing collectors and casual listeners alike to support independent retailers. While Black Friday has seen a decline in traditional shopping due to the rise of online sales, this annual event remains a compelling reason to venture out.
This year’s Black Friday event features approximately 170 exclusive releases from a diverse array of artists. Many of these offerings consist of limited runs and special-colored pressings, ensuring that collectors have a wide selection to choose from. The following highlights showcase some of the most anticipated items available this season.
Featured Vinyl Releases
One of the standout releases is Prince & The Revolution: “Around the World in a Day: The Singles.” To mark the 40th anniversary of Prince’s influential album, this collection includes five 7-inch singles, each featuring remastered audio by original mastering engineer Bernie Grundman. Limited to 1,985 copies, it features popular tracks such as “Raspberry Beret” and “Pop Life,” along with an exclusive new single, “4 The Tears In Your Eyes.”
The Curtis Mayfield release, “Curtis [Rhino Reserve],” revives the artist’s iconic self-titled debut album from 1970. This newly repackaged version has been cut from the original tapes and pressed on 180-gram premium-quality vinyl, limited to 5,000 copies. It includes classics like “Move on Up” and “The Makings of You,” promising an enriching listening experience.
Another significant entry is Van Halen: “Live at Wembley 1995,” which captures a memorable performance recorded on June 24, 1995. Featuring a blend of the band’s greatest hits, this release is pressed on translucent orange vinyl and limited to 6,000 copies. Fans can enjoy tracks like “Jump” and “Right Now” alongside deeper cuts.
The legendary band The Doors presents “Live in Copenhagen,” a previously unreleased concert recorded in 1968. This two-LP set, pressed on crystal clear vinyl, includes iconic performances such as “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” and “Light My Fire.”
For those who enjoy a different sound, the compilation “Punk Goes Acoustic” features popular punk anthems reimagined in an unplugged format. This collection marks the first time it has been available on vinyl, with a limited release of 1,700 copies.
Additional Noteworthy Releases
Fans of film scores will appreciate Alan Silvestri: “The Back to the Future Trilogy,” which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the beloved film series. This limited edition set, pressed on “Doc Brown” vinyl, encompasses scores from all three films and is restricted to 1,900 copies.
The box set “The Complete Elektra Albums” by Love commemorates the band’s 60-year legacy with Elektra Records. It includes their first four albums, featuring their influential work from the 1960s.
The Stranglers are also releasing a remastered edition of their classic debut album, “Rattus Norvegicus,” originally launched in 1977. This version, pressed on translucent green vinyl, is limited to 2,400 copies.
Another interesting compilation is “Flowers in the Afternoon: Late 1960s Sunshine,” which features a curated selection of sunshine pop tracks from the late 1960s. This edition is pressed on “sunshine” orange translucent vinyl and limited to 3,300 copies.
Lastly, the collection “What’s This World Coming To: Garage Rock from the Sun Records Vault” explores the merging of foundational Memphis tracks with late 1960s psychedelic sounds. This limited release of 1,500 copies is pressed on zoetrope vinyl, featuring dynamic graphics.
As music lovers prepare for this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday, the excitement surrounding exclusive vinyl offerings is palpable. This event not only supports local record shops but also celebrates the enduring appeal of vinyl music. For further insights, contact music columnist Michael Christopher via email at [email protected] or visit his website at thechroniclesofmc.com.
