Record Store Day’s Black Friday event is set to return on November 27, offering collectors another opportunity to find limited vinyl editions, archival recordings, special pressings and previously unavailable material. This year’s selection covers a wide range of musical styles, from classic rock and jazz to hip-hop, pop and alternative music.
For collectors interested in landmark recordings, Joni Mitchell’s “Live at Carnegie Hall – 1972” is one of the standout selections. The archival concert captures Mitchell during an important period of her career and gives fans another chance to experience a significant live performance in physical form.
Another major archival release comes from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. “Live at Tower Theatre Philly 1975” is presented as a four-LP collection, offering listeners a snapshot of Springsteen and the E Street Band during the early years of their rise.
Classic-rock fans have several other releases to consider. The Rolling Stones’ “Aftermath (US)” receives a special clear-vinyl edition, while George Harrison’s “Thirty-Three & 1/3” and his self-titled album are also included among the special releases. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s “Night Moves” is another notable entry, arriving as part of its 50th-anniversary celebration.
The Black Friday lineup also reaches into modern pop. Florence + The Machine’s “Everybody Scream (Chamber Version)” offers four alternate chamber arrangements on a limited 10-inch release. Rather than simply reproducing the standard album, the edition gives fans a different interpretation of the songs.
Noah Kahan’s “The Last of the Bugs” is another title likely to attract contemporary music collectors. The release brings four tracks from the deluxe material to vinyl for the first time and is being offered as a limited 180-gram pressing.
Pop fans can also look for Shawn Mendes’ “MTV Unplugged,” which is being released as a two-LP set. The project captures Mendes in the stripped-back format associated with the long-running MTV series and adds another live title to the Black Friday collection.
Hip-hop is represented by several significant releases. Playboi Carti’s “MUSIC – SORRY 4 DA WAIT” is receiving its first vinyl edition, while 2Pac’s “Pac’s Life” is being marked with a special 20th-anniversary release. Both titles could be particularly appealing to collectors searching for limited editions from influential rap artists.
One of the more unconventional releases comes from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. “Expand Your Mind: Songs In 3D” combines live material with a visual collector concept involving a three-dimensional zoetrope and 3D glasses, making the package as much a collectible item as a listening experience.
Fans of alternative music also have reason to pay attention to Ween’s “Shinola, Vol. 2.” The collection brings together rarities, outtakes and previously unreleased recordings from across the band’s career.
Jazz collectors have not been left out of the lineup. Archival and live recordings associated with artists including Stan Getz, Charlie Parker and Bill Evans add historically important material to the selection and broaden the event beyond mainstream rock and pop.
Additional releases worth watching include Funkadelic’s “Live at Meadowbrook 1971,” Frank Black’s “Teenager of the Year – Live,” Stevie Nicks’ “Bella Donna,” Tom Verlaine’s “Live NYC 96-06” and The Doors’ “In The Beginning: 1966 Sessions.”
The appeal of Record Store Day Black Friday extends beyond the records themselves. The event is intended to encourage shoppers to support independent record stores, where the limited releases are made available. Participating UK and Irish stores are scheduled to begin selling the exclusive titles from 8 a.m. on November 27.
Because many of the releases are limited, collectors may need to plan ahead if they have particular titles in mind. Availability can vary from one store to another, meaning there is no guarantee that every release will be stocked everywhere.
With major artists, historic performances, first-time vinyl editions and unusual collector packages all included, this year’s Black Friday lineup offers something for several generations of music fans. For vinyl enthusiasts, the biggest difficulty may be narrowing the list down to just a handful of records worth taking home.
You can watch the video below