Record Store Day Does Black Friday

Best reason NOT to go to the local mega-mall on Novermber 25 this year...

By Fred Mills

Tha annual Record Store Day held the third Saturday in April has become the equivalent of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and the 4^th of July all rolled into one for music headz and record collectors. By all accounts it's been a huge success for bands, stores and fans alike. The organizers aren't resting on their laurels, however, as they've announced they're doing it again next month - November 25^th to be precise, aka Black Friday.

It's not specifically RSD Pt.2, however - more like bonus beats. According to the RSD website, under Black Friday FAQs, we learn the following:

"In the past Black Friday was an American event celebrated by large corporate retailers as a shopping day that promoted mass produced items at super low prices in hopes of driving customers into their stores. RSD's Black Friday subverts the model and creates pieces of art in the form of limited special editions, often numbered, from some of the most revered artists of our time. RSD's version of Black Friday is an excuse to celebrate the specialness of music in our lives by putting out these unique releases. In other words, cheapness is not a main goal. Celebrating art is.

"The special releases for Record Store Day are made to be sold solely at independently owned record stores on the day that Record Store Day takes place (the third Saturday of every April) whereas Black Friday releases are made for the holiday season. This means stores will launch the special releases on Black Friday but may choose to carry them beyond Black Friday (as supplies last). 

These independently owned record stores/shops will also choose whether or not they want to sell their Black Friday releases on their websites to draw attention to the fact that many of them offer an excellent customer service option for those who wish to support independently owned record stores via internet purchases during the holiday season and beyond."

It should be pretty awesome, however. Take a look at some of this year's proposed releases - the full list can be found here, and more are sure to be added - and meanwhile, start scoping out your favorite store and talk to them directly about what they plan to carry.

Syd Barrett: "Mick Rock: Syd Barrett - the Photographs of Mick Rock" 7" 45

Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two Book/Blu-Ray/DVD/CD
The Beatles: The Singles 7" vinyl box set
The Black Keys: "Lonely Boy" 12" single

Byrds: "Eight Miles High" & "The Tiems They Are A Changin'" 7"ers

Miles Davis: Miles Davis Quartet" 10" LP

Doors: LA Woman 7" vinyl box set
Bob Dylan: "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" 7" vinyl box set

Justin Townes Earle: "Slippin' and Slidiin'" 7"

Fear: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Iron & Wine: "Morning Becomes Eclectic" LP/CD (Live at KCRW)
John Cale: EP: Extra Playful
John Lennon: Imagine 40th Anniversary Box Set
Nirvana: Nevermind -The Singles 10" vinyl box set

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Kiss My Amps Live vinyl LP
Pinback: "True North" 7"

Pink Floyd: The Wall 7" vinyl box set
Ryan Adams: "Do I Wait"/"Darkness" 7"
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Soul Time! LP
Soundgarden: Live on I-5--Before the Doors Soundcheck EP 10" colored vinyl

Pete Townshend: The Quadrophenia Demos Vol. 1 10" LP

Warren Haynes: "River's Gonna Rise" 7"

Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest in Funk & Soul 1965-79 7" vinyl box

Wilco: "Speak Into the Rose" 10" (pictured at top, above)

Yardbirds: "Ten Little Indians" & "Ha Ha Said the Clown" 7"ers