Record Store Black Friday 2017 Releases to Watch For

On Tuesday, Record Store Day released the official list of releases coming out during their Black Friday event. Taking place November 24, the event is now in its seventh year of releasing limited edition vinyl, CD and cassette releases to independent record shops for the holiday season. Artists releasing titles this November include the Grateful Dead, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Neil Young, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, Queen, Notorious B.I.G., Twisted Sister and many, many more.

In anticipation of Record Store Day Black Friday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the titles being released for this year’s event. Here are 10 of the more interesting releases, from the anniversary reissues to rare finds and oddities.

1.       Richard Hell & the Voidoids, ‘Blank Generation (40^th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)’: It’s been 40 years since Richard Hell & the Voidoids released their ground-breaking debut album, ‘Blank Generation.’ Hell is celebrating the milestone by reissuing the album for Record Store Day as double LP and double CD sets. The second disc will feature outtakes, alternate studio versions, and recordings of their first performance at CBGBs. Packaging for the rerelease will mimic that of the original release and include a booklet with essays and journal entries from Hell, never-before-seen photos and an interview between Hell and bandmate Ivan Julian.

2.       Neil Young, ‘Harvest Moon’: For its 25^th anniversary, Neil Young is re-mastering and reissuing ‘Harvest Moon.’ This will be the first time the album has been available on vinyl in the United States and will be limited to 5000 copies.

3.       Lure, Burke, Stinson & Kramer, 'L.A.M.F. Live At The Bowery': In 2016, Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), Clem Burke (Blondie), Tommy Stinson (The Replacements) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) came together to pay tribute to Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers sole album, ‘L.A.M.F.’ Recordings from that show are now being released on transparent blue vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday. There are only going to be 950 copies pressed.

4.       Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson, 'The Bottom Line Archive Series: In Their Own Words: With Vin Scelsa': The Bottom Line’s Archive Series is releasing a picture disc featuring selections from Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson’s1994 ‘In Their Own Words: With Vin Scelsa’ set at the famed venue. Only 1000 of these albums are being made.

5.       The Turtles, 'Turtles '66': Considered to be the “lost” Turtles album, ‘Turtles ’66’ features original mono mixes of early Turtles tracks. With only three of these 12 tracks having been previously released in mono, much of this album has not been heard like this before. And with only 1000 being made, very few will have the chance to hear it this way.

6.       Various Artists, ‘From The Vaults’: For all the reggae and two-tone fans out there, Studio One is releasing a two LP compilation of music from their vault. ‘From The Vaults (Obscure Singles Compilation)’ will feature rarities from throughout the label’s history. Many of these tracks have been out-of-print for decades or have never been released at all. To make it even more of a catch, there will only be 600 copies made.

7.       Grateful Dead, 'Grateful Dead Records Collection': One of the larger sets being released for Record Store Day Black Friday, the Grateful Dead will be releasing four of their iconic albums in one limited-edition five-LP box set. The set includes ‘Wake Of The Flood,’ ‘From The Mars Hotel,’ ‘Blues For Allah’ and ‘Steal Your Face,’ which will all be “faithfully replicated” and “housed in a rigid slipcase,” as well as a book featuring liner notes and iconic band photos. Only 5,000 sets will be made, so Dead Heads should line-up early. If this isn’t

If this isn’t enough Grateful Dead for you, ‘Side Trips, Volume One,’ featuring Jerry Garcia, is being rereleased. The album originally came out on CD in 1998, but will now be getting a vinyl release.

8.       Frank Zappa, “Lumpy Gravy” / “Primordial”: Frank Zappa’s debut solo album, ‘Lumpy Gravy,’ turned 50 this year and to celebrate, Zappa has reissued the album’s title track, along with b-side “Primordial.” The release is in Mono and being pressed on burgundy vinyl.

9.       At The Drive-In, ‘Diamante’: Earlier this year, At The Drive-In cemented their reunion with a new album and now the band is getting ready to release even more new music. For Record Store Day Black Friday, the band will be releasing the 10” ‘Diamante’ EP featuring three brand new tracks. The majority of the 3000-copy run will be on coke-bottle green with “bone-splatter” vinyl, but there will be 100 pressed on black/double-mint vinyl hidden among them.

10.   Leonard Nimoy, 'Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space': In 1967, Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy released an album of space-themed tracks. Now after being out-of-print for decades, this unusual find will be rereleased for Record Store Day Black Friday this year.

These are just some of the titles being released for this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday event. Check out the full list of exclusives at the Record Store Day website and let us know what releases you’re excited for.

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Find previous Record Store Day releases and more at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.