The Black Keys to Kings to Leon: 5 Must-Have Black Friday Releases

2011-11-22

Story by Anne Erickson

Venturing out on Black Friday? Check out these exclusive music releases.

The Christmas shopping season is (almost) officially here. The formal kick-off, of course, to holiday shopping madness is Black Friday, when those who love — and don’t love — the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping venture out to scoop up the deals of the season.

For music fans heading out to fight the crowds, the spiffy folks behind National Record Store Day are putting out a bevy of exclusive releases on Black Friday (Nov. 25). These “Back to Black” specials are available exclusively at your favorite local record store. The collections feature some hip, impressive artists and bands who love the idea of the local record shop so much that they put together these releases just for local stores. Check out five such releases, below.

Note: The crew at National Record Store Day make it clear that not all stores will stock all items. All stores are different and make their own decisions, so you’re best to call up your local store and ask what items they’re going with this year. Find a list of stores that participate with National Record Store Day on the organization’s official website.

5. Kings of Leon, The Early Vinyl, 4 LP vinyl box set.

The Early Vinyl box set bring together Kings of Leon’s early releases — Youth & Young Manhood, Aha Shake Heartbreak and Because of the Times — and a fourth LP comprised of unreleased studio and live tracks handpicked by the band members themselves. It also includes a 20-page booklet and a collectible poster.

4. The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy” and “Run Right Back” limited edition 12” vinyl.

How long do we have to wait until the new Black Keys album finally comes out? Oh, yeah, Dec. 6., is the date the set drops on Nonesuch Records. If that’s too long for you, check out an exclusive Black Keys 12” vinyl of the lead single, “Lonely Boy,” off that forthcoming album, El Camino, plus a new song called, “Run Right Back.”

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik with a deluxe red vinyl version,

Happy 20th to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik album! The guys are celebrating that milestone with a special, 40-gram red vinyl version of their legendary 1991 punk-funk masterpiece, out on Black Friday. Favorite tracks off the album include “Give It Away,” “Under the Bridge” and “Suck My Kiss.”

2. Chris Cornell, Songbook, double LP 12” vinyl.

Soundgarden crooner Chris Cornell releases his much-anticipated, acoustic Songbook album Nov. 21, but true fans might want to wait it out to get their ears on the special Record Store Day version: a double LP, 12” vinyl. The set has Cornell singing songs from his time with Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, plus packing in some covers and other tidbits.

1. Nevermind: The Singles.

Nirvana’s Nevermind: The Singles is a box set that packages four 10” vinyl singles from the Nevermind album, including the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” single, “Come As You Are” single, “Lithium” single and “In Bloom” single. This is a perfect gift for any fan of grunge and the ultimate Christmas item for a Nirvana fan.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.

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