As with Record Store Day, the list of exclusive releases this year for Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, typically the biggest shopping day of the year) is staggering. A list of the available titles is here. I’ve pulled out 10 releases that are particularly interesting — to me, and perhaps to you. Show up at Amoeba Nov. 23 for your chance to own any one of these.
Lee Hazlewood – You Turned My Head Around: Lee Hazlewood Industries 1967-1970 (11 x 7 box set)
Named after an awesome duet ’60s psych-folkie Lee Hazelwood did with singer/actress Ann-Margret, this set collects forgotten records issued on Hazelwood’s label, Lee Hazelwood Industries. The singer-songwriter was also a notable producer, perhaps most famously writing and producing Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made For Walkin.’” The set includes 11 45s from such artists as Suzi Jane Hokom, Honey Ltd., Kitchen Cinq and Hazlewood himself. From psych to country-pop, the set offers a view of Lee as an aesthetic director of sorts, setting forth a cultish sound that would come to be oft mimicked and appreciated far greater in later years than during its initial run.
Captain Beefheart – Abba Zabba; Plastic Factory; Upon The My-Oh-My
These releases come from uncovered mono masters. “Abba Zabba” includes “Yellow Brick Road” as its B-side. This has the original incarnation of the Magic Band, including Ry Cooder. “Plastic Factory” is backed by “Where There’s a Woman.” Both songs appeared on the brilliant Safe as Milk. “Upon the My-Oh-My” appeared on 1974’s Unconditionally Guaranteed and includes “I Got Love on My Mind”; this is the first ever reissue of this 45.
Joan Jett – Bad Reputation LP w/bonus CD
This reissue of the classic Joan Jett album, featuring such songs as the immortal “Do You Wanna Touch Me” and the title track, comes in heavyweight clear vinyl and includes a CD with bonus tracks and enhanced material, including live footage.
Love – Forever Changes w/bonus 7”
Seriously, you guys. No matter when you come to it, Forever Changes can be life-altering. If you haven’t picked it up yet, this is the perfect chance — the classic, Spanish-flavored psychedelic folk record comes with a bonus 7” including an unreleased edit of “Alone Again Or.”
Nirvana – Incesticide [20th Anniversary]
Since it’s Nirvana, this is one of those rare B-sides albums that’s essential. The 20th anniversary vinyl has been remastered from the original tapes and includes the lyric sheet art and for the first time comes in a deluxe gatefold sleeve. And who doesn’t want “Sliver” and “Aneurysm” on vinyl? Crap, now all I want to listen to is Nirvana.
Reservoir Dogs Soundtrack
Lots of people remember this soundtrack for its genius use of “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel, but typically of Quentin Tarantino films, the soundtrack is full of odd odds and ends, like Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” memorable scenes from the film and interstitial bits from deadpan comic Steven Wright. This 20th anniversary limited edition includes randomly inserted “mister-y” colored vinyl in blonde, blue, brown, orange, white and pink, referencing the characters’ pseudonyms in the film.
The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones EP
If for nothing else, this 7” vinyl EP gives you the chance to hear the Rolling Stones as they first sounded to people when they released this four-song EP, available for the first time in its original format since its initial release. The EP is notable for its raw ass cover of Arthur Alexander’s “You Better Move On.”
Toro y Moi – So Many Details
This is the first single from Toro y Moi’s next album, Anything in Return, due Jan. 22 from Carpark. The last Toro y Moi album, Underneath the Pine, which upgraded Chaz Budnick’s chillwave sound with better songwriting, drawing inspiration from classic soul and psychedelia, was my personal favorite album of 2010. “So Many Details” highlights the R&B/hip-hop influence always present but sort of tucked away in Budnick’s music, especially given the B-side’s treatment with Odd Future member Hodgy Beats rapping over it.
The White Stripes – Fell in Love With a Girl; Hotel Yorba; Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
These three 7” vinyl re-releases give fans a chance to pick up some of the best singles from the recently disbanded group. “Fell in Love With a Girl” was the band’s breakthrough single, released in the UK in 2002 with a cover of “I Just Don’t Know What to do With Myself” as its B-side, later released on the White Stripes’ album Elephant. “Hotel Yorba” was originally released in 2001 as a UK single with a cover of Loretta Lynn’s “Rated X” as its B-side; both of these versions were recorded in the Hotel Yorba in the band’s hometown of Detroit. “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” was originally released in 2002 and has their awesome cover of Robert Johnson’s “Stop Breaking Down” as its B-side. All of the A-sides are from The White Stripes’ classic White Blood Cells record.
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico – Scepter Studio Acetate
This 12” vinyl includes a rare April 1966 Scepter Studios session recorded on acetate with early versions of songs that would later appear on the classic Velvet Underground & Nico. These versions were included on the 45th Anniversary Edition of the album, which was released on CD Oct. 30, but were not available separately or on vinyl.




