Record Store Day’s Black Friday looks a bit lean this year, but there’s still enough on the table to put together a satisfying vinyl repast.
Check out the psychedelic/underground fare from the Doors, Steppenwolf, Frank Zappa, Dr. John, Miles Davis and others. Releases are all on vinyl and are “Record Store Day exclusives” unless otherwise noted.
The Doors: Rhino trots out the RSD regulars, this time with the 1970 Isle of Wight festival performance. “Their last (concert) as a foursome outside the U.S.” Cut onto vinyl “for the very first time.” No surprises on the set list: “Light My Fire,” “Back Door Man,” “Roadhouse Blues” and a concluding sidelong “The End.” On two slabs of “heavyweight double black vinyl.”
Steppenwolf: Anyone who’s been howling for a mono version of the debut album (anyone?) gets an early holiday present. Sundazed brings the heavy metal thunder in “the first-ever reissue of the highly coveted mono version of the album.” Clear vinyl pressed at RTI with “an elaborate foil jacket.” Key tracks include “Sookie Sookie” and the hits “Born to Be Wild” and “The Pusher.”
Frank Zappa: First single release of the “Hot Rats” classic “Peaches en Regalia” backed with “Little Umbrellas.” Reason to buy: 10-inch picture disc featuring the composer. A-side has the mono tracks; B-side has the rhythm track mixes. Celebrate 50 years of “Hot Rats” with this “RSD first” release from UMe and the Zappa clan.
Pink Purple: “Red” was recorded in 2010 during a break from the Flaming Lips’ “Embryonic” tour, made with analog synths and equipment from the Lips’ arsenal. The Lips’ Kliph Scurlock and partner John Huff drew on their “encyclopedic knowledge of classic British rock/prog/psych” to create the tracks, which have never been released and apparently will only see light in this run’s 1,000 copies. Via Jackpot Records.
“More Oar”: Twenty years ago, a group of Skip Spence admirers banded together for this tribute to the former Moby Grape mad genius. Robert Plant, Beck, Alejandro Escovedo and Tom Waits get first dibs on the songs from Spence’s oddball masterpiece, “Oar.” First vinyl release adds a “wild skeletal recording” of “Little Hands” by the Flaming Lips. Two LPs from Modern Harmonic.
Jerry Garcia Band: First volume of “GarciaLive” series. Recorded in March 1980 at Grateful Dead haunt the Capitol Theatre. “Unreleased landmark live performances” of “Sugaree,” “Deal,” “Tiger Rose” (with Robert Hunter) and “The Harder They Come.” Round Records/ATO. Five LP box set. RSD first.
Dr. John: “Babylon” offers more voodoo-inspired psychedelic rock from the doctor and the “Gris-Gris” crew, recorded in 1968. “A psychedelic swamp of apocalyptic lyrical content” and “drunk, disorienting experimentation.” Out of print on vinyl for 40 years. “Splatter-colored vinyl and deluxe gatefold jacket.” Via Get On Down label.
The Comet Is Coming: British electronic jazz trio follows up its propulsive “Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery” album with the EP “The Afterlife.” Something about “a continuum of life over an infinite, timeless void.” Check out sax man Shabaka Hutchings and his mates as they continue their mindblowing explorations of the cosmic groove. Six tracks on 12-inch vinyl. RSD first.
Miles Davis: From “The Complete ‘In a Silent Way’ Sessions” comes a trio of tracks recorded just before the release of “Bitches Brew.” Debuting on vinyl are “Splashdown,” “Early Minor” and “The Ghetto Walk.” Walk right up and ask the guy behind the counter for “Early Minor: Rare Miles From ‘The Complete “In a Silent Way” Sessions.’ ” Via Sony Legacy.
Various artists: Up for some strange? Double-LP set has 1960s survivors of alien abductions talking about their experiences while modern psych artists provide the music. Talk on one LP; music on the other. Kikagaku Moyo, Heron Oblivion, Al Lover and other space cadets. Great for family gift-giving. Via Modern Harmonic.
Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys worked up a medley of “Little Drummer Boy”/”Silent Night”/”Auld Lang Syne” at the dawn of the 1969 holidays. Make merry 50 years later with this 12-inch picture disc featuring a shot of Hendrix as Santa. Extra track: “Three Little Bears” from the previous year. UMe.
Also of interest:
The Kinks: New mono versions of “Arthur” and “Brainwashed.” 7-inch colored vinyl from Sanctuary Records.
Chuck Berry: 1965’s “In London” cashed in on endorsements from the Beatles and Stones. From Elemental Music.
The Monkees: “Christmas Party Plus!” offers two 7-inch singles on colored vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve. Rhino.
Canned Heat: Boogie till you burst with the canyon crawlers’ “Christmas Album.” Vinyl debut. White vinyl via Friday Music.
Todd Rundgren: Covers Squeeze’s “Bang Bang” for Yep Roc’s “Swindles” series. 45 rpm single.
New Riders of the Purple Sage: Spend “Thanksgiving in New York City (Live).” Three LPs via Omnivore Recordings.
Various artists: “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams: Original Soundtrack” on LP. SPACELAB9 label.
Rodrigo y Gabriela: The great Latino guitar duo bows its “Mettal EP.” More covers of heavy metal faves. ATO Records.
Various artists: Salute to “Saturday Morning Cartoon’s Greatest Hits.” Liz Phair, the Ramones, Butthole Surfers. UMe.
There are other things to get excited about in other genres — we mostly deal in psychedelics and ’60s stuff here — so check out the full 2019 RSD Black Friday list of titles. The big day is Friday, Nov. 29.