Roll Call The A.V. Club’s Record Store Day Black Friday buyers’ guide

When Record Store Day launched in 2008 as a way to celebrate both music and independent retail, it almost seemed melancholy: a last-ditch attempt to rally around record stores when it looked like they were on their last legs. Now the annual event is huge, extending well beyond indie artists, labels, and retailers, and bringing everyone from Warner Music to Eric Clapton into the fold, substantially complicating its relationship with its initial indie cred. It’s proved so popular that RSD organizers have launched a spin-off event. This Black Friday, Nov. 25, Record Store Day organizers will be discharging a handful of specially pressed vinyl releases, for those of you who don’t spend the Friday after Thanksgiving circling the Target parking lot in your Dodge Stratus like an old crow at 4 a.m. or stepping on your neighbor’s throat to save 10 percent on a grey sweatshirt at Aéropostale like the rest of Middle America.

Here’s our arbitrarily categorized guide to what’s available on Black Friday at your local retailer. Though, considering that the number of units a given store gets (or if they get certain releases at all) is entirely randomized, we might as well be totally indiscriminate about it, right? Right. So here are some releases that might be up your alley if…

…Your third wife got all the Beatles records in the divorce.

The Beatles: The Singles Box Set (Apple) 7-inch vinyl box set, 10,000 copies (U.S.); 5700 (International)

John Lennon: Imagine—40^th Anniversary Box Set (Apple/Capitol) 12-inch vinyl, 5000 copies (U.S.); 1700 copies (International)

…You wear socks and sandals to work on casual Fridays. In January.

The Grateful Dead: Live Europe ’72, Vol. 2 (Rhino) 4 LP vinyl, 3000 copies (U.S.); 2850 (International)

Warren Haynes: Rivers Gonna Rise (Concord) 12-inch vinyl, 1800 copies (U.S.)

Janis Joplin: The Classic LP Collection (Legacy) 4 LP vinyl box set, 2000 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

Janis Joplin: Move Over! (Legacy) 7-inch vinyl box set, 2000 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

Phish: Party Time (Jemp) double 12-inch vinyl

Phish: The White Tape (Jemp) vinyl

…You just found out that Ronnie James Dio passed away over a year ago and feel really guilty and want to pad out your Dio library.

Rainbow: Long Live Rock N Roll (Niji Entertainment) 12-inch vinyl picture disc, 2500 copies (U.S.)

…The only band you like is Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos. Alternatively, you are Mr. Gasser. Or one of his Weirdos.

Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos: Hot Rod Hootenanny (Sundazed) 12-inch vinyl, 1200 copies (U.S.); 800 (International)

Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos: Hot Rod Hootenanny (Sundazed) CD, 1200 copies (U.S.), 800 copies (International)

Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos: Rods N Ratfinks (Sundazed) CD, 1200 copies (U.S.), 800 copies (International)

Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos: Surfink! (Sundazed) 12-inch vinyl, 1200 copies (U.S.), 800 copies (International)

Mr. Gasser And The Weirdos: Surfink! (Sundazed) CD, 1200 copies (U.S.), 800 copies (International)

…You tell people you love “heavy music” but can’t really back it up by exhibiting any level of discernment in your actual tastes.

Dream Theater: Metropolis PT2: Scenes From A Memory (Brookvale Records) 12-inch vinyl, 3000 copies (U.S.)

Type O Negative: Type O Negative Vinyl Box Set (Roadrunner) 12-inch vinyl box set, 1000 copies (U.S.)

…Yeah, you’re pretty sure you like soul music.

Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings: Soul Time! (Daptone Records) 12-inch vinyl, 5000 copies (U.S.)

Sharon Jones And The Dap-King: Soul Time! (Daptone Reocrds) CD, 20,000 copies (U.S.)

Various Artists: Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest In Funk & Soul 1965-79 (Light in the Attic) 7-inch box set, 2000 copies (U.S.)

…You are the only person in the world who has always wanted American proto-hardcore band Fear to release a Christmas record.

Fear: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (The End) 7-inch vinyl, 700 copies (U.S.)

…You don’t understand why they call it “classic rock.” It sounds just as good today!

The Byrds: “The Times They Are A Changin’” (Sundazed) 7-inch vinyl, 1200 copies (U.S.), 1000 copies (International)

The Byrds: “Eight Miles High” (Sundazed) 7-inch vinyl, 1200 copies (U.S.), 1000 copies (International)

Syd Barrett: Mick Rock: Syd Barrett, The Photography Of Mick Rock (Capitol), 7-inch and photographs box, 2000 copies (U.S.)

The Doors: LA Woman Singles Box Set (Rhino) 7-inch vinyl box set, 4000 copies (U.S.); 1000 copies (International)

The Lovin’ Spoonful: “Alley Oop” (Sundazed) 7-inch vinyl, 1200 copies (U.S.); 1000 copies (International)

Pink Floyd: The Wall—Singles Box Set (Capitol) 7-inch vinyl box set, 7500 copies (U.S.); 4000 copies (International)

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Kiss My Amps Live (Warner Bros.) 12-inch vinyl, 5000 copies (U.S.)

Pete Townshend: The Quadrophenia Demos Volume 1 (Ume) 10-inch vinyl, 4000 copies (U.S.)

The Yardbirds: “Ha Ha Said The Clown” (Sundazed) 7-inch vinyl, 1600 copies (U.S.), 1200 copies (International)

The Yardbirds: “Ten Little Indians” (Sundazed) 7-inch vinyl, 1600 copies (U.S.), 1200 copies (International)

…“What? Iron & Who? Is there any Bob Dylan?”

Bob Dylan: Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Columbia/Legacy) 7-inch vinyl box set, 5000 copies (U.S.)

…All your Chris Cornell collection is missing is two more Chris Cornell records and a lock of his hair.

Chris Cornell: Songbook (Friday Music) Double LP, 2000 copies (U.S.)

Soundgarden: Live on I-5—Before the Doors Soundcheck EP (Ume) 10-inch vinyl, 4000 copies (U.S.)

...You either are, or romanticize being, a heroin addict.

Miles Davis: Miles Davis Quartet (Prestige) 10-inch vinyl, 1800 copies (U.S.); 1200 copies (International)

And because we couldn’t make jokes about all of the releases and stuff like this changes all the time, make sure to stay tuned to the Record Store Day website for the most up-to-the-date information, and click here for the official list (.pdf).