By DONNA BALANCIA
During the rest of the year music lovers can stroll at a leisurely pace into their favorite record store and pick up their favorite discs. But Record Store Day Black Friday is a time for celebration as some of the long-lost titles get a rerelease, even if in just a limited quantity.
While many recordings are getting a reissue on vinyl, there are some die-hard CD fans who will be happy with the selections this year.
Here are a few gems that are available to the retro rock and roll lover this year:
LURE, BURKE, STINSON and KRAMER
L.A.M.F. live at the Bowery
Walter Lure and his band of punk rock A-listers on this record include Clem Burke of Blondie, Tommy Stinson of The Replacements, Wayne Kramer of MC5 in a JohnnyThunders and the Heartbreakers’ tribute. Recorded live at the Bowery Electric, Lure, the sole surviving Heartbreaker, and his crew played the entire legendary ‘L.A.M.F.’ album to an ecstatic crowd. Released for Record Store Day Black Friday on transparent blue vinyl.
Born To Lose, Baby Talk, All By Myself, I Wanna Be Loved, It’s Not Enough, Chinese Rocks, Get Off The Phone, Pirate Love, One Track Mind, I Love You, Goin’ Steady, Let Go, Can’t Keep My Eyes On You, Do You Love Me.
PETULA CLARK
Petula Clark Four From The Top Five
UK star “Pet” Clark, who made it big in the states in the 1960s will always be the ultimate go-go pop singer. With her supple tones and strong and voice, the act still holds up today. Produced on the 10-inch vinyl Four From The Top Five, is a collector’s dreams. Only 850 copies exist via the Record Store Day limited run. “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “Downtown,” “My Love,” and the international swinger “I Know a Place,” all conjure up pictures of groovy parties everywhere. A treasure.
IGGY POP AND JAMES WILLIAMSON
New Values
Iggy Pop is the pioneer of punk and underground rock and roll. In 1979 he and James Williamson delivered the hard-hitting alternative classic New Values debut LP for Arista Records. Featuring the punk anthem “Five Foot One” and “Don’t Look Down,” New Values is one of Iggy’s fans’ favorites. Black Friday continues its 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series with this Black Friday release, complete with blue/black swirl vinyl, gatefold cover and 24 x 24 poster. Limited run of 2000 available.
Tell Me a Story, New Values, Girls, I’m Bored, Don’t Look Down, The Endless Sea, Five Foot One, How Do Ya Fix a Broken Part, Angel, Curiosity, African Man, Billy is a Runaway.
LOU REED AND KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
The Bottom Line Archive Series: In Their Own Words: With Vin Scelsa
An exclusive, limited 1000 quantity picture disc LP of select’ tracks from Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson’s ‘In Their Own words with Vin Scelsa’ set from 1994 at the famed Bottom Line in New York City. Just having Lou Reed together with Kris Kristofferson is odd enough that it’s a no-brainer.
Side A: 1. “Introduction” 2. Vin Scelsa Introduces Lou Reed 3. “Betrayed” 4. Vin Scelsa introduces Kris Kristofferson 5. “Shipwrecked” 6. Lou Reed talks about songwriting 7. “Legendary Hearts” 8. Kris Kristofferson talks about his chiildhood and songwriting 9. “Sunday Morning Coming Down/The Pilgrim” Side B: 1. Lou Reed talks about The Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol 2. “Sweet Jane” 3. Kris talks about “Me and Bobby McGee” 4. “Me and Bobby McGee” 5. Kris talks about “Bird on a Wire” 6. “Bird on a Wire” 7. “Tracks of My Tears”
RICHARD HELL
Blank Generation
Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ Blank Generation influenced countless rock with its attitude and its performances. Released in 1977 on Sire Records, the album was received ecstatically by critics such as Lester Bangs and the New York Times’ Robert Palmer, but as was the case with most original “punk” albums, it wouldn’t get mainstream recognition for decades. Being released on its 40th anniversary this year with limited edition double-CD and double-LP deluxe editions. Produced for release by Richard Hell, the album has been expertly remastered—by Greg Calbi of Sterling Sound, who mastered the original LP—as well as restored to its original 1977 track listing and sleeve imagery. And Richard Hell will be on hand to sign a few copies at Generation Records in NYC at 1 p.m. on Black Friday.
GRATEFUL DEAD
Grateful Dead Records Collection
A treat for any Deadhead pal or for yourself, this 5-LP box set contains Wake Of The Flood, From The Mars Hotel, Blues For Allah, and Steal Your Face (two LPs). Each album is replicated to perfection, housed in a sturdy case and comes with a book of liner notes and photos of the famous San Francisco band. There are 5800 of these collectors sets available at one of the many participating record stores.
SUNNY AND THE SUNLINERS
The Missing Link
$2 from each copy of The Missing Link sold on Black Friday Record Store Day 2017 will go to The Greater Houston Community Foundation to help with relief for areas of Texas that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. Sunny Ozuna was born and raised in San Antonio, where he still resides, and he became a star right out of high school in the late 1950s. If you dig funk with a Tex-Mex twist and good-time music with that retro feel, this is it. “Cissy Strut” is our favorite, but the record also has some other gems.
A1. Soul Pride A2. Duffy A3. Cissy Strut A4. Rosita Bonita A5. Madrid B1. Boo Boo B2. La Pollera Colorada B3. Pressure Cooker B4. Uno B5. La Pecosita
THE LOCAL LOWDOWN
While lots of record stores participate in the Black Friday madness, many do not, but do still offer great vinyl and CDs.
“We still get a large crowd because we’ll always give the local people a break,” said Morris Castaldi, manager of Soundsations in Westchester near LAX. The store is owned by Pete Grasso and Lee Wilson.”We had a line in April for the bigger sale but we don’t expect a big line. We’re treating it like a general sale day.”
Here’s a list of participating record stores in the Los Angeles area:
