Bob Dylan, Nirvana Among Back to Black Friday’s 10 Must-Have LPs
As part of “Back to Black Friday,” a vinyl-focused event organized by the people behind Record Store Day, artists such as Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga and Nirvana are putting out exclusive vinyl releases on November 29th, according to Billboard. Of the 100 or so new releases coming out, there are a number of standouts. Some groups, including Metallica, Stone Temple Pilots and Jethro Tull, are choosing to either issue or reissue some of their classic albums on LP. Others, including the Rolling Stones, Harry Nilsson, Sly and the Family Stone and the Grateful Dead, are re-releasing previously hard-to-find records. A full list of the day’s exclusives is available here, but below is an alphabetical list of the records we’re most excited about.
Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ 2013 Mix Headed to Vinyl
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Live From KCRW
The ever-audacious Aussie led his band through a riotous set of classics like “The Mercy Seat” and “Jack the Ripper,” as well as new cuts from their latest release, Push the Sky Away, when they visited KCRW’s studio for the “Morning Becomes Eclectic” show earlier this year. This double-vinyl set (or CD if you prefer in this instance) will make its debut on Black Friday and will be released digitally in December.
Elvis Costello and the Roots, Wise Up: Thought Remixes & Reworks 2013
Following up Elvis and the Roots’ collaboration album, Wise Up Ghost, earlier this year, this EP contains remixes by jazz drummer and hip-hop producer Karriem Riggins and Brooklyn Afrobeat collective Antibalas. Costello and the Roots oversaw the EP’s production.
The Doors, Curated by Record Store Day
The tracks on this compilation were selected by record store owners, and it features a plethora of rarities. Included are mono mixes of “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” and “Soul Kitchen,” as well as live performances of “The Unknown Soldier” and “Roadhouse Blues.” Two different versions of the release will each feature a handwritten track list by either Doors guitarist Robby Krieger or drummer John Densmore.
Bob Dylan, Side Tracks
A trove of Dylan esoterica, this limited-edition triple-LP set contains tracks that will appear for the first time on the two-CD set Bob Dylan Complete Album Collection Vol. One, which comes out November 5th. Among the songs are non-album singles, cuts from Biograph and other comps, soundtrack songs and other recordings that never made it onto a proper Dylan record.
The Flaming Lips, Peace Sword
This vinyl and CD release contains the six tracks the Lips penned for the Ender’s Game soundtrack. The group wrote the title track, “Peace Sword (Open Your Heart),” with the film in mind, while they found inspiration for the others in the Orson Scott Card novel that served as the basis for the movie. Stream the Peace Sword track “Wolf Children” here.
Lady Gaga, “Applause” 12-inch
Following the release of her third album Artpop, Gaga is putting out this picture-disc remix single. It features the works of Purity Ring, Empire of the Sun and more.
Nasty Nas, Halftime
Rapper Nas wasn’t always so nice. When he released his debut 12-inch in 1992, he went by Nasty Nas, and this release faithfully reproduces that record, which includes the song “Halftime” in various edits and remixes.
Nirvana, In Utero 2013 Remix
When former Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl approached the idea of re-releasing the band’s final album, In Utero, this year, the former suggested remixing the album with original engineer Steve Albini. That version, which featured alternate takes of many of the album’s songs, came out on CD earlier this year. Now it’s getting a proper vinyl release.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, I’m Beside You
When the Chili Peppers were recording their latest album, 2011’s I’m With You, they also released songs for a series of 7-inches that came out in 2012 and this year. This two-LP set compiles 17 tracks from those sessions.
Zabriskie Point Soundtrack
Out of print for many years, the soundtrack to the arty 1970 Michelangelo Antonioni flick, which was once featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, features music by the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and John Fahey. This two-LP reissue also includes four tracks by Pink Floyd and Jerry Garcia that did not make it on the original edition.