There are no shortage of sales to be found on Black Friday, but music fans already know exactly where to line up once that tryptophan coma has worn off — your local record store.
Every year, Record Store Day does its second round of annual special releases, featuring limited quantities of albums that often can't be found on vinyl at any other time. And this year, there are a number of releases by queer artists, allies, and icons for us to get hyped about.
While transitioning from a holiday celebrating "thanks" and "giving" to a day centered around capitalistic frenzy has rightly undergone increased scrutiny in recent years, at least this particular version does something other than line the pockets of giant franchises owned by even bigger corporations. Record Store Day sales are always designed to keep small record stores alive by limiting the initial sales to be in person. So while you may be able to snag one or two of the less in demand items online at a later date, your best bet for getting your hands on any of the delicious drops listed below is to hit the store this Friday. You can find a list of stores participating in your area here.
Anitta — 'Funk Generation'
Brazilian superstar Anitta's hit album Funk Generation is getting its first release on vinyl.
Quantity: 1,000
Angelo Badalementi — Music from Film and Television
Angelo Badalamenti was a frequent collaborator of David Lynch, creating the familiar themes of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and queer cinema classic, Mulholland Drive, among others. This album collects some of his most prominent works.
Quantity: 1,500
The Beaches — 'Blame Jocelyn'
This 7" single features two songs from The Beaches — "Jocelyn" and "Blame Brett."
Quantity: 1,500
Big Brother & the Holding Company — 'Live at the Grande Ballroom Detroit; March 2, 1968'
Before Janis Joplin went solo, she was part of Big Brother & the Holding Company. This is the first complete release of their live concert at The Grande Ballroom on March 2, 1968.
Quantity: 3,500
Big Freedia — 'Hitz Vol 2 2010-2020'
Big Freedia's biggest hits! Need we say more?
Quantity: 1,000
Dead or Alive — 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 40th Anniversary'
This special 40th anniversary edition of the iconic single is actually a picture disc — one you can watch spin right 'round while you listen.
Quantity: 1,000
Djo — 'DECIDE (Deluxe)'
This deluxe album release comes from Djo, better known as Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame.
Quantity: 2,000
Billie Eilish — 'Hit Me Hard and Soft (Isolated Vocals)'
If you're a fan of Billie Eilish's third studio album, but really want a version that's vocals only, well, here you go.
Quantity: 25,000
Garbage — 'copy/paste'
Compiled for the first time into a single album, copy/paste features Garbage's take on 10 classic songs from other musicians.
Quantity: 3,200
'Gladiator II' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
I know some of y'all will be buying this picture disc just to look at Paul Mescal.
Quantity: 2,000
Whitney Houston — 'LOVE IS 'Live From South Africa' and more'
This double-sided 12" single features various versions of Whitney Houston's "Love Is," as well as several performances recorded in Durban, South Africa.
Quantity: 2,000
LSD — 'Labrinth, Sia & Diplo presents... LSD (The Remixes)'
Remixes of songs released by LSD aka Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo, on vinyl for the first time.
Quantity: 2,000
Joni Mitchell — 'Hejira Demos'
Listen to all the demos from Joni Mitchell's Hejira, on vinyl for the first time.
Quantity: 5,000
Kacey Musgraves — 'Deeper Into The Well'
This particular version of Deeper Into the Well includes seven additional tracks and "a 20 minute woodland sound experience," whatever that means.
Quantity: 5,000
Stevie Nicks — 'The Lighthouse'
A 7" disc featuring Stevie Nicks' new single, "The Lighthouse."
Quantity: 5,000
Bebe Rexha — 'Expectations'
Bebe Rexha's debut album, Expectations, is getting its first vinyl release.
Quantity: 2,500
Olivia Rodrigo — 'Guts (spilled)'
A special edition double disc version of Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS is sure to be a popular contender this year.
Quantity: 30,000
T. Rex — 'Tanx'
Check out a picture disc version of the 1973 album Tanx by T. Rex.
Quantity: 1,200
Tegan and Sara — 'So Jealous (20th Anniversary)'
This 20th anniversary double LP features all the songs from Tegan and Sara's So Jealous plus a second disc devoted to their demos.
Quantity: 3,000
'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie – Music from the Movie and More…'
Gay people love SpongeBob, what can we say?
Quantity: 6,000
The Veronicas — 'Hook Me Up'
This release of The Veronicas' Hook Me Up includes a bonus track, "Insomnia."
Quantity: 3,000
Vitamin String Quartet — 'VSQ Performs BTS'
Vitamin String Quartet has covered a ton of familiar tunes over the years, and now their take on the music of BTS is coming to vinyl.
Quantity: 1,500