Turkey day is happening this week, so that means that Record Store Day Black Friday is right around the corner. This year’s celebration of indie record stores occurs on Friday, November 29th, 2024, and features a fresh slate of new vinyl reissues, exciting exclusives, and in some cases, the first pressings of many key titles. The full list of RSD Black Friday releases can be found here, but be sure to check in with your local indie record store to see what they will be carrying this Friday. In this preview, I’ll be diving into some of the most sought after releases and offer some tips for newcomers to secure these titles.
First, a few key things to remember:
- There are three categories of Record Store Day Titles:
EXCLUSIVES: These titles are physically released only at indie record stores.
RSD FIRST: These titles are found first at indie record stores but may be released to other retailers or webstores at some point in the future.
SMALL RUN/REGIONAL TITLES: These titles are either regionally based and sold at specific stores, or are press runs under 1000, which means they may be harder to find at record stores around the country. - Many of these RSD titles are in “limited” variety, so that usually means waking up early to secure your place in line on the busiest shopping day of the year. I’d highly recommend calling your local record store, or visiting their social media page, to see if they offer any guidance on how the queue will be operated. While most stores opt for a “first come, first served” mentality, other stores hand out physical, numbered tickets for patrons to know their exact place in line.
- Record Store Day is meant to be a celebration of indie record stores! Yes, scalpers suck and are definitely ruining the fun, but even if you don’t find the title(s) you’re looking for on Black Friday, many indie record stores will sell their leftovers online as early as this Saturday. Check your favorite indie record store websites to see when they will release their stock so you can set your alarm and secure your next favorite record.
Record Store Day Black Friday 2024: Key Titles
This year’s slate offers several new vinyl releases from marquee artists. Here are the titles I see moving fast on Friday morning.
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft (Isolated Vocals) – RSD First – 25,000 copies
Billie Eilish is a megastar and I fully expect this release, while having a high pressing number, to sell out pretty quickly. This “isolated vocals,” single LP release showcases the new album in a stripped back manner and highlights the power of Billie’s vocals.
Olivia Rodrigo – Guts (Spilled) – RSD First – 30,000 copies
Another major star releasing an exclusive 2x LP vinyl at a high pressing number is sure to mean that lines at indie record stores could be a bit longer than usual. This special edition red and purple marble vinyl is housed in a gatefold jacket with an exclusive purple sleeve. The main album is on the red marbled disc, while the bonus tracks are pressed on the purple marbled second disc.
Norma Jean – Wrongdoers – RSD Exclusive – 2,000 copies
The sixth album by metalcore pioneers, Norma Jean, called Wrongdoers has been long sought after on vinyl since its original release in 2013. This is only the second time the album has received a pressing, and this stunning “Fire Eyes” variant by Craft Recordings really shines. The label provided me with a promo copy so that I could dive further into the details for you. The pressing is dead quiet, while the highs and lows of the vinyl really shimmer over the original mix. At just 2,000 copies, Norma Jean’s metalcore classic is sure to move quickly. The set comes with a full-color, dual-sided lyric sheet, and the vinyl is housed in a full-color sleeve as well.
Better Than Ezra – Deluxe – RSD First – 1,500 copies
It’s hard to believe that this multi-platinum record by Better Than Ezra, that features the #1 Modern Rock single “Good,” has only seen a release on vinyl previously via an extremely limited run for Pledge Music. This reissued album is on “Grape”-colored 2x vinyl and is housed in a gatefold set. Get to your stores early to secure a piece of Alt Rock history!
Still searching for a past Record Store Day title that got away? The official Record Store Day site has also recently launched an exclusive marketplace of past RSD titles via hundreds of indie record stores across the country here. Best of luck this Black Friday, and remember that every day can be “Record Store Day” if you continue to support your local indie record shops!