RSD Black Friday has become a huge event that commences in the early morning hours after the Thanksgiving gastronomic orgy and with vinyl sales moving along in 2024 with a great deal of momentum (still!) — this is starting to feel like a tradition for those of us who are crazy enough to stand in line in less than pleasant weather.
One thing that stands out about all of these “eclectic” titles is that quantities seem to be on the lower side this year.
Craft Recordings has announced its lineup of exclusive releases for RSD Black Friday, taking place on November 29th at participating independent retailers. This year’s diverse array of limited-edition offerings spans a multitude of genres and eras, beginning with a 180-gram mono pressing of Max Roach’s 1958 hard-bop classic, Deeds, Not Words.
The rollout continues with Joe Bataan’s best-selling 1968 Latin soul masterpiece, Riot!, followed by Isaac Hayes’ supremely funky 1974 Truck Turner soundtrack, reissued on vinyl for the first time in decades as part of Varèse Sarabande’s Reel Cult series.
Craft is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of Born Jamericans’ cult-favorite 1994 debut, Kids from Foreign, while Wrongdoing—the acclaimed 2013 album from metalcore pioneers Norma Jean—arrives on vinyl for the first time since its initial release.
Also making its vinyl debut is Music for Film and Television, which highlights the remarkable career of film composer and longtime David Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti.
New titles include The Soul and Songs of Young Curtis Mayfield: The Spirit of Chicago, a 2-LP retrospective of the legendary singer, songwriter and producer’s foundational work from the late ’50s to mid-’60s, as well as the latest installment from the popular Jazz Dispensary series, The Golden Hour.
Various Artists – The Soul and Songs of Young Curtis Mayfield: The Spirit of Chicago (2-LP; Black Vinyl)
One of the greatest singers, songwriters and producers of his generation, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Curtis Mayfield (1942–1999) left a lasting mark on American music with his influential brand of socially conscious soul music. Celebrated for his civil rights anthems with the Impressions and his groundbreaking solo albums, like Curtis (1970), Back to the World (1973) and the iconic Super Fly soundtrack (1972), the Chicago native first established his career in the city’s rich gospel and soul scene during the late ’50s and early ’60s.
Spanning 1958–1965, The Soul and Songs of Young Curtis Mayfield: Spirit of Chicago chronicles this period of rapid growth, focusing on the young artist’s foundational work behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer, as well as his early years with the Impressions (which he joined in 1958, serving as lead vocalist from 1960–70).
In addition to a selection of tracks from the celebrated soul and doo-wop group—including Mayfield-penned classics like “Senorita I Love You” and “Young Lover”—the collection highlights Mayfield’s extensive work as a writer.
His collaborations include hits with former Impressions frontman Jerry Butler, such as “He Will Break Your Heart,” “I’m a Telling You” and “Find Another Girl,” as well as tracks with Gene Chandler and future Earth, Wind & Fire co-founder Wade Flemons.
Released exclusively on vinyl for Black Friday, the 27-track collection features newly remastered audio from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY-winning engineerPaul Blakemore, while new liner notes by noted rock historian Jim Miller offer additional context.
The 2-LP set is limited to just 2,800 copies worldwide.
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Born Jamericans – Kids from Foreign (1-LP; Black Vinyl)
While Washington D.C.’s Born Jamericans were short-lived as a group, they earned a cult following in the mid-’90s with their influential blend of dancehall reggae and hip-hop.
The American-born duo, who drew inspiration from their shared Jamaican heritage, balanced the smooth-as-silk vocals of singer Mr. Notch (Norman Howell) with the gritty ragga of rapper Edley Shine (Horace Payne) to create a musical fusion that was utterly fresh at the time.
Signing with the tastemakers at Delicious Vinyl (home to the likes of Young MC and Tone Loc), the duo paired up with legendary producer Chucky Thompson, one of the famous “Hitmen” of the ’90s, who crafted mega hits for stars like Usher, Mariah Carey, Nas, Mary J. Blige and beyond.
The result was their irresistible 1994 debut, Kids from Foreign, featuring such popular tracks as “Warning Sign,” “Cease & Seckle” and “Boom Shak A-Tack,” which hit the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No.15 on the Rap chart.
The album, meanwhile, broke the Billboard 200 and was named one of the highest-selling reggae albums of the year. While Kids from Foreign launched Born Jamericans’ career, the duo would only release one more album, 1997’s Yardcore, before going their separate ways.
Returning to vinyl for the first time in 25 years and limited to just 2,400 copies worldwide, this 30th anniversary reissue of Kids from Foreign is pressed on classic black vinyl and cut from its original analog tapes by Phillip Rodriguez at Elysian Mastering.
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Norma Jean – Wrongdoers (1-LP; Fire Eyes Vinyl)
For more than 20 years, metalcore pioneers Norma Jean have dominated the scene with their cathartic and unbridled brand of rock. Borrowing from Marilyn Monroe’s birth name, the Atlanta five-piece debuted in 2001 and built a cult following over the decade through best-selling titles like The Anti Mother (2008) and the highly acclaimed Meridional (2010).
Their influential sixth album, 2013’s Wrongdoers, built upon that momentum and found the band—including longtime frontman Cory Brandan—pushing themselves farther than ever before.
Experimenting with an array of live instrumentation (including strings, piano and organs), the band delivered some of their finest and most dynamic songs to date, including the anthemic title track, the blistering “If You Got It at Five, You Got It at Fifty” and the enduring hit, “Sword in Mouth, Fire Eyes.”
Marking the first vinyl reissue of Wrongdoers, this exclusive edition is limited to 2,750 copies worldwide and pressed on Fire Eyes–colored wax. The LP also features a printed inner sleeve, plus an insert with track lyrics.
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Various Artists – Jazz Dispensary: The Golden Hour (1-LP; Golden Wave Swirl Vinyl)
Welcome to The Golden Hour: The latest stash of sizzlers presented by Jazz Dispensary that immerses listeners in a lush soundscape, where sunbaked sands and cool ocean breezes blend seamlessly to create one dank groove blast.
The curated collection opens with “Web,” an energizing, yet laid-back cut off pianist Hampton Hawes’ 1974 LP, Northern Windows. The recording, led by the great David Axelrod, features drums and bass by legendary session players Spider Webb and Carol Kaye, respectively. Next is “Soul Talk-1970,” off organist Johnny “Hammond” Smith’s 1970 LP, Black Feeling!, followed by Sonny Rollins’ funky “Newkleus.”
The track, which appeared on the saxophonist’s 1975 album, Nucleus, was composed by frequently sampled R&B star James Mtume, who also delivers a heady dose of standout guitar licks. Cornetist Nat Adderley closes out the set with the hard bop–infused “Fortune’s Child,” off his 1978 album, A Little New York Midtown Music.
The breeze picks up on side B with “Cántaro,” a bold and sultry number (penned by Axelrod) off saxophonist Gene Ammons’ 1974 LP, Brasswind, followed by Vince Guaraldi’s “Little Birdie,” a hip 1973 cue for Peanuts sidekick Woodstock (and featuring a rare vocal performance by the best-selling pianist/composer).
Drummer Chico Hamilton chills down the vibes with “Gengis,” a soulful and languid instrumental off his 1973 collab with Little Feat, The Master. Rounding out the album is “Suite for Albeniz,” a seductive Eastern-influenced selection from Philly fusion pioneers Catalyst, off 1976’s A Tear and a Smile.
Limited to just 6,200 units worldwide, The Golden Hour is pressed on a dreamy blue-and-gold Golden Wave Swirl vinyl and housed in a jacket designed by acclaimed visual artist Kamil Czapiga, who used microscopic cameras to film special color inks as they reacted to songs from the album.
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Joe Bataan – Riot! (1-LP; 180-Gram Black Vinyl)
The “King of Latin Soul,” Joe Bataan, epitomized the melting pot of New York City, both musically and culturally. Born Bataan Nitollano in 1942 to an African American mother and Filipino father, the Spanish Harlem-raised singer and pianist formed his first band, Joe Bataan and the Latin Swingers, in 1965.
Blending mambo and pop, tinged with R&B and Latin jazz, with lyrics in English and Spanish, the group was instrumental in establishing an authentic Latin soul sound that would explode in popularity in the late ’60s.
In 1966, the group signed with Fania Records and launched their career with the popular Gypsy Woman the following year. But it was their sophomore effort, 1968’s Riot! that would be their strongest seller—as well as the highest-selling Latin title of the year.
Recorded against a backdrop of political and social unrest, the aptly titled album captures the full spectrum of heightened emotions: from the anger and frustration amid the war to the empowerment and joy of youth culture.
Working under the direction of the great Johnny Pacheco, Bataan and Louie Gonzalez trade vocal duties in English and Spanish, respectively, as they lead the Latin Swingers through their signature “salsoul,” featuring soulful crooning, R&B, doo-wop, Latin rhythms and a powerful horn section.
Among Riot!’s most enduring highlights are the ballads “Ordinary Guy” and “What Good Is a Castle,” as well as the electrifying salsa classics “Muñeca” and “Pa’ Monte” and the soulful “It’s a Good Feeling (Riot).”
Limited to 2,100 copies worldwide, this reissue has been mastered from the original analog tapes by Clint Holley and Dave Polster at Well Made Music and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl.
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Max Roach – Deeds, Not Words (Mono; 1-LP; 180-Gram Vinyl)
One of the most influential drummers of all time, Max Roach (1924–2007) forever changed the modern musical landscape with his free-flowing and melodic approach to rhythm.
Although the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner is most associated with his foundational ties to bebop, his unique phrasing would influence multiple generations of jazz and rock drummers, while he would change the public’s perception of percussion with a variety of awe-inspiring solo performances and recordings.
Roach’s pioneering spirit also extended beyond the studio, as he founded one of the first artist-owned labels (Debut Records) alongside Charles Mingus in 1953.
By the late ’50s, when he recorded Deeds, Not Words for Riverside Records, Roach was testing the boundaries of the hard-bop sound that he helped create. The 1958 set finds Roach leading his innovative quintet (trumpeter Booker Little, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, bassist Art Davis and tubist Ray Draper) through several originals—including the title track and “Jodie’s Cha-Cha” (both penned by frequent collaborator Bill Lee)—as well as a handful of standards (“You Stepped Out of a Dream,” “It’s You or No One”).
The biggest highlight, however, might just be Roach’s sublime solo drum composition, “Conversation.”
Now, jazz fans can enjoy the original mono mix of this essential title. Limited to 3,100 copies worldwide, this special edition features all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, 180-gram black vinyl pressed at Fidelity Pressing and a Stoughton tip-on jacket, replicating the album’s original design.
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Isaac Hayes – Truck Turner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Reel Cult)
GRAMMY- and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and actor Isaac Hayes (1942–2008) was a revolutionary force in soul music, who shaped the sound of the genre both behind the scenes as well as in front of the microphone.
A larger-than-life figure, Hayes began his career as a songwriter at Stax Records, where he penned hit after hit (alongside David Porter) for stars like Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor.
In the late ’60s, Hayes embarked on a solo career, during which he released such groundbreaking albums as Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses and the chart-topping Shaft soundtrack, which made him the first Black composer to win Oscars for Best Original Song (“Theme from Shaft”) and Best Original Score.
That success opened up a plethora of opportunities for Hayes in Hollywood, including a chance to score and star in 1974’s Truck Turner. Directed by Jonathan Kaplan, the film finds Hayes playing the titular role of a retired footballer-turned-bounty hunter who gets himself mixed up in a pimp turf war.
Soundtracking the action film’s badass scenes are Hayes’ supremely funky cues, including “Breakthrough” and the dramatic “Pursuit of the Pimpmobile.” While largely instrumental, the score also showcases Hayes’ signature baritone vocals on a handful of tracks, including the attention-grabbing Main Title theme.
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Angelo Badalamenti – Music for Film and Television (1-LP; Translucent Red Vinyl)
GRAMMY®-winning composer Angelo Badalamenti (1937–2022) was one of modern cinema’s most celebrated composers, whose six-decade-long career found him working with many of the industry’s biggest names, including Joel Schumacher, Jane Campion and Danny Boyle. But the Brooklyn-born Badalamenti was best known for his creative partnership with David Lynch, which began with 1986’s Blue Velvet. Through projects like Wild at Heart (1990), Mulholland Drive (2001) and, most famously, the legendary Twin Peaks TV series, Badalamenti was always able to channel Lynch’s unique vision through his haunting and hypnotic scores.
Varèse Sarabande celebrates Badalamenti’s enduring legacy through the first-ever vinyl release of Music for Film and Television. Showcasing key highlights from the composer’s rich catalog of work, the nine-track collection includes such popular selections as the main title themes from Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, plus the cult-favorite “Laura Palmer’s Theme”/ “Main Title Theme (Falling)” from Twin Peaks, which Rolling Stone once praised as the “most influential soundtrack in TV history.”
The album also showcases Badalamenti’s scores for such high-profile projects as 1990’s The Comfort of Strangers (dir. Paul Schrader), 1995’s Marc Caro / Jean-Pierre Jeunet–directed The City of Lost Children (including “Who Will Take My Dreams Away” featuring Marianne Faithfull) and Jeunet’s Academy Award®-nominated film A Very Long Engagement (2004).
Limited to just 2,800 copies worldwide, this new LP release of Music for Film and Television is pressed on translucent red vinyl and features brand-new artwork by acclaimed illustrator Brianna Ashby, who depicts the maestro with iconic prop items from the beloved projects he scored.
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