Halloween is over and the election has come and gone, so it’s time to talk about Christmas.

Yes, there is a little holiday called Thanksgiving that’s between now and Dec. 25, but these days it’s more akin to a feast to boost your holiday-shopping endurance on Black Friday. Here in Maine, a lot of people have already moved into full-blown deck-the-halls mode, as evidenced by the smattering of holiday performances and dozens of holiday craft fairs happening this week. (See the various GO listings for details.)

This Black Friday will offer a chance to snag some ultra-rare vinyl for the audiophile and/or collector on your shopping list. It’s basically a smaller version of Record Store Day, an annual event of rare reissues and new releases on vinyl that has almost single-handedly saved the vinyl music market from having the last shovelful of dirt dropped on its face.

The Maine-based Bull Moose Music chain, one of the founders of Record Store Day, will be the place to be on Nov. 23. My wife bought me a limited-edition EP by U2, “Wide Awake in Europe,” on Black Friday 2010 at the Bull Moose in Scarborough, and copies are now going for $50 to $100 on Ebay.

The following are some of the ultra-cool Black Friday releases planned for this year. For a complete list, go to recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases. Prices listed are suggested retail; some items may be reduced at Bull Moose.

David Bowie, “Jean Genie”: A 40th-anniversary 12-inch picture disc. Limited to 2,000 copies. $10.99

Advertisement

Bob Dylan, “Duquesne Whistle”: A 7-inch single from Dylan’s new album, “Tempest,” backed by an unreleased B-side and limited to 5,000 copies. $6.98

Fat Boys, “Pizza Box LP”: This one is really fun — the rap pioneers’ first album reissued on a picture disc that looks like a pizza, packaged in a pizza box. Also includes a poster, a booklet and a download card with bonus material. Price unavailable.

Joan Jett, “Bad Reputation”: Jett’s first solo album, re-released on 180-gram clear vinyl and packaged with a CD of bonus tracks and live material. Limited to 2,350 copies. $19.98

Nirvana, “Incesticide”: 20th-anniversary reissue of 1992 rarities compilation on 45-RPM vinyl. Limited to 4,000 copies. $49.97

The Rolling Stones, “The Rolling Stones”: If the massive amount of Stones archival releases over the past year hasn’t satiated your appetite, here’s a cool collectible — a reissue of the band’s first UK EP, limited to 5,000 copies and available in vinyl format for the time since its original 1964 release. $9.98

The Velvet Underground & Nico: “Scepter Studios Acetate”: Demos for the VU’s classic debut album, recorded in 1966 and available for the first time on an official release. This 12-inch record is limited to 5,000 copies. $19.98

Advertisement

For more information, contact your neighborhood Bull Moose Music Store.

CONGRATULATIONS to Geoffrey Starrett, 28, of Portland, who won our random drawing in the GO Halloween Costume Contest. Starrett, who dressed as pop star Nicki Minaj for Halloween, gets four free tickets to an upcoming Portland Pirates hockey game, and one child in his group will get to deliver the puck at center ice.

Deputy Managing Editor Rod Harmon may be contacted at 791-6450 or:

rharmon@pressherald.com

Twitter: RHarmonPPH

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: