People who patronize record stores are generally the kind of consumers who respond to long lines at Walmart with a resounding "Fuck. That." But thanks to Record Store Day, Black Friday doesn't have to be a dark day for well-listened music fans. That's because nothing follows turkey, football and family infighting better than a brand-new 180-gram, gold-foil, numerically stamped vinyl replica of the Velvet Underground Scepter Studios Acetate (note: not as valuable as the real thing) or an exclusive copy of the new Fat Boys box set (yes, there is a Fat Boys box set!). Here's a handful of Nashvillicious Record Store Day Black Friday 2012 exclusives to whet your aural appetite. Line up for copies at Grimey's, The Groove, The Great Escape, Ernest Tubb or any participating bricks-and-mortar record retailer.
JEFF the Brotherhood, "Dark Energy" 7-inch
This eerie, characteristically riff-heavy standout from JEFF the Brotherhood's Dan Auerbach-produced major-label debut Hypnotic Nights straddles the line between power-pop balladry à la early Weezer and stone-y, psychedelic prog-rock à la Iron Butterfly. This 7-inch single boasts both the original album version of the song and an alternate version featuring lead vocals from local popsmith-par-excellence Tristen.
Lucinda Williams/Michael Chapman, "That Time of Night" 7-inch
Not unlike the previous entry, this 7-inch features variant versions of one song on two sides. The A-side is Americana luminary Lucinda Williams' take on British folkie Michael Chapman's "That Time of Night." And the B-side features Chapman's original version of the tune. Can you say, "musical transcontinental Pepsi Challenge?"
Eric Burdon and The Greenhornes, Apolinere Enameled
It's good of Animals legend Eric Burdon to venture out of the wilderness this year. Even better that he linked up with fellow — though fresh-faced by comparison — blues fetishists The Greenhornes. The 71-year-old singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer fronts the from-Cincinnati-hailing Nashville transplants on this four-song 12-inch, which was produced by Brendan Benson — who of course plays in The Raconteurs alongside Greenhornes Patrick Keeler and "Little" Jack Lawrence.
The White Stripes, "Fell in Love With a Girl," "Hotel Yorba" and "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" 7-inches
Speaking of The Raconteurs, Jack White and his Third Man Records crew — ever-loyal supporters of Record Store Day — are reissuing three (naturally) modern-classic White Stripes singles in 7-inch form. B-sides include a cover of the Burt Bacharach- and Hal David-penned Dusty Springfield gem "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself," and takes on Robert Johnson's "Stop Breaking Down" and Loretta Lynn's "Rated X."
Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, Buddy and Jim
As in-demand producers, session men and songwriters, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale are both busy guys. But give 'em a couple days off together, and they make a fine duets record, Buddy and Jim. Snatch up a copy on Record Store Day Black Friday — a full two weeks in advance of its official release.
Johnny Cash, The Fabulous Johnny Cash
This reissue of The Man in Black's third full-length and Columbia Records debut is a 180-gram mono reproduction of the original 1958 LP. A sure-fire must-have for outlaw country-loving audiophiles, the album features choice Cash classics the likes of "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," "The Troubadour" and "Frankie's Man, Johnny."
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