Record Store Day Black Friday—an extension of the annual celebration of independent music shops that has since turned into a bloated, navel-gazing mess that often hurts the exact stores it claims to support—is once again returning on November 27.RSD was founded in 2008 as a way to help drive customers to then-struggling indie retailers (and entice vinyl-loving cranks like myself), but in recent years has become a clearinghouse for increasingly ridiculous rarities; some notable stores have even refused to participate over profitability and distribution concerns.
While the 2027 edition likely won’t solve the well-documented issues the event continues to face, there are still gems worth braving a horde of Sombr fans to purchase.Below, the Pitchfork staff has compiled a list of the best ones amid the nuclear-grade cringe.David Axelrod: David AxelrodFrank Black: Teenager Of The YearPi'erre Bourne: The Life of Pi'erre 4Fischerspooner: #1Funkadelic: Live at Meadowbrook 1971Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Advent Calendar Edition)Carly Rae Jepsen: Day and Night (Continued)Lil Wayne: No CeilingsJoni Mitchell: Live at Carnegie Hall - 1972Stevie Nicks: Bella DonnaMasayoshi Takanaka: Super SelectionTom Verlaine: Live in NYC 1996 - 2006Bill Withers: Bill Withers in Concert - Live at the BBC, 1974...