In contrast to the over-the-top shenanigans of big box retailers, independent record stores celebrate Black Friday with a considerably smaller seasonal offshoot of April’s annual Record Store Day event. In its ninth year, more than 150 exclusives are available, and every local shop we spoke to—All Day Records (Carrboro), Bull City Records (Durham), Carolina Soul (Durham), Nice Price Books & Records (Raleigh’s Hillsborough Street location, but not the newly opened Oakwood location), Record Krate (Raleigh and Wake Forest), Schoolkids (Raleigh and Chapel Hill), and Sorry State Records (Raleigh)—plans to stock some releases, but the best bet is to call ahead if you’re seeking a specific item.
The list of available titles is extensive and eclectic, ranging from the first-time vinyl release of the Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas soundtrack to the highly unnecessary five-LP Toad The Wet Sprocket box set. There are also live offerings (including Etta Jones, Muddy Waters, Grateful Dead, Phish, and Ramones) along with special reissues of classic albums (Bob Marley’s Catch A Fire, The Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Devo’s Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, and The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle) and more modern hits (Weezer’s “Africa” single and Taylor Swift’s Speak Now and Red).
“It’s not as crazy as Record Store Day, but every year I’m surprised how many people make records a central part of their Black Friday shopping itinerary,” says Sorry State’s Daniel Lupton. “I’m not sure if the bulk of that shopping is for gifts or people giving themselves a reward after a tough morning of door-busting, but it means a lot that people take time out of their Thanksgiving weekend to come see us,” he adds. Like some other Triangle record retailers, Sorry State has been waiting until Black Friday to refresh its bins with recently acquired stock that includes classic and progressive rock, new wave, and original pressings of midcentury jazz records.
Jazz fans should also plan to browse the crates at Carolina Soul, which is unveiling a collection filled with heavyweights like Miles, Mingus, Monk, and Coltrane, as well rare releases from labels like Strata-East. Record Krate will also be putting out some unique used inventory it’s saved for the occasion. All Day will be offering ten percent off all new and used vinyl (excluding RSD titles), while Sorry State has yet to determine the discounts on its storewide sale.
In most cases, feel free to sleep in: Although each store is anticipating the unofficial start to holiday shopping with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, most are keeping normal operating hours. “I kind of like to keep Black Friday a little relaxed and save our energy to go all out for [Record Store Day in] April,” says Chaz Martenstein of Bull City Records. The exception is Schoolkids Records, where Chip Kloss, the ever-excited Raleigh manager, reports both locations will open at 8 a.m.