News

Craft Recordings is contributing to the annual Record Store Day Black Friday event, to be held this year on Friday, November 23, with six limited edition vinyl releases.  These include the first-ever vinyl pressings of Collective Soul’s smash 1993 debut, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid, and Violent Femmes’ 2005 best-of collection, Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes. The label also has a reissue of the self-titled debut from Butch Trucks’ pre-Allman Brothers Band group, The 31st of February.  Three compilations will round out the label’s slate.  Feelin’ Right Saturday Night is a new 2-LP set celebrating the 60th anniversary of New Orleans’ Ric & Ron Records. Jazz Dispensary: Purple Funk, Vol. 2 continues the series of funky, psychedelic jazz selections, while the simply-titled The Christmas Collection is a festive yuletide platter filled with jazz rarities from the Prestige, Contemporary, and Debut labels.

Craft describes all of its Black Friday releases as follows:

Collective Soul, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid (180-gram opaque red vinyl)

In 1993, Collective Soul combined grunge, soul, and Southern-style hard rock on their debut full-length, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid, which spawned the indelible No. 1 rock radio smash “Shine” and the follow-up hit “Breathe.” To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this double-platinum landmark, it will enjoy its first-ever vinyl pressing-available on 180-gram opaque red vinyl.

The 31st of February, The 31st of February (180-gram vinyl)

Prior to joining The Allman Brothers Band, the late drummer Butch Trucks cut his teeth in The 31st of February, a Florida-based rock group fond of the psychedelic-pop sounds transforming music in the late ’60s. Long out of print, the group’s self-titled 1968 debut LP for the Vanguard label is being pressed on 180-gram vinyl. This reissue was cut from the original stereo tapes and is housed in a Stoughton old-style tip-on jacket.

Various Artists, The Christmas Collection (translucent red vinyl)

This holiday LP is brimming with jazz rarities plucked from the Prestige, Contemporary, and Debut label vaults. Notable artists include pianist Bobby Timmons, known for playing with Chet Baker and here contributing covers of “White Christmas” and “You’re All I Want For Christmas,” and tenor saxophone greats Dexter Gordon and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, each performing spirited takes on “The Christmas Song.” The Christmas Collection songs, most of which are long out-of-print, have been remastered from original audio tapes and then pressed on festive translucent red vinyl.

Various Artists, Feelin’ Right Saturday Night: The Ric & Ron Anthology (2xLP black vinyl)

Founded by Joe Ruffino-a former salesman for New Orleans-based music-industry hub A-1 Distributors-the legendary labels Ric and Ron helped document Crescent City’s booming R&B scene from 1958 to 1962. Feelin’ Right Saturday Night: The Ric & Ron Anthology commemorates Ric’s 60th anniversary (Ron was founded in 1959) by highlighting classics such as Professor Longhair’s “Go to the Mardi Gras,” Eddie Bo’s “Dinky Doo,” Al Johnson’s “Carnival Time,” and sides from future star Irma Thomas. Joe Jones’ “You Talk Too Much,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is also included. This double-LP set features new liner notes from award-winning producer/artist Scott Billington and two previously unreleased tracks: a demo of “Tipitina” from Professor Longhair and “Good Enough For Me” from Eddie Bo.

Various Artists, Jazz Dispensary: Purple Funk, Vol. 2 (180-gram purple cotton candy-colored vinyl)

A follow-up to the Cosmic Stash box set breakout LP, Jazz Dispensary: Purple Funk, Vol. 2 features rare sides from Bobby Rush, Johnny Hammond, Pleasure, and many more jazz-funk titans. This limited edition RSD-exclusive release features original, psychedelic paint-marbling artwork by fine artist Danielle Garza (aka Ellierex) and contains long-out-of-print tracks from the Prestige and Galaxy Records vaults making their return to vinyl.  The included songs are newly remastered for this collection, and are pressed on 180-gram, purple cotton candy-colored vinyl.

Violent Femmes, Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes (coke-bottle clear vinyl)

Violent Femmes were one of the most inventive and original bands to emerge during the ’80s college-rock boom. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the stripped-down trio uniquely combined punk and folk, sarcasm and spirituality, on songs that acutely captured romantic angst. From there, Violent Femmes released eight studio albums, achieved an excess of 10 million sales worldwide, and released a string of iconic singles-many of which are featured here. Pressed for the first time on coke-bottle-clear vinyl, the 2005 retrospective Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes contains favorites “Blister In The Sun,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “Add It Up,” “American Music,” and “Kiss Off,” as well as a dozen other classics.

All of the above will be available at independent record stores throughout the U.S. on Friday, November 23.  (You can search for participating retailers at Record Store Day’s website!)  Stay tuned to The Second Disc for more RSD Black Friday news!