Today, Vinyl Weekend kicks off at Barnes and Noble locations around the United States.  This promotion sees the release a number of exclusive vinyl titles including classic albums, compilations, and cast recordings.  These titles are typically available even at locations that (shudder) no longer have full music departments, and should also be available at BN.com.  We’re spotlighting the catalogue-related titles and more below.  Click here to locate a B&N near you.

Bread, Anthology of Bread (White Vinyl) (Elektra/Rhino)

The 1985 compilation (based on the 1977 U.K. release The Sound of Bread) features such classic songs from the David Gates-fronted band as “Make It with You,” “Everything I Own,” “Baby I’m a-Want You,” “Diary,” and “If.”

The Doors, 13 (Blue and White Ink Spot Effect) (Elektra/Rhino)

This long out-of-print anthology, originally released in 1970 (and the only one released during Jim Morrison’s lifetime), was the first best-of from The Doors.  Culled from the band’s first five studio albums, it offers a baker’s dozen of Doors favorites including “Light My Fire,” “Roadhouse Blues,” “Touch Me,” and “People are Strange.”

Debbie Gibson, Out of the Blue (Translucent Blue Vinyl with signed photo) (Atlantic)

Debbie Gibson’s 3x-platinum 1987 debut album returns to vinyl in this translucent blue edition; every copy includes a signed photo from the singer-songwriter-actress.  Includes the Billboard top 10 hits “Out of the Blue,” “Only in My Dreams,” “Shake Your Love,” and the chart-topping “Foolish Beat.”

Green Day, American Idiot (Silver Vinyl) (Reprise)

Green Day’s 2004 concept album – a “punk rock opera,” as the band called it – charted in 27 countries, peaked at No. 1 in 19 of them, sold 16 million copies worldwide, and spawned a successful Broadway musical.  Now its powerful songs such as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” and “American Idiot” are back on silver vinyl.

The Hollies, 20 Golden Greats (Gold Vinyl) (Parlophone)

This compilation was originally released in 1978 and became so successful that it reached No. 2 on the U.K. Albums Chart.  Curated by producer Ron Richards, it features songs from all eras of the band until that point including “The Air That I Breathe,” “Carrie Anne,” “Bus Stop,” “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” “On a Carousel,” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.”

Otis Redding, The Best of Otis Redding (Crystal Clear Vinyl) (Rhino)

The Best of Otis Redding boasts sixteen mono cuts from the late soul man (newly remastered by Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch) who tragically passed away in December 1967.  Tracks include “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” “Try a Little Tenderness,” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” on clear vinyl.  This new collection has never been released on CD and features liner notes on the back cover by Andria Lisle.

Linda Ronstadt, Get Closer (180-Gram Gold Vinyl) (Friday Music)

Linda Ronstadt’s 1982 album produced by Peter Asher featured guest appearances by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, and J.D. Souther, and boasted songs by Jimmy Webb, Kate McGarrigle, Joe South, and Bert Berns in the singer’s luminous style.  Ronstadt netted two Grammy nominations for the LP which ultimately won one of the trophies for its art direction.

Flower Drum Song: Original Broadway Cast Recording (2 LP/45 RPM) (Craft Recordings)

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1958 musical Flower Drum Song returns to vinyl in Craft Recordings’ exquisite 2-LP, 45 RPM remastering of the original Columbia Records cast recording starring Miyoshi Umeki, Pat Suzuki, Keye Luke, Larry Blyden, and Juanita Hall.  R&H’s score is still beloved for such classic and lushly-rendered tunes as “Love, Look Away,” “I Enjoy Being a Girl,” “A Hundred Million Miracles,” and “You Are Beautiful.”  The album, produced by Goddard Lieberson, has been remastered from the original three-track tape by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound.  The new remaster is also available in high-resolution from digital service providers.

In the Heights: Original Broadway Cast Recording (3 LPs – Red, White, and Blue Vinyl) (Ghostlight)

B&N has a red, white, and blue pressing of the exuberant and moving musical that put Lin-Manuel Miranda on the map.  Miranda wrote the score and starred in the 2015 Broadway show featuring a book by Quiara Alegria Hudes; a highly-anticipated film version was set to hit theatres this summer but has been postponed due to COVID.

Jagged Little Pill: Original Broadway Cast Recording (2 LPs – Blue Vinyl) (Atlantic)

Alanis Morissette’s 1995 breakthrough remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.  With bookwriter Diablo Cody, the singer-songwriter adapted it to the stage for a Broadway production that was still packing houses until COVID-19 forced its closure (for now) at the Broadhurst Theatre.  Now, its original cast recording starring Elizabeth Stanley, Lauren Patten, Kathryn Gallagher, and Derek Klena (and featuring two new songs penned by Alanis) arrives on vinyl in an exclusive blue pressing.

Tina: The Musical – Original London Cast Recording (2 LPs – Gold Vinyl) (Ghostlight)

Another show that was curtailed due to COVID, Tina: The Musical, brings the story of Tina Turner to the stage – through all of her successes as well as hardships – as triumphantly embodied by the electrifying Adrienne Warren.  Its original cast recording, too, is making a vinyl debut; it features Warren (who reprised her role in New York) backed by the London cast on selections from Turner’s catalogue including “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “Nutbush City Limits,” “River Deep – Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” “Private Dancer,” and “(Simply) The Best.”

West Side Story: Original Broadway Cast Recording (2 LP/45 RPM) (Masterworks Broadway)

Earlier this summer, Sony’s Masterworks Broadway reissued the expanded soundtrack of 1961’s West Side Story on double vinyl in anticipation of Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film adaptation of the Arthur Laurents/Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical.  A revival of West Side Story was playing on Broadway when COVID hit; while that production hasn’t yet had the chance to record its own cast album, Sony is now reissuing the original 1957 Broadway Cast Recording (starring Carol Lawrence, Larry Kert, and Chita Rivera) on 2 LPs for Vinyl Weekend.  This exclusive pressing also includes a download card.