Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is known as the biggest shopping day of the year. Independent record retailers are now in on the action with some great deals and some excellent new, exclusive releases.
On “Back to Black Friday,” organized by Record Store Day, one item every classic rock collector will want to add to his or her collection will be released: The Doors’ 40th Anniversary of L.A. Woman vinyl singles box set, courtesy of the fine folks at Rhino Records.
The set will include a collection of four 7″ singles with the tracks “The Changeling,” “Riders on the Storm,” and “Love Her Madly,” backed with newly-discovered and never-before-heard alternate takes of each song. The fourth single will contain never before-released studio banter, and box artwork will also include the original Messianic image of the naked woman nailed to the telephone pole used for the album’s inner sleeve.
“We decided to hold a year-long celebration, “The Year Of The Doors,” kicking off with The 40th Anniversary version of the L.A. Woman album, coming in January 2012, ” Jeff Jampol, manager of The Doors tells us. “In honor of our 40-year relationship with independent record stores all over the world, it’s been crucial to us that we include them in our plans, seek their input, and celebrate the efforts of record-lovers working in indie stores everywhere, who put forth so much effort turning people on to great music.”
“We wanted to do something really special for them; so, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind limited, serial-numbered Box Set to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of L.A. Woman, The Year Of The Doors, and Record Store Day Black Friday.”
“We hope folks love our L.A. Woman Vinyl Singles Box, created specifically for indie record stores—once they’re gone, they’re gone. Indie record stores are important. Music is a crucial artform, art saves lives, and indie record stores connect people to great music, new and old. So, The Doors will forever stay connected to indie record stores and everyone who tries so selflessly to keep them open and thriving!”
The surviving members of The Doors share the same affinity for much of what’s kicking around TVD Monday through Friday:
“Record stores are a place of community; something we as humans desperately need. Yes, the web is an electronic community, but you can’t feel, smell, or touch on the Internet. I’m also very pleased that the image of the crucified L.A. Woman on the telephone pole is getting her due with the poster we’re putting in the 7″ Vinyl Box. She has been much maligned (cops and cars, the topless bars, never saw a woman so alone) and I do think that if us guys could tap more into our inner feminine side, the world would be a much better place.”
—John Densmore
“There will always be a need for indie record stores—and for vinyl. I think vinyl’s making a comeback, actually – it just sounds so much better! We’ve got to get away from ‘just digital’ thinking.”
—Robby Krieger
“I love record stores. They’re like candy shops for disc heads. There’s invariably something you’ve never seen before and it blows you away! It’s the graphics, the look, the name of the band, the potential for a major discovery. The possibility of love. Yes. How cool is that. Falling in love on Black Friday as you are just cruising the aisles. A hipster, a cool cat, a wigged-out dude of major concern. And you discover love! I’m talking real love; a significant other on a disc.
Man, what more do you want? That’s Black Friday. Could change you’re life. Be there!”
—Ray Manzarek
Record Store Day organizers gathered at Jim Morrison’s gravesite (in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris) to celebrate the 4oth Anniversary of the original release of LA Woman. Shown in the photo is an original copy of the Door’s LA Woman vinyl album—before the artwork was censored back in 1971.
Pictured left to right are are RSD organizers David Godevais (RSD France), Marlene Parlevliet (RSD Holland), Michael Kurtz (RSD USA), and Spencer Hickman (RSD UK).
