For the music fan, surely the most exciting thing to see under the Christmas tee is a flat, 12-inch by 12-inch package. For those who love LPs — as well as CD sets and vinyl boxes, of course — here are some of 2022's must-have gifts, including a 10-year anniversary reissue of one of the greatest rap albums of its generation and the 50th anniversary edition of one of Canada's most celebrated records.
David Bowie
Moonage Daydream 2CD soundtrack
Brett Morgen's Bowie doc boasts a lot of previously unseen archival footage. Fittingly, its soundtrack also unearths some gems, as well as featuring a number of tracks from across his prolific career, remixed and remastered especially for the film.
Bright Eyes
Vinyl reissues
Released in conjunction with Conor Oberst resurrecting his most well-known project, these reissues add a bonus EP of "reworked" recordings to LPs like Letting Off the Happiness, Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground and mainstream breakthrough I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.
Guns N' Roses
Use Your Illusion box set
Guns N' Roses' ambitious pair of 1991 albums, remastered for the first time ever, balloon to 97 tracks, including an updated version of "November Rain," contemporaneous live cuts, video from a 1991 gig, a 100-page book, replica fan club merch including newsletters, and more.
Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d. city 10th anniversary edition
One of the greatest hip-hop albums of the past decade is reissued on "black ice" translucent vinyl and with new artwork.
Joni Mitchell
The Asylum Albums 1972-75
The second installment in Rhino's Joni Mitchell archival releases captures the songwriter's first set of recordings for then-new label Asylum. Included in the 5LP box set are studio albums For the Roses, Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and the double record live set Miles of Aisles.
New West Records
Live from Austin, TX
A slew of new titles have been added to New West Records' long-running Live from Austin, TX series of Austin City Limits performances. An impressive range of sets — including David Byrne, Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, Waylon Jennings, Tony Joe White, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and more — are newly remastered and pressed limited edition coloured wax for the first time.
Lou Reed
Words & Music, May 1965
The first of a new series of Reed archival releases from Light in the Attic, Words & Music, May 1965 includes some of the earliest known Velvet Underground demos. The 2LP, 45RPM set comes in a die cut sleeve with a bonus 7-inch, 28-page book and more.
SOPHIE
Nothing More to Say EP
Though her career was tragically cut short, SOPHIE managed to become one of the 21st century's most influential producers. This reissue of her debut single captures some of the magic that first grabbed the world's attention while hinting at what was to come.
Summer Of Soul ...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised Soundtrack
?uestlove's Oscar-winning doc chronicling the landmark 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival gets a much deserved soundtrack. It features previously unreleased live performances from Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone and the Staples Singers among many others.
Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Super Deluxe Edition)
This new box set of Wilco's legendary magnum opus includes 83 rarities, demos and drafts charting the album's complicated birth. The set includes a book featuring new interviews with band members as well as live recordings and a radio session.
Neil Young
Harvest 50th anniversary box set
Turning 50 this year, Young dug up three outtakes from the Harvest sessions with the Stray Gators for this expanded set. Also included is his BBC In Concert performance and the new two-hour documentary Harvest Time.
David Bowie
Moonage Daydream 2CD soundtrack
Brett Morgen's Bowie doc boasts a lot of previously unseen archival footage. Fittingly, its soundtrack also unearths some gems, as well as featuring a number of tracks from across his prolific career, remixed and remastered especially for the film.
Bright Eyes
Vinyl reissues
Released in conjunction with Conor Oberst resurrecting his most well-known project, these reissues add a bonus EP of "reworked" recordings to LPs like Letting Off the Happiness, Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground and mainstream breakthrough I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.
Guns N' Roses
Use Your Illusion box set
Guns N' Roses' ambitious pair of 1991 albums, remastered for the first time ever, balloon to 97 tracks, including an updated version of "November Rain," contemporaneous live cuts, video from a 1991 gig, a 100-page book, replica fan club merch including newsletters, and more.
Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d. city 10th anniversary edition
One of the greatest hip-hop albums of the past decade is reissued on "black ice" translucent vinyl and with new artwork.
Joni Mitchell
The Asylum Albums 1972-75
The second installment in Rhino's Joni Mitchell archival releases captures the songwriter's first set of recordings for then-new label Asylum. Included in the 5LP box set are studio albums For the Roses, Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and the double record live set Miles of Aisles.
New West Records
Live from Austin, TX
A slew of new titles have been added to New West Records' long-running Live from Austin, TX series of Austin City Limits performances. An impressive range of sets — including David Byrne, Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, Waylon Jennings, Tony Joe White, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and more — are newly remastered and pressed limited edition coloured wax for the first time.
Lou Reed
Words & Music, May 1965
The first of a new series of Reed archival releases from Light in the Attic, Words & Music, May 1965 includes some of the earliest known Velvet Underground demos. The 2LP, 45RPM set comes in a die cut sleeve with a bonus 7-inch, 28-page book and more.
SOPHIE
Nothing More to Say EP
Though her career was tragically cut short, SOPHIE managed to become one of the 21st century's most influential producers. This reissue of her debut single captures some of the magic that first grabbed the world's attention while hinting at what was to come.
Summer Of Soul ...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised Soundtrack
?uestlove's Oscar-winning doc chronicling the landmark 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival gets a much deserved soundtrack. It features previously unreleased live performances from Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone and the Staples Singers among many others.
Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Super Deluxe Edition)
This new box set of Wilco's legendary magnum opus includes 83 rarities, demos and drafts charting the album's complicated birth. The set includes a book featuring new interviews with band members as well as live recordings and a radio session.
Neil Young
Harvest 50th anniversary box set
Turning 50 this year, Young dug up three outtakes from the Harvest sessions with the Stray Gators for this expanded set. Also included is his BBC In Concert performance and the new two-hour documentary Harvest Time.