Looking for the perfect gift for the rock fan in your life? These are our picks for the best Christmas gifts for rock music fans this holiday season.
The Beatles – Blue and Red Compilations
These landmark compilations have introduced generations of fans to the incredible history of the most storied band in music. For its 50th anniversary, the Red collection has been expanded with 12 additional tracks added chronologically, including for the first time some of George Harrison’s earliest songs and some classic Beatles versions of R&B and rock ‘n’ roll hits that were so influential on the band. The Blue collection has been expanded with nine additional tracks, including “Blackbird,” “Glass Onion,” and the new song “Now And Then”.
Thin Lizzy – Vagabonds of the Western World 4LP
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Thin Lizzy’s third studio album Vagabonds of the Western World, with a 4LP on black vinyl. To celebrate the album’s golden anniversary, the deluxe remastered LP set features rarities, radio sessions, unreleased music, rare photos, extensive sleeve notes by Mark Blake, and memorabilia across four pieces of vinyl and a hardback book.
Aerosmith – Greatest Hits
For the first time ever, 44 tracks spanning their five-decade career on 180g black vinyl. It features “Dream On,” “Walk This Way,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Crazy,” “Cryin’,” “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” and many more.
Nirvana – In Utero
Celebrating In Utero’s 30th, this 8LP Super Deluxe features 180-gram pressings of the album + 5 b-sides & bonus tracks newly remastered, two complete concerts from Los Angeles ’93 & Seattle ‘94 plus six bonus live songs from the tour – 72 total tracks – 53 unreleased tracks.
Bonus items: an Angel-on-acrylic panel; 48-pg book with unreleased photos; new 20-pg fanzine; LA gig poster litho; 2 ticket stubs; replicas of the promo Angel mobile, three gig flyers, all-access tour laminate & 4 backstage passes.
The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion Super Deluxe Edition
This deluxe 4LP box set includes a reproduction of the original 60-page promotional hymn book featuring insights on the record and the band’s state of mind from both Chris and Rich Robinson. It also contains sheet music for the 9 Chris and Rich compositions. The project has been overseen by Chris and Rich Robinson and album producer George Draklouias. There are 14 unreleased recordings, including two studio recordings, a live concert from February 1993, and the never-heard-before live in-studio performance recorded at the end of the Southern Harmony session along with b-sides and the original album, now remastered.
The Cranberries – To The Faithful Departed
Originally released in 1996, To The Faithful Departed has sold over six million copies worldwide and became the band’s highest-charting album on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. The 3CD set contains unreleased outtakes and early mixes of the studio album, 12 rare live tracks recorded on the “Free to Decide” tour, an extensive album booklet, and the original 1LP album remastered. Available as a 3CD set.
Steve Miller Band – J50: The Evolution of the Joker Super Deluxe Edition
J50: The Evolution of The Joker, curated by Steve Miller, highlights 27 previously unreleased demos, live performances, studio outtakes, and rehearsals from Miller’s personal archive, including eight never-before-heard songs. Miller also provides narration guiding the “evolution” of the songs from The Joker. The box set features a lenticular cover, a 60-page book with liner notes from both Steve Miller & Anthony DeCurtis, a reproduction of a vintage Joker iron-on, and a new Joker lithograph.
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
Hackney Diamonds, the hugely anticipated new album by The Rolling Stones, marks the band’s first studio album of original material since 2005. Featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, and many more.
Frank Zappa – Over-Nite Sensation (50th Anniversary)
To celebrate Over-Nite Sensation, there’s a 4CD + 1 Blu-ray Audio Super Deluxe showcasing 88 total tracks with 57 unreleased tracks & mixes. It features the 2012 remaster of the original album by Bob Ludwig, along with additional masters, highlights, and mix outtakes from the original 1973 sessions mastered by John Polito. The package also features unseen photos from the album cover shoot, along with liner notes and essays by Mark Smotroff and Vaultmeister Joe Travers.
The Who – Who’s Next / Life House Super Deluxe Edition
Who’s Next / Life House Super Deluxe Edition contains 10 CDs all remastered from original tapes by long-time Who engineer Jon Astley, as well as a Blu-ray Audio disc with newly made Atmos & 5.1 surround mixes of the original album and 14 bonus tracks by Steven Wilson. The set features 155 tracks, including 89 unreleased tracks & mixes and another 57 previously released tracks but with a fresh remix.
Dire Straits – Live 1978-1992
This exciting Dire Straits package contains newly remastered versions of Alchemy and On the Night, both of which are currently unavailable on vinyl, as well as a variety of other live shows.
Steely Dan – Vinyl LPs
Over the past year, Steely Dan has been releasing their vaunted classic albums on vinyl, including Aja, Gaucho, and more. Check out the link below to see if your favorite Dan album is available.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – FYFTY 4CD
FYFTY is a career-defining anthology encompassing their early recordings from Muscle Shoals Studios, legendary anthems of the ‘70s, rarities unearthed over the years, the 1987 reunion concert, and iconic recordings of the modern era of the band up to 2020’s digital single “Last Of The Street Survivors” & November 2022’s final performance with the late, great, last co-founding member Gary Rossington on “Gimme Three Steps”.
Rory Gallagher – All Around Man – Live In London
This release contains a previously unreleased concert from Rory Gallagher’s late 1990 UK tour. It’s a 23-song set of live career classics as well as material from his then-most recent albums, Fresh Evidence and Defender. This new album has been mixed from the recently found multi-tracks and mastered at Abbey Road.
Billy Idol – Billy Idol: Expanded Edition
This expanded edition of Billy Idol’s self-titled debut album features an unreleased 1982 concert from the Roxy in West Hollywood, an epic unreleased 12+ minute(!) extended version of “White Wedding,” and two exclusive double-sided “postcard” inserts.
Brian May & Friends – Star Fleet Project Sessions (40th Anniversary) Box Set
The first CD of the Star Fleet Project + Beyond features both the full-length and single versions of the title track, full-length album versions of “Let Me Out” and “Blues Breaker,” as well as interviews and live performances. The second CD, The Complete Sessions, features 23 tracks newly mixed from the original analog session tapes. The LP is presented in 180g transparent red vinyl. The box set also features a 7” black vinyl with an exclusive B-side. A badge and booklet featuring extensive liner notes complete the box set.
Huey Lewis & The News – Sports Vinyl Edition
Originally released on September 15, 1983, Huey Lewis and The News’ third album, Sports, had four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and ranked at #2 on the Billboard year-end album charts in 1984.
INXS – Calling All Nations – A Fan History Of INXS
Thousands of journalists have interviewed and told INXS’s story, but this is the story told by those who loved them the most throughout their career and to this day…the fans. Calling All Nations – A Fan History of INXS is a visual and written history of the band curated from generous contributions of 100s of their fans, as well as memories and archive material from the band themselves.
Dolly Parton – Rockstar
Rockstar is the 49th solo studio album by the legendary Dolly Parton. The album is composed of plenty of collaborations, with Sting, Steve Perry, and many more featuring. It’s Dolly’s first “rock” album, following her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Rush – Signals 40th Anniversary
The Signals Super Deluxe celebrates 40 years with new Hugh Syme artwork throughout & the 2015 remaster on CD for the first time. The album vinyl will be cut for the first time at half-speed via DMM & pressed on 180g black vinyl for optimal vinyl quality. Bonus items include a 40-page book, four 7-inches, three lenticulars, five lithos & a double-sided poster.
The Moody Blues – To Our Children’s Children’s Children 50th Anniversary Edition: 4CD + Blu-Ray
Issued in 1969, To Our Children’s Children’s Children was the first album released by The Moody Blues on their own label, Threshold Records. Regarded as one of the finest of their so-called “classic seven” albums, the record covered conceptual themes such as space exploration (as the sessions took place when the Apollo 11 moon landing occurred). This deluxe edition features the remastered original stereo mix, along with new stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes by Stephen W. Tayler.
U2 – Songs Of Surrender
Songs of Surrender sees U2 revisiting their incredible catalogue, with 40 reinterpretations of classic tunes. The album was released in conjunction with Bono’s memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.
Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
Greta Van Fleet’s run of striking rock ‘n’ roll continues with their third album, Starcatcher. Described by the band as a return to their roots, it features hit singles like “Meeting the Master” and “Sacred the Thread.”
The Tragically Hip – Phantom Power 25th Anniversary
Phantom Power, one of the best Tragically Hip albums, is now a true double album with five brand new, never-before-heard tracks. The package also includes a 1998 live show, a 64-page book, and much more.
John Mellencamp – Orpheus Descending
John Mellencamp returns with his 25th album, the beautiful and haunting Orpheus Descending. It’s another classic collection of songs, with Spill calling it one of the best albums of Mellencamp’s career.
