Year of the Covid. Includes favorite new releases, reissues and compilations

Reissues that make this list are usually of good pressing/mastering quality

Purchased LP or EP unless otherwise stated BD, SACD, DVD-A or CD (*don't own)

2020 List

Favorite New Releases

• AC/DC - Pwr/Up (2020,Walmart Exclusive Red LP)
• Airbag - A Day at the Beach (2020,LP)
• The Atomic Bitchwax - Scorpio (2020,LP)
• Bananagun - The True Story of Bananagun (2020,LP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Live at Capricorn Studios (2020,Blue EP)
• Black Rainbows - Cosmic Ritual Supertrip (2020, Orange Splatter LP)
• Black Stone Cherry - The Human Condition (2020,Red LP)
• Bombino - Live in Amsterdam (2020,RSDBF LE 2xLP)
• Brant Bjork - Brant Bjork (2020,Clear & Red Splatter LE LP)
• Deftones - Ohms (2020,LP)
• The Doobie Brothers - Quadio (2020,4xBDA Quadraphonic Box Set)
• Electric Hydra - Electric Hydra (2020,Orange Opaque LP)
• Elton John - Jewel Box (2020,8xCD + Hardback book Box Set)
• The Flaming Lips - American Head (2020,Indie Blue and Pink 2xLP)
• Fleetwood Mac - The Alternate Rumours (2020,RSD LP)
• Flying Colors - Third Stage: Live in London (2020,Orange 3xLP)
• The Goners - Good Mourning (2020,Blue/White Splatter LEx75 LP)
• Haken - Virus (2020,Gatefold 2xLP)
• Jakko M. Jakszyk - Secrets and Lies (2020,Gatefold LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Life on the Flip Side (2020,B&N Exclusive Blue 2xLP + Booklet)
• John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth. (2020,CD/Blu-ray Atmos 7.1 + Hardback Book)
• Jungle Fire - Jungle Fire (2020)
• Kansas - The Absence of Presence (2020,Spring Green 2xLP / CD+5.1 BDA)
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Live in San Francisco '16 (2020,2xLP)
• Louise Patricia Crane - Deep Blue (2020,LP)
• Lowrider - Refractions (2020)
• moe. - This Is Not, We Are (2020,"Blue Galaxy" Swirl LP)
• Neil Young - Homegrown (2020,Archival LP)
• Ocean Alley - Lonely Diamond (2020,Red/Blue Splatter 2xLP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Space For the Earth (2020,Turquoise LP)
• Pat Metheny - From This Place (2020,2xLP)
• Paul McCartney - III (2020,Target LE Fluorescent Green LP)
• Pendragon - Love Over Fear (2020,Turquoise/Purple Splatter 2xLP)
• Phish - Sigma Oasis (2020,"Seafoam Waves" Green/White 2xLP)
• Rebelution - Dub Collection (2020, Sea Glass 2xLP)
• Robbie Krieger - The Ritual Begins at Sundown (2020, Opaque Yellow LP)
• Seether - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum (2020,Red Splatter 2xLP)
• Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In... (2020,RSD LEx4000 Blue Splatter LP)
• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited - The Flawless Ms. Drake (2020,LP w/Shag Art)
• Strfkr - Future Past Life (2020,Orange LP)
• Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1... (2020,Opaque Green + Yellow 2xLP)
• Sturgill Simpson - Cuttin' Grass Vol. 2... (2020, 2021 Blue LP)*
• Tame Impala - The Slow Rush (2020,Red + Blue 2xLP)
• Walter Trout - Ordinary Madness (2020,Red 2xLP)
• Wishbone Ash - Coat of Arms (2020,2xLP)
• Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep (2020,LP)
• Yawning Man - Live at Giant Rock (2020,LP)

Favorite Reissues

• Abba - Studio Albums (2014,2020 Opaque Color 8xLP Box Set)
• Abba - Super Trouper (1980, 2020 ARS Half-speed Remaster 2xLP)
• Ace of Base - Happy Nation (1993,2020 Clear LP)
• Actually - Predator Romantic (2015,2020 White/Red Blood Splatter LP)
• Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995,2020 Walmart Clear LP)
• Alice in Chains - Facelift (1990,2020 2xLP)
• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Roots & Herbs (1970,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• The Bangles - Sweetheart of the Sun (2011,2020 Purple/Pink Swirl LP)
• The Beths - Future Me Hates Me (2018,2020 Clear/Neon Green Splatter LP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Little Piece of Dixie (2009,2020 LEx500 Orange 2xLP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Bad Luck Ain't No Crime (2003,2020 LEx500 Smoke 2xLP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Wood, Wire & Roses (2015,2020 Amber Smoke EP)
• Black Pumas - Black Pumas (2019,2020 Gold + Black/Red Mix 2xLP + 7" 45 Single)
• Black Rainbows - Pandaemonium (2018,2020 Green Fluo LP + Alternate Cover)
• Bob Marley & The Wailers - Various (2020 ARS Half-Speed Remaster EU LPs)
• Bobby Hutcherson - Oblique (1979,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Boston - Boston (1978,2020 Walmart Opaque Blue LP)
• Brant Bjork - Punk Rock Guilt (2008,2020 RM LP)
• Collective Soul - Collective Soul (1995,2020 Zia Exclusive Turquoise LEx1000 LP)
• Crash Test Dummies - A Worm's Life (1996,2020 LP)
• Crash Test Dummies - Give Yourself a Hand (1999,2020 LP)
• CCR - Chronicle (1976,2020 Walmart Exclusive Red/Blue Marble Swirl 2xLP)
• Cunninlynguists - Rose Azura Njano (2020,"Galaxy" Yellow LEx500 2xLP)*
• David Gray - White Ladder (1998,2020 White 2xLP)
• Death - Leprosy (1988,2020 Neon Magenta Clear Splatter LP)
• Diana Ross & The Supremes - Number 1's (2004,2020 Target Exclusive Yellow LP)
• Deep Purple - Stormbringer (1974,2020 Rhino "SYEOR" Series LE Purple LP)
• The Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies (1976,2020 Clear Cola Green Walmart LP)
• The Doors - Greatest Hits (1980,2020 Walmart Exclusive Opaque White LP)
• Duke Pearson - The Phantom (1969,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Duran Duran - Duran Duran (Barnes & Noble White 2xLP)
• Elton John - Elton John (1970,2020 Purple RSD 2xLP)
• Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records (1958,2020 Walmart Exclusive Gold LP)
• Elvis Presley - Classic Christmas Album (2012,2020 Target Exclusive "Snowflake" LP)
• Ethiopian & Gladiators - Dread Prophecy (1986,2020 Omnivore LP)
• The Feminine Complex - Livin' Love (1969,2020 RSD LEx1400 Opaque Pink 2xLP)
• Flying Colors - Second Nature (2014,2020 Opaque Light Blue LEx1000 2xLP)
• Flying Colors - Flying Colors (2012,2020 Opaque Light Blue LEx1000 2xLP)
• Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant (1970,2020 RE LP)
• George Thorogood - Ride 'Til I Die (2003,2019/2020 LP)
• Go-Go's - Greatest (1990,2020 Target Exclusive "Sea Glass" LP)
• Golden Earring - Together (1972,2020 MOV "Psychedelic Green" LP)
• Goldfrapp - Supernature (2005,2020 Translucent Green LP)
• Gov't Mule - Life Before Insanity (2000,2020 Green/Black Swirl MOV 2xLP)
• Hot Tuna - Burgers (1972,2020 FM Purple Marble LP)
• Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2001,2020 LP)
• Jimi Hendrix - Smash Hits (1969,2020 Walmart Exclusive Purple LP)
• Jimi Hendrix - Winterland (2020,Target Exclusive Orange LP)
• John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965,2020 Acoustic Sounds AAA-QRP RM LP)
• John Coltrane Quartet - Ballads (1963,2020 Acoustic Sounds AAA-QRP RM LP)
• Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison (1968,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Gold LP)
• Kayak - Golden Years (2015,2020 MOV Translucent Green 2xLP)
• Kendrick Lamar - Damn (2017, 2020 Target Exclusive "Forest Green" 2xLP)
• The La's - BBC in Session (2006,2020 Translucent Green LP)
• Lee Morgan - The Cooker (1958,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (1964,2020 Classic Vinyl Series LP)
• Livin' Blues - Wang Dang Doodle (1970,2020 MOV LEx1000 Opaque Orange LP)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - Icon (2010,2020 Walmart LE Root Beer Color 2xLP)
• Martin Denny - Exotica (1957,2020 Jackpot LEx1500 Opaque Red Mono LP)
• Martin Denny - Hypnotique (1958,2020 Jackpot LEx1500 Opaque Blue LP)
• Martin Denny - Quiet Village (1959,2020 Jackpot LEx1500 Opaque Green Marble LP)
• Martin Denny - Exotic Moog (1969,2020 Jackpot LEx1500 RSD Opaque Orange LP)
• Marvin Gaye - Number 1's (2007,2020 Target Exclusive Purple LP)
• Mastodon - Leviathan (2004,2020 Royal Blue/White Splatter LP)
• Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Best of Under the Covers (1997,2020 Red 2xLP)
• McCoy Tyner - Tender Moments (1968,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Some Velvet Morning (1968,2020 RSDBF Splatter 7")
• Nirvana - Nirvana (2002,2020 Walmart Exclusive Smoke Clear LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Arborescence (1994,Translucent Red 2020 Ed Wynne Remaster LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Become the Other (1995,2020 Etched Yellow RM 2xLP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Curious Corn (1997,Purple 2020 Ed Wynne Remaster LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Erpland (1990,Turquoise 2020 Ed Wynne Remaster LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Jurassic Shift (1993,Pink 2020 Ed Wynne Remaster LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Pungent Effulgent (1989,2020 Ed Wynne RM Blue LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Strangeitude (1991,2020 Ed Wynne RM Yellow LP)
• Paul McCartney - Flaming Pie (1997,2020 half-speed RM 3xLP Box Set)
• Pearl Jam - Ten (1991,2020 Target Exclusive Purple Marble LP)
• Prince - Sign "☮︎" the Times (1987,2020 Opaque Peach 2xLP)
• Queen - Greatest Hits (1981,2020 Target Exclusive Ruby Red Marble 2xLP)
• R.E.M. - Out of Time (1991,2020 Target Exclusive "Lemonade" Yellow LP)
• REO Speedwagon - The Hits (1988,2020 Walmart Exclusive Black/White Clear Splatter LP)
• Rilo Kiley - Rilo Kiley (1999,2020 White EP)
• Roxette - Look Sharp (1988,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Clear LP)
• Small Faces - Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968,50th Anniversary LE Red/White/Blue Signed 3xLP)
• Stan Getz / Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1964,2020 Acoustic Sounds AAA-QRP RM LP)
• Stanley Turrentine - Comin' Your Way (1987,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Stanley Turrentine - That's Where It's At (1962,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Tears For Fears - Seeds of Love (1989,2020 Steven Wilson Remix LP)
• They Might Be Giants - Flood (1990,2020 "Icy Mint" Green MOV LP)
• The Who - Greatest Hits (Target Red Exclusive LP)
• Tina Books - Minor Move (1980,2020 Tone Poet Series LP)
• Tom Petty - Wildflowers & All the Rest (1994,2020 3xLP Set)
• Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (1981,2020 "Tropical Yellow/Red" Splatter LP)
• Toto - IV (1982,2020 Opaque Red Barnes & Noble Exclusive LP)
• Traveling Wilburys - Vol.1 (1988,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Opaque Orange LP)
• Ultravox - Vienna (1980,2020 Deluxe Edition Steven Wilson RM 5xCD + 5.1 DVD Box Set)
• Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965,2020 Pic Disk Walmart Lenticular LP)
• Watchtower - Concepts of Math: Book 1 (2016, 2020 Blue EP)
• Whitesnake - Slide It In (1984,2020 35th Anniversary Remix Red 2xLP)
• Widespread Panic - Montreal 1997 (2009,2020 6xLP Box Set)
• Widespread Panic - Live From Austin, TX (2017,2020 "Jack-O-Lantern" Orange Splatter 2xLP)
• Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger (1975,2020 B&N LE Blood Splatter LP)
• YOB - Our Raw Heart (2018,2020 Neon Violet with Gold Pinwheels and Rainbow 2xLP)

Jury is Still Out

• The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers (2020, Tangerine Orange LP)
• Bruce Springsteen - Letter to You (2020)
• Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman² (2020,Blue 2xLP)
• Datura4 - West Coast Highway Cosmic (2020,Red/Yellow/Black Splatter LP)
• Ennio Morricone - Theme 1: Western (2020,MOV "Gunsmoke" Marble 2xLP)
• Eric Clapton - Icon (Walmart Exclusive Gold LP)
• Fu Manchu - Fu 30, Pt.1 (2020,LE Orange EP)
• Huey Lewis & The News - Weather (2020)*
• Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Reunions (2020,Orange "Dreamcicle" LP)
• John Fogerty - 50 Year Trip: Live at Red Rocks (2020,2xLP)
• Jonathan Wilson - Dixie Blur (2020)
• L'uomo Nero - Andiamo Nel Deserto (2020)*
• Midnight Oil - The Makarrata Project (2020,Opaque Yellow LP)
• Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man (2020,Translucent Smoke LP)
• The Pineapple Thief - Versions of the Truth (2020,Violet LEx700 LP)
• Porcupine Tree - Pure Narcotic-Acoustic Sessions (2020,Blue LP)
• Ray LaMontagne - Monovision (2020)
• Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Sideways to New Italy (2020,Blue LP)
• Sonny Landreth - Blacktop Run (2020,Opaque Gold Swirl LP)
• Steep Canyon Rangers - Arm in Arm (2020)
• The Strokes - The New Abnormal (2020)
• Thievery Corporation - Symphonik (2020)

Upcoming Vinyl Releases (See 2021 List)

Top 10 2020 Favorite New Releases

• 1. Pendragon - Love Over Fear (2020,Turquoise/Purple Splatter 2xLP)
• 2. Wobbler - Dwellers of the Deep (2020,LP)
• 3. Ozric Tentacles - Space For the Earth (2020,Turquoise LP)
• 4. AC/DC - PWR/UP (2020,Walmart Exclusive Red LP / Deluxe Edition Lightbox CD)
• 5. Ocean Alley - Lonely Diamond (2020,Red/Blue Splatter 2xLP)
• 6. moe. - This Is Not, We Are (2020,"Blue Galaxy" Swirl LP)
• 7. Deftones - Ohms (2020,LP)
• 8. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush (2020,Red + Blue 2xLP)
• 9. Black Stone Cherry - The Human Condition (2020,Red LP)
• 10. Pat Metheny - From This Place (2020,2xLP)

Special Mention:

• Fleetwood Mac - The Alternate Rumours (2020,RSD LP)
• Paul McCartney - III (2020,Target LE Fluorescent Green LP)

Top 10 2020 Favorite Reissues

• 1. Crash Test Dummies - A Worm's Life (1996,2020 LP)
• 2. Tom Petty - Wildflowers & All the Rest (1994,2020 3xLP Set)
• 3. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965,2020 Acoustic Sounds AAA-QRP RM LP)
• 4. Flying Colors - Second Nature (2014,2020 Opaque Light Blue LEx1000 2xLP)
• 5. Collective Soul - Collective Soul (1995,2020 Zia Exclusive Turquoise LEx1000 LP)
• 6. David Gray - White Ladder (1998,2020 White 2xLP)
• 7. Traveling Wilburys - Vol.1 (1988,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Opaque Orange LP)
• 8. Martin Denny - Quiet Village (1959,2020 Jackpot LEx1500 Opaque Green Marble LP)
• 9. Blackberry Smoke - Little Piece of Dixie (2009,2020 LEx500 Orange 2xLP)
• 10. Nirvana - Nirvana (2002,2020 Walmart Exclusive Smoke Clear LP)

Special Mention:

• Abba - Studio Albums (2014,2020 Opaque Color 8xLP Box Set)
• Ozric Tentacles - 7 Reissues (2020 Ed Wynne Remasters on various color LP)
• Mastodon - Leviathan (2004,2020 Gatefold Royal Blue/White Splatter LP)

Best Sound

• Abba - Studio Albums (2014,2020 Opaque Color 8xLP Box Set)
• Abba - Super Trouper (1980, 2020 ARS Half-speed Remaster 2xLP)
• Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995,2020 Walmart Clear LP)
• Bob Marley & The Wailers - Various (2020 ARS Half-Speed Remaster EU LPs)
• Bombino - Live in Amsterdam (2020,RSDBF LE 2xLP)
• CCR - Chronicle (1976,2020 Walmart 2xLP)
• Crash Test Dummies - A Worm's Life (1996,2020 LP)
• David Gray - White Ladder (1998,2020 White 2xLP)
• The Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies (1981,2020 Cola Green Walmart LP)
• Fleetwood Mac - The Alternate Rumours (2020,RSD LP)
• Goldfrapp - Supernature (2005,2020 Translucent Green LP)
• Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales (2001,2020 LP)
• Jakko M. Jakszyk - Secrets and Lies (2020,LP)
• Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison (1968,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Gold LP)
• moe. - This Is Not, We Are (2020)
• Rilo Kiley - Rilo Kiley (1999,2020 White EP)
• Stan Getz / Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1964,2020 Acoustic Sounds Series RM LP)
• Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (1981,2020 Tropical Yellow+Red LP)
• They Might Be Giants - Flood (1990,2020 "Icy Mint" Green MOV LP)
• Traveling Wilburys - Vol.1 (1988,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Opaque Orange LP)
• Widespread Panic - Live From Austin, TX (2017,2020 "Jack-O-Lantern" Orange Splatter 2xLP)

Special note: 2020 Blue Note Tone Poet Series of vintage jazz recordings mastered by Kevin Gray

These all-analog pressings are manufactured at RTI and are reliably flat and quiet.

Best 4.0 / 5.1 Multichannel

• The Doobie Brothers - Quadio (2020,4xBDA Quadraphonic Box Set)
• John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth. (2020,CD/Blu-ray 7.1 Atmos + Hardback Book)
• Kansas - The Absence of Presence (2020,D+5.1 BDA)
• Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002,2020 RM 5.1 BDA)*
• Roger Waters - Us + Them (2020,7.1 Atmos BDA)
• Santana - Abraxas (1970,2020 Japan SHM-SACD 4.0 Quadraphonic Mix)*
• Santana - Santana (1969,2020 Japan SHM-SACD 4.0 Quadraphonic Mix)*
• Ultravox - Vienna (1980,2020 5xCD + 5.1 DVD 40th Anniv. Box Set)

Favorite Cover Art

• Ace of Cups - Sing Your Dreams (2020)*
• Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide (2020)
• Alestorm - Curse of the Crystal Coconut (2020)*
• Britney Spears - Glory (2016,2020 Alternate Cover 2xLP)
• The Atomic Bitchwax - Scorpio (2020)
• Bob - You Can Stop That For a Start (2020)
• Cat Stevens - Tea For the Tillerman 2 (2020)
• Cunninlynguists - Rose Azura Njano (2020)
• The Courteeners - More.Again.Forever. (2020)
• The Goners - Good Mourning (2020)
• Haken - Virus (2020) had to be included, right?
• Kansas - The Absence of Presence (2020)
• Kayak - Golden Years (2015,2020 Alternate Cover)
• L'uomo Nero - Andiamo Nel Deserto (2020)
• Louise Patricia Crane - Deep Blue (2020)
• Ocean Alley - Lonely Diamond (2020)
• Ozric Tentacles - Space For the Earth (2020)
• Pendragon - Love Over Fear (2020)
• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited - The Flawless Ms Drake (2020,LP)

Worst Cover Art

• Tan Cologne - Cave Vaults on the Moon in New Mexico (2020)

Presentation Standouts

• AC/DC - PWR/UP (2020,Deluxe Limited Edition Lightbox CD Set)
• The Courteeners - More. Again. Forever. (2020,Gatefold Insect Popup HMV Exclusive LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Life on the Flip Side (2020, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Blue Gatefold 2xLP + Booklet) -with one proviso: the badly pixelated gatefold photograph is perplexing
• John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth. (2020,CD/Blu-ray Atmos 7.1 + Hardback Book)
• Jonathan Wilson - Dixie Blur (2020,Opaque Mint Green 2xLP + Die-cut Front Cover)
• Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man (2020,Ozzy Osbourne signed Litho Webstore Exclusive LP)
• Paul McCartney - III (2020,Target LE Gatefold Fluorescent Green LP + Alternate Cover Art)
• Pendragon - Love Over Fear (2020,Turquoise/Purple Splatter 2xLP)
• Small Faces - Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968,50th Anniversary LE Red/White/Blue Signed 3xLP)
• Thievery Corporation - Symphonik (2020,Gatefold 2xLP)
• Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965,2020 Pic Disk Walmart Lenticular LP)

Special note: The 2020 Blue Note Tone Poet Series of vintage jazz recordings.

Presented on high-quality laminated Stoughton "Tip-On" gatefold jackets printed on heavy card stock.

Best Color Vinyl

• Abba - Studio Albums (2014,2020 Opaque Colors 8xLP Box Set)
• Blackberry Smoke - Wood, Wire & Roses (2015,2020 Amber Smoke EP)
• Black Rainbows - Cosmic Ritual Supertrip (2020, Orange Splatter LP)
• Black Rainbows - Pandaemonium (2018,2020 Green Fluo LP)
• CCR - Chronicle (1976,2020 Walmart Exclusive Red/Blue Marble Swirl 2xLP)
• Datura4 - West Coast Highway Cosmic (2020,Red/Yellow/Black Splatter LP)
• Death - Leprosy (1988,2020 Neon Magenta Clear Splatter LP)
• The Doors - 13 (1970,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive Opaque Blue/White Swirl LP)
• Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day (2003,2020 Clear w/Gold Splatter LE 2xLP)
• Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records (1958,2020 Walmart Exclusive Gold LP)
• Golden Earring - Together (1972,2020 MOV "Psychedelic Green" LP)
• The Goners - Good Mourning (2020,Blue/White Splatter LEx75 LP)
• Jonathan Wilson - Dixie Blur (2020,Opaque Mint Green 2xLP)
• King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Chunky Shrapnel (2020,Gold/Black Splatter LP)
• Louise Patricia Crane - Deep Blue (2020,"Snake Oil Serpent Green" LEx200 LP)
• Mastodon - Leviathan (2004,2020 Royal Blue/White Splatter LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Space For the Earth (2020,Translucent Turquoise LP)
• Paul McCartney - III (2020,Target LE Fluorescent Green LP)
• Pendragon - Love Over Fear (2020,Turquoise/Purple Splatter 2xLP)
• Prince - Sign "☮︎" the Times (1987,2020 Opaque Peach 2xLP)
• Queen - Greatest Hits (1981,2020 Target Exclusive Ruby Red Marble 2xLP)
• The Who - Who (2019,2020 Red/White/Blue Swirl Marble LEx3000 LP)
• Widespread Panic - Live From Austin, TX (2017,2020 "Jack-O-Lantern" Orange Splatter 2xLP)
• Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger (1975,2020 B&N LE Blood Splatter LP)
• YOB - Our Raw Heart (2018,2020 Neon Violet with Gold Pinwheels and Rainbow 2xLP)

Disappointments

• The Courteeners - More. Again. Forever. (2020)
• Drive-By Truckers - The New OK (2020)
• Jah9 - Note to Self (2020)
• Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - Texas Sun (2020)
• Khruangbin - Mordechai (2020)*
• The Jayhawks - XOXO (2020)*
• Pearl Jam - Gigaton (2020)*
• Slaughter - Stick It to Ya (2020 reissue - bad packaging)*
• Tamikrest - Tamotait (2020)

Bad Pressings (*Didn't buy due to mastering and/or pressing reviews)

• Airbag - Greatest Show on Earth (2020 RM Blue 2xLP) - shame on Karisma for this noisefest
• The Doors - 13 (1970,2020 Barnes & Noble Exclusive LP)
• Huey Lewis & The News - Weather (2020,LP)*
• Neil Diamond - All-Time Greatest Hits (2014,2020 Target Exclusive Clear 2xLP)
• Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man (2020,Silver Smoke LP)
• The Polecats - The Best of The Polecats (2000,2020 Orange LP) returned
• Slaughter - Stick It To Ya (1990,2020 FM RE)* poor artwork repro, pressing issues

Eluded Capture

• AC/DC - PWR/UP (2020,EU Picture Disc)
• George Thorogood - Live in Boston: 1982 (2020,4xLP)
• Grant Green - Nigeria (2019 Blue Note Tone Poet LP)
• Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (2002,2020 RM 5.1 BDA + Hardback Book)
• Spacehog - Resident Alien (1995,2020 RSD Splatter 2xLP)
• Ultravox - Vienna (1980,2020 5xCD + 5.1 DVD 40th Anniv. Box Set)

-Several good RSD pressings were not acquired in 2020 due to store closures, lottery to get in, difficulties ordering online (competition), etc. Hopefully I will be able to get some of them in the future.

Notes to Self

-Picked up AC/DCs 2020 PWR/UP Deluxe Limited Edition Lightbox CD set for only $9. It was a pricing mistake by the store - priced as a regular CD at $14.99! Then there was a $3.00 promo deducted at checkout (I didn't know about), and...I had a 20% off store discount coupon. I would never have bought this set (cool as it is) at its unrealistic retail price of nearly $50. I can't imagine they sold many at that price. It's neat, but the novelty wears off quickly...

-Keeping with the PWR/UP theme...I picked up the Walmart Exclusive Red LP for only $15 during their Black Friday one day sale on vinyl. Retail price: $36. Picked up numerous other vinyl exclusives and several others (including three MFSL LPs!) at two Walmart stores in Jacksonville, Florida. Was able to snag a couple more exclusives at my local Walmart over the next few days even though it was only supposed to be a one day sale.

-Picked up 30+ LPs, including many pre-orders, during Target's "Buy Two Get One Free" music promotion in October and November (they had two separate sales). Amazon matched the sale on about 300 select LPs, so I purchased a few more from them as well. These sales allowed me to affordably explore Blue Note's series of 2019-2020 remastered jazz recordings, especially the "Blue Note 80" and "Tone Poet" series, which I have now grown to love. High quality laminated (and in many cases, gatefold) covers, quiet flat pressings and all remastered by Kevin Gray. I'm hooked!

-Too many deals to list from Amazon and other online sources in 2020. I follow several music forums (Reddit, Steve Hoffman, etc.) and monitor Amazon and other music website's price reductions closely. With a little patience, it pays off. Although I would rather give my business to a local brick and mortar record store, there are several reasons I have given up on that in recent years. The nearest record store (Rhino) is about 90 minutes away after the closest store closed its doors forever in the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition, I typically don't want new Top 40 contemporary releases, and the stores usually don't stock much of what I am interested in ie progressive and classic rock reissues. Also, the physical stores can be considerably more expensive than Amazon, Deep Discount, etc. and are less forgiving when it comes to returning defective vinyl. I buy a lot of new records, so saving a few dollars here and there really adds up. I will never completely stop going to physical stores, however. I enjoy perusing the used bins too much.

-I continue to support and enjoy "exclusive" vinyl releases from Target, Walmart and Barnes & Noble, although most are just recent European issues offered in the US for the first time and aren't truly exclusive. One complaint is their advertised release dates are frequently incorrect and I end up "chasing" them at many stores when they are first released, only to find some of them commonly available months later. Some of the more desirable exclusives go out of stock quickly though, so it's worth being persistent early. I will never understand the anti-Walmart/Target stance by some people who need a cause and won't shop at either store for records. That's their prerogative of course, but I refuse to participate in the social media fueled mob-mentality trend and hop on the ever-popular anti-corporate bandwagon. I don't need a cause and certainly don't need to let others think for me. Anyway, I say kudos to such corporations for providing jobs and less importantly of course, for offering exclusive color vinyl in the US! For the most part I have been happy with the pressing quality and mastering of these releases, although admittedly there have been a few disappointments along the way. Then again, that's the inherent risk of buying vinyl from any source. It just goes with the territory. I say accept it without whining or simply move on and listen to low quality streams for free.

-Amazon packaging is a bit on the inconsistent side, but I have been largely immune from problems I read about on internet music forums and blogs. Then things changed for me in November 2020. I received at least six records in manila or bubble envelopes and no cardboard box at all. Catastrophic cover damage was the result of course. Fortunately, returns are easy on Amazon, but this nonsense is happening with such increased frequency the hassle of returning (and waiting for replacements) is making me rethink my music purchases on Amazon. During Target's B2G1 sale in October/November, I purchased many elpees and ALL of them arrived safely in cardboard boxes. I may turn my attention to them or other online retailers (such as Zia Records, Deep Discount, Amoeba, etc.) until Amazon gets its act together. I've heard there's a cardboard shortage associated with the massive increase in online shopping during the pandemic. Perhaps things will improve with Amazon if this virus ever goes away?

-2020 was an expensive year for new vinyl acquisitions, and I will (irresponsibly) assign blame to Covid-19 and its associated quarantine. This resulted in too much time at home, too much time online (shopping) and the associated life uncertainty that contributed to giving in to impulse buying and instant gratification. I hope to decrease my music spending in 2021, but we'll have to wait and see how things pan out with this pandemic clusterfuck. There's no question buying and listening to new records is a great coping mechanism!

In Memorium 2020

We lost many great musicians in 2020, some to the damn novelvirus.

• Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) (Covid-19)
• Alan Merrill (Covid-19)
• Alto Reed (Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band)
• Barbara Martin (The Supremes)
• Bill Rieflin (King Crimson, R.E.M.)
• Bill Withers
• Bob Andy
• Bob Nave (The Lemon Pipers)
• Bones Hillman (Wayne Stevens) (Midnight Oil)
• Bruce Williamson (The Temptations) (Covid-19)
• Bucky Pizzarelli (Covid-19)
• Chad Stuart (Chad & Jeremy)
• Charlie Daniels
• Charlie Pride (Covid-19)
• Dave Greenfield (The Stranglers) (Covid-19)
• David Robach (Mazzy Star)
• Dawn Wells (The Honeybees) (Covid-19)
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
• Edna Wright (Honey Cone)
• Ellis Marsalis (Covid-19)
• Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk)
• Jerry Jeff Walker
• John Prine (Covid-19)
• Joseph Shabalala (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
• Kenny Rogers
• Helen Reddy
• Hux Brown (Toots & The Maytals)
• Jerry Jeff Walker
• Johnny Nash
• Jorge Santana (Malo)
• Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Lee Konitz (Covid-19)
• Leslie West (Mountain)
• Little Richard Wayne Penniman
• Lyle Mays (Pat Metheny Group)
• Mac Davis
• Manu Dibango (Covid-19)
• Marty Grebb (The Buckinghams)
• Matthew Seligman (The Soft Boys) (Covid-19)
• Moon Martin
• Neil Peart (Rush)
• Paul Chapman (UFO)
• Pelle Alsing (Roxette)
• Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
• Pete Way (UFO)
• Phil May (The Pretty Things)
• Ronald Bell (Kool & The Gang)
• Spencer Davis
• Steve Priest (The Sweet)
• Tommy DeVito (The Four Seasons) (Covid-19)
• Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals) (Covid-19)
• Trini Lopez (Covid-19)

Special Mention: Kobe Bryant. His basketball mantra, "play through the pain," helped me cope with colon cancer, chemotherapy and what was the most difficult 18 months of my life in 2018 - 2019. Adopting his self-professed "Mamba mentality" unquestionably aided in my survival during that awful time. His mantra also puts the 2020 pandemic into perspective for me. Although 2020 was a struggle to say the least, on a personal level it pales in comparison to events of the previous two years.

Thank you, Kobe. Rest in Paradise. The 2020 NBA Championship win was definitely in your honor.

Favorite Artist Discoveries in 2020

(Less work and more free time = more music. A Covid quarantine silver lining)

• The Bevis Frond
• Golden Smog
• Pendragon
• Rebelution
• ORB (not The Orb)
• The Watch
• Datura4
• Mastodon
• Moe.
• The Muffs
• The Beths
• Wobbler
• Began my jazz journey thanks to the stellar Blue Note remasters

Last word: Fuck this terrible pandemic. Sigh. As the Covid numbers continue to climb in America, hopefully more people will start giving a damn and make the positive choice to help slow the spread in 2021. Wearing a mask and social distancing has nothing to do with losing personal freedoms, despite what some would have you believe. I despise the current trend to turn every issue, even a health crisis, into a political cause. Adhering to CDC guidelines is a temporary setback and yes, a little uncomfortable, but it's for the common good and that is enough for selfless people who want to live in a harmonious, civilized and peaceful society. Unfortunately, a segment of our society disagrees with the concept of human decency and wants to make Covid-19 yet another reason for hating people with political differences. Being inconsiderate and lacking empathy towards others is hardly a good cause, it's just blatant selfishness that contributes to more infections, lives lost, unemployment and widespread economic hardship. It's also indicative of the scientifically ignorant who are publicly broadcasting their lack of independent anti-mob thinking, personal responsibility and wisdom. Such people choose to accept right-wing rhetoric from our President, on social media and on 24-hour cable news stations. They support weak close-minded politicians over their own values of self-awareness, mindfulness and simple kindness. Let's hope more people do the right thing in 2021 (before and during wide-scale vaccinations), despite their political leanings, so we can once and for all defeat this destructive nuisance. - Chuck out

[edit: I contracted Covid-19 in January 2021. Fortunately, all is good and my symptoms were fairly mild]