Must-Own New Releases on Vinyl

25, by Adele
Adele’s new album, 25, has been the talk of the pop music world since she teased the album’s lead single, “Hello,” in a 15-second TV ad. Once “Hello” was officially released, it was met with rapturous enthusiasm by fans and critics alike, and became the first single to sell one million downloads in a release week, beating the record previously held by Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” This album continues exploring the themes that drew us all to Adele’s music—regret, loss, heartbreak—but with the renewed energy of someone who, after questioning whether or not to quit music altogether, decided that she had more to say. As of now, Adele hasn’t confirmed whether or not her album will be available on streaming services, but it is absolutely available on vinyl from Barnes & Noble.

The Essential Johnny Cash, by Johnny Cash
In this double LP, an exclusive edition available only at B&N, 28 of Johnny Cash’s most enduring songs lead you through one of the most unique, and longest lasting, careers in American music. From his Sun Records rockabilly days to his later, more serious material, the progression of Cash’s lyrics is matched every step of the way by his consistency as a performer; his voice may waver with age, but there’s a stoicism to his plainspoken bass voice that no one else can imitate. A lot of the old favorites like “I Walk the Line,” “Big River,” “Ring of Fire, ” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Man In Black” are present here, and his wife June Carter-Cash chimes in on “Jackson” and “If I Were a Carpenter.” Somewhat lesser-known songs like “Guess Things Happen That Way” are given a chance to shine here, too.

That Would Be Me, by Harry Connick, Jr.
For this album—another Barnes & Noble exclusive edition—Harry Connick, Jr. wanted to do something he’d never done in his long, storied career: remove himself from the driver’s seat. Connick told NPR that “there were things suggested to me that I may not have thought of,” regarding the album’s content and execution, “but nothing felt out of place.” Indeed, Connick sounds very much at home in every track, from the uptempo, handclap-driven “(I Like It When You) Smile” to the gospel-influenced “Like We Do.” There’s also a bold, pop crispness to this album, provided by producers Butch Walker and Eg White, that was absent from Connick’s previous work. That transition into a bigger pop sound can be challenging for some, but Connick knocks it out of the park.

Retrospective: The Music of Mad Men
Not only was Mad Men an amazing, groundbreaking show, it had an incredible soundtrack that, for whatever reason, never got the accolades it deserved. Until now, that is. This compilation of 24 songs from the acclaimed AMC period drama features a diverse array of music from artists old and new, and it’s exclusive to Barnes & Noble. Highlights include Roy Orbison’s fragile, mariachi-tinged “Shadahroba,” originally the B-side to his 1963 single “In Dreams,” and the Beach Boys’ dreamy, melancholy “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times,” taken from Pet Sounds. The Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year” must be mentioned as well, since it accompanied one of the show’s most touching scenes.

Blacklisted, by Neko Case
Originally released in 2002, this album—Neko’s third—is being pressed onto limited edition orange vinyl exclusively for Barnes & Noble. This album features some of Neko’s best songs, including “I Wish I Was the Moon,” “Pretty Girls,” and “Deep Red Bells,” an enchanting ballad about growing up in Tacoma during the Green River Killer’s string of murders. Other highlights include the noirish “Look For Me (I’ll Be Around)” and the abstract, bluegrass-tinged “Things That Scare Me,” and really every song on this album is pure dynamite because they all feature Neko’s once-a-generation voice; dusky, versatile, packed full of emotion without being saccharine.

Silver Lining: The Music of Jerome Kern, by Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett, who could be very accurately described as a living legend, made a career out of singing jazzy showtunes, so it’s only natural that he’d turn his attention to the music of composer Jerome Kern, one of the fathers of modern musical theatre. In this double LP, Bennett pays tribute to Kern by performing 14 of his songs with pianist Bill Charlap. Since Kern was primarily a composer, he didn’t write lyrics for his songs, but he did collaborate with some of the best American songwriters of his era, including Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, and Oscar Hammerstein III, all of whom are honored on this album. As one might expect, Tony knocks every song out of the park, especially “I’m Old Fashioned” and “The Last Time I Saw Paris.”

It’s Time, by Michael Buble
This album, which originally came out in 2005, is a collection of the Canadian singer’s take on pop and jazz standards including the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love,” George and Ira Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day (In London Town),” and Stevie Wonder’s “You and I,” among others. Buble’s vocal clarity and tone are outstanding, and the album’s guest stars compliment his vocal talents nicely. Nelly Furtado duets with Buble on “Quando Quando Quando,” and jazz trumpeter Chris Botti joins in on Leon Russell’s “Song for You.” And, in a first for Buble’s recording career up to that point, this album features a song (“Home”) that he helped write, which became the album’s second single.

Call Me Irresponsible, by Michael Buble
Spurred on by the success of his first self-penned song, Michael helped write another one for his third studio album, Call Me Irresponsible. That song, “Everything,” was the lead single for this album, and was written for Emily Blunt, who he was dating at the time. The rest of the album follows Buble’s general pattern of pop and jazz standards, but his choices are a bit more daring this time around; they include Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man,” Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” which he performs as a duet with Ivan Lins, and “Comin’ Home Baby,” which sees Buble pair up with new jack swing legends Boyz II Men. Not only is it a great album, it’s a Barnes & Noble vinyl exclusive.

Cinema, by Andrea Bocelli
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli turns his attention to film scores for his fifteenth studio album, a double LP released exclusively through Barnes & Noble. This album features Bocelli’s take on 13 songs from a variety of classic and contemporary films, some of which may surprise the listener. It makes total sense that Bocelli would sing selections from West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera, or “Brucia la Terra” from The Godfather, and he does a great job with them. His selections from Gladiator and Scent of a Woman, though, are what make this album fun. They are exceptionally well performed, with Bocelli’s precise, lovely tenor in full effect, and there’s always something invigorating about operatic singers acknowledging more contemporary work.

The Essential Dave Brubeck, by Dave Brubeck
A pioneer of “cool jazz,” Dave Brubeck’s classically-infused compositions, sharp improvisational abilities, and use of unorthodox time signatures and tonalities made him a jazz legend, which you can hear for yourself on this 31-track compilation of his best work, available on vinyl exclusively through Barnes & Noble. Even if Brubeck’s name isn’t one you immediately recognize, some of his songs (like “Take Five” and the theme from Mr. Broadway) are almost ubiquitous, and are good examples of the man’s talents. Even at its most weird, Brubeck’s music is smooth and relaxed, which makes it more approachable to casual listeners than the harder bebop style he was countering.

Essential Elvis Presley, by Elvis Presley
This greatest-hits compilation, originally released in 2007, is being pressed onto vinyl exclusively for Barnes & Noble, and just in time for what would have been the King’s 80th birthday. Essential Elvis is a comprehensive, 2-disc set that spans a pretty wide arc of Elvis’ career, from his beginnings as a rockabilly singer, the ascent and peak of his stardom, his comeback, and finally his Las Vegas years. Over two discs and 39 tracks, you hear Elvis transition from rebellious rock ‘n roller to legitimate pop star and then pop music elder, and you also hear his voice bloom into full maturity; the Elvis that sang “Hurt” in the 1970s is much different that the one who sang “Blue Moon of Kentucky” in the 1950s.

Ultimate Sinatra, by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra would have been 100 years old this December, and Ultimate Sinatra was compiled with this in mind, consisting of 100 songs recorded between 1939 and 1979. There’s no shortage of Sinatra compilations out there, but this one feels more complete than the others. With 100 tracks spread over four discs, it gives the listener a better understanding of why Sinatra was so popular, and why that popularity endured for as long as it did. As you’ll hear, Sinatra’s exemplary vocal range, his consistency, and his ability to recognize good songwriting are what propelled his career and made him an American classic. As an added bonus, this box set was pressed on limited-edition blue vinyl exclusively for Barnes & Noble.

Shatter Me, by Lindsey Stirling
After the success of her first album, it was almost expected that Lindsey Stirling would hit a sophomore slump, as many pop successes before her have done. Instead, her 2014 album Shatter Me was a more progressive, more interesting, and more complete album than her debut, and it was responsible for the biggest sales week of her career. The album’s title track is a dynamic mix of electropop and Stirling’s own talents as a violinist, and features her first collaboration with another vocalist, specifically Lzzy Hale. “We Are Giants” is another collaboration, this time with ARCHIS lead singer Dia Frampton. Not only is this album a Barnes & Noble vinyl exclusive, it’s a limited edition pressing that comes with an autographed postcard.