Our Favorite Vinyl Records to Get in the Mood for Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping season is upon us, and with it comes the familiar ritual of poring through gift guides in search of the perfect present. With sales and discounts seemingly unavoidable as we go about our day-to-day lives, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. With a lot of shopping done online these days, however, there's an option to have your favorite tunes spinning next to you. With the threat of being hip-checked by a stranger as you reach for an item on a shelf no longer present, we thought it would be fun to take a look at some records to get you in the shopping spirit. 

Like a Virgin (1984) — Madonna

Let's kick it off with Madonna's breakthrough album and her ode to consumerism that is "Material Girl." Like a Virgin was a revolutionary album, right down to its controversial album cover that saw Madonna juxtapose religion and purity with sexuality. The album saw Madonna become the world's biggest pop star, and its aforementioned lead track was a fun, tongue-in-cheek look at the growing consumer culture in the United States. 

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The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) — Pink Floyd

A classic among classics, The Dark Side of the Moon helped to vault progressive rock into the mainstream and served as Pink Floyd's major breakthrough. Dark Side saw Pink Floyd focus more on song structure than their previous work and tackled themes around the hardships present in modern life. It finds itself on this list due to "Money," a track that explores financial anxiety through clinking coins and bluesy guitar riffs.

PAIR WITH: The Stream Carbon Works With Sonos Turntable

Dark Side of the Moon is a sonic experience. The Stream Carbon offers seamless Sonos connectivity in just seconds, allowing you to stream your vinyl throughout your entire Sonos system and control it all from a single volume knob. The Stream Carbon sports a smart, modern vibe that fits in any listening space. 

Actually (1987) — Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys introduced listeners to their signature brand of synth-pop in 1986 with Please, a record that showcased their sardonic brand of humor. Actually built upon everything that made their debut record a hit, including another satirical look at big business. "Shopping" is a comedic, critical look at business overreach that feels particularly relevant in the era of buying and selling of personal data. 

Thank U, Next (2019) — Ariana Grande

 Thank U, Next is a fun time machine, taking us back to the far off era of five years ago during the Ariana and Pete saga. The album's title track has become an iconic pop track, essentially announcing the end of her relationship with Pete Davidson with a certain swagger that saw the song rise to the top of the charts. The other single, "7 Rings," lands it on this list, with Ariana sampling and putting her own spin on "My Favorite Things."

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), (1993) — Wu-Tang Clan

Easily one of the greatest hip hop records of all time, Enter the Wu-Tang set the standard for '90s East Coast rap. Their style was entirely unique, incorporating ironic humor into a renowned storytelling ability. They land here due to "C.R.E.A.M." or "Cash Rules Everything Around Me," likely tattooed on the arm of your friend's older brother. On it, Method Man laments about money's role in society and acknowledges that cash is king. 

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No Strings Attached (2000) — NSYNC

If you're of a certain age, you remember seeing this album cover assorted next to their rival Backstreet Boys in your local music store. "But there ARE strings attached," you thought, before the first few bars of "Bye Bye Bye" made you stop caring. Their cover of Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid" sees this included here, as it perfectly captures the feeling of when you see that direct deposit hit your account.

The Razors Edge (1990) — AC/DC

After starting the 1980s with back-to-back hits, AC/DC spent the rest of the decade in a bit of a lull. That changed with The Razor's Edge, which served as a sort of reintroduction for the band, and saw them start the '90s with a bang. The staccato guitar intro to "Thunderstruck" has become iconic, but "Moneytalks" also emerged as a sleeper top 40 hit. The single's cover art saw the creation of "Angus Bucks," fake money that featured guitarist Angus Young that the band would drop on concertgoers.

Tha Carter III (2008) — Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne was one of hip hop's biggest stars during an era in which it was arguably the biggest musical genre in the United States. Wayne's talent as a rapper is matched by his songwriting ability, as he combines traditional hip hop with the pop sensibilities of the time period. Tha Carter III includes one of his signature tracks, "Got Money," an anthem to Wayne's success that also features T-Pain.

A Hard Day's Night (1964) — The Beatles

A Hard Day's Night is actually the soundtrack to the film of the same name, a slapstick comedy movie produced at the height of Beatlemania. The Beatles were an international musical force, and A Hard Day's Night was their most complete album to date, featuring no covers and some folk influences. "Can't Buy Me Love" became one of their biggest hits, a harmonica-driven tune about choosing love over money.

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A Hard Day's Night was released during the days of Swinging London, when mod fashion and mid-century design dominated the landscape. The Empire Bluetooth Record Player perfectly captures the spirit of mid-century design, combing a sleek design with bold accents. The Empire is a statement piece in any listening space, and a classic record deserves classic style. 

ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) — ABBA

ABBA Gold is one of the best-selling greatest hits compilation records of all-time, which makes sense when you consider ABBA's incredible '70s run of hit after hit. Songs like "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" dot the track list, but the standout comes from 1976's Arrival. "Money Money Money" is one of the band's most well-known songs and acknowledges that we're just living "in a rich man's world."