Stranger Things: The WSQK Collection // Target Exclusive Vinyl
To celebrate the release of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, Netflix released a special limited edition ten song compilation vinyl sold exclusively at Target, titled The WSQK Collection. An integral part of season five is that so much of the story unfolds in and around the local radio station called WSQK in Hawkins, Indiana. It essentially becomes a headquarters for the characters as the events of the final season unravels. Music has always been an essential part of the show, Stranger Things has delivered some of the most iconic TV music moments of the past decade, so centering a major location of the show around a radio station feels especially fitting.
This season, Robin and Steve - portrayed by Maya Hawke and Joe Keery - work at the station, with Rockin' Robin hosting her own show. I love that duo, and I wish we got more scenes of them working inside the station the way we did in past seasons because they have such a fun dynamic together. In season five, Robin acts as sort of a narrator throughout, catching the audience up on everything that's happened between the time jumps from where season four left off, to the year and a half jump that closes the final episode.
On the printed inner sleeve, there was a great write-up about the importance of music in Stranger Things and how it ties into the WSQK station in the final season. The introduction reads; "From the iconic theme and score to legendary needle drops and trailer songs, Stranger Things has delivered some of the most memorable music moments of the last decade. Music is not just a backdrop, it's an intrinsic part of the series both in Hawkins and for the audience watching at home. It serves as a literal lifeline for Mac, so powerful it can save her from Vecna's grip... and dominate the radio waves all summer long."
WSQK itself was inspired by a real radio station from the Duffer Brothers' home state of North Carolina, which they reimagined and brought to life within the world of the show. The introduction on the inner sleeve continued, "Here we share with you songs inspired by The Squawk, a curated collection worthy of Robin's taste, and as selected by Stranger Things' music supervisor, Nora Felder."
This release differs from a standard soundtrack, since most of these songs never actually appear in the show. Instead, they're inspired by the era in which the season takes place and what these characters might realistically have been listening to on the radio in 1987. It's a genuinely great '80s compilation, both for fans of the show and for anyone who loves that decade in music. I do wish it included more songs that were actually featured in the season, but since the vinyl was released before the episodes aired, I'm assuming it was done in an effort to avoid spoilers. Hopefully some of the iconic songs that were actually featured in this season will be available on a future soundtrack release as well.
It features songs by Queen, Journey, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick and more. The only two songs that are featured on this vinyl that actually appeared in the season of the show were "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany and of course "Upside Down" by Diana Ross - I can't believe it took them five seasons to finally use that song in the show!
This is such a unique release and a great collector's item if you love vinyl and you love the show as much as I do. It feels like a perfect companion piece for the final season.
That said, I do wish they had included a bit more in this edition. I have the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood soundtrack on vinyl as well, which is also built around a radio‑station concept, and that pressing includes transitions and interludes that make it feel like you’re actually in the car listening to a Los Angeles station in 1969. It would've been so cool if The WSQK Collection incorporated little soundbites from the show, or even original clips recorded specifically for this release by Robin and Steve's characters, to elevate the listening experience even more.
This Target exclusive release also features some extra surprises inside that I wasn't expecting when I first bought it. In addition to the beautiful translucent red vinyl pressing, there are a few other fun extras inside as well. It includes a sticker with the same design Robin wears on her shirt in Volume 1 that says "beam me up this place sucks!", a postcard of Steve's radio van with the WSQK station in the background, a poster advertising the "Jimmy Fasthands" Lee radio show, and a matching bumper sticker. All of these little ephemera additions, along with the overall album art aesthetic, makes the release feel even more immersive and representative of the Stranger Things universe.
Last summer when I visited Los Angeles, one of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Netflix Store, which is attached to the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. They had a display featuring Eleven's iconic screen-used season one costume and Mike's Ghostbusters Halloween costume from season two, along with a few other fun photo-ops inspired by the show. It was so cool to see those in person, especially as such a big fan of Stranger Things and someone who loves both fashion history and film history. Getting to see those details up close was so exciting. It is also completely free to check out and it's such a great hidden gem in the city that I'm so glad I got to see for myself!
I won't go too in‑depth about my thoughts in an effort to avoid spoilers for anyone that hasn't seen it yet, but the final episode of season five aired on New Year's Eve and I absolutely loved it. My mom and I actually went to see a screening of it in movie theaters, which was such a fun experience. Since this show has obviously been exclusively streamed at home up to this point, it was really great to have this kind of communal experience in a theater for the final episode.
While much of the last season was kind of hit or miss for me overall - some parts I really loved, others felt rushed and pointless. Looking at it from the viewpoint of how it all ended, it was really perfect. I felt that the last episode wrapped up the series so beautifully and gave such a great ending for these characters that so many people have loved for so long.
The main action plot of the finale was really well executed overall, it was incredibly intense at times, and they evoked so many of the emotions and themes that have defined the series from the beginning. Especially with this being such a large ensemble cast, there was a lot to wrap up by the end, and I think they did a great job giving each character an ending that felt deserved, both individually and as part of the collective group.
They also really conveyed the distinct and bittersweet feeling of growing up as the characters enter a new stage of life and this coming‑of‑age story comes to an end. The way they portrayed friends naturally drifting into their own paths over time, yet still carrying a deep connection to the people who shaped them, felt so realistic. It's an incredibly universal experience, and it felt honest to where these characters would be at this point in their lives.
The final scene especially felt like such a beautiful way to end the series, it was so emotional and paralleled the first season in so many meaningful ways. The inclusion of the entirety of "Heroes" by David Bowie in the final credits, paired with that compilation of illustrated highlights from the whole series, was incredible. It felt like a perfect full‑circle moment. Again, without giving anything away...I believe!!
Thanks for reading! Many of the Stranger Things cast members are incredible musicians themselves, some of whom I've written about many times in the past. All of those posts are linked below and many more are coming soon! ⋆₊˚🚲🕰️🧇🔦📺⋆₊˚
All photos are my own!
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