As spring finally rolls around, there are a few things to be excited for: longer days, warmer weather, and of course, Record Store Day. This year the exciting day when artists rerelease their albums will take place on April 18. RSD is a day to revisit your favorite artists as well as check out some new ones while supporting your local independent record stores. In case you haven’t already thought about which releases you’ll be wanting to pick up, here’s a little help:
Foo Fighters, Songs From The Laundry Room; RCA
With just having recently released their album Sonic Highways, Foo Fighters did not forget about RSD. As this year’s ambassador, Dave Grohl and the band are releasing a four-track exclusive every Foo Fighter fan needs in their collection. Songs From The Laundry Room features demos of “Big Me,” “Alone + Easy Target” and “Empty Handed,” an unreleased track. Also included is “Kids In America,” a cover of Kim Wilde’s hit song.
Florence + The Machine, What Kind Of Man; Republic
Imported all the way from the U.K., this limited edition vinyl features two tracks from Florence + The Machine. The single “What Kind Of Man” is on one side and “As Far As I Could Get,” an RSD exclusive, is on the B-side. How Big How Blue How Beautiful, their third studio album, will be released later this year. The record’s lead single, “What Kind Of Man,” has already been making its rounds on radio airwaves.
Marvin Gaye, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You); Motown
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Marvin Gaye’s How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) will be rereleased for RSD. The hit song, originally released in 1965, has become a classic and one of his most recognizable songs. Also included is “Once Upon A Time,” a duet with Mary Wells from 1964. The limited edition vinyl is part of a series of releases to honor Gaye and his legacy.
Tegan and Sara, Live At Zia Records; Vaport/Warner Bros.
Canadian identical twins Tegan and Sara are no strangers to the music scene. The indie rock/pop duo have been around for over a decade and released several popular albums such as The Con and Hearthrob. A few of their hit songs will be available on their exclusive RSD vinyl, Live At Zia Records. Recorded in September of 2013 in Phoenix, AZ, the special edition features the tracks “I Was A Fool,” “Back In Your Head,” “Goodbye Goodbye” and “Call It Off.”
Banks, The Remixes Part 2; Harvest
If you are a fan of Banks’ single “Beggin For Thread,” you will surely enjoy these previously unreleased remixes. This 12” vinyl includes the Aeroplane and KiNK remixes as well as accompanying instrumental versions of both versions. The songstress from Los Angeles released her debut album, Goddess, last year, and already has a wide fanbase thanks to the popularity of her EPs and opening for The Weeknd on his 2013 tour.
Kid Cudi, Kid Cudi Presents Satellite Flight: The Journey To Mother Moon; Republic
Originally released in 2014, Satellite Flight: The Journey To Mother Moon will be available on vinyl for the first time on RSD. Known for his unique sound, Kid Cudi fuses hip-hop with alternative rock to tell the story of his struggles and obstacles. The futuristic album is part of his Man On The Moon album series and illustrates his inner thoughts and feelings.
The Black Keys/Junior Kimbrough, Meet Me In The City; Fat Possum
A huge fan of the late bluesman, The Black Keys have already previously released their tribute EP, Chulahoma: The Songs Of Junior Kimbrough, in 2006. Now this RSD exclusive, Meet Me In The City, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Kimbrough’s hit song “All Night Long.” The 7” vinyl features The Black Keys cover on one side and the original on the other.
Wu-Tang Clan, Protect Ya Neck; Get On Down
Wu-Tang Clan took the hip-hop world by storm when they first released their song “Protect Ya Neck,” almost instantly blowing up overnight. The legendary nine-member ensemble is releasing this RSD exclusive that is a must-have for any hip-hop fan’s collection. One side features three versions of “Protect Ya Neck” including the radio edit, the Shao Lin version and the Bloody version. The alternate side features four different versions of “Method Man”: the radio edit and bonus beats.
The 1975, IV EP; Interscope
Along with their three other EPs, Facedown, Sex and Music For Cars, The 1975 will be releasing their latest IV EP this Record Store Day. The English indie rock band first found success on national radio in the U.K. and increasingly grew in popularity with each EP released. This is the first time the EPs will be available on vinyl and the series features matching artwork on their covers. The IV EP includes the tracks “The City,” “Haunt // Bed,” “So Far (It’s Alright)” and “Fallingforyou.”
Phish, New Year’s Eve 1995 Live At Madison Square Garden; Jemp Records
This Record Store Day Phish is releasing not just one vinyl, but a six-piece LP box set. The jam band that’s been around for decades, known for their legendary live concerts, will be releasing the live recordings for the first time on vinyl. With 12 sides of live Phish, it’s almost as good as being at the show yourself.
20 Other Notable Releases:
- 311- Grifter/Who’s Got The Herb?
- Atreyu- So Others May Live
- Avicii- The Days/Nights Remix EP
- Bee Gees- Extended
- Big Data- Dangerous
- Billie Joe- Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
- David Bowie- Changes
- Johnny Cash- Koncert v Praze (In Prague- Live)
- The Doors- Strange Days
- Electric Wizard- Time To Die
- The Flaming Lips- Bad Days
- Garbage- Chemicals
- Grateful Dead- Wake Up To Find Out: Nassau Coliseum
- Grouplove- Under The Covers
- Jimi Hendrix- Purple Haze/Freedom
- Interpol- Everything Is Wrong
- Jurassic 5- Quality Control- The Wood Box
- Mastodon- Atlanta
- Metallica- No Life Til Leather
- Frank Sinatra- Songs For Young Lovers
Full lists of releases and participating record stores can be found at recordstoreday.com.
