Record Store Day has become nothing short of a global institution in the 15 years since its inception. Shortly after its launch, organizers of the music lover’s party proudly claimed that they had generated more traffic to independent record stores than Christmas.
Not only has that boast come true for the event, regularly landing on the third Saturday in April, but it has since reached a level that sees the participation of some 1,400 independent stores worldwide, selling across several hundred special titles. and exclusive by thousands of exciting music creators. All of this, not to mention skillfully, safely and successfully navigating the pandemic with RSD Drops.
This Saturday will be the official kick off for Record Store Day 2022, but due to pandemic-related issues slowing down pressing plants and the vinyl-to-consumer supply chain, there will be an RSD Drops event on the 18th. June. of titles available this weekend for the discerning listener and vinyl lover when they visit your favorite participating record store, a full list of which can be found at recordstoreday.com.
Here are some of the best for rock and roll fans to watch on this 15th anniversary of Record Store Day.
ALICE IN CHAIN: ‘WE WILL DIE YOUNG’
Originally released in 1990 as a promotion only, Alice in Chains’ debut studio EP “We Die Young” sees a limited-edition commercial release with sound remastered by Bob Ludwig. The three-track EP includes two songs that later ended up on the band’s debut album, “Facelift,” as well as that EP’s exclusive “Killing Yourself,” which is limited to 14,350 copies.
BAD COMPANY: ‘LIVE 1979’
Originally released on 2CD in 2016 as part of the “Live 1977 & 1979” box, Bad Company’s 1979 set from London’s Wembley Empire Pool is the true live album the original lineup never had. It includes live versions of the hits “Feel Like Makin’ Love”, “Bad Company”, “Shooting Star” and “Can’t Get Enough”, and the first vinyl pressing is this double album on opaque orange vinyl limited to 3000 copies. .
COMMADER VENUS: ‘THE QUIET VACATION [25TH ANNIVERSARY]
Shortly before recording his first songs as Bright Eyes, 14-year-old singer/songwriter Conor Oberst co-founded Commander Venus alongside bassist – and future Cursive frontman – Tim Kasher, guitarist Robb Nansel – today. current president of Saddle Creek Records – and drummer Matt Bowen who will join the Faint and be replaced by Ben Armstrong. The Omaha indie rockers caught the eye of Wind-up Records, who backed the band’s second album, “The Uneventful Vacation,” their final album together. The formative album has since become a cult favorite in the 90s emo canon and the 25th anniversary edition is pressed on smoked red and black vinyl with all-analog mastering from the original tapes and is limited to 2500 copies.
THE REMEDY: ‘PORNOGRAPHY’
“Pornography” is arguably the peak of The Cure’s darker sound, before they shifted into a more pop direction. The album had a huge influence on future dark wave and goth rockers. Despite the dark themes, it was their most popular release to date, breaking into the UK Top 10. and the single “The Hanging Garden”.
DEF LEPPARD: ‘HIGH ‘N’ DRY’
Def Leppard’s second album, “High ‘n’ Dry”, was released in 1981 and was the first produced by longtime collaborator Robert “Mutt” Lange. Featuring singles ‘Let It Go’ and ‘Bringin’ on the Heartbreak’, it was the album that cemented their status in the UK and America and is presented for the first time as a photo disc, limited to 9000 copies.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: “ACOUSTICS”
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts deliver their first-ever acoustic vinyl album, aptly titled “Acoustics.” The eight-song collection is comprised of five newly recorded acoustic tracks and three previously unreleased acoustic versions, including the hits “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Bad Reputation (Live in Los Angeles)”. It is limited to 6550 copies.
RAMONES: ‘THE FATHER’S ALBUMS (1981 – 1989)’
This seven-album set contains the majority of Ramones’ records released in the 80s on Sire Records, including ‘Pleasant Dreams’, ‘Subterranean Jungle’, ‘Too Tough to Die’, ‘Animal Boy’, ‘Halfway to Sanity’. and “Brain Drain”, all pressed to vinyl for the first time since their original release. Presented in a numbered slipcase with an included sticker sheet, there is also a neon pink vinyl LP of rarities in the set, which is limited to 10,000 copies.
THE ROLLING STONES: ‘MORE HOT ROCKS (BIG HITS & FAZED COOKIES) [50TH ANNIVERSARY]’
50th Anniversary Edition of “More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies)” features Rolling Stones hits, some of their best deep cuts, and a whole LP facet of rarities previously unavailable in the US when it was originally released . The 25-track compilation features covers of “It’s All Over Now” and “Not Fade Away,” “She’s a Rainbow” and “Out of Time,” “with rarities that include their 1963 debut single “Come On,” early R&B covers of “Fortune Teller” and “Bye Bye Johnnie” and a cover of “I Can’t Be Satisfied” by Muddy Waters, featuring superb slide guitar recorded in stereo at Chess Studios. The 2LP set is on a 180 gram phosphorescent vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve, contains a set of Gered Mankowitz photo prints and is limited to 7500 copies.
PATTI SMITH: “HOSTED BY RECORD STORE DAY”
This is a brand new 2LP compilation of classic Patti Smith tracks picked from between 1974 and 1996, chosen by record store staff across the country. Limited to 5050 copies, it includes “Gloria”, “Because the Night”, “Dancing Barefoot” and “People Have the Power”.
VARIOUS ARTISTS: ‘THE SAM PHILLIPS YEARS: SUN RECORDS CURATED BY RSD, VOLUME 9’
This compilation LP has been curated from the classic Sun Record Company catalog by participating Record Store Day stores and marks the ninth installment in the “Sun Records Curated by Record Store Day” series. Volume 9 celebrates the 70th anniversary of Sun Records and the 15th anniversary of Record Store Day, with twelve tracks produced by Sun Records founder Sam Phillipson, a set limited to 4,000 copies worldwide.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, email [email protected]. Also check out his blog at www.thechroniclesofmc.com
