The music industry may find itself divided on Record Store Day — indie labels suffer when major labels clog up limited printing plants around the world — but the annual event will nonetheless celebrate 10 years this month.
The decennial anniversary brings with it an impressive list of exclusive releases, reprints and first issues, to be sold at participating American stores on April 22. RSD sadly hasn’t reached regional retailers, but we can’t help but lust after 15 of its coolest, weirdest and gloomiest releases.
1. Prince - Little Red Corvette
Probably one of the most anticipated releases this year, Little Red Corvette is a 7” picture disc that’s been out of print for more than three decades. Record Store Day will fall on the day after Prince’s first year death anniversary. Fans are sure to want something to remember him by.
2. David Bowie – Cracked Actor and BOWPROMO
More bittersweet, timely releases, coming out a year since Bowie’s death. Cracked Actor features unreleased live music recorded in 1974 Los Angeles; Bowie was visibly struggling with drug addiction at the time. Meanwhile, BOWPROMO will feature a few of Bowie’s earlier demos.
3. Placebo ft. David Bowie - Without You I’m Nothing
Another Bowie record, this time with ’90s alt-rock band Placebo. With You I’m Nothing, the title track of Placebo’s second album, will be issued on a picture disc vinyl for the first time.
4. Aqua – Barbie Girl
Barbie Girl isn’t as profound or pretentious as anything else on this list, but the ’90s were a treasure trove of earworms that will forever reside in our karaoke playlists. The 7” vinyl actually has the karaoke version of Barbie Girl on Side B. The 1997 track went to No 1 in 13 countries when it came out, mixing social satire with bubblegum pop.
5. The Ramones – ’76-’79 Singles
There’s little as exciting as getting your hands on a vinyl boxset — a whole experience bundled into one aesthetically pleasing package. The Ramones 76-79 Singles box will feature pre-’80s tracks, including Swallow my Pride, Rock ‘n Roll High School and I Wanna Be Sedated.
6. Pink Floyd – Interstellar Overdrive
Clean and polished studio albums or singles are well and good, but there’s something special about long and winding unreleased material. Pink Floyd will put out 4,000 copies of an Interstellar Overdrive recording from 1966 that clocks in at just under 15 minutes. The original psychedelic instrumental was released a in 1967 at a runtime of 9:41.
7. Swet Shop Boys – Sufi La
One of our favourite underground hip-hop acts right now, Swet Shop Boys — Heems, Riz MC (also known as Riz Ahmad in the acting world) and Redinho — are releasing their new EP Sufi La on white 12” inch vinyl. The album is less political than their debut LP, Cashmere, and will feature Anthem, Sufi La, and Thas My Girl on side A, and Zombie, Birding and Need Moor on side B.
8. Andre 3000 – All Together Now
Atlanta’s Andre 3000 will release his cover of the Beatles’ All Together Now, which he did for a Nike/NBA commercial in 2010, on 7” vinyl. Side B will feature a previously unheard instrumental version, too.
9. Blondie – Long Time
Fans of current day Blondie will want to keep an eye out for this one — it has a very limited run of 750 prints. The 7” record will include Long Time from Blondie’s upcoming May 5 album Pollinator, and will feature The Breaks on the B-side, which you apparently won’t find anywhere else.
10. Jimi Hendrix – Live at George’s Club 20, 1965 & 1966
Before Jimi Hendrix became THE Jimi Hendrix, these recordings happened. Hendrix’s early vocals and guitar work can be heard as he supported frontman Curtis Knight live in the mid-‘60s. Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who went on to become Hendrix’s manager less than a year later, was in the audience.
11. Sara and Tegan – Under Feet Like Ours
Yes, you read that right and no, it’s not a typo. The Canadian indie pop twins, now known as Tegan and Sara (back in the day they went by the reverse), are issuing their debut 1999 album Under Feet Like Ours on vinyl for the first time.
12. Sting – Sting Live at the Bataclan
On November 12, 2016, Sting re-opened the iconic Bataclan theatre in Paris, a year after it was devastated by a terrorist attack. This release includes six recordings from that night: Fragile, Message in a Bottle, I Can’t Stop Thinking About You, One Fine Day, Englishman in New York (Reggae Remix) and Every Breath You Take.
13. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
Another box set for the collectors out there, Post Pop Depression features three records from the Pop’s Royal Albert Hall gig in London last summer. It will be packed with exclusive photos, too — 16 pages worth of them.
14. Paul McCartney – Cassette demos
Not vinyl, but cassette tapes, which implausibly seem even more retro. Demos from Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello’s late ‘80s sessions for Flowers in the Dirt (I Don’t Want to Confess, Shallow Grave and Mistress Maid) will be released on the original medium they were cut to for the first time.
15. The Smiths – The Boy With the Thorn In His Side
The 7” single will contain previously unreleased versions of The Boy with the Thorn in His Side and Rubber Ring, and artwork of actor Albert Finney. The studio versions of the songs were originally released in 1985.
