It's that time of year again! Record Store Day (RSD) 2018 takes place this Saturday, April 21! Celebrating the culture and history of the independent record store, this annual event is taking place pretty much everywhere around the world, and is growing in popularity with each passing year. Record Store Day turns 11 years old this year, and is once again celebrating by making another colorful, collectible, and limited batch of vinyl and cassette (yes, you read that correctly) releases available to fans and collectors alike. If you don't already have a turntable, this event just might be the impetus to encourage you to go out and buy one.
In addition to RSD-exclusive releases, some record stores are hosting live, in-store performances from an artist or two - with some even including activities such as local micro-brewery samplings.
Here are your next steps if we've kept your interest so far:
Find a record store near you that is participating in the event.
Browse the releases that will be available in your country (yes, they vary depending on what part of the globe you call home).
Check your local record store's website or social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to find out what events they might have taking place, sometimes confirming what releases they'll have in stock.
Get yourself out of bed on Saturday morning, and get in line at your local independent record store!
Here are some of this year's US releases that caught SoundThread Music Blog's eye:
AC/DC - "Back in Black" - For the cassette lovers. Second best selling album of all time.
Air - "Sexy Boy" (12" Vinyl) - 20th anniversary release.
Chris Bell - "I Am the Cosmos/You and Your Sister" - 7" vinyl. Classic 1978 single from former Big Star member.
Belly - "Feel" (10" Colored Vinyl) - featuring two tracks from the band's forthcoming album (Dove), one track exclusive to this release, and a cover of "Hushabye Mountain" (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).
David Bowie - "Let's Dance" (12" Vinyl) - full length demo (clocking in at 7:34).
Johnny Cash - "At Folsom Prison: 50th Anniversary Elegacy Edition" - spread across 5 vinyl discs.
Eurythmics - "1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)" - one of Eurythmics' most experimental works (featuring the singles "Sexcrime" and "Julia").
First Aid Kit - "You Are the Problem Here" (7" vinyl) - originally recorded in honor of International Women's Day.
Fleetwood Mac - "Tango In the Night (Alternate)" - alternate takes, early versions, demos.
Madonna - "The First Album" (LP picture disc) - reissue of 1983 Japanese 8-track Picture Disc LP.
The Police - "Roxanne" (7" picture disc) - reissue of second Police single.
Snow Patrol - "Don't Give In/Life on Earth" (10" Vinyl) - first new music in more than 8 years from this UK indie band.
Sufjan Stevens - "Mystery of Love EP" (10" transparent vinyl) - three songs from the recent Call Me By Your Name movie.
The Sundays - "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic" - vinyl reissue of the iconic band's debut album, featuring "Here's Where The Story Ends."
U2 - "Lights of Home" (12" picture disc in a clear PVC bag) - new single release from the band's latest album.
Various Artists - "Hillbillies in Hell: Volume 666 (Country Music's Tormented Testament: 1952-1974) - the title just says it all. You know you wanna hear this.
Various Artists - "The Other Side of Sun (Part 2): Sun Records Curated by Record Store Day, Volume 5" - limited edition vinyl compilation.
Various Artists - "Twin Peaks (Limited Event Series Soundtrack) (Score)" - two vinyl-disc edition featuring 6 new Angelo Badalementi compositions.
The Vapors - "Turning Japanese" (7" colored vinyl) - remastered and re-pressed.
If you're in the UK, check out the following additional UK releases:
ABBA - "Summer Night City" (7" Single) - 40 years ago (can you believe that?).
Erasure - "Two Ring Circus" (Limited edition Double Yellow Vinyl).
The Human League - "Secrets" (3-sided white vinyl discs).
Sigur Ros - "Route One" - from the band's 2016 summer drive around Iceland's Route 1 on the longest day of the year.
Suede - "Suede" (Silver 2 LP) - 25th Anniversary Silver Edition, including 9 b-sides.
Wire - "Nine Sevens" (7" Box Set) - re-pressings of this iconic band's first eight singles, plus a single originally given away with their 154 LP. On a personal note: I would LOVE to buy/find a copy of this! But am living in the wrong country :-(
Yazoo "Situation (The Francois K Remixes) - reissue vinyl that collects four Francois K mixes of this dancefloor filler track.
Hopefully some of these might inspire you to do an early rise-and-shine this Saturday to check out RSD 2018. Happy shopping!