Record Store Day falls right on Easter weekend this year. But in lieu of that rigged egg hunt your family forces you to participate in every year, vinyl hounds across America will be spending their Holy Saturday combing the cramped aisles of their favorite brick-and-mortar record store in search of the cornucopia of exclusives being rolled out by labels big and small across these United States.
Before you head on out to the store this year, go ahead and print out this year’s Glide pick of essential releases. The lines will be long out there, but at least it will give you a jump on 25 of the hottest treasures to be had on this most blessed day for disciples of the physical product.
1. Jake Bugg – Live at Silver Platters (Island Def Jam)
Just as the young English rockers of the 1960s looked to American blues for their creative matrix, Nottingham’s Jake Bugg sought the inspiration of the USA’s rock ‘n’ roll roots to construct his singular sound. All at the tender age of 20, to boot. And this four-song live EP, recorded at Seattle’s Silver Platters, is a stellar display of his prowess as a stage performer.
2. DEVO – Live at Max’s Kansas City November 15, 1977 (Jackpot)
David Bowie is backstage with the five self proclaimed ‘spudboys’ from Akron, Ohio waiting for his cue to introduce the band who, in his words were, “The band of the future!” As time went on it became clear that the future is still waiting to catch up with DEVO. Working closely with the band and those who were there that night, Jackpot Records brings you this audio time capsule that catapulted DEVO from strange, musical hillbillies to innovative pioneers overnight. Now the truth can be told! Available for the first time on vinyl the entire performance, complete with rare, unearthed audio of David Bowie. With liner notes written by DEVO Co-founder Gerald V. Casale specifically for this release (which also includes a reproduced early DEVO press bio sheet from 1976), this record will be the perfect compliment for hardcore DEVO collectors, music fans and those who are new to the game.
3. Aerosmith – Rocks/Draw the Line/Night in the Ruts/Rock in a Hard Place (Legacy)
The crown jewel of Aerosmith’s catalog along with three of their most underrated albums have been repressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl with individually numbered jackets. If you want to hear the polar opposite of the band’s soccer mom era in the 1990s, pick up this quartet of absolute classics.
4. Ray Parker, Jr.- Ghostbusters 10-inch (Legacy)
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the blockbuster film comedy Ghostbusters comes this excellent collectible “ecto green” glow-in-the-dark 10″ vinyl pressing of the film’s #1 hit theme song by Ray Parker Jr., backed with original 1984 dance remixes of the track.
5. Outkast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (Arista-Legacy)
Just as Nas’s Illmatic did for New York City, the first Outkast album took the then-still-gestating Southern hip-hop movement and kicked it into hyperspace. This limited edition numbered vinyl version of Southernplayalistic… celebrates the 20th anniversary of an album that doesn’t feel but a day old in its futuristic freshness and comes off the heels of Andre 3000 and Big Boi’s triumphant comeback concert at Coachella this past weekend. Cop this!
6. Ronnie Spector and the E. Street Band – “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” b/w “Baby Please Don’t Go (Legacy)
A stunning recreation of the 7″ single cut by Ronnie Spector and The E Street Band at the CBS Studios in 1977, “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”/”Baby Please Don’t Go” was produced by Sugar Miami Steve (aka Steve Van Zandt) and is the only release credited to the just “The E Street Band.” Billy Joel wrote “Say Goodbye To Hollywood” as a musical tribute to the sound of the Ronettes, so it was fitting that Ronnie Spector record her own version, with Bruce Springsteen’s backing band (and Bruce himself on acoustic guitar). The B side is a Steve Van Zandt original.
7. Grateful Dead – Live at Hampton Coliseum (Rhino)
This live two-LP set from the band’s first appearance at the legendary Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA on 5/4/79 marks the first-ever release of these tapes/this show in any format and is highlighted by choice performances of deep Dead cuts like “Passenger” from Terrapin Station and the From the Mars Hotel standout “Ship of Fools.”
8. Cave In – Jupiter + Rarities (Hydrahead)
Up from the ashes of the recently shuttered influential art metal label Hydrahead Records comes this special RSD vinyl reissue of Cave In’s 2000 masterpiece Jupiter, a dazzling fusion of post-hardcore, space rock and psychedelia that still sounds fresh over a decade and a half after its initial release. This deluxe edition of the album, remastered by James Plotkin of Khanate, has been expanded to two LPs and includes the rarities set Anomalies Vol. 3 on the bonus wax.
9. Husker Du – Candy Apple Grey vinyl (Rhino)
Long overdue reissue of Husker Du’s 1986 fifth studio album and major label debut released on grey vinyl. Candy Apple Grey also marks the completion of the band’s transition from hardcore punk to a more well-rounded alternative rock style. Bob Mould and Grant Hart individually wrote tracks on the album. While the band’s earlier, more frenetic style is still evident, CAG also features more introverted, toned-down material, including a relatively large amount of acoustic guitar.
10. J. Spaceman and Kid Millions – Live at Le Poisson Rouge (Northern Spy)
On September 11, 2013, J. Spaceman (Jason Pierce of Spiritualized and Spacemen 3) and Kid Millions (Oneida, Man Forever, People of the North) took a night off of their US tour with Spiritualized to perform an improvised set at the former Village Gate in Greenwich Village. Northern Spy was there to document the show. The resulting 12″ LP comes with an accompanying 7″ and will be limited to 3000 copies.
11. Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes – Live at the Greek (TVT)
Newly repressed on 180 gram audiophile vinyl in red, clear and blue, this souvenir from the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and the By Your Side-era lineup of the Crowes captured live during their two-night stand at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles finally gets a vinyl release so you can really hear every nook and cranny of this supergroup’s powerhouse version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” at maximum capacity.
12. Charles Lloyd – Live at Slugs (Resonance)
Pressed on tasty orange wax, this collection of never-before released material features Charles Lloyd’s forgotten 1965 quartet with Ron Carter (bass), Gabor Szabo (guitar), and Pete LaRoca Sims (on drums). These are the only recordings ever released from this group, including the earliest known recording of the Charles Lloyd classic composition, “Dreamweaver,” and is also a tribute to one of the forgotten jazz shrines, Slugs of the Far East (which was located in New York City’s Lower East Side). These tracks will be featured in a forthcoming 2CD/2LP set of all unreleased material called Manhattan Stories, to be released later this year.
13. Mudhoney – On Top (Sub Pop)
In 2013 both Mudhoney and Sub Pop turned 25, and in celebration the Seattle label somehow convinced the usually responsible people who operate the Space Needle to allow the band to perform on the actual roof of this very tall, very iconic building. Due to space limitations up on top, and the obvious safety issues involved, only about 13 people were able to actually attend and bear witness to this performance (apparently you can hear each of them clapping individually between songs). KEXP recorded and broadcasted this monumentally historic event, and this limited-edition vinyl LP preserves it for eternity. Limited to 2,700 copies worldwide.
14. Steve Earle Townes – The Basics (New West)
In 2009 Steve Earle released an album of Townes Van Zandt songs. It began as solo guitar and vocal tracks recorded in October 2008 in New York City. Other instruments were added later in subsequent sessions for the album in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. Those original recordings – The Basics – were released on a limited edition bonus CD with the Townes album and are available here for the first time on vinyl.
15. Randy Newman – Randy Newman (Rhino)
This reissue of Randy Newman’s iconic 1968 debut has been repressed on 180 gram vinyl in original mono and features the album’s original cover art of the artist standing in the clouds. A must-own for the hardest of hardcore Randy fans combing the racks on RSD.
16. The Yardbirds – Little Games (Rhino)
Reissued on psychedelic spattered vinyl and cut from the 1992 stereo remix, Little Games is the fourth American album by English rock band the Yardbirds. Recorded and released in 1967, it was their first album recorded after becoming a quartet with Jimmy Page as the sole guitarist and Chris Dreja switching to bass. Little Games became the Yardbirds’ final studio album, and remains a favorite amongst those who got into the legendary English rock institution via Led Zeppelin.
17. Veruca Salt – Veruca Salt 7-inch (Minty Fresh)
Nineties alt-rockers Veruca Salt have reunited and will be putting out a new 10″ on Record Store Day, marking the first ounce of new music in over 14 years with the original line-up of Nina Gordon, Louise Post, Steve Lack and Jim Shapiro. The 10″ will be released on the band’s original label, Minty Fresh, and will feature their seminal hit, “Seether,” as well as two new tracks, “The Museum of Broken Relationships” and “It’s Holy.” The new tracks were produced by Brad Wood, who also produced their debut album, American Thighs.
18. Jaco Pastorius – Modern American Music…Period! The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore) Produced in conjunction with the Pastorius estate and lifelong fan Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, this release contains 11 revolutionary tracks from one of the world’s greatest musicians. The CD and LP feature essays from Trujillo and Pastorius biographer Bill Milkowski (writer for DownBeat and Jazziz), and unseen photos from the family’s archives. According to Milkowski, from his notes, “Raw and uninhibited, these Criteria demo sessions showcase a working band reveling in the energy that they brought to the bandstand on any given night in 1974 while revealing a young, fully-formed Jaco Pastorius standing on the verge of taking over the world.” The original six-song acetate is being reproduced for Record Store Day in a special multi-colored vinyl version that will include a sought-after bonus track, “Havona/Continuum.”
The special Record Store Day LP will also contain a download card for the entire CD program (being released the same day), as well as an insert with both essays and rare photos. This material was unearthed and restored in conjunction with the upcoming documentary, Jaco, the official Record Store Day film for 2014.
19. The Flaming Lips – 7 Skies H3 (Warner Bros.)
Released on clear vinyl for the first time ever, this is a 50 minute distillation across 10 tracks of the remarkable 24-hour song recorded at longtime producer Dave Fridmann’s Tarbox Road Studios in 2011. Anyone who endured the day-long tune already knows what kind of treat they are in for.
20. Jack White – “Lazaretto” 7-inch (fastest release) (Third Man)
On April 19th, Record Store Day, Third Man Records will present Jack White recording the World’s Fastest Released Record, studio-to-store, in the history of mankind. First thing in the morning, Jack White will take the stage in Third Man’s blue room and record direct-to-acetate what will serve as the limited edition version of his next single, a live rendition of the title track from his upcoming LP Lazaretto. The masters will be rushed over to United Record Pressing who will immediately begin pressing 45s. The sleeves will be printed from pictures taken at the show. The finished records will be whisked back to Third Man to sell to awaiting fans. All in the same day. All in a matter of mere hours. As long as there are fans in line waiting to buy the single, United will continue to press and deliver them to Third Man to sell. Even if it takes all day.
21. Alvarius B. and Sir Richard Bishop – If You Don’t Like It…Don’t! (Three Lobed)
Alvarius B (Alan Bishop) and Sir Richard Bishop are brothers who were two thirds of the legendary ethno- jokester-punks Sun City Girls. If You Don’t Like It… DON’T! represents the first ever split release between the Bishop brothers under their own name performing original material. Each of the brothers has their own side to this LP and each contributes new instrumental tracks recorded in 2013 specifically for this release. Housed within a gatefold jacket and from a one-time pressing, this 35-minute LP is essential for fans of the Sun City Girls fans, fans of the brothers’ solo works and of outsider rock in general.
22. David Bowie – “1984” 7-inch Picture Disc (Rhino)
“1984” originally appeared on David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs album and draws its inspiration from the George Orwell book of the same name. It was released as a single in 1974. The b-side was recorded live in December 1974 on “The Dick Cavett Show” and has had limited release since then. This is the first time it appears on vinyl.
23. A Minor Forest- Flemish Altruism/Inindependence (Thrill Jockey)
Classic albums from the early days of Thrill Jockey. Originally released in 1996/1998 – these have been out of print on vinyl for nearly a decade. Both albums are being re-issued and will be sold as a 4xLP set. Flemish Altruism will feature new/updated artwork. Both will include download coupons for the first time. A Minor Forest recently reunited and played a very well received show in San Francisco (with a Bay Guardian cover story). The band will tour the US in April & May of this year.
24. R.E.M. – Unplugged The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions (Rhino)
Available for the first time ever comes R.E.M.’s groundbreaking pair of concerts taped for MTV’s Unplugged series, making them the only band to ever headline the beloved television show twice. This quadruple-vinyl set contains 11 previously unaired performances, including renditions of “Fretless” off the soundtrack to the Wim Wenders film Until the End of the World and such Green faves as “World Leader Pretend” and “Get Up” from the 1991 broadcast and from the 2001 set the likes of a beautifully slowed-down version of the Document hit “The One I Love” as well as “Sad Professor” from 1998’s Up. Former R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills will be signing copies of the collection at Bull Moose in Scarborough, Maine, on Record Store Day.
25. Doc Watson – Southbound (Vanguard)
Fan-voted for vinyl reissue at RecordStoreDay.com and VanguardRecords.com, the late Doc’s classic 1966 album has been remastered from the original tapes by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering and presented in ‘exact replica’ packaging.
26. HAIM – “Forever” 12-inch (Columbia)
This tasty twelver includes Haim’s acclaimed single “Forever” along with an exclusive remix of the track by legendary producer Giorgio Moroder plus the previously-unreleased-in-the-U.S. song “Edge” on the flip.
27. Dresden Dolls – The Dresden Dolls (Rhino)
In celebration of its 10th anniversary comes this reissue of the eponymous debut LP from cabaret punk greats the Dresden Dolls, marking its first-time availability on vinyl and pressed on red and black swirled wax.
28. Dawes/Conor Oberst – Split 7-inch (Hub Records)
This split single finds the man behind Bright Eyes performing Dawes’ “Million Dollar Bill” off their 2011 LP Nothing is Wrong with Dawes performing Oberst’s “Easy/Lucky/Free” from 2005’s Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.
29. Spoon – Loveways EP (Merge) Available for the first time on vinyl, this precursor to Girls Can Tell was actually recorded after Spoon’s breakout 2001 LP but released beforehand Abbey Road style. And 15 years later, it remains one of the great buried treasures of the Spoon catalog, in where Britt Daniels and Jim Eno eschew the post-punk urges just enough to let their blues and doo-wop influences into the fold, foretelling the adventurous pop edge of the great albums that would succeed it later on in the 00s.
30. Death Cab for Cutie feat. the Magik Magik Orchestra – Live 2012 (Barsuk)
In 2012, Death Cab for Cutie invited San Francisco’s Magik*Magik Orchestra to play alongside the Seattle, WA indie rock icons on a 27-date tour in theatres across the United States. The resulting collaboration was brilliant reinterpretations and wonderfully lush orchestrations of songs from across the entire Death Cab catalog, from their debut release on Barsuk Records to their latest full-length Codes and Keys. LIVE 2012 documents some of the run’s best performances and is limited to 3500 copies worldwide.
Thanks to Ron Hart for his lead on generating this list
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Nothing but happy ever after with music any where.