Tomorrow the fifth annual Record Store Day takes place around the world, and sees labels, bands, and music fans celebrating independent record labels.
Since it’s inception in 2008, Record Store Day has rapidly grown with interest getting bigger by the year, with over 200 UK stores alone taking part this year.
As always there are a wide range of special, limited releases especially for Record Store Day. With everyone from Taking Back Sunday to Mastodon to Refused and many more releasing material, Already Heard thought it’d be ideal to recommend 10 essential Record Store Day purchases.
The Horrible Crowes – Live from Fingerprints 7"
With last year’s ‘Elsie,’ Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins produced one of the most compelling albums of 2011. For RSD, the duo are releasing a two-track 7" especially record at Fingerprints Records in California. The two tracks included are ‘I Witnessed A Crime’ and ‘Blood Loss,’ two of the more soulful cuts from ‘Elsie.’ (SR)
Frank Turner – I Still Believe/Somebody To Love (Queen cover)
Take one of the most resounding, anthemic numbers of Frank Turner’s career and put it with a classic Queen track, and you’re left with a must-have purchase for Record Store Day 2012. In other words, Frank Turner follows his triumphant Wembley arena show with an essential 7" for any Frank Turner fan. (SR)
Taking Back Sunday – We Play Songs
Take four classic Taking Back Sunday songs, record two (‘Ghost Man on Third’ and Your Own Disaster’) ‘at California’s Fingerprints and two (Great Romances of the 20th Century and Faith (When I Let You Down)) at Looney Tunes in Boston, and you have a recipe for a special TBS Record Store Day release. (SR)
Lemuria – Varoom Allure
The Buffalo based three piece return with new two tracks for Record Store Day 2012. It’s great to see that they’ve gone for something totally original for this instead of simply re-releasing old material, or providing a live EP like so many before them. (RH)
Refused – Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent
I picked ‘Songs To Fan…’ for two reasons. Firstly, I feel that this is a stronger album then the iconic ‘Shape Of Punk To Come.’ Secondly, we had a brilliant re-release of ‘Shape Of Punk To Come’ a year or two back, complete with a live album and the ‘Refused Is Fucking Dead’ documentary. With this version still readily available, do we really need another colorway? (RH)
Dave House – Kingstons Current
It’s been 8 years but Dave House’s debut solo album, and now it finally gets the vinyl treatment. Given Dave’s influence at Banquet Records and the fact that it was recorded in Jon Tolley’s living room makes this a must have record for anyone who appreciates Dave House and Banquet Records as a whole. (RH)
The Saddest Landscape – Cover Your Heart
Seeing as original pressings can go for silly money on eBay, it’s great to see The Saddest Landscape pressing this again for newer fans. Given the bands love affair with vinyl, we should expect a real treat with the reworked artwork and packaging. (RH)
David Bowie – Starman
A music legend re-releases a classic track for Record Store Day. That kind of says it all right? (SR)
Moving Mountains – Foreword
The follow up to the stunning ‘Pneuma’ is given the vinyl treatment, and with new artwork too. From the powerful title track to the enthralling ‘Lights and Sounds,’ Moving Mountains’ ‘Foreword’ will leave breathless. (SR)
The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop/Havana Affair
I generally dislike the amount of old records re-released for Record Store Day but this seems like a brilliant chance to pick up a piece of pop punk history for your collection. It might not be from the heady pre-Sex Pistols days of 1976 but it seems close enough. (RH)
Also worth picking up:
Arcade Fire – Sprawl II Remix
††† (Crosses) – Option/Telepathy 7"
Stagecoach – 56k Dial-Up/Hang That Head (Bobby Shoop Shoop remix)
Childish Gambino – Heartbeat
Mae – The Everglow
Straylight Run – Straylight Run
Refused – The Shape of Punk to Come
Fun. – The Ghost That You Are To Me
The Receiving End of Sirens – Songs//2003
A full list of Record Store Day releases can be found here.
Our good friends at Banquet Records are just one of over 200 UK stores involved in Record Store Day. A full list of their release can be viewed here.
Visit RecordStoreDay.com for more infomation on Record Store Day 2012.
Words by Sean Reid (SR) & Richard Heaven (RH).