Record Store Day has grown to become one of the most highly anticipated days of the year for many music fans around the world. Originally founded in 2007, the idea for Record Store Day was first inspired by a comment made by Bull Moose employee, Chris Brown, who said that there should be something similar to Free Comic Book Day for record stores. Eric Levin, Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliston, Amy Dorfman, Don Van Cleave, and Brian Poehner made up the team that went on to make Record Store Day a reality. It is held on the third Saturday in April and is a time for independent record stores around the world to celebrate music from all genres. This year music fans and artists will gather together on April 16th to enjoy live performances and deals on their favorite records from a variety of acts.
In many ways Record Store Day is the best thing to happen to independent record stores all over the world. In 2013 Record Store Day was credited with the highest vinyl sales while in 2014 independent retailers recorded their highest percentage of physical album sales since 1991. Its impact was so great that Record Store Day has gone on to become an organization that works to spread awareness throughout the year about the importance of independent record stores. They provide special promotions, marketing, and other opportunities for stores around the world and maintain both a website and various social media pages all year which they keep full of new content relating to independent record stores. In 2015, the American Association of Independent Music awarded Record Store Day with a “Marketplace Ally” award.
While every one seems to have their own favorite parts of Record Store Day, whether it be the live in store performances by artists or simply celebrating the culture and individuality of their favorite record store, my favorite part is the vast amount of specially pressed records that are made available on this day. This year’s list was just recently released to the public and is full of special offers from some of the best artists, both modern and classic. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite exclusive releases that have been announced so far. Which are your favorites?
Record Store Day 2016 Exclusive Releases
Classics
- David Bowie “I Dig Up Everything – The Pye Years 1966″ (12” Vinyl)
- David Bowie “The Man Who Sold The World” (12″ Vinyl)
- David Bowie “TVC15″ (7” Picture Disc)
- Johnny Cash “All Aboard The Blue Train With Johnny Cash” (LP)
- Deftones “B Sides and Rarities” (2 X LP)
- John Coltrane “The Roulette Sides” (10″ Vinyl)
- The Doors “Roadhouse Blues Live/A Feast of Friends” (7″ Vinyl)
- The Doors “Live At The Aquarius: The First Performance” (3 X LP)
- Bob Dylan “Melancholy Mood” (7″ Colored Vinyl)
- Fleetwood Mac “Alternative Tusk” (2 X LP)
- Grateful Dead “Capitol Theatre, Passaic,NJ 4/25/77” (4XLP)
- Iron Maiden “Empire of the Clouds” (12″ Pic Disc)
- Etta James “At Last” (LP)
- Jethro Tull “Too Old To Rock n Roll, Too Young To Die” (LP)
- Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “Sinner LP” (LP)
- Johnny Cash “The Best of the Johnny Cash Show” (LP)
- The Kinks “Mister Pleasant” (7″ Vinyl)
- The Kinks “Dave Davies Hits” (7″ Vinyl)
- Madonna “Like A Virgin and Other Hits” (12″ Colored Vinyl)
- The Monkees “Classic Album Collection” (Vinyl Box Set)
- The Monkees “Saturdays Child/You Just May Be The One” (7″ Picture Disc)
- Elvis Presley “I’m Leaving: Elvis Folk Country” (LP)
- Billy Joe Shaver “Wacko From Waco/When Fallen Angels Fly” (7″ Vinyl)
- Tom Petty And the Heartbreakers “Kiss My Amps Vol II” (12″ Vinyl)
- Violent Femmes “Memory/You Move Me” (7″ Vinyl)
Pop/Pop Rock/Techno
- Simple Minds “Big Music Tour 2015” (2XLP)
- Skrillex and Diplo Featuring Justin Bieber “Where Are U Now” (12″ Colored Vinyl)
- The Weeknd “The Hills Remixes” (12″ Vinyl)
- Twenty One Pilots “Double Sided” (7″ Vinyl)
Rock/Punk/Metal
- Five Finger Death Punch “Got Your Six [Limited Edition Pic Disc] (2 X LP Picture Disc)
- Puscifier “V is for Viagara” (2 X LP Picture Disc)
- Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols” (12″ Picture Disc)
- Soul Asylum “Grave Dancers Union” (2 X LP)
Indie Rock/Folk
- Alt J “Live At Redrocks” (Vinyl Box Set)
- James Bay “Chaos & The Calm” (12″ Picture Disc)
- Chvrches “Every Open Eye Remains EP” (LP)
- Death Cab For Cutie “Offend Maggie” (LP)
- The Flaming Lips “Lightning Strikes The Postman” (CD)
- The Flaming Lips “Heady Nuggs Vol II Studio Album 2006-12” (Vinyl Box Set)
- Florence And The Machine “Delilah/Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (12″ Colored Vinyl)
- Alanis Morrisette “Demos 1994-98” (LP)
- Mumford and Sons + Baaba Maal “There Will Be Time” (7″ Colored Vinyl)
- Muse “Reapers” (7″ Picture Disc)
- Pinback “Blue Screen Life” (2 X LP)
- Talking Heads/Echosmith “This Must Be The Place” (7″ Vinyl)
- Willie Nelson/Uncle Tupelo “Truck Drivin’ Man” (7″ Colored Vinyl)
Country
- Emmylou Harris “Wrecking Ball Deluxe Vinyl Version” (3 X LP)
- Lucinda Williams “Just A Little More Faith And Grace” (12″ Vinyl)
Hip Hop
- Lil Wayne “The Carter” (2 X LP)
- Notorious B.I.G. “Mo Money, Mo Problems” (12″ Colored Vinyl)
- Ol Dirty Bastard “Brooklyn Zoo/Shimmy Shimmy Ya” (12″ Picture Disc)
- Outkast “Elevators (Me and You)” (10″ Colored Vinyl)
Soundtracks
- Star Wars Force Awakens: March of the Resistance/ Rey’s Theme (10″ Picture Disc)
- Nosferatu (1922 Film) (7″ Colored Vinyl)
- Music From The Motion Picture “Joy” (2 X LP)
- John Wick Soundtrack (LP)
- Music From the Television Series Blacklist (LP)
- Dusk Til Dawn Soundtrack (LP)
Sponsored:
- Dogfish Head Brewery Presents: Music To Drink To Vol. 2 – Various Artists (LP)
Instrumental:
- Vitamin String Quartet “VSQ Performs Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories” (LP)
To see a full list of exclusive releases, participating record stores, merchandise, and more please visit Record Store Day’s official website.
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