It’s that time of year where the digital world just won’t cut it when it comes to new music.
Record Store Day is an annual celebration of those independent releases at the forefront of the vinyl revolution, dishing out physical recordings of your favourite music that stand the test of time – that won’t get accidentally erased by one pesky computer virus or an upgrade on your laptop.
To mark the annual celebration, we’ve picked out some of our favourite vinyl releases being exclusively released for Record Store Day.
It’s a mixture of new releases, old favourites and downright oddities. Get digging.
1. 808 State – Pacific State
Only for the hardcore UK ravers! Or, in fact, any who happen to be fans of era-defining techno. Manchester outfit 808 State have previously said that the track was being blasted out to the masses at The Hacienda six months before it was even released – and it still stands up today.
This blue and black vinyl release comes with the original mix along with three remixes to throw serious shapes along to.
2. Alan Partridge – Knowing Me Knowing You
Hotter than a big plate at a Linton Travel Tavern Valentines special! A piece of Alan is now yours to own, with this exclusive picture disk featuring two full-length radio episodes of Knowing Me Knowing You from the early 1990s.
3. David Bowie – TVC15
Whilst many of us are still coming to terms with the news that the Thin White Duke has shuffled off this planet and headed back into outer space, we’re still left with a mighty back catalogue to celebrate.
This picture disk of the Station to Station single ‘TVC15’ echoes the original German release and is a little bit of Bowie magic to hold and cherish.
4. Flaming Lips – Lightning Strikes The Postman
Getty
Classic Wayne Coyne – never happy unless he’s upstaging everyone with some bloody quirky release.
The alt-rockers are releasing an alternate mix of their 1995 album Cloud Tastes Metallic – complete with an original comic tucked inside the case, written and illustrated by The Flaming Lips frontman himself.
5. Foals – Rain / Daffodils
Proving that it’s not all retro releases on Record Store Day and vinyl is a fine choice for new music too. Indie darlings Foals are putting out a 7″ double A side, featuring the previously unreleased track ‘Rain’ as well as a funky cover of Mark Ronson’s ‘Daffodils’.
6. The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Criminally underrated on its first release, The Go! Team’s mix of live performers and heavy sampling was a stand-out of the mid-noughties, and now it’s available on vinyl for the first time since that initial pressing.
The vinyl comes in a jazzy shade of red with a yellow swirl, complete with a online download code for the best of both worlds.
7. John Williams – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
A soundtrack for your own Jedi adventures at home? Yes please.
John Williams original score for the latest instalment of the Star Wars series is available on picture disc, complete with an image of the Millennium Falcon soaring away from a gaggle of TIE Fighters. Not suitable for those already in a painful state of anticipation for the next film.
8. Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life
A Design For Life @Manics 12" announced for @recordstoreday https://t.co/M9TPu0PLoR #RSD16 #EMG20 pic.twitter.com/k8lwWmwWXX
— Forever Delayed (@FDForum) March 5, 2016
Following on from last year’s stunning re-release of the seminal The Holy Bible, the Manics are back at it again with another Record Store Day special.
‘A Design For Life’ was the single which launched the trio into the stratosphere and is commemorated in this pretty vinyl complete with a copper and mirrored sleeve.
9. Metallica – Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
Heavy Metal demigods Metallica are taking their responsibilities seriously as this year’s Record Store Day patrons, offering some recordings in the name of charity.
The Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité CD is a live recording from 2003 of the band playing Paris’ iconic Bataclan venue, with all sales going to ‘Giving For France’ charity, which looks to help the victims of last year’s terrorist attacks. Who said heavy metal was the work of the devil?
10. Run The Jewels – VTRJ Viewer
Bet there'll be a few of you after this from @runjewels on @RSDUK. #RecordStoreDay pic.twitter.com/ZkSR9cblE4
— resident (@residentmusic) March 8, 2016
Oh snap – did a hip-hop duo just upstage The Flaming Lips with the most bizarre offering of the year?
Killer Mike and EL-P are no strangers to odd releases, having re-recorded their self-titled first album with cat noises and naming it Meow The Jewels – but these cardboard virtual reality specs may just take the biscuit.
The VTRJ’s are an immersive way to watch their latest music video – scarily bridging the gap into the probable future of videos. The glasses also come with a download for a previously unreleased song.
Run The Jewels, you really are spoiling us.
11. The Undertones – My Perfect Cousin
While you can never have too much Undertones in your record collection, the real reason we’re digging this re-release of ‘My Perfect Cousin’ is for the magnetic figurine on the front, which can be moved across the football pitch on the cover. It’s the little things.
12. Xiu Xiu – Xiu Xiu plays the music of Twin Peaks
Avante-garde pop group meets David Lynch? Xiu Xiu’s take on the warbling guitar of Twin Peaks was originally commissioned by Australia’s Gallery of Modern Art and has since been toured worldwide. It’s a totally insane prospect which we’d happily add to our own record collections.
Keep it weird, guys.
Record Store Day will be taking place across the UK on March 16
More information on all releases can be found at recordstoreday.co.uk
More:
6 surprising facts about vinyl record sales
12 things you learn running an independent record label
6 things you learn running an independent record shop
Main image: Getty
