Along with posthumous releases from David Bowie, Prince and Lou Reed, theres plenty worth opening your wallet for the 10th annual Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22nd — including weird and wonderful collectibles by Andre 3000, Animal Collective, A.B. Original, Elton John, Totally Unicorn and many more.
There’s also a plethora of activities planned at record stores across the country (check the Australia RSD website for what’s going on at your local), including live performances and DJ sets to soundtrack your scavenger hunt.
We’ve assembled a selection of some of the best and most interesting releases that’ll be available this Saturday. It’s worth checking the social media pages and websites of your local participating record store to see what they’ll specifically have in-stock. For a thorough overview of the titles available this year check the collected label lists here.
By Jacquelyn Schwartz and Jonny Nail.
A.B. Original, ‘Reclaim Australia’
Indigenous hip-hop duo A.B. Original are releasing the second-pressing of their award-winning debut album, Reclaim Australia, with black-coloured vinyl on one side, red on the other and a yellow centre label – representing the Indigenous flag.
Andre 3000, ‘All Together Now’
Outkast rapper will finally release his cover of the Beatles’ “All Together Now,” which first aired in a Nike commercial in 2010. The seven-inch disc comes with a previously unreleased instrumental version of the track.
Animal Collective, ‘Meeting Of The Waters’
In light of a forthcoming environmental VICE television series, Animal Collective’s Avey Tare and Geologist are releasing a vinyl recorded live in the Amazon rainforest outside Manaus, Brazil. Recorded in early 2016, the four-track, 30-plus minute EP offers original tracks and field recordings.
Ben Folds & WASO, ‘Live In Perth’
Previously only available on DVD, American singer-songwriter Ben Folds and The West Australian Symphony Orchestra are releasing their collaborative two-night performance from 2005. The record will be released as a 2LP set featuring two previously unreleased recordings from the concerts.
Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band, ‘Hammersmith 1975’
Live recording of the band’s famous first-ever gig outside of America is released on vinyl for the first time, limited to just 3000 copies.
Danny Brown, ‘Ain’t It Funny’
10″ picture disc — limited to just 1300 copies — features artwork from the Brain Dead collective, with original, accapella and instrumental versions of the Atrocity Exhibition track and the rapper’s 2015 collaboration with Clams Casino, “Worth It”.
David Bowie, ‘Cracked Actor’, ‘Bowpromo’
A pair of posthumous Bowie releases will be available for RSD 2017 — Cracked Actor, a 3LP recording of a 1974 show in Los Angeles, and Bowpromo, a reproduction of one of his earliest promo releases, featuring a 12″ LP of the original promo’s seven tracks, along with a Kraftpack envelope, 5 Bowie prints and tissue paper wrapping.
Dirty Three, ‘UFKUKO’
The band’s 1989 debut EP will be available for the first time ever on vinyl, pressed on purple vinyl.
The Distillers, ‘Coral Fang’
Aussie-American punk’s third and final studio album, released in 2003, has been re-pressed (originally limited to just a 1000 copy run) on (blood) red vinyl. This time around there’ll be 4000 copies available.
Elton John, ’17-11-70′
Full band, live-recorded, radio-broadcasted album — described by John as “one of the greatest live albums ever made” — will be re-issued as double-LP, 180-gram vinyl package, with all the recordings remastered by engineer extraordinaire Bob Ludwig. Also, the version of bonus-track “Amoreena” will be a different mix than the controversial take that appeared on the original 17-11-70 CD reissue.
Lou Reed, ‘Perfect Night: Live In London’
An acoustic live album recorded at the Meltdown ’97 festival, with an alternate version of the Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”. Perfect Night: Live In London will be available for the first time on vinyl in a limited release of 7000 copies.
Methyl Ethel, ‘Architecture Lecture/Lagotto Romagnolo’
Australia dream-pop trio are releasing a 7″ single of “Architecture Lecture” and “Lagotto Romagnoloon” — both previously physically unavailable. Limited to just 1000 copies.
Prince, Various Releases
A huge collection of Purple One releases are lined up for this year’s RSD, including vinyl single pressings of “Sign ‘O’ The Times”, “Batdance”, “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man”, “I Wish U Heaven”, “Partyman” and “Pop Life” — all with original artwork — as well as a special “Little Red Corvette” 7″ picture disc.
Santana, ‘Live At The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, August 16, 1969’
Carlos Santana and Co. were just newcomers when they delivered their “career making” performance at Woodstock 1969, setting the stage for their platinum-selling debut released just weeks after. The live performance will be pressed to vinyl for the first time, limited to just 3000 copies.
The Smiths, ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’
Plans are in the works for a full Queen Is Dead reissue next year. In the meantime, The Smiths release a 7″ single, featuring an alternate mix of Queen Is Dead track “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side”, alongside and an early version of “Rubber Ring”.
Spoon, ‘Hot Thoughts’
Austin indie band are set to release the title track from their latest album, partnering with a Dave Sitek remix of the song and a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Love Letters” — limited to just 2000 copies worldwide.
Stevie Nicks, ‘Rarities’
10″ of rare demos, live and early takes from Fleetwood Mac front-woman, including “Blue Lamp” (from the Heavy Metal soundtrack) and “Sleeping Angel” (from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack). Limited to a worldwide run of 7500.
T. Rex, ‘Electric Warrior’
English rockers’ influential 1971 album Electric Warrior is being re-released on a heavy weight 180 gram gold vinyl pressing, packaged in a die cut sleeve with a reversible inner reminiscent of the glam rock style.
Totally Unicorn, ‘Horse Hugger’
Sydney metalcorists Totally Unicorn are releasing their six-track 2010 EP on pink vinyl for the first time, limited to just 300 copies.
The War On Drugs, ‘Thinking Of A Place’
First new music from the band since 2014’s Lost In The Dream, available as a double-sided, 45 RPM-mastered vinyl exclusively for RSD 2017.
