Music fans around the globe will once again be visiting their favorite local shops on Record Store Day.
This year’s event, which celebrates, promotes and supports independently owned record stores, takes place April 23 at shops located in 14 countries. Hundreds of acts — from Lil Wayne and Linda Martell to Nick Cave and Nicki Minaj — will be releasing limited edition records for the occasion, many of which are only available on Record Store Day.
Here are some Record Store Day exclusives that fans should consider adding to their collections. For a list of participating stores, visit recordstoreday.com.
“The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s,” Charles Mingus: The three-LP set delivers a never-before-released live recording of the legendary jazz bassist performing with alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, tenor saxophonist Bobby Jones, trumpeter Jon Faddis, pianist John Foster and drummer Roy Brooks at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London in 1972.
“Live at Brixton Academy,” Gojira: This excellent live outing, recorded by the sensational French metal act in 2013 and then released as the concert CD/DVD “Les Enfants Sauvages” one year later, is finally being issued on vinyl as a two-LP set.
“Wembley Empire Pool, London, England 4/8/72,” Grateful Dead: The five-LP package documents the second night of Jerry Garcia and company’s Wembley stand, which kicked off the Dead’s legendary “Europe ’72” tour. Selling points abound, including a 32-minute “Dark Star.”
“The Sire Albums (1981-1989),” Ramones: It’s hard to believe it’s taken this long to happen, but six of the band’s classic Sire Records platters — “Pleasant Dreams,” “Subterranean Jungle,” “Too Tough to Die,” “Animal Boy,” “Halfway to Sanity” and Brain Drain” — have just been pressed on vinyl for reportedly the first time since their original release. The seven-LP set also includes a “neon pink splatter” vinyl LP of rarities.
“Blue Highlights,” Joni Mitchell: This single LP featuring highlights from the second volume of Rhino’s Joni Mitchell Archives series includes extremely rare recordings associated with the singer-songwriter’s legendary “Blue” album.
Bill Evans doubleheader: Fans of the amazing jazz pianist have a couple of Record Store Day exclusives to choose from. (And the right choice, of course, may well be to pick both.) The first, chronologically speaking, is “Morning Glory: The 1973 Concert at the Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires” with bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell. The second is “Inner Spirit: The 1979 Concert at the Teatro General San Martin, Buenos Aires” with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe LaBarbera.
“Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings,” Albert Ayler: This is a “Record Store Day First” offering, as opposed to a Record Store Day exclusive, which means that it will be available at some point after April 23 as well. Yet, this five-LP set is so cool that we felt compelled to include on the list. It features two hours of never-before-heard recordings, including some of the last that the iconic free-jazz saxophonist would make before his death in 1970 at the age of 34.
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