Record Store Day 2018

Each year I kind of forget, and then, I'll re-remember or be reminded that Record Store Day has revealed their annual list. This year I'll again be in Charleston. Most of my adult life I've perused the collection at The Last Record Store, or a couple of years at Harvest Records. Hopefully the little shop my wife and friends led me to last year will have a selection or two I'm looking to score. Here's a link to the Record Store Day list and below is a quick-hitting rundown of the artists piquing my interest on the list. Long gone are the days of no lines and only die-hards, happy hunting.  

» The Allman Brothers Band, Chuck Berry, J. Dilla, Dylan & The Dead, Grateful Dead, Funk in France, NAS, Prince, Tank & The Bangas, New Orleans Soul, Wilco, and Johnny Winter »

Record Store Day is April 21st

eightychoices.

Record Store Day < April 16th > 2016

April 16th, 2016 | Your Turntable is Not Dead!

It's the most wonderful time of the year... April 16th is just around the corner, so too is your favorite local record store. Once again I'll be waiting out front of The Last Record Store. It's always fun to be a part of the magic that occurs on vinyl's biggest day. The Bay area is blessed with a host of shops that will hopefully have the pressed gems you're looking for. 

Record Store Day has a plethora of options, as the list continues to grow year after year. Releases from Børns, Bowie, Johnny Cash, J. Dilla, Bob Dylan, Etta James, Matthew E. White and Jimi are just some of the treasures catching my eye. A couple of those are 45's, while others are LP's. The  Jimi's Smash Hit will be a RSD 1st offering. Keep in mind there are three vinyl categories every year. They are: RSD exclusives, RSD 1st and Regional/Limited runs. Exclusives are only available on Record Store Day. RSD 1st means that its title will get "special treatment" on Record Store Day, but will be available for mass consumption at a later date. The last category is self-explanatory. For more information and the complete list, click here. 

There are three selections that I will be aiming for the morning of the 16th. I'm not even sure I should be divulging these precious (say it in your best Gollum voice) records. James Brown, Johnny Cash (different title than the one previously mentioned), and the White Stripes are at the top of my list. I'm not quite sure if  the White Stripes BBC double LP will make it to Sonoma County. The James Brown wax is a live recording and the Johnny Cash title is an homage to his TV show. Support your local record store.

eightychoices. 

Record Store Day 2014

Records Store Day: April 19th, 2014

It happens only once a year and every time I get super stoked. I have my personal list of what I really want to grab and then there are those releases that are intriguing. Record Store Day has something for everyone, assuming you have a turntable. Remember, vinyl is not dead. This year's ambassador is non-other than Chuck D. If you don't know who he is, you'd better ask somebody. 

Another cool wrinkle in the world of wax is the Adapter Prize. The first recipients of the Adapter Prize were: Tame Impala - Lonerism (record of the year/new release), The Postal Service - Give up (Reissue), GZA - Liquid Swords chess box set (record store day release of the year), and Rodriguez - Searching for Sugar Man (breakout of the year). There are currently four categories, as mentioned in parenthesis. I totally agree with the GZA selection, which was beyond awesome, there was only one copy at my local record shop. I can definitely get behind the praise for Lonerism. The other two, not so much, and I own Searching for Sugar Man. See ya at the Last Record Store. 

This year's list is once again overwhelming. Here are some of my favorite releases:

LCD Soundsystem, The Long Goodbye | Built to Spill, Ultimate Alternate Wavers | Johnny Cash, With His Hot & Blue Guitar | Outkast, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik | Phosphorescent, Song for Zulu | Randy Newman, self titled | Black Angels, Clear Forest Lake | The Wizard of Oz, original motion picture soundtrack | Tame Impala, Chicago Live | Notorious BIG, Life After Death | Neil Young, Live at the Cow Palace 1968 | Bruce Springsteen, American Beauty, as well as a slough of other releases and 7" specialty records.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that there will be three types of releases this year; RSD exclusives, RSD limited run/regional focus, and 'RSD first' releases, which means that those albums will be initially released on Record Store Day and then will become available later to a larger retail audience. 

eightychoices.

Record Store Day packs a heavy hit

It's like a kid in a candy store. 4.20.2013

It's almost Record Store Day and I can hardly wait, I've already ranked my personal list. One of my favorite days of the year happens to share this saturday with another counter culture event, 4/20. And, if you happen to live in the Bay area, San Francisco is hosting an event to celebrate Earth Day. Can it be, a day so filled with sensory overload, on multiple levels, recognizing different themes, that I can actually partake in each? Like the little engine that could, I think I can, I think I can...

This year's list is impressive and long. Some of the vinyl catching my eye ranges from east coast hip-hop legends, live folk recordings and reissues from rock 'n roll heavyweights. Here's a small sample of what's tickling my fancy.

Bob Dylan will be releasing a 7 inch with Wigwam and Thirsty Boots as the b side. Ready to Die gets a facelift with two 12 inch pieces of white vinyl. (R.I.P. B.I.G.) Meanwhile Public Enemy decided to drop a greatest hits on us, titled, Planet Earth. The White Stripes pay homage to Elephant, it's been ten years people, by giving each LP its own color variation. An EP by the Rolling Stones, a 7 inch Gram Parsons recording from 1973 with the Fallen Angels and a compilation of those who performed at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival are some of the other rarities on my radar. The Grateful Dead (rare cuts 1966), Fela Kuti and Patty Griffin also put out limited releases for record store day.

Go support your local record shop. See you in line at the Last Record Store. I think I can.

eightychoices.

Record Store Day

it's damn near record store day again & i couldn't be more excited! the complete list came out recently which began to stoke my audiophile fire. initial favorites that made my wish list are... the carolina chocolate drops & run dmc each performing the hip-hop classic you be illin', which will be pressed on coke bottle green vinyl; the white stripes busting out the must have classics, hand springs & red death at 6:14, cleverly pressed on swirled black & red vinyl. both of these limited releases are 7" records, as well as record store day exclusives. hopefully i'll be able to get my hands on these two special gems. other releases worth mentioning: arcade fire, marco benevento, the black angels, mastodon & feist, ed sharpe & the magnetic zero.

if you live north of golden gate check out the last record store, it's a vinyl junkies best friend. here's to record store day & it's emphasis on local business, not to mention the gluttony of music!

Enjoy

~eightychoices