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. 

Third Man Records | Vault Package #26

The White Stripes

The first White Stripes record accessible to the masses came in 1999. Third Man Records has released the bait to their latest limited package. This Vault only release is titled, The Cass Corridor Collection: Live at the Gold Dollar Vol. III. This early show at Detroit's Gold Dollar is a vital piece to The White Stripes raw beginnings. Volumes I and II from this same Motor City bar were previously released on Vault #13.

Highlights from this February night include covers, "Stop Breaking Down" and "One More Cup of Coffee." Other songs showed up for the first time such as, "Suzy Lee" and "Astro." A medley near the end consisting of, "Cannon/John the Revelator/Grinnin' in Your Face," have me eagerly awaiting this vinyl. Sign up for your very own Vault membership and enjoy a plethora of audiophile goodies each quarter. Vault Package #26 includes a blood-red 180 gram record, a 7" Dead Weather single, a recreation of Jack's original flyer for the show, two glossy photos of the band and a hand-written set list, plus a Third Man Records enamel pin. I can't wait to get this Vault Package. Enjoy.

eightychoices.  

Record Store Day Reminder

Record Store Day | April 18th | 2015 | The Last Record Store

April 18th is Record Store Day—be there or be square. This year has plenty of treasures to seek. For the complete list click here. 

Hopefully X marks the spot and Neko Case's, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, along with, Built to Spill's new album, Untethered Moon, will be added to my collection. The crown jewel this year is, Get Behind Me Satan, The White Stripes first commercial release for this album on wax. Your turn table is not dead. We'll see you at the Last Record Store. 

Happy hunting,
eightychoices.

The List—Record Store Day '15

RSD | April 18th, 2015

Your turntable is not dead. The List has been unveiled and this year's batch is heavy on reissues and 7" vinyl. Once again there are three categories; Record Store Day exclusives, RSD limited run/regional focus, and RSD First releases. Choice selections from some of the pillars of American music are in abundance this year. The Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, Otis Redding, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash all have rare, live, or monumental material ready for audiophile consumption. There are of course many more choices to digest from the Record Store Day menu.

Neko Case's, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, easily makes my list of hopeful scores. I love this album and it has long been out-of-print. Dylan inventory always weighs heavily on my personal scale. If I can find it, and then afford it, I'll look to pick up The Basement Tapes in mono (180g). When I Reach My Heavenly Shore, a 3LP collection of black gospel from 1926-1936, has the potential of a lost treasure, waiting to be appreciated. All three of the albums mentioned fall under the category of RSD exclusive. This means that they will only be released on April 18th, 2015.

Two options from the RSD first grouping are at the top of my wish-list. RSD firsts are available on Record Store Day and will then be released at a later date on black vinyl, with non-exclusive, standard-artwork. The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan, has never been offered commercially on wax, until now. Sign me up as the guy who bolts directly for this. Disc one will be pressed on red vinyl and disc two on white. Built To Spill's latest effort, Untethered Moon, will also be available, with 500 random copies on transparent blue vinyl. Whew...

Support your local record shop. See you in line on April 18th at the Last Record Store.

eightychoices.

Third Man Records | Vault #21

Third Man Records | Vault #21

Next up in the pipe-line of Third Man Records are choice cuts from The White Stripes. The Vault is a yearlong gift that keeps me eagerly waiting for each quarter's treasure. Vault #21 is titled, Live Under the Lights of the Rising Sun. This double LP will tell the story of The Stripes' first-ever overseas journey. Not only will there be 31 stunning tracks from two complete live shows, but a collection of photos from the performances that have gone unseen for nearly 14 years will accompany the vinyl. An additional treat in the form of a 7" record will be our first exposure to new songs from Dead Weather. And just in case Mr. White hasn't given Vault members enough, there will be a Third Man Records flag added for good measure. Thanks be to Nashville—long live Third Man Records. Below is a small sample.



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