Record Store Day 2015 (18 April) is gearing up to be a great day for vinyl fanatics across the globe.
First conceived in 2007, the day has grown into a international phenomenon celebrating the culture of independent record stores. On top of exclusive, vinyl releases being made available, there will also be a great selection of events and live music taking place at thousands of record stores across the world.
Dave Grohl of Nirvana/ Foo Fighters fame is 2015's official Record Store Day ambassador. Grohl released a statement saying:
"My local independent record stores were magical, mysterious places that I spent all of my spare time [and money] in, finding what was to eventually become the soundtrack of my life... These places became my churches, my libraries, my schools. They felt like home. And, I don't know where I would be today without them.”
For Australia, our local ambassadors for Record Store Day this year are producer/ engineer Tim Dalton (whose credits include working with Public Enemy and Faith No More), along with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Joe Camilleri and 2015 CMAA Golden Guitar Female Artist winner Amber Lawrence.
With all that in mind, here are ten releases to look out for this Record Store Day.
1. Courtney Barnett - 'Kim's Caravan' 12''
The single from her latest album of the same name, this exclusive 12” release will also feature a cover of John Cale's 'Close Watch'.
2. Run The Jewels 12”
The yet to be titled release from hip hop duo Run The Jewels will feature the unreleased track 'Bust No Moves' (feat. SL Jones), 'Pew Pew Pew', 'Love Again' from 'RTJ2' and bonus track 'Blockbuster Night Pt. 2'.
3. Slayer – 'When The Stillness Comes' 7” Picture Disc
Featuring a completely unreleased track called 'When The Stillness Comes' and a live rendition of 'Black Magic' recorded at Wacken (2014), this special picture disc release will be limited to 3,000 copies, so you'll have to be quick to snatch this one up.
4. Nate Hall 7”
The folk/ psychedelic/ rock artist Nate Hall will be exclusively releasing a 7” 33RPM through local Brisbane record store/ guitar outlet Tym's Guitars. The release will feature two songs taken from 'Fear Of Falling' with handdrawn artwork by Dase Beard and liner notes insert by Nate.
5. The Beatles – 'Long Tall Sally' 7”
This special re-release of the classic 1964 EP will be a great, limited release this Record Store Day. The mono 7” will feature four tracks: 'Long Tall Sally', 'I Call Your Name', 'Slow Down' and 'Matchbox'. A must-have piece of wax for any Beatles fan.
6. Amon Tobin – 'Dark Jovian' 12”
This special release from electronic producer Amon Tobin will feature two, single-sided heavyweight 180g white vinyl 12”s with etched markings. This Record Store Day exclusive release will also feature remixes from Lee Gamble, Logos and Eprom.
7. Foo Fighters – 'Songs From The Laundry' 10”
As ambassador for Record Store Day 2015, it makes perfect sense that Dave Grohl and co. would want to have an exclusive release for this special occasion. This 10” vinyl will feature demos of 'Big Me' and 'Alone + Easy Target', the previously unreleased 'Empty Handed', and a cover of Kim Wilde's 'Kids In America'.
8. Monty Python – 'Stephen Hawking Sings Monty Python... The Galaxy Song' 7”
Limited to 1,000 copies, this re-recording of Monty Python's 'The Galaxy Song' will feature vocals from the iconic physicist/ cosmologist Stephen Hawking. This is not the first time Hawking has been featured on a musical release, having also featured on Pink Floyd's song, 'Keep Talking'.
9. Florence + The Machine – 'What Kind Of Man' 12”
This heavyweight, blue-vinyl release will feature a single from the upcoming album, 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'. The 12” will also feature 'As Far As I Could Get' as a B-side.{youtube}XgeKHTcufLY{/youtube}
10. The Decemberists - 'Picaresque' 12”
This red-vinyl release will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of The Decemberists' 'Picaresque' album. Limited to 5,000 copies, the record will contain a 16-page booklet and postcard set.
As not all releases will be at every store and some being released in very limited quantities, check with your local, independent record store to see what releases are available near you.
Record Store Day happens around the world on Saturday 18 April.
