It’s officially April, and if there’s one thing worth looking forward to this month (other than Easter, of course), it’s Record Store Day. This year’s nationwide event is all set for Saturday 22nd April. Liverpool’s very own Probe Records, Jacaranda Records, 3B Records, Cult Vinyl, Dig Vinyl, Defend Vinyl and 81 Renshaw will all be taking part, in one way or another so if you want to get your hands on the limited edition line-ups and new releases, we suggest you check who’s stocking what and head over early.
Reaching the grand old age of ten, RSD are definitely not disappointing with their double-figures anniversary. The releases on everyone’s lips this year come from the likes of The Who (a parka-green vinyl replica of Quadrophenia), The Smiths (more below), Cabbage (Young, Dumb and Full Of…), Alice Coltrane (Harp Improvisation from the celebrated jazz instrumentalist), Bruce Springsteen (a live recording of his Hammersmith Odeon, London gig in 1975), and many of the gods of classic rock.
It’s no surprise that the late David Bowie and Prince are being honoured too in this special milestone event. Two previously unreleased albums are building a buzz among fans of The Starman – the first is Cracked Author, which features the never-seen-before footage of a concert in LA back in November 1974; the second is the posthumous LP No Plan, that was set to follow Blackstar before the singer’s untimely death.
Prince fans are being treated to not one but six special 12” vinyl singles: ‘I Wish U Heaven’, ‘Batdance’, ‘Sign ‘O’ the Times’, ‘I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man’, ‘Partyman’, and ‘Pop Life’ (as part of Prince and the Revolution).
Classic rock lovers can head straight to the mosh pit with releases of live recordings from well-known gigs by The Doors (live at the Matrix ’69), Sting (live at the Bataclan), Iggy Pop (Live at The Royal Albert Hall), Curtis Knight and Jimi Hendrix (live at George’s Club 20), and former guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page (live at Jones Beach with The Black Crowes).
Fans of The Smiths can get super excited for two unreleased recordings – The Queen is Dead’s ‘The Boy With the Thorn in His Side’ and an “early Drones version” of ‘Rubber Ring’ – strapped up as a 7” with cover art featuring actor Albert Finney.
Paying homage to the eagerly awaited Blade Runner follow-up, Blade Runner 2049, which hits cinemas later this year, there’s a soundtrack picture disc featuring the work of legendary composer, Vangelis. Sci-fi fanatics will definitely want to snap this one up.
And a final (surprising) addition to the line-up steps back to the ‘90s. Coated in bubblegum pink and oozing with can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head lyrics, there’s a special addition of Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’ fantastically, wrapped in plastic, slipping onto shelves. 2017 marks the 20th – yes you heard that right – anniversary of the single.
Where to find vinyl records in Liverpool:
Probe Records
1, The Bluecoat, School Ln, Liverpool L1 3BX
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Probe-Records/101719513224198
Jacaranda Records
21-23 Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BW
https://www.facebook.com/jacarandarecords/
Defend Vinyl
150 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 3JR
https://www.facebook.com/defendvinyl/
Cult Vinyl
35 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SF
Dig Vinyl
80 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HR
http://digliverpool.co.uk/
3b Records
5 Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BW
https://www.3btickets.com/
81 Renshaw
81 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SJ
https://www.facebook.com/81Renshaw/
Find all the details for 2017’s RSD by visiting the official website and give them a follow on Twitter @RSDUK and Facebook to be the first to hear all the latest news.
Tilly Martin
