It is already the third Saturday of April, Record Store Day is on, and like every year on that day, there are some amazing special releases, editions and reissues on the shelves, from every sound and genre, to honor the special day. Here’s a list of our twenty favorites for 2014.
20. Botch - Unifying Themes Redux
Originally released in 2002, this is Botch’s long out of print collection of early 7-inch material, compilation cuts, and other rarities.
19. Neil Young - A Letter Home
On Jack White’s Third Man Records, Neil Young puts out an album of covers of songs from Dylan, Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Phil Ochs, The Everly Brothers and more.
18. Harry Dean Stanton - Partly Fiction
Two never before released tracks from the film
Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction.
17. Medicine - Part Time Punks Live
Medicine are back, after being inactive for 18 years, with a new album that came out in 2013 and now this release, a radio session at Part Time Punks.
16. Bruce Springsteen - American Beauty
Four never before released songs by Bruce, who always honors RSD with something special.
15. Ronnie Spector & The E Street Band - Say Goodbye To Hollywood/Baby Please Don’t Go
Amazing reissue of the 7-inch originally released in 1977. Featuring song by Billy Joel and one by Steve Van Zandt. The Boss has a part in this too.
14. Cults - Upstairs at United
A few months ago Cults recorded the 10th volume of the
Upstairs at United series of sessions, presented here in all analog, direct to tape recordings.
13. Various Artists - Todo Muere Vol. 4
Sacred Bones brings us the fourth volume of the annual RSD vinyl compilations,
Todo Muere, featuring David Lynch, Amen Dunes, Pharmakon, Lust For Youth, Marissa Nadler and more.
12. Pussy Galore - Pussy Gold 5000
The band’s second 12-inch EP, originally released in 1987 and sold out in a month’s time.
11. Various Artists - In Utero: In Tribute
Out on Deathwish, this release
covers all 12 tracks from Nirvana’s In Utero, from bands like Ceremony, Daughters, These Arms Are Snakes, Thou, Whirr and more.
10. Clutch/Lionize - Split 7-Inch
Clutch and protégés, Lionize, produce two new tracks on a split 7-inch on Weathermaker Music.
9. OFF! - Learn To Obey
A 7-inch by OFF!, with tracks based on Shepard Fairey’s artwork.
8. Mudhoney - On Top
A live set performed in 2013 on the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, to celebrate the band’s 25 years.
7. Brian Jonestown Massacre / The Magic Castles - Split 12-inch
Brian Jonestown Massacre offer a track from their forthcoming album and one exclusively for this release. The Magic Castles contribute with two new tracks from their forthcoming album which will be released later in 2014.
6. Ramones - Meltdown With The Ramones
Reissue of a promotional-only sampler that was released in the UK in 1980.
5. Devo - Live At Max’s Kansas City—November 15, 1977
That night in 1977 David Bowie introduced on stage “the band of the future”. This live recording captures that special moment in time when Devo turned from musical novelties to innovative pioneers overnight. It is limited to 2000 copies worldwide.
4. Joy Division - An Ideal For Living
The first ever Joy Division release gets the RSD reissue treatment. It’s a shame Rhino didn’t preserve the original cover artwork for this one, that could have placed this maybe a couple of spots higher on our list.
3. Waylon Jennings & Shooter Jennings - Fenixon
Now this is special! Country superstar Waylon Jennings and his son, Shooter, 16 years old at the time, recorded and produced this LP together in 1996, which never saw the light of day. Don’t expect a country album. This is based on experimental, industrial musicscapes, as the two men both share the vocals and even do some odd covers.
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Nothing New
A posthumous release from the legend that is Gil Scott-Heron, collecting stripped down versions of some of his favorite own songs, recorded during the sessions of his brilliant 2008 album,
I’m New Here.
1. Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea/I Hate Myself and Want To Die
As the exploitation of Cobain’s legacy continues strong, now on the 20th year after his passing, Geffen releases that 7-inch that was initially cancelled in 1994 due to his death.
It’s not too late to call your retailer and grab some of these or even better, visit your local record store and see for yourself what else RSD has to offer.
Record Store Day
ZR
