On Saturday April 18th, National Record Store Day will be celebrated once again, inviting music lovers out for in-store performances & exclusive releases. With so many special releases dropping on this day, though its hard to pick exactly which records we want to get our hands on, we have boiled down the list to these 9 picks.
A true movement that is recognized on every continent except Antarctica, Record Store Day has created a buzz of awareness to inform music lovers everywhere that brick-n-mortar record stores are not ready to fade away to the digital era. A day that features the release of many Special vinyls, CDs and various promotional product, hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe create a special and sometimes rare release to put out.
Record Store Day releases are limited and are first made available to customers in store. Any additional stock that remains will be available at the store and on their website on April 19, 2015. For a full list of Record Store Day Releases head to RecordStoreDay.com
Every year the event produces a ton of limited releases from so many beloved artists in every genre, including a few excellent tracks from the best in several of The Pier’s favorite musical genres. View our pick of these 9 Record Store Day releases.
Record Store Day Album Releases
311 – Grifter/Who’s Got The Herb
Release Date: Format: 7” Vinyl
As part of the band’s year-long 25th anniversary celebration, 311 will be making available several special releases in the upcoming months. As a Record Store Day Exclusive Release, 311 will start off their string of products with a 7” vinyl. Out via Legacy Recordings, an arm of Sony, packaged in a rasta colored sleeve, there are only 1890 of these in print. The record features 2 previously unreleased versions of fan favorites. “Grifter” was recorded for the Transistor sessions and “Who’s Got The Herb,” a cover originally recorded by H.R. Of Bad Brains, was recorded from the From Chaos sessions. Both songs are from the forthcoming 311 Box Set to coincide with their summer US Tour with The Green.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Question The Answers
Format: LP Vinyl
While Lets Face It was their smash hit record, Question the Answers might very well be the bands defining musical statement. Packed top to bottom with fan favorites, the songs on this Mighty Mighty Bosstones classic still dominate the band’s live sets 2 decades later. Released via Asbestos Records, these 12 tracks are out on vinyl for the first time in over 20 years. This Record Store Day Exclusive Release has pressed only 3000 copies. Manufactured by United Record Pressing there are 2900 Blue copies and 100 randomly inserted Yellow/Red Split records. All packaged in a standard LP jacket.
John Butler Trio – Ocean
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Out via Vanguard Records, this Record Store Day Exclusive Release by Australia’s John Butler Trio features 2 tracks on a 7”. The vinyl debut of John Butler’s 2012 recording with his epic signature song, the instrumental masterpiece of “Ocean.” Side B features “Heading South,” an all-new, previously unreleased instrumental in the same spirit. Only 1700 copies of this record are available
Jurassic 5 – Quality Control–The Wood Box
Format: Vinyl Box Set
Jurassic 5 flexed serious old-to-the-new muscles in the ‘90s, beginning with their independently-released single “Unified Rebelution” in 1994, and book-ending with their stellar debut full-length: 2000’s Quality Control. With double the pleasure of your average hip-hop group – two DJs and producers, Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark, and four MCs, Chali 2na, Akil, Marc 7 and Zaakir aka Soup) – they brought the late 1970s “unison MC” style to a new generation. Even more surprisingly, they did so out of Los Angeles, whose hip-hop flavors generally leaned towards Gangsta, G-Funk or Electro lines. Musically inventive and lyrically forward-thinking, each song on Quality Control is a new adventure, exploring engaging territory, delivered via one of the best live hip-hop shows fans had seen in years. A 4-LP set packaged in a Wooden Box, released via Get On Down Records there are only 1500 in stores. Read more about the set by clicking HERE!
Cypress Hill – The Phuncky Feel One/How I Could Just Kill A Man
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Cypress Hill’s first single, from 1991, took a minute to penetrate the rap scene at large. Once it took hold, though, there was no turning back. Out on Get On Down Records there are only 200 copies of this limited edition Record Store Day release. A black vinyl 7” recreation of the original 12”, featuring the single’s classic artwork on a printed 7” jacket, plus a special matte black 2nd outer sleeve, embossed with the seminal skull design. Technically a ‘Double A-Side,’ According to group members, “Phunky Feel” was their record label’s choice for the A-Side, and “Kill A Man” was the song they themselves wanted to show the world with their first shot. No matter which way you slice it, the single showed an impressive range in just two songs – a complexity which would soon be fully exposed with the group’s debut LP later that year.
Clutch – From Beale Street to Oblivion
Format: 2 x 12″ Colored Vinyl
Released on their own label, Weathermaker Music, Clutch has sent to store 1300 re-issues of the groups 8th studio record, From Beale Street to Oblivion, and will be available for the first time on vinyl. This special edition comes on 2 12” deep purple colored vinyls packaged in a standard sleeve. As on the records 2010 re-release, this version features both the studio recording and additional tracks recorded live.
Bob Marley – Bob Marley Interviews–So Much Things To Say
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Back in February, as part of the celebration for Bob Marley’s 70th Birthday, Tuff Gong International digitally re-released So Much Things to Say, a rare interview with from 1973. In the piece, Bob Marley sits with legendary Jamaican DJ, broadcaster and journalist, Neville Willoughby at a Rasta commune at Bull Bay Beach in St. Thomas, Jamaica. Now pressed on a 12” vinyl, there are only 1500 available. Read more about the album by clicking HERE!
Various Artists – Trojan Records: Rude Boy Rumble
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Trojan Records: Rude Boy Rumble kick off the re-launch of Trojan Records in the States. A Record Store Day Exclusive compilation featuring tracks from the Trojan Records catalog, these 12 songs are curated by St. Louis’ Vintage Vinyl store owner Tom “Papa” Ray aka The Soul Selector. This 60s ska and reggae compilation record includes tracks from Desmond Dekker & The Aces, The Upsetters, & more! 3300 copies have been pressed for this special release.
George Clinton- Chocolate City: London | P-Funk Live at Metropolis
Format: Vinyl Box Set
After performing an intimate show for just a crowd of 100, now fans of funk around the world can hear this infamous show like never before. A live to vinyl cut of 5 George Clinton P-Funk tracks, this is truly a complete project. One that’s about making a record, while recording a record, all on record. This box set not only includes the end product, a beautiful milk and white chocolate colored 12” vinyl, but also 2 CDs as well as a concert-DVD and fold out poster.
Happening over the weekend of New Years Eve 2014, the gig kicked off with a Parliament set, recorded live for the DVD. On Saturday night the band tracked this limited edition album, allowing fans a first hand look at how London’s Metropolis Studio captured this performance. Now a ‘Record Store Day First’ Release, this brilliant set will finally be available starting April 18th.
Everyone at The Pier are all fans of music, be it Reggae or any other genre, and we strongly encourage you to show support for your local record store. Each Record Store across the globe will have its own incentives, deals & exclusives. If you’re not sure if there’s a record store near you or what deals they’re offering, then look no further than a list of participating stores at RecordStoreDay.com.
Please notice that not all record stores will carry all releases that drop on Record Store Day. Be sure to check with the local store to see what releases they will have in stock.
Let us know in the comments below which Record Store near you, that you will be supporting. Or let us know on The Pier’s Facebook or Twitter
Article By: Aaron Solomon