Keep an Eye out for these Five Vinyls on Record Store Day

Record Store Day (RSD), which first started in 2007, is an annual celebration of physical sound that takes place on April 20th at record stores globally. Music junkies and vinyl collectors alike rush to local shops to fawn over hundreds of exclusive, regional, and ‘RSD First’ releases.

This year, there are 387 titles for collectors to explore. Let’s dive into five releases that I believe vinyl fanatics should be looking out for.

Info Box:

The release number is the number of vinyls pressed for each title.

A zoetrope is a circular design on a vinyl that, while spinning, displays a moving picture. For *Wonderwall Music*, it’s the left half of the album cover. Image from https://www.georgeharrison.com/rsd-limited-zoetrope/

1. George Harrison- Wonderwall Music

Release Number: 3400

Release Type: RSD Exclusive

Price: $$

Wonderwall Music, made with a Zoetrope image and vibrantly colored sleeves, will be one of two releases by Harrison’s label, Dark Horse Records, for this year’s event- the other being Electronic Sound. The album is largely instrumental, with an eclectic blending of various genres, including experimental, country, Indian classical, and psychedelic rock, giving the album a defining edge in Harrison’s history of work.

In addition to the upcoming release, RSD and Dark Horse Records have announced a partnership that plans to release Harrison’s entire discography over a multi-year span.

A picture disc is most often imagery from album covers, concerts, or photoshoots pressed onto the disc itself. Image is from https://nailcityrecord.com/products/fleetwood-mac-rumours-rsd-2024-picture-disc-lp-vinyl?variant=45486234206378

2. Fleetwood Mac- Rumours

Release Number: 7500

Release Type: RSD Exclusive

Price: $

Rumours, known for its hit songs “The Chain” and “Dreams,” is a cherishable must-have for fans. This re-release, unlike previous pressings, will be two picture discs that combine iconic imagery with Mac’s electric sound. On one disc is the album’s original cover image of lead singers Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks. On the other is an image of all five members from their live performance edition.

Even without including bonus tracks or re-recordings of some of Mac’s chart toppers, the vinyl could be marked as a highlight for the 2024 event because of its historical popularity.

Design for Nightfall of Diamonds vinyl. Image from https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/comments/1armbe6/rsd_420/

3. Grateful Dead- Nightfall of Diamonds

Release Number: 6300

Release Type: RSD Exclusive

Price: $$$

First performed on October 16th, 1989, Nightfall of Diamonds is yet another masterful collection of Dead’s live work, including beloved songs like “Playing in The Band,” “Feel Like a Stranger,” and “Deal.” Listeners will find themselves transported to a musical mirage while making their way through the release’s 24 tracks (over 2 hours of live recordings). Not only is the upcoming record recognized by fans for its setlist, but it’s also the first time the ‘89 performance has been pressed for sale.

With only 10,000 copies worldwide, including 6300 in the States, the pressing is a hot ticket item for Deadheads and psychedelic rockers everywhere.

Design for Nothing Happens vinyl. Image from instagram.com/wallowsmusic

4. Wallows- Nothing Happens (5th Anniversary Edition)

Release Number: 5000

Release Type: RSD Exclusive

Price: $

The Wallows debut album makes its fifth trip around the sun this year, and this special release is the anniversary gift. Along with resequencing the album’s tracks, the edition also includes four bonus songs, one of which is an unreleased title, “Bad Remake.”

To accompany the blue-and-white-striped album cover, each disc sports an aqua-and-white-splattered press, a subtle but extra-special detail to commemorate the album’s color scheme.

But the gifts don’t end at the pressing itself. The 2-LP set will also include re-imagined artwork for disc packages and a 12×24 poster exclusive to RSD.

Design for Bury The Hatchet (The Complete Sessions). Image is from https://www.turntablelab.com/products/the-cranberries-bury-the-hatchet-180g-vinyl-2lp

5. The Cranberries- Bury The Hatchet (The Complete Sessions)

Release Number: 4000

Release Type: ‘RSD First’

Price: $$

Loved for songs like “Just My Imagination” and “Animal Instinct,” this alternative rock album will meet vinyl for the very first time in a 2-LP set. It features a zoomed-in version of the album’s eye-catching (literally) artwork paired with slick-black discs for each LP. While staying true to the original order of the tracklist, the release adds six bonuses. These titles include “Woman Without Pride,” “Sorry Son,” and “Paparazzi On Mopeds.”

Following their final album, released in 2019, this upcoming launch acts as a reminder of The Cranberries’ timeless collection.

To join the stampede of music lovers on April 20th, you can read more about RSD, set releases, and participating locations at recordstoreday.com.

Local participating stores include Bull Moose and Color Sound Oblivion in Biddeford and Newbury Comics in Portland.