Record Store Day, will be on Saturday, April 22, 2023) so it’s time to roll out the incredible titles for the big, enduring holiday created to support and celebrate independent record stores the world over.
This particular Record Store Day, the 16th, sets a high bar as far as the magnitude, artistry and diversity of the releases is concerned. (see the full list HERE)
Following her year as Record Store Day Ambassador 2022, Taylor Swift continues to show her love for record stores with the vinyl release of Taylor Swift’s folklore: the long pond studio sessions. Taylor and her collaborators recorded the Grammy Album Of The Year folklore during the Covid19 lockdown, and didn’t actually get the chance to play their work together until September 2020, when the Long Pond Studio Sessions brought together Taylor Swift, Aaron Dessner (The National), Jack Antonoff (Bleachers) and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) for a live recording and Disney+ documentary. The double grey vinyl release coming April 22 as part of the Record Store Day celebration is exclusive to record stores.
2023 Record Store Day Ambassadors Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, the first musical couple to hold the title, come together on vinyl as well to show further support with their Record Store Day release, The Sound Emporium EP, featuring brand new music from both Amanda and Jason, a reimagined version of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s “Tour of Duty” and a cover of Richard Thompson’s “Beeswing.” Amanda Shires also makes the List with a solo EP, Live At Columbia Studio A featuring tracks recorded at the legendary studio in Nashville in the lead up to her critically acclaimed album Take It Like A Man.
Brand new music comes to record stores from Beach House, with the Become EP of unreleased tracks from the Once Twice Melodysessions, and new takes on beloved albums come from Norah Jones, who revisits her Little Broken Hearts album for a live take with producer Danger Mouse on Little Broken Hearts: The Allaire Sessions, and from Wilco, whoserecently Grammy-crowned Yankee Hotel Foxtrot gets released in alternate form on Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Musicians like Maya Hawke and Em Beihold have physical “firsts” on Record Store Day this year, as Hawke’s first singles get a 7” release, and Beihold’s debut Egg In The Basket comes to vinyl. And women who are used to finding themselves in the bins of a record store add new titles to their sections, including Stevie Nicks with Bella Donna Live 1981, Tori Amos with Little Earthquakes – The B-Sides and the fossora remixes from Bjork.
Wu-Tang is for the Children, and also for Record Store Day: both Ol’ Dirty Bastard and RZA (in his Bobby Digital alter-ego) find a spot on the list, and he’s not the only one taking on a new persona: Mac Miller’s jazzy side came out as Larry Lovestein and his recording as Larry Lovestein & The Velvet Revival, You, gets its first physical release. Record stores are part of the celebration of hip-hop’s 50th year and names like Nas, Slum Village, Prince Rakeem, Chief Keef among others find a spot on the List as well.
All colorful beloved ‘80s artifacts are back in style (hello, Walkman!) and the soundtrack of the ‘80s is well represented this year, with new collections and releases from Duran Duran, The Cure, The Pogues, Madness, Madonna and more.
Additionally, since record stores are where new people discover bygone eras and their legendary music every day, having literal music legends revisit their classic albums makes sense for a day that celebrates what record stores do. Elton John (Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player), The Rolling Stones (Beggars Banquet (Record Store Day Edition), and Paul McCartney and Wings (Red Rose Speedway) are just the beginning.
And finally, fans of the world’s most adorable turntable, the RSD3 mini-turntable, can say “Hello, I Love You” to three new singles to spin on it, as the 3” series turns to The Doors for three individual singles, or a branded RSD3 turntable complete with all three – an instant collection!
Consider the surface scratched, but there are so many more exciting releases on deck for Record Store Day 2023. Expect titles from Todd Rundgren, The Sisters Of Mercy, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Yes, The Pogues, The Magnetic Fields, The Black Keys, Ivy, The Game, Temptations, T. Rex, Tangerine Dream, Sparks, Soul Asylum, and the list does go on!
For a list of participating shops, please click HERE.