There was one official Record Store Day this year, and that took place per usual back in late April. Yet, due to the unpredictability of the Covid-19 pandemic, organizers put a contingency plan into place, which is how we’ve arrived at “Record Store Day Drops” this weekend.
One of the primary reasons for what turns out to be an addendum to the music lover’s holiday is the delay in manufacturing, shipping, etc., basically getting the music from the pressing plant to the listeners’ turntable. RSD Drops serves as a street date safety net for titles slated to be a part of the Record Store Day celebration in April, but for any number of reasons beyond controlling, couldn’t make it into stores two months ago. In fact, some were scheduled for April right up until just days before when it was made clear they wouldn’t make it into stores in time.
The well of Record Store Day Drops isn’t nearly as deep as the main event, but there are still a strong showing of titles for discerning vinyl listener when hitting your favorite participating record store, a full list of which can be found at recordstoreday.com.
Here are some of the best ones for rock and roll fans to keep an eye out for which will be “dropping” this weekend.
RAY CHARLES: ‘GENIUS LOVES COMPANY’
One of the most the most popular and commercially successful albums of Ray Charles’ illustrious career, ‘Genius Loves Company’ No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won 8 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 2005. It sold over 200,000 copies in the States alone during its first week of release and went on to reach triple Platinum status. The duets album features collaborations with some of the biggest names in music like Norah Jones, James Taylor, BB King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and more. The final album Charles ever recorded, it’s a two-LP set limited to 2000 copies.
MILES DAVIS: ‘WHAT IT IS: 7/7/83’
This double LP release features one of Miles Davis’ final great bands with John Scofield on guitar, Bill “The Other Bill Evans” Evans on saxophones, flute and electric piano, Darryl Jones on bass, Al Foster on drums and percussionist Mino Cinelu. Miles was back in amazing form when he mounted the stage at the Theatre St-Denis during the Festival International De Jazz De Montreal in July 1983, and this revelatory performance has been lovingly mixed and mastered for its first ever release on vinyl for Record Store Day, with 10,000 copies pressed.
FATS DOMINO: ‘HERE COMES…FATS DOMINO’
Fats Domino was a true rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, evident when he was declared “the real king of rock and roll” by Elvis Presley. ‘Here Comes…Fats Domino’ is shiny Nashville-pop piano blues complete with countrypolitan vocals and was his first album recorded away from the Imperial label in over 13 years. Originally released in 1963, re-issued again in 1975 and not since – and never released on colored vinyl until now – it comes on heavyweight violet virgin vinyl in violet individual hand-numbering limited to 1500 copies.
THE GO! TEAM: ‘PROOF OF YOUTH’
The 15-year anniversary of The Go! Team’s classic sophomore album ‘Proof of Youth’ gets repressed for the first time since 2007. The LP lurches from bubblegum pop to white noise in a heartbeat. This time the UK indie rock outfit brought a gang of glorious misfits to the party, including Public Enemy legend Chuck D, the original Double Dutch Divas, Maryland’s pint-sized Rapper’s Delight Club, Marina from Bonde Do Role, Amsterdam based Solex and Washington DC’s Frederick Douglas All Star Cheer Team. Now reissued on limited-edition bubblegum vinyl, plus bonus flexi-disc, and limited to just 900 copies.
THE KINKS: ‘WATERLOO SUNSET EP’
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the the classic Kinks single “Waterloo Sunset.” To celebrate comes this 12-inch EP, which features a total of six songs with artwork from the track’s original 1967 French release. All songs on the yellow vinyl single, limited to 3150 copies, are mono and remastered.
PEARL JAM: ‘LIVE ON TWO LEGS’
As the first true concert album from Pearl Jam, ‘Live on Two Legs’ documents the 1998 U.S. summer tour in support of the ‘Yield’ album. The 16 tracks are taken from all different cities – including a performance of “Red Mosquito” from what was then then the Blockbuster Music Entertainment Center across the river in Camden. Limited to 20,600 copies, the collection comes on crystal clear vinyl in double LP gatefold packaging.
VARIOUS ARTISTS: ‘GO AHEAD PUNK…MAKE MY DAY’
Any ‘90s punk fan will surely remember coveting a copy of ‘Go Ahead Punk…Make My Day,’ a classic CD sampler from Nitro Records. Originally released in 1996, the album delivered early cuts from some of the biggest names in West Coast punk. Available for the first time on vinyl, this reissue features 10 high-energy tracks from AFI, Guttermouth, Jughead’s Revenge, The Vandals and The Offspring – including the latter band’s cover of “Hey Joe,” a long sought-after fan favorite which was previously exclusive to this compilation. Limited to 5000 copies, it’s pressed on orange splatter vinyl.
THE WHO: ‘IT’S HARD’
The Who’s ‘It’s Hard’ celebrates its 40th anniversary with this expanded two-LP set. Disc one is on orange vinyl and contains a half-speed remaster of the album, while disc two, on yellow vinyl, continues the rest of the LP with additional rare and unreleased material. This edition, limited to 6000 copies with art by Richard Evans, also comes with a poster from the era.
Vinyl of the Week will return next week.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his blog at www.thechroniclesofmc.com
Source: Berkshire mont
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