Tomorrow is Record Store Day, the annual holiday celebrating the independent record store. To mark the occasion, artists and labels will once again share special releases available exclusively at indie stores around the world. The full list of releases is very long (read the U.S. list here and the UK list here), so we’ve cherry-picked the 25 pieces of vinyl we’re most excited about. Note that not all of these will be available in every store. Some are region specific, some are super limited edition. And remember: Hit the shops early!
Jack White: “Lazaretto” 7″
[Third Man]
Live version of the title track from White’s forthcoming solo album set to be recorded on RSD at White’s Third Man Records in Nashville, then pressed and released in the same day as the “World’s Fastest Released Record.”
Destruction Unit, Merchandise, and Milk Music: USA ’13
[540 Records]
Three-way split LP that comes with a zine made by J.S. Aurelius of Destruction Unit and Ascetic House.
Dinosaur Jr.: Visitors box set
[Numero Group]
Collects their first four singles on Homestead and SST, plus a cover of the Byrds’ “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” that was originally available on a 1989 Byrds tribute album. Comes with artwork from frequent Dinosaur Jr. collaborator Maura Jasper, an essay from Jasper on her creative process and relationship with J Mascis, and a book of unused work from between 1985 and 1990.
Flaming Lips: 7 Skies H3 12″
[Warner Bros.]
Distills 24-hour song recorded at Tarbox Studios in 2011 into 50 minutes spread over 10 tracks.
J. Spaceman and Kid Millions: Live at Le Poisson Rouge 12″
[Northern Spy]
Recording of J. Spaceman (Jason Pierce of Spiritualized) and Kid Millions (John Colpitts of Oneida, Man Forever, People of the North) performing an improvised set at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. Comes with an accompanying 7″.
Just Friends: “Don’t Tell Me” 10″
[Other People]
Single from duo of Nicolas Jaar and Sasha Spielberg.
LCD Soundsystem: The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden
[Warner Bros]
5xLP set containing the audio from LCD Soundsystem’s four-hour farewell show at Madison Square Garden in 2011.
Hamilton Leithauser: “Alexandra” b/w “In the Shallows” 7″
[Ribbon]
Song from the Walkmen singer’s forthcoming solo album with a non-album track.
Liars: “Mess on a Mission” b/w “Blah Vets” 12″
[Mute]
Embedded with colored string. Backed by remixes from Black Bananas (Jennifer Herrema of Royal Trux / RTX / Drag City) and Silent Servant (Sandwell District / Hospital Productions).
Life Without Buildings: Any Other City
[Rough Trade/What’s Your Rupture?]
A reissue of their sole full-length, first released in 2001. First editions of the LP come with a 7” that contains alternate recordings of album cuts “The Leanover” and “New Town.”
Conor Oberst: “Hundreds of Ways” b/w “Fast Friends” 7″
[Nonesuch]
“Hundreds of Ways” appears on Oberst’s forthcoming solo album, Upside Down Mountain, while “Fast Friends” is an outtake.
OFF!: “Learn to Obey” 7″
[VICE]
Two song single recorded in the same sessions as OFF!’s new album Wasted Years. Features original artwork from artist Shepard Fairey (best known for designing Obama’s “Hope” Poster).
Oneohtrix Point Never: Commissions I 12″
[Warp]
Contains pieces commissioned for installation art and film.
William Onyeabor: What?! 12″
[Luaka Bop]
Double 12″ of remixes and covers of the African analog synth master William Onyeabor. Features Hot Chip, Daphni, Justin Strauss, the Vaccines, Javelin, JD Twitch, and more.
Parquet Courts: “Sunbathing Animal” b/w “Pilgrims to Nowhere” 7″
[What’s Your Rupture?]
From the band’s forthcoming record, Sunbathing Animal.
Pissed Jeans: The Very Best of Sub Pop 2009-2013: Live at the BBC 12″
[Sub Pop]
Exclusive live-in-the-studio versions of “Romanticize Me”, “False Jesii Pt. 2”, “Cafeteria Food”, and “Teenage Ad”.
R.E.M.: Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions
[Rhino]
4xLP collection pairing both of the band’s sets for MTV’s “MTV Unplugged” acoustic performance series. Includes 11 songs not originally broadcast on MTV.
Gil Scott-Heron: Nothing New
[XL]
Posthumous release containing stripped down versions of Scott-Heron’s old songs, recorded during the sessions for 2008’s I’m Still Here.
The Snow: “Memory Loss” b/w “Joy of Life”
[Captured Tracks]
Members of Beach Fossils, Wild Nothing, and Holograms team up for split single.
Songs: Ohia: Journey On: Collected Singles box set
[Secretly Canadian]
Collects rare recordings spanning Songs: Ohia’s run from 1995-2002. Nine 7″s boxed together with a CD containing all the tracks, a booklet, and a custom 7″ turntable adapter imprinted with the Songs: Ohia crossbow insignia.
Bruce Springsteen: American Beauty
[Columbia]
Contains previously unreleased songs “American Beauty”, “Mary Mary”, “Hurry Up Sundown” and “Hey Blue Eyes”.
Sunny Day Real Estate/Circa Survive: “Lipton Witch”/”Bad Heart” 7″
[Circa Survive]
Split with Circa Survive containing SDRE’s first new song since 2000.
Tame Impala: Live Versions
[Modular]
A live EP recorded at a 2013 Chicago show, with the songs selected “based on how different the live versions are from the album versions,” according to the band’s Kevin Parker.
Various Artists: Space Project 7″ box set
[Lefse]
Compilation featuring artists incorporating space sounds into original tracks. Tracks by Spiritualized (under the name The Spiritualized Mississippi Space Program), Beach House, Mutual Benefit, the Antlers, Blues Control, Benoit & Sergio, Porcelain Raft, and others.
Veruca Salt: “Seether” b/w “The Museum of Broken Relationships” and “It’s Holy” 10″
[Minty Fresh]
Features two new songs recorded with the band’s original lineup, who last released new material 14 years ago.
// Pitchfork //