Ah, Record Store Day… How I love and loathe thee. For vinyl enthusiasts, there may be nothing more maddening than that platter that truly matters (to you, anyway) getting a fresh pressing, expansion, or colorful update. On the other white-gloved hand, RSD is a chance to nab that long-sought album you just can’t dig up, finally get that CD-to-LP conversion you’ve been praying for, or discover never-before-heard live performances from your all-time favorite artists. RSD ’23 is April 22nd, and I’ve whittled my want-list down to a mighty five. Got your picks? See the full release list here! And if you’re in Macon, Georgia, you’d best be out front of Fresh Produce Records early before they open the doors at noon! Happy Digging!
1. Live and Cookin’ At Alice’s Revisited, Howlin’ Wolf
I’m gonna take a jab at Anagram Music for not including the bonus tracks from the Live And Cookin’ 1992 CD reissue (“The Big House”, “Mr. Airplane Man”), but this is still top o’ my RSD list. Renowned photographer (and The Creek’s own) Kirk West was actually at Alice’s Revisited when this show was recorded in January of ’72.
2. Jonathan Goes Country, Jonathan Richman
Now, here’s an album I didn’t even know existed before RSD. I found a streaming version– and now I need it on vinyl! A mix of covers and Richman originals, which also features a genuine Buckaroo in “Tender” Tom Brumley.
3. Day of the Doug, Son Volt
Jay Farrar first met Doug Sahm back in the ol’ Uncle Tupelo days, inviting the Texas Tornado to the studio to record a version of “Give Back The Key To My Heart” for the No Depression purveyors’ ’93 studio swansong Anodyne. Three decades later, Jay and Son Volt have their homage ducks in a row for this RSD debut, and I’m all in. Sahm and rest of the Sir Douglas Quintet are also getting the RSD treatment with the release of Texas Tornado: Live from the Ash Grove Santa Monica 1971, and that would be number six on this list of lists.
4. Rockin’ & Rollin’, T. Rex
You simply cannot beat Marc Bolan for glammy, filthy, feathery, Saturday night rock n’ roll. Just a must.
5. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Era (1964-1968)[50th Anniversary Box]
Full confession– I’ve already got a vinyl reissue of this Lenny Kaye-curated influential garage comp. Think that’ll stop me from carrying home this massive expansion featuring the never released Nuggets Vol. 2 and an extra helping of tunes originally considered for Vol. 1? If you do, you don’t know me at all. Now, somebody put together a Back From The Grave box set for RSD ’24 so I can completely lose my mind and do it right this time…