Deals Will Have You Spinning – On Record Store Day 2016
Tufayel Ahmed
The advent of iTunes, Spotify and even TIDAL has made accessing music as easy as a few clicks. But there’s something to be said for going into your favorite record store and picking up an album.
Now in its ninth year, Record Store Day celebrates independent record shops and takes place on Saturday. The event has expanded from humble origins to now include exclusive releases from indie artists to those as famous, and disparate, as Bob Dylan and Justin Bieber.
In fact, new research by polling company ICM suggests that sales of vinyl are actually on the rise in Britain, thanks in part to Record Store Day. The BBC reports that half of those polled first listened to an album online before buying it—physically—on vinyl.
Figures show that 637,056 records have been sold in the first three months of 2016 already in Britain. Comparably, in 2014, 2.1 million LPs were sold in the entire year.
On Record Store Day 2016, fans will be clamoring to get their hands on exclusive vinyl releases from musicians including the late David Bowie, the aforementioned Dylan and Bieber, T. Rex and John Coltrane. But it isn’t just about purchasing music—many shops are hosting special events and free gigs to mark the day, too.
Newsweek takes a look at some of the events and special releases to keep your eye out for on Saturday:
Metallica to rock California
This year’s Record Store Day ambassadors Metallica are swapping their usual arena performances for a more intimate set at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, California. The band’s official website describes the gig as an “extremely unique” live performance from Lars Ulrich and company.
“As music becomes available either through only the Internet or in gigantic airport-size retail stores, it is more important than ever—actually vital—that all us fanatics continue to bring to light the importance of records, and to support to the maximum of our abilities the independent record store outlet,” said Ulrich in support of Record Store Day.
To mark Record Store Day and pay tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks in November 2015, Metallica will release a record featuring songs recorded at the Bataclan music hall—one of the sites targeted in the attacks. The print run is 10,000 copies, so act quickly.
Meanwhile, in New York…
The Big Apple offshoot of Rough Trade, the record store originated in London, will have a day of live performances at its Brooklyn store from 9 a.m. Performers will include DJ Rescue, better known as Zia McCabe from The Dandy Warhols, and The Fleshtones.
If you’re looking for a more immersive experience, have you thought about a record store crawl? Less boozy than a pub crawl, this trek through some of New York’s best independent record shops is perfect for the more serious audiophiles. The bus ride from store-to-store will be punctuated by band Bear Hands performing on the journey.
Across the pond, Britain’s record stores are also getting in on the Record Store Day action. London’s Berwick Street area is always a bustling hotspot for music lovers with stores such as Sister Ray, Phonica and Sounds of the Universe participating. There’s also a chance for an unsigned act to have its own music pressed and released on vinyl.
Over at the plush Soho Hotel, Pitchblack Playback is giving you the chance to listen to Ian Brown’s Solarized—in the cover of darkness so you can “really appreciate the music.” The event is ticketed but completely free.
Rough Trade’s flagship London stores will both have full line-ups of performances on Saturday. Glen Hansard is among the acts performing at Rough Trade East in Brick Lane, while The Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock performs at Rough Trade West on Talbot Road.
Must-buy records
With an abundance of choice, you’re forgiven if you can’t quite decide what to get your hands on. Allow these tastemakers to help: NME recommends Fleetwood Mac’s vinyl release of an “alternate” Tusk, Florence + the Machine’s “Delilah”/”Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and John Williams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack.
Pitchfork, meanwhile, spotlights Bob Dylan’s Melancholy Mood, J Dilla’s The Diary and not one but two releases from the Flaming Lips among its most sought after items.
Note that different countries have different exclusive releases.
Remembering the greats
Record Store Day’s most coveted releases will no doubt come from Bowie, following the rock legend’s death in January. There will be three Bowie releases this year, including a special 7-inch single of “TVC 15,” a picture disc of 1970 album The Man Who Sold the World and a six-track EP of songs recorded between 1966 and 1967.
In memoriam of another legend, Motorhead’s Lemmy, the group’s last studio album, 2015’s Bad Magic, will be released on colored vinyl—but there will only be 2,000 copies worldwide.
There are also releases from musicians who’ve long since left us, such as Etta James and James Brown.
Out of left-field
Aside from music releases, did you know you can get your hands on a Doctor Who audio play? “The Genesis of the Daleks,” featuring Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, is one of the more unusual offerings.
In the U.S., Disney is releasing an LP of some of its biggest hits—yes, that definitely includes “Let It Go” from Frozen.
The advent of iTunes, Spotify and even TIDAL has made accessing music as easy as a few clicks. But there’s something to be said for going into your favorite record store and picking up an album.
Now in its ninth year, Record Store Day celebrates independent record shops and takes place on Saturday. The event has expanded from humble origins to now include exclusive releases from indie artists to those as famous, and disparate, as Bob Dylan and Justin Bieber.
Figures show that 637,056 records have been sold in the first three months of 2016 already in Britain. Comparably, in 2014, 2.1 million LPs were sold in the entire year.
On Record Store Day 2016, fans will be clamoring to get their hands on exclusive vinyl releases from musicians including the late David Bowie, the aforementioned Dylan and Bieber, T. Rex and John Coltrane. But it isn’t just about purchasing music—many shops are hosting special events and free gigs to mark the day, too.
Newsweek takes a look at some of the events and special releases to keep your eye out for on Saturday:
Metallica to rock California
This year’s Record Store Day ambassadors Metallica are swapping their usual arena performances for a more intimate set at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, California. The band’s official website describes the gig as an “extremely unique” live performance from Lars Ulrich and company.
“As music becomes available either through only the Internet or in gigantic airport-size retail stores, it is more important than ever—actually vital—that all us fanatics continue to bring to light the importance of records, and to support to the maximum of our abilities the independent record store outlet,” said Ulrich in support of Record Store Day.
To mark Record Store Day and pay tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks in November 2015, Metallica will release a record featuring songs recorded at the Bataclan music hall—one of the sites targeted in the attacks. The print run is 10,000 copies, so act quickly.
Meanwhile, in New York…
The Big Apple offshoot of Rough Trade, the record store originated in London, will have a day of live performances at its Brooklyn store from 9 a.m. Performers will include DJ Rescue, better known as Zia McCabe from The Dandy Warhols, and The Fleshtones.
If you’re looking for a more immersive experience, have you thought about a record store crawl? Less boozy than a pub crawl, this trek through some of New York’s best independent record shops is perfect for the more serious audiophiles. The bus ride from store-to-store will be punctuated by band Bear Hands performing on the journey.
Across the pond, Britain’s record stores are also getting in on the Record Store Day action. London’s Berwick Street area is always a bustling hotspot for music lovers with stores such as Sister Ray, Phonica and Sounds of the Universe participating. There’s also a chance for an unsigned act to have its own music pressed and released on vinyl.
Over at the plush Soho Hotel, Pitchblack Playback is giving you the chance to listen to Ian Brown’s Solarized—in the cover of darkness so you can “really appreciate the music.” The event is ticketed but completely free.
Rough Trade’s flagship London stores will both have full line-ups of performances on Saturday. Glen Hansard is among the acts performing at Rough Trade East in Brick Lane, while The Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock performs at Rough Trade West on Talbot Road.
Must-buy records
With an abundance of choice, you’re forgiven if you can’t quite decide what to get your hands on. Allow these tastemakers to help: NME recommends Fleetwood Mac’s vinyl release of an “alternate” Tusk, Florence + the Machine’s “Delilah”/”Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and John Williams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack.
Pitchfork, meanwhile, spotlights Bob Dylan’s Melancholy Mood, J Dilla’s The Diary and not one but two releases from the Flaming Lips among its most sought after items.
Note that different countries have different exclusive releases.
Remembering the greats
Record Store Day’s most coveted releases will no doubt come from Bowie, following the rock legend’s death in January. There will be three Bowie releases this year, including a special 7-inch single of “TVC 15,” a picture disc of 1970 album The Man Who Sold the World and a six-track EP of songs recorded between 1966 and 1967.
In memoriam of another legend, Motorhead’s Lemmy, the group’s last studio album, 2015’s Bad Magic, will be released on colored vinyl—but there will only be 2,000 copies worldwide.
There are also releases from musicians who’ve long since left us, such as Etta James and James Brown.
Out of left-field
Aside from music releases, did you know you can get your hands on a Doctor Who audio play? “The Genesis of the Daleks,” featuring Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, is one of the more unusual offerings.
In the U.S., Disney is releasing an LP of some of its biggest hits—yes, that definitely includes “Let It Go” from Frozen.