BREAKIN’ NEWS - RSD WISHLISTS

When Dusty Springfield sang about "wishing and hoping and thinking and praying" she probably wasn’t contemplating Record Store Day. Had she been, she would almost certainly have mentioned creating her Wishlist at Discrepancy Records to track the titles she was wishing and hoping to snare on the day. Because RSD 2022 has some terrific releases, with variety to tempt every taste.

Those of you who dip into the Discrepancy blog now and then would know that its author (your correspondent) has eclectic tastes. Let me tell you about some of the things that leapt out at me from the list (here).

The Sixties were a cauldron of pop-rock creativity and saw the emergence of many new styles. Following the success of Hot Rocks, the Rolling Stones released More Hot Rocks, gathering up further singles, album tracks, and rarities. More Hot Rocks has a 50th anniversary re-issue this RSD.

A 1964 archival release getting the deluxe treatment is a collection of early Paul Butterfield Blues Band recordings; three LPs of The Original Lost Elektra Sessions. Anyone with even a passing interest in the birth of blues-rock will be a-wishin’ for this one.

Some tasty jazz titles will lure many to the RSD offerings. A couple that caught my eye were a rare Dave Brubeck trio recording from 1967 called Live From Vienna 1967. Saxophonist Paul Desmond, Dave’s long-time collaborator, missed the plane, leaving the trio to take the stage alone. They played up a storm, by all accounts. Jumping forwards to the Eighties, the Miles Davis band that included guitarist John Scofield and sax player Bill Evans was one hot outfit. What It Is: Montreal 7/7/1983 is a live double LP. This oft overlooked period is often thrilling—check out the Montreux DVDs if you can find them. If not, you’ll be hoping this one makes it into your cart.

It is called "Classic Rock" for a reason and this RSD offers plenty. Fleetwood Mac songbird Stevie Nicks released Bella Donna in 1981. It was a big hit, including the brilliant collaborative single (with Tom Petty) "Stop dragging my heart around". What a welcome re-issue! Harmonising songwriters America had an epic string of Seventies hits and a long run of albums with titles beginning with the letter 'H'. RSD 2022 offers History, a strong compilation of their best songs. Fabulous sing-along territory. And leather-clad rocker Suzi Quatro’s debut makes a welcome return too. "Can the can", "48 Crash", if you were around in 1973 you know the head-nodding, foot-stomping drill.

Punk alert! An archival release of Stiff Little Fingers will have some pogo-ing around the lounge room. Two LPs, two concerts (1981 and 1982). Too much. Ramones fans will want The Sire Albums (1981—1989) to tidy up their collections of the NY legends.

Prog-heads sure aren’t neglected this RSD. A double album of rare Gong performances has me munching brownies in anticipation while a vinyl release of Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s Tokyo Tapes is mouth-watering. I have this on CD and it’s brilliant. Multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield’s second Tubular Bells opus—simply entitled Tubular Bells II—arrives on blue marbled vinyl. Sweet.

It is truly exciting to see some classic electronic music albums on this year’s RSD list. One live and one essential studio Tangerine Dream LP will have fans of German synthesiser music rubbing their hands with glee, while TD leader Edgar Froese’s second (and perhaps best) solo LP Epsilon In Malaysian Pale is sure to be snapped up.

Finally, what’s a Discrepancy list without some tasty Soundtracks? Tickle your Wishlist with John Williams’ Lost In Space orchestral music or pop back to 1984 with the classic proto hip-hop OST for Breakin’. Then there are some fabulous compilation albums…

I wonder how many records I can fit on my Wishlist?

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THE DRILL

To Create a Wishlist…

1. Go to your Account page
2. Select "My Wishlists" with the yellow star
3. Choose an existing list or look for "+Add New List".
4. In the box, give your new list a name, eg. RSD April 2022
5. Click "Add New List" (it turns green when you hover over it!)

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Adding items to your Wishlist…

1. As you scroll through the RSD items, click on the "♡ Add to Wishlist" button.
2. A panel appears, offering you a tick box for each of your Wishlists. Select the one you want, eg. RSD April 2022
3. Click 'Save my Wishlist changes'
4. Close the box
5. If you click on the item’s image or artist/title, you will be taken to a page with more information on the album. You can "♡ Add to Wishlist" here as well.

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A reminder of the RSD rules.

1. Your Wishlist is for you to log your interests, things you are keen on. It’s not an order or a reservation.
2. On Record Store Day it is 'first come, first served' with a limit of one copy per customer of each release.

BRUCE JENKINS