GETTING EXCITED ABOUT RSD '23

This year’s Record Store Day has something for everyone. Yes, there are some heavy hitters as you’d expect, but there are gems across every genre. Here are a few highlights.

We got the BLUES: BB King, Koko Taylor, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon.

We are breathless over some fabulous JAZZ releases. Bill Evans, Archie Shepp, Shirley Scott, for starters. Then Miles Davis Rare Miles From The Complete On The Corner Sessions (an impossible to find CD set) and for jazz-rock fans, the thrilling Introducing the Eleventh House LP by Larry Coryell (and friends).

Love the MOVIES? Here are just a couple of offerings. David Byrne The Complete Score from The Catherine Wheel, John Powell How To Train Your Dragon 2, plus a couple of Ennio Morricone OSTs. Perhaps one of the most obscure (and delicious) RSD releases is an LP of music from the iconic British cartoon series Mr Benn. I’ll be searching this one out to help me remember.

There’s HEAVY shit from Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche and maybe even one or two artists without umlauts in their name. (Like Dio).

Some tasty COMPILATIONS are on offer. Several beauties from Soul Jazz Records will keep the funk flying and the ska sizzling while an amazing expanded re-issue of the brilliant—essential, even—Nuggets compilation is mouth-watering. For the world traveller, Psyche France Volume 8 offers a vibrant collection of obscure 60s and 70s French pop.

In the ELECTRONICA present, chill out specialists Stella Polaris Music are releasing For The Love Of Haiku, a 2LP various artists compilation on gorgeous coke bottle green vinyl while for retro ELECTRONIC music fans there is the enticing prospect of both a rare 1978 Tangerine Dream live album (three LPs, in fact!) and the hard-to-find Edgar Froese masterpiece Ages.

Staying in the PROGRESSIVE vein, Yes fans will be delighted with the 3LP set Live At Knoxville Civic Auditorium, a concert from the huge Progeny collection. This is a wonderful companion piece to the classic Yessongs. Gong live in 1972 is another tasty 'in concert' release for those of a pot-head pixie disposition.

In fact, LIVE ALBUMS are once again a rich lode in this year’s RSD mine. Check out this sample of 'in concert' gems:

The Allman Brothers (1971) Syria Mosque: Pittsburgh PA, January 17 1971

The Fall (1977) Live 1977

Donna Summer (1983) Hot Summer Night

Thin Lizzy (1986) Live And Dangerous Hammersmith 15/11/1986

The Cure (1993) Show

Jamiroquai (1999 E.P.) Live At Maida Vale

Alex Chilton (2004) Live At Anvers

Pixies (2009) Doolittle - Live In Brussels

Midlake (2022) Live At The Roundhouse

… and plenty more.

Vinyl releases from cherished INDIE / ALTERNATIVE artists are always something to look forward to. This year is no exception:

Acid Mothers Temple

The Bevis Frond

Groundhogs

Sunn 0))) and Boris   

Tricky

… the deeper you dive, the more interesting it gets.

All the decades of rock are covered. From the SIXTIES we have rare albums from The Ethics and The Smoke (who released the classic psychedelic single "My Friend Jack") while The Reptile House E.P. by The Sisters Of Mercy is a long out-of-print item unseen since its EIGHTIES release.

A couple of LPs that will please FOLK fans will appear courtesy of Earth Records. They are issuing two records from legendary Pentangle guitarist Bert Jansch, Toy Balloon and When The Circus Comes To Town. Or perhaps you’ll be excited by a live Nico recording from 1980? Talking of unique and important female artists, one entry that drew me was a welcome re-issue of Marianne Faithfull’s 1995 album A Secret Life, long out-of-print and thus fiendishly expensive.

Fancy an East-West psychedelic sitar extravaganza? Try this for size: Twink & The Sitar Service revisits 60s acid classics with a Hindustani twist. From the pre-rock days of the late 1950s comes a Perez Prado lounge-mambo gem, Havana 3 a.m. Though separated by almost seven decades, these two exotic lovelies dance perfectly together. Break out the cocktail kit and shake, baby.

At the time of writing—a full two months before the big day—we picked these out of more than 500 titles. And there are more to come! The reaction around Discrepancy Records has been, "Wow, RSD! You have delivered some great stuff this time around!". Browse the list and we’re sure you will be as struck by the variety, scope and interest as we were.

Open up your personal Wishlist (instructions below) and start shoving things in your virtual RSD Show-bag.

Browse the RSD list at the Discrepancy website HERE.

Bruce's recommendations can be found HERE.

For more on some big names joining in RSD 2023, read Alex’s News article HERE.

*

CREATING YOUR 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 2023
5. Click "Add New List" (it turns green when you hover over it!)

*

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 2023
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.

*

RSD GUIDLINES

1. Your Wishlist is for you to log your interests, things you are keen on. It’s neither an order nor a reservation.
2. On Record Store Day it is 'first come, first served' with a limit of one copy per customer of each release.