
RSD 2019 is this Saturday. Vinyl sales reached 4.2 million in the UK during 2018. Pic: MaxPixel
Here is a brief guide of special releases and celebratory performances taking place up and down the country this weekend
Vinyl lovers everywhere are emptying piggy banks in preparation for rarities and bargains at Record Store Day 2019 this weekend. RSD is an annual celebration of independent record stores globally, the important role they play in the music community and vinyl culture. This year’s ambassadors are The Mighty Boosh, and to celebrate Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding are releasing the complete Mighty Boosh radio series for the first time on three pieces of coloured vinyl.
“We are approaching singularity, when computers will overtake and replace us,” says Boosh legend Julian Barratt. “Therefore, it suddenly felt prescient to outwit them and somehow save our precious early recordings onto a format that the dawning artificial intelligences will not see as a threat”
While Barratt’s partner in crime Noel Fielding said: “People that work in record shops are often obsessed with vinyl and music and bands and can steer you in the right direction and tell you about things that you would never know about. Whereas you can’t do that on the internet. It’s not possible. You want some vinyl expert to tell you about a record you’ve never heard of. That’s the beauty of it.”
Those heading out this weekend looking to add some special releases to collections will be spoiled for choice. The Prodigy are releasing Fight Fire With Fire featuring HO99O9. After the tragic passing of vocalist Keith Flint earlier this year, fans will be keen to celebrate the life of the exuberant performer.
The Rolling Stones have three offerings to tantalise vinyl fans in the form of High Tide Green Grass (Big Hits Vol.1), Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol.2) and She’s A Rainbow (Live). Sticking with the rock theme, The Charlatans deluxe box set Everything Changed includes 15 seven-inch singles and b-sides.
British folk and blues duo Ferris and Sylvester have teamed up with producer Michael Rendall (Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and Echo & The Bunnymen) to record Sickness and Burning River. Written during a trip to Iceland, the songs reflect the country’s wild, raw and vast landscape.
Other standout releases available include Elton John, Prince, Robyn, Janis Joplin, Grandmaster Flash, Pharrell Williams, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Lou Reed, John Lennon, Aretha Franklin, Alice Clark, Blossoms and Jessie Ware.
As for events, 81 Renshaw in Liverpool will be opening their doors at 07:30 with a selection of food and drinks offers. They will be joined by LJMU Special Collections and Archives who will be talking to visitors about music on Merseyside. There will be a selection of rarities on display, fanzines for sale and the John Lennon Time Capsule. Badlands Records in Cheltenham are having a street party with loads of vinyl on sale and live performances from Pete Williams Band and Marry Waterson and Emily Barker.
Tom Speight and duo John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett will be performing at Banquet Records in Kingston Upon Thames, South London. Otway and Barrett will also be appearing at David’s Music in Letchworth Garden City later on in the day.
For more information on what’s going on this weekend visit recordstoreday.co.uk
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