Saturday 18th April – Record Store Day! Yes! A yearly celebration of music, bringing together record lovers not just in the UK but across the globe. It’s a much-needed boost for over 300 independent record stores participating across the country, drawing in a wave of foot traffic, as well as the greatly anticipated exclusive releases.
Vinyl wouldn’t be where it is today if it didn’t have the continued support of a passionate community, and this year, there will be hundreds of limited-edition Record Store Day releases to dig through, including classic albums, unforgettable live recordings, and new pressings.
Plenty to get excited about!
That’s why we’ve rounded up some of what we think are the best Record Store Day releases, along with a few standouts to get the collectors talking. It goes without saying that we can’t cover every release – so if we’ve missed your personal favourite, no hard feelings! Everyone’s got that one record that makes the queues worth it.
If we had to choose…
Imagine, if you will, that you’re aboard the good ship HMS Vinyl and you’ve struck an iceberg and are taking on water. You can only choose three records from the Record Store Day selection to take with you. What would you reach for?
Personally, I’d wade through the freezing rising water if it meant I got to save:
Inbred – Ethel Cain: Ethel Cain has become something of a cultural icon while still holding onto that cult appeal, and Inbred is the release that really pushed her into wider view. It is a heavy, emotional record and definitely not for everyone, but if it clicks with you, it really stays with you (but prepare to cry).
Melancholia Hymns – Arcane Roots: Arcane Roots always felt like a band that should have been much bigger, and Melancholia Hymns is a big reason why. It’s massive, emotional, and full of the kind of release they did better than most; even now, it still feels wildly underrated. This is a record that still feels bigger than its moment.
Famous Monsters – Misfits: Famous Monsters is packed with the horror punk, B-movie fun Misfits have always done so well. It’s catchy, campy, and full of attitude, making it one of their most entertaining later-era records.
Assuming you already have the means to play your vinyl, here are a few options for simple tweaks to get more out of your system. If you don’t have your setup yet, here’s a guide to building a hi-fi system.
Inbred was the release that really started to define Ethel Cain’s world, laying out the dark, slow-burning sound that would carry into everything after it. There’s a lot of demand around her catalogue already, so a first vinyl pressing was always going to get attention. This is one of the more talked-about releases on the list for good reason.
2. Melancholia Hymns – Arcane Roots
Melancholia Hymns pushed Arcane Roots into bigger, more expansive territory without losing any of the heaviness that made them stand out. The songs still hit with real force, but there is more space and atmosphere around them. With this pressing marking 10 years of the album, it’s the sort of release long-time fans have wanted back for ages.
3. Famous Monsters – Misfits
Famous Monsters is Misfits at their most theatrical and shamelessly fun, with horror punk and B-movie camp working exactly as they should. There is plenty of attitude here, but the songs do the heavy lifting. Bringing it back on splatter vinyl makes perfect sense, and it’s hard to imagine collectors leaving this one sitting around for long.
4. RONIN: CYBERPUNK 2077 – Angel Of Man
There is no shortage of Cyberpunk 2077 offshoots, but RONIN looks like one of the more interesting ones. Angel Of Man takes that world and runs with it, leaning into the cinematic and electronic side of things while still keeping the atmosphere front and centre. Exclusive artwork and a vinyl-only bonus track give it that extra collector appeal, too.
5. Moon Safari – Live Theatre Herodes Atticus, Athènes – Air
Air performing Moon Safari live beneath the Acropolis already sounds like something built for vinyl. More importantly, this is their first live album, which gives it a bit more weight than a standard tour document. Between the setting, the material, and the fact that Moon Safari still means so much to people, this one should land very well.
6. Up Here – Bluey/Joff Bush and the Bluey Music Team
A Bluey release being one of the hottest titles on Record Store Day might have sounded unlikely a few years ago, but not now. Up Here brings together 17 new recordings from Joff Bush and the Bluey team, with a zoetrope picture disc adding to the appeal. This one has crossover written all over it, far beyond soundtrack collectors alone.
7. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix film) – “HUNTR/X Edition”
This already looks like one of the biggest pop culture releases on the whole RSD list. The soundtrack comes with the kind of extras K-pop fans will instantly clock: a fold-out poster, sticker sheet, and three snapshot cards from a wider set, so it already has that collectable angle built in.
In true K-pop fashion, it also comes in an alternate “Saja Boys Edition”, which gives it that multi-version feel we have seen again recently with BTS’ ARIRANG rollout, where the packaging and inclusions become part of the whole event rather than just a bonus.
8. Small Craft On A Milk Sea – Brian Eno
Brian Eno is never about immediate impact, but Small Craft On A Milk Sea has a real pull if you are already tuned into his more immersive work. This version adds The Seven Seas Sessions and other bonus material, which makes it more than a straight reissue. It could end up being one of the quieter highlights of the whole RSD list.
9. All We Know Is Falling – Paramore
Paramore’s debut has never really drifted out of view, and this edition gives it the kind of treatment fans usually hope for. Alongside the original album, it includes The Summer Tic EP on vinyl for the first time, which is the real headline here. Early Paramore still means a lot to people, so this one should have no trouble finding a crowd.
10. We Lost The Skyline – Porcupine Tree
We Lost The Skyline captures Porcupine Tree in a much more stripped-back setting, but that does not make it feel minor. If anything, it gives the songs a different kind of weight. This new half-speed remaster on crystal-clear vinyl finally gives that 2007 in-store performance the sort of pressing fans would have wanted from the start.
11. Lo-Files – Bring Me The Horizon
Bring Me The Horizon have never been shy about reshaping their own work, and Lo-Files takes that instinct in a different direction again. These are lo-fi reinterpretations pulled from across the band’s catalogue, done with producers from that scene rather than as a throwaway remix package. It will divide opinion a bit, which is usually a sign they are doing something right.
12. MOTORHEAD – Motörhead
Motörhead’s debut hardly needs selling, but this picture disc version gives it a strong Record Store Day angle anyway. Limited numbering and Joe Petagno’s artwork put the focus firmly on collectability, while the album itself still carries all the speed, grime, and force you would want. Some releases get by on presentation alone. This one already had the music sorted.
13. One Way Ticket To Birmingham (Live at The NEC, Birmingham, February 19, 2006) – The Darkness
The Darkness have always made the most sense on stage, so finally getting this NEC performance on vinyl feels overdue in the best way. It has been newly remixed by Dan Hawkins and pressed on red and yellow marbled vinyl, which suits the band perfectly. For anyone who still rates those early live years, this is an easy one to get excited about.
14. Live at Revolution Hall – Adrianne Lenker
Adrianne Lenker’s Live at Revolution Hall has the kind of intimacy that makes you forget how big the set actually is. Across three LPs and 43 tracks, it captures that loose, unguarded feeling she does so well without losing any focus. A first vinyl pressing was bound to get attention here, especially from fans who connected with the original release straight away.
15. The Race For Space (Remixes) – Public Service Broadcasting
Public Service Broadcasting have a fanbase that notices when something has been missing for a while, and The Race For Space (Remixes) has not exactly been easy to come by. This repress gives that long sold-out release another run, with pale green vinyl and limited numbers adding to the appeal. It’s the kind of title people may regret skipping once RSD passes.
16. Alive In America – Steely Dan
Steely Dan’s first official live album arriving on vinyl for the first time is enough to make this stand out immediately. Alive In America already has the songs and the musicianship behind it, so the main draw here is finally hearing it in this format. For collectors especially, this is one of those releases that makes perfect sense the moment you see it.
17. Live in New Haven CT 1986 – Van Halen
Van Halen fans are not exactly short on live material to chase, but this one still has a strong pull. Live in New Haven CT 1986 captures the band during the 5150 era and gets its first vinyl release here, which is enough on its own to make it notable. Add the Sammy Hagar lineup, and there is plenty here to draw people in.
18. Diplo – Diplo
Diplo’s self-titled album returns here in a much bigger form, stretched into a 3LP edition with a stack of remixes folded in. That alone makes it more interesting than a standard repress. With names like Barry Can’t Swim and DJ Seinfeld attached, there is a clear crossover between dance fans and collectors, which usually gives an RSD release a bit more momentum.
19. SAGES – Ólafur Arnalds and Loreen
Ólafur Arnalds and Loreen are not the most obvious pairing on paper, which is partly what makes SAGES so interesting. It moves between electronic, modern classical, and alt-pop without sounding like it’s trying too hard to merge those worlds. Now getting its first vinyl pressing, this feels like the sort of release that will turn curious interest into genuine demand.
20. Crying Laughing Loving Lying Expanded Edition – Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre has been getting a well-earned wave of renewed attention, and this expanded edition of Crying Laughing Loving Lying arrives at exactly the right time. Turning it into a double LP with eight bonus tracks gives the album a bit more presence without overcomplicating things. It also helps underline just how strong and enduring this part of his catalogue really is.
21. crybaby – Lil Peep
crybaby still feels central to Lil Peep’s legacy, not just because of what it meant at the time, but because of how clearly it showed where his sound could go. The emo, indie, and alt-rock threads all sit right there in the mix. A 10-year anniversary edition was always going to get attention, especially from fans who have held onto it closely.
FAQs
Is Record Store Day only once a year?
Record Store Day happens twice a year. The main Record Store Day event takes place in spring, and Record Store Day Black Friday follows later in the year. That gives vinyl collectors two chances to find exclusive releases and limited editions.
What is the most sold vinyl ever?
The most sold vinyl depends on the format being discussed. Thriller is widely recognised as the best-selling album of all time, while Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is often cited as the best-selling vinyl single.
What do 33, 45, and 78 RPM mean?
33, 45, and 78 RPM mean the speed a record spins on a turntable. The numbers stand for revolutions per minute. Different speeds usually match different record sizes and formats, which affects playback, sound quality and how much music fits on each side.
Final thoughts
Record Store Day is a tribute to music’s past, present, and future, championing a format that is, remarkably, still gathering devotees despite the rise of more convenient technology. We’ve covered a fair bit about vinyl now. Speaking of which, if you’ve ever wondered whether or not vinyl sounds better than digital, our rundown examines the difference.
Of course, great sound starts with the right setup. Whether you’ve picked up an exclusive or a bargain, getting your turntable sorted is key. Our guide on how to play vinyl records covers everything from setup to maintenance.
And as your collection grows, proper storage is worth thinking about. Our picks for the best vinyl record storage will help keep everything safe, organised, and in top shape. Did we miss anything on our list of the best Record Store Day releases? Let us know in the comments!
How do you define a good film soundtrack? For us, it's one that instantly enhances the film, no matter the genre; it perfectly brings you into the characters' world, and it sticks with you after the film ends. Here we have some of the best film soundtracks of all time...
Knowing how to test a speaker properly can make building your audio setup a lot less stressful. And when we say “test a speaker”, or a set of speakers for that matter, what we’re really talking about is auditioning them. That might sound a bit serious, but it really...
Well, the time has finally come to write about old reliable: the Marantz PM6007. If you read my guide to the best stereo amps a while back, you might remember me calling this the “default amp option”. I stand by that. If someone asked me to picture a classic stereo...
0 Comments