The annual wax appreciation day returns April 22 with Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Wilco, and… “Macho Man” Randy Savage? Here’s everything you need to know.
Ah, Record Store Day 2023. That beautiful time of year when nerds worldwide wake up early to line up at their favorite local record store and smell the vinyl deeps. (We mean no offense by using the word “nerds,” by the way — we’ll be there front and center with coffee and donuts for people in line.)
RSD is as much about exclusive releases as it is about celebrating record store. Living in a world where digital talons dig deeper and deeper every day — how many conversations have you recently had about ChatGPT? — the need to embrace our physical world has grown more and more.
What we’re saying is the next time you take a walk, we recommend you stop and spend some time looking at a tree. And, of course, we also recommend that you listen to as much vinyl as possible. (That might be obvious since you’re on a website that quite literally has vinyl in its name, but let’s not get caught in the details here.)
And a great way to do that is to hang out in a record store. For real. Even if you don’t make any purchases, hanging out at your local shop will be such a great vibe. It’s a particular feeling — and it’s a good one.
That said, we know Record Store Day can be intimidating. A big ol’ list of stuff that may or may not seem worth buying. But don’t be overwhelmed, because we got you. We’ve parsed the complete list of record store day 2023 releases, and here are some of our favorites.
April 22 can’t come any sooner.
Record Store Day 2023 Top Vinyl Releases
Pearl Jam – Give Way
Pearl Jam will release Give Way on vinyl for the first time. We’re biased here because our fearless leader considers Pearl Jam the best band on the planet, but this is our favorite Record Store Day release. The 17-track collection is from the band’s March 5th, 1998 show in Melbourne, Australia. Before this year, Give Way was only available in limited quantities. We certainly won’t be Yielding other patrons trying to get a copy of this on RSD!
Stevie Nicks – Bella Donna Live 1981
Stevie Nicks will release Bella Donna Live 1981. It’s the first time the live recording from the “White Winged Dove Tour” will be available on vinyl. We know, we know. Tame your wild heart, April 22 will be here soon enough.
Wilco – Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco will release Crosseyed Strangers: An Alternate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which features the live performances of the album’s 11 tracks. As one of the best records ever from the great city of Chicago, we’re excited to see the band honor its legacy.
Paul McCartney and Wings – Red Rose Speedway (50th Anniversary)
Paul McCartney and Wings will release a special edition of Red Rose Speedway in honor of its 50th anniversary. This album, which features the hit “My Love,” has been re-cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. Thank you, Sir Paul.
Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It In People (20th Anniversary)
Broken Social Scene will release a 20th anniversary edition of You Forgot It In People, the classic that shaped the 2000s indie scene. This version features new artwork with archival photos, a pull-out archival show poster, and new liner notes. Does it get any better than nostalgic heartbreak?
Ringo Starr – Stop & Smell The Roses
Ringo Starr will release Stop & Smell the Roses, his 1981 album (just a tremendous cover, by the way) that features Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood, and Stephen Stills. This release will feature six bonus tracks never issued on vinyl. Forgotten Beatle or not, we’re excited about this one.
Dolly Parton – The Monument Singles Collection 1964-1968
Dolly Parton will release The Monument Singles Collection 1964-1968. Country music’s queen treats us to A- and B-sides of singles from her early days. Get your rhinestones ready.
Warren Zevon – The Wind (20th Anniversary)
Warren Zevon will release the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Wind, his final album from 2003, released just a month before his death. The record features Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris, and Joe Walsh. This edition was remastered for vinyl from source materials at Echo Mastering under supervision by original producers Noah Snyder and Jorge Calderon. It comes with a comprehensive color booklet containing track-by-track liner notes. Frankly, we couldn’t be more excited.
Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes, The B-Sides
Tori Amos will release Little Earthquakes, The B-Sides, which — probably evident from the name — is a collection of B-sides and rarities from her 1992 album Little Earthquakes. One of the best songwriters of the 90s gives us a little treat.
Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires – Sound Emporium
Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires will release Sound Emporium EP, featuring new music from both artists — who are also serving as this year’s Record Store Ambassadors. These two artists continue to inspire, both through their music and their marriage. A beautiful thing, really.
Beach House – Become
Beach House will release new music on an EP called Become. It features five unreleased tracks from their last album, Once Twice Melody. Wavy.
Brian Eno – FOREVER VOICELESS
Brian Eno will release FOREVER VOICELESS, an instrumental version of his 2022 album, FOREVERANDEVERNOMORE. At 74 years old, the innovating songwriter and musician can’t seem to stop innovating.
Blur – Blur Present (Special Collectors Edition)
Blur will release Blur Present The Special Collectors Edition on vinyl for the first time ever. Brit-pop ain’t dead, baby, and fans will be stoked about this release, as it initially hit the world in 1994 as a Japan-only CD. It’s a collection of B-sides across Blur’s first three studio albums (Leisure, Modern Life Is Rubbish, and Parklife). This edition will be a 2LP set pressed on colored vinyl.
David Byrne – The Catherine Wheel (Complete Score)
David Byrne will release The Complete Score from “The Catherine Wheel.” This is a recording of the incredible funk opera score Byrne created for choreographer Twyla Tharp in 1981. The 2LP set is the vinyl debut of the full score. This release includes “Big Blue Plymouth,” “My Big Hands,” “Big Business,” and “What a Day That Was,” and were all performed live by the Talking Heads in 1982 and 1983. In short, we’re incredibly excited about this one.
Chief Keef – Mansion Musick
Chief Keef will release Mansion Musick, his 2018 classic that features fan favorites like “Uh Uh” (featuring Playboi Carti), “Rawlings,” and “Belieber,” on vinyl for the first time. Anyone with a morsel of music taste understands the influence of Chief Keef on hip-hop and music in general over the last decade, so this piece of vinyl is the ultimate piece for collectors.
Taylor Swift – folklore
Taylor Swift will release the first vinyl edition of folklore: the long pond studio sessions. Look, we’re poptimists over here, and folklore was pretty good! Not to mention the pop star’s vinyl releases are helping keep the medium alive, so we’re just paying our respect to Queen of the Swifties.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage – Be A Man
“Macho Man” Randy Savage will release his 2003 debut album Be a Man on limited edition vinyl. Yeah, the wrestler. Why not, ya know?
Which RSD 2023 Releases Are You Lining Up For?
Well, there you have it. The Record Store Day releases we’re most jazzed about this time around.
How about you? Drop us a comment below on the albums you want to grab before anyone else does and what local record stores you’ll be grabbing them from!
