Record Store Day

[Ojai Sam]

https://recordstoreday.com/

Somehow we've never given RSD a dedicated thread, although the special releases have popped up here once in a while. The big event took place yesterday, and according to a story I just heard on BBC News, the crowds were larger than ever this year. Record Store Day began in 2008 and by 2011 it began generating special releases from the record companies. These releases, now numbering in the hundreds each year draw a lot of foot traffic to retailers because they often sell out immediately. The energy and enthusiasm of this event has played a large role in the resurgence of vinyl among younger listeners.

This list of special releases for 2026 is here. If you sense a new listening project in the offing, you're not wrong. We're going to take a closer look at some of the more interesting instant rarities to see what the shouting is all about.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Discogs did a great job analyzing this year's releases here.

 

[Ojai Sam]

After taking a closer look at the list of this year's RSD releases, I have drawn a few conclusions:

• 'There is truly something for everyone. Of the 359 releases, 210 are RSD exclusives and an amazing 66 (on top of those exclusives) are first release anywhere.
• The focus is definitely on vinyl. There are only 5 CD's included.
• New material with a wide appeal still appears on CD, either as part of RSD (Pink Floyd) or separately (Bruce Springsteen).
• There are loads of catalog reissues that have been OOP for a while but still can easily be found at a fraction of the cost on LP or CD.

This high priced luxury product is not the place to explore unfamiliar artists. But as a long time collector, I'm having a lot of fun evaluating releases by artists I already like to see just how deep into the vault I really want to go.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Since the official RSD listing is alphabetical, before getting to my first purchase let's take a look at what I passed up:

13th Floor Elevators - We Are Not Live
"2026 Record Store Day reprise of the 1968 album 'Live' by the 13th Floor Elevators. Spurned at the time for being billed as "Live" when in fact it was a compilation of previously recorded studio masters, outtakes and alternate mixes. The "very loud" crowd noise was overdubbed and was actually taken from a boxing match and wholly inappropriate for the purpose. Now, almost 60 years on, the album masters are available, in their original sequence, without the crowd noise, to be enjoyed in their full psychedelic splendor."
The Elevators' hype never lived up to their actual music IMHO.

Air - AIR Moon Safari: The Athens Concert
"Recorded during a warm night in Athens under the Acropolis, this album captures Air at their most magnetic and ethereal. Blending analog warmth with their unmistakable electronic grace, the duo plays its classic album unveils new arrangements that resonate through the oldest theater in the world's mesmerizing acoustics. Each track becomes a dialogue between the French duo’s timeless sound and the Athenian stones — intimate, shimmering, and full of emotion. “The Athens Concert” is not just a concert recording; it’s a sonic memory of a unique night that united music, light, and history in perfect harmony. And the first live album ever released by the legendary French band to celebrate their 2024 - 2025 tour."
Legendary album but who needs a live reinvention 25 years after the fact?

Roy Ayers - Daddy Bug
"Daddy Bug was the third and final studio work for Atlantic by the great Roy Ayers. The album was released in 1969, a year before Ayers would form his groundbreaking band Ubiquity. Produced by jazz icon Herbie Mann, Daddy Bug is full of cool, stylish vibraphone-heavy instrumental jazz with contributions from some of the best sidemen in the business - including Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Hubert Laws on flute, Sonny Sharrock on guitar, and both Bruno Carr and Freddie Waits on drums. Now, after years out of print, this classic album is available again in a Yellow colored vinyl run for Record Store Day 2026."
Great choice for reissue. But the original LP and CD reissue are both available for around $20 so why pay $30 for yellow vinyl? BWTM...the Collectables twofer with Virgo Vibes can be had mint for $20. Problem solved!

Chet Baker - Live In Japan 1987 (Fukui, Vols. 1 & 2)
"A timeless treasure from the legendary trumpeter’s second visit to Japan will be released for Record Store Day 2026 on deep-blue vinyl!! This Record Store Day 2026 release is a Japanese import title.
(Vol.1)
In 1986, jazz icon Chet Baker made his miraculous debut in Japan, promising fans, “Let’s meet again soon.” Just one year later, he kept that promise—returning in 1987 for a series of unforgettable performances. This album captures the magic of the first set from his June 6th live show in Fukui, delivering the raw intimacy and lyrical brilliance that only Chet could conjure. "
(Vol.2)
On June 6, 1987, Chet Baker descended upon Phoenix Plaza in Fukui City, Japan! In this electrifying second volume of live recordings, the legendary trumpeter leads his favorite pianist Harold Danko and his trio in a fiercely swinging performance that captures Baker at the height of his late-career resurgence."

Same story here as with Roy Ayers. Chet Baker's appearances in Japan shortly before his death deserve a wider audience. But I can buy both volumes on the original Japanese CD for less than the $50 cost of one of these blue vinyl reissues.

Tony Bennett - MTV Unplugged
"Tony Bennett’s Grammy-winning MTV Unplugged session, released on vinyl for the very first time. Recorded live in New York City in April 1994, this landmark album showcases Bennett’s timeless interpretations of the Great American Songbook, backed by the impeccable Ralph Sharon Trio. This 2LP set, pressed exclusively for Record Store Day, features 21 unforgettable tracks, including classics like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "Fly Me to the Moon", and "Steppin’ Out With My Baby". Tony Bennett’s Grammy-winning MTV Unplugged session, released on vinyl for the very first time. Recorded live in New York City in April 1994, this landmark album showcases Bennett’s timeless interpretations of the Great American Songbook, backed by the impeccable Ralph Sharon Trio. This 2LP set, pressed exclusively for Record Store Day, features 21 unforgettable tracks, including classics like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "Fly Me to the Moon", and "Steppin’ Out With My Baby".
I'm gonna call a foul on Sony here. If I can buy a sealed copy of the common CD for less than $2, selling an LP for $30 is outrageous. BTW, there are actually 22 tracks listed. I guess the bean counters are better at tallying up the money than the tunes.

Next time, we'll take a look at what I decided on.

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Blasters - Rare Blasts: Studio Outtakes and Movie Music 1979-1985 (Preservation Hall comp. 2026)

The Blasters have been one of my favorite groups since their arrival in 1979. The Alvin brothers helped lead the way to rediscovery of rockabilly without falling victim to the cliches of black leather and pomade. Their four original studio albums are all essential listening but a lot of outstanding material from their sessions was left on the cutting room floor. The omission of these cuts may have made for tight, cohesive albums during the sunset of the vinyl LP but their quality makes them worthy of excavation today.

Last year, Preservation Hall Records released a 5 LP box collecting all of The Blasters' studio work, the fifth one being this odds and sods package that was released separately this year. All 14 of these songs appeared previously on various collections but it's nice to have them all in one place. Taken together, they stand as further evidence that The Blasters were one of the strongest bands of the whole Americana movement.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

RSD is off to a great start!