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Record Store Day: Things You Might Have Missed

in Blog, Record Store Day by Gareth Peebles

Record Store Day 2017 is only a few days away now and this year’s list features some great releases from a lot of great artists. On this year’s list you will find a plethora of staple artists like: The Beatles, The Cure, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Iggy Pop, Motorhead, Pink Floyd, Prince, T Rex & The Who.

But these have been widely covered across all four corners of the world wide web, so we’ve picked out a few alternative releases that you might have missed.

Blackstreet – No DiggityBlackstreet - No Diggity Album Art

Format: 12″

Label: UME (USM)

What they said: “No Diggity” undoubtedly one of the most well-loved R&B songs of all time, and now available on vinyl once again for Record Store Day 2017. Previously this 12″ remixes single was only available in the US.

What we said: A classic slice of late 90’s Dr.Dre production, complete with anthemic melodies and an addictive piano hook that will have every listener playing the air keys along with it.

My only concern with this RSD release is the aforementioned statement: “this 12″ remixes single was only available in the US” – nowhere else does it state that this is a remixes single, apart from this brief mention on the official RSD site and to be completely honest, I can live without a remix of this track in my collection. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what turns up on the day.


The Chemical Brothers – C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L Chemical Brothers - C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L Art Work

Format: 12″

Label: Virgin EMI

What they said: Black etched vinyl in a spined sleeve. 1 side audio. 1 side etched

What we said: This was the first Chemical Brothers release to get me excited for a lonnnnnng ol’ time. With a wind up verse that features some great cowbell percussion and a compulsive sing-along chant, the track gets more and more sonically taut, before the high pitched tension gives way to a good old fashioned wobble. If this track is anything to go by, The Brothers might just be about to embark on a most welcome, ‘old-skool’ renaissance.

Interestingly, being released just over a year after their previous album, ‘Born In The Echos’ (2015), this track is yet to make it on to an album format – making this exclusive RSD release even more desirable.

 

The Cribs – Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever Cribs Album Art Work

Format: LP

Label: Wichita

What they said: 10th Anniversary Edition, Gold Vinyl

What we said:  Now this one I am particularly looking forward to getting my hands on. So ignore the lack lustre description offered by the RSD website and take note.

Largely overlooked as part of the mid-noughties wave of overtly average indy bands, ‘Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever’ by The Cribs is a stone cold classic in my opinion. Their punk leaning, pop laced indy-rock moves with real intent on this album and the three brothers from Wakefield have a real knack for plucky guitar riffs, often combining them in a ‘call and response’ style with the song’s lyrics, making their tunes instantly infectious.  Delivered with a comfortable Yorkshire twang, the lyrics have a certain sarcastic, deadpan Englishness about them – something that I’m always a fan of.

“There’s not much to say for me, that’s OK, you know that girls like mystery”

“Have you noticed, I’ve never been impressed by your friends from New York and London”

In short, none of you should buy this album so that I am guaranteed a copy. But if you haven’t given the band a go before, this album is a great place to start.

 

Czarface – First Weapon Drawn (A Narrated Adventure) Czarface RSD

Format: LP/Comic

Label: Silver Age

What they said: LP packaged in a gatefold comic book. The first weapon drawn in a conflict is language, but the first weapon drawn for Czarface is the music. Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck & Esoteric carved a niche for Czarface with venomous vocals, but the musical production is their super power. Powered by the trademark sound of 7L and Todd Spadafore (The Czar-Keys), a sound that’s been developed since Czarface’s first LP in 2013, “First Weapon Drawn” serves as the soundtrack to Czarface’s mysterious origin. Fresh off of their collaboration with Marvel Comics, Czarface has not only delivered a new audio adventure complete with narration, it has given us an extra large, full color, action-packed 24 page comic book with it, housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket! In the spirit of the highly sought after Power Records series from the 70’s, you can read along with the comic and hear the story come to life on vinyl. All new. Entirely unreleased in any format.

What we said: Lyrically, Inspectah Deck & Esoteric are not pushing any boundaries with their colab, Czarface but their comic-book content and slick flow works perfectly alongside 7L’s production which ranges from classic 80s/90s boom-bap, to more contemporary bass line wobblers. But this release presents a certain unknown, an “audio adventure complete with narration”, suggesting that they have doubled up on the number of skits that the album features (skits being heavily relied upon in previous releases), while also placing a larger emphasis on the narrative within. But we’ll just have to wait and see.

The presentation of this RSD release makes it arguably the most desirable record of the bunch.

I’ll take two.

 

Danny BrownDanny Brown Artwork

Format: 10” picture disc in clear PVC sleeve

Label: Warp

 What they said: “Ain’t It Funny” has become the viral highlight of Danny Brown’s Atrocity Exhibition (Metacritic’s top rated rap album of last year). In a strict Limited Edition for Record Store Day it comes to picture disc with artwork by Brain Dead, backed with acapella and instrumental versions, plus “Worth It” the track with Clams Casino originally released for Adult Swim’s Singles and now on vinyl for the first time. Atrocity Exhibition upon it’s release became one of the most highly lauded releases of the year, praised by the Guardian, New York Times, Clash, NPR, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Complex, Noisey, The Ringer, MTV, Interview Magazine and more.

What we said: Danny Brown is for hip-hop what punk was to the hippies. A middle finger raised high against convention, with little to no fucks given for commercial approval. In doing so he has, ironically, gained the approval of the mainstream while also managing to continually impress critics. His work some how continues to get darker and darker and the recently shot video for this single (directed by Jonah Hill) nicely captures the MTV, ADHD, shlock, rock aesthetic that Danny proudly advocates.

 

Deee-LiteDeee-Lite artwork

Format: 1 x 140g 12″ solid Pink vinyl single

Label: Rhino

What they said: Originally released in 1990 and has never been released since the original. It’s the first single taken out of the album Deee-Lite, World Clique. This album originally charted in multiple territories in the Top 20 position.

What we said: Seriously. Who doesn’t like this song?! What’s that you say….it’s being reissued on pink vinyl?! Take my money.

 

Distillers, The – Coral Fang The Distillers artwork

Format: 1 x Red 12″ vinyl album

Label: Rhino

What they said: The Distillers‘ major label debut was also their swan song. Coral Fang was the band’s 3rd and final release. Released in 2004, the LP is long out of print and heavily sought after by fans of the band’s leader, Brody Dalle. Brody has gone on to tear it up in Spinnerette and also as a solo artist. The original release of this record was limited to a quantity of 1000.

What we said: This is another one that I am very excited about. Made after lead singer, Brody Dalle split from her husband, Tim Armstrong of Rancid to settle down with, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. The impact of this transition on the band’s sound is audible, straying from their more traditional, hardcore punk roots and dipping their toes in to a more melodic song style.

Upon original release the album featured a grusome (but awesome), minimalist illustration of a crusified female in high heels, bleeding razor blades….OK, it sounds a lot worse when writen down than it actually is. Deemed too gruseome, this album art was eventually replaced by a demonic looking managery of animals. Meanwhile the art work supplied by RSD looks like another new addition to this canon of changing artwork.

Love it. Can’t wait. Please buy me a copy.

 

Ramones – Ramones Singles Box Ramones Boxset

Format: 10 x 43g 7″ Black vinyl singles box

Label: Rhino

What they said: 10 x Repro US 7″ Singles / Cigarette box / 7 x 7″ pic bags Numbered. All pre-1980 US singles by the Ramones.

What we said: A great collectors piece for fans of the Ramones. Featuring a selection of reissued classics including Blitzkrieg Bop, Sheena is a Punk Rocker, Swallow My Pride, Rock & Roll Highschool and  I Wanna Be Sedated. This is a punk rock treasure chest, filled with audible gems that helped to steer the direction of 70s/80s popular culture and continue to influence to this day. 

 

Robert Johnson – The Centennial Collection Robert Johnson Artwork

Format: x3 LP Vinyl

Label: Legacy

What they said: All x42 known recordings from the 1936 & 1937 sessions. First time on one Vinyl package. Deluxe tri-fold with exclusive poster (featuring the original labels of Johnson’s 78RPM singles). Numbered.

What we said: This is very VERY cool. For the first time ever, Legacy records have pulled together every known recording of The Infamous, Robert Johnson and kindly put them all in the same place, making them available to us all on RSD 2017. I was working at my local record store at the age of 17 when I first encountered, Robert Johnson’s haunting vocals and Faustian folk tale and I fell in love instantly. This is the kind of release that Record Store Day should pride itself on.

I’d sell my soul to get my hands on this.

 

Sublime – Sublime – Badfish EP

Format: 12″

Label: International

What they said: Sublime spark up the 25th anniversary of 40 OZ TO FREEDOM with a first time on vinyl release of the BADFISH EP with expanded art and photos.

What we said: After last year’s successful RSD release of Sublime’s, ‘Jah Won’t Pay the Bills’ this year sees the release of their classic track (now EP), ‘Badfish’. I’ve got a lot of love for Bradley’s song writing and the fusion of sounds that the band managed to combine, creating something uniquely their own. Tell me, are you a Badfish too?

 

Other noteable releases that I ran out of time to cover:

Television Personalities – And Don’t The Kids Just Love It

Thelonius Monk – ‘Les Liasons Dangereuses, 1960

Allen Toussaint – The Allen Toussaint Collection

Kate Tempest – Let Them Beat Chaos / Let Them Speak Chaos

 

We’re looking forward to seeing you this Saturday, 22nd of March for this year’s Record Store Day.

 

About the Author

Gareth Peebles – I have always been in love with popular culture – but, being a child of the 80’s and part of “the MTV generation”, I suppose it’s fitting that the one constant in my pop culture obsession has been music. Music, music, music. All day, everyday, in every and any way that I can get it.

My first full time job was at a now defunct major label store – which I loved. Then I taught Media Theory & Production for a few years – which I also loved. Now I get to listen to music all day and create stuff using computers, which I love too!

 

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