So another Record Store Day has come and gone. When I saw the list for this years releases there were actually quite a few that Ii was interested in. Unlike last year, there wasn't much. But because there was some I wanted, I was going to have to line-up. My buddy Nazz decided he was going to line up at Blackbyrd this year, as he usually lines up at Freecloud Records in downtown Edmonton. And he always lines up super early. Well with him lining up at the record shop close to me I told him I'd line up with him as I didn't want to miss out on the Ween release. That was a must have for me. Well holy fuck, 4am is mighty early to line up when the shop doesn't open until 10am. But there I was at 4, and we were tenth in line, I really thought we would be first, but nope! At least hanging with my buddy Nazz for six hours is a lot of fun, the wait still felt long, but it was great company with awesome conversations and laughs.
The only excitement in that six hour wait was when we spotted smoke and flames shooting out from behind The Buckingham, a live music venue/nightclub/restaurant that we were standing right across the street from. We decided to cross the street and investigate. Sure enough there was a small fire beside the dumpster behind the venue. Luckily it was just a paper fire and we were able to stomp it out quickly and pissed on it just for good measure. Not sure if it was maybe a homeless person that started the fire to stay warm or what, but when we got there, there was no one around. An unattended fire by a dumpster is not good.
Ten o'clock finally rolled around and it was time to pick up some new releases. This years list was a good one for me. Here is what I managed to pick up this year.
The first one and a must have for me, and one of the main reasons I lined up so early.
Ween - Europe "90"
A 3LP set with previously unreleased Eindhoven studio sessions from Christmas 1990 on LP 1 and a double live album LP 2 & 3 The Reality Of Brown: Live In Basel "1990". Limited pressing of 7000, which is a lot, so I'm sure you will still be able to find this at select record shops.
Neil Young was another must have for me. All the other albums I got were bonuses. I made sure to make the best of waiting in line for six fucking hours.
Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes Recorded Live on the 2025 Tour. On clear vinyl. Limited pressing of 6000, another one that you can probably still find kicking around.
The Muffs - Live At Fort Apache recorded during the Blonder and Blonder Tour June 1st, 1995. A live broadcast presented by WFNX-FM, Boston. A limited pressing of 1000 on opaque yellow vinyl.
Weezer - 1192 The first Weezer studio recordings on grey vinyl. Demos from their 1994 debut album. Pressing of 3000.
Against Me! - New Wave B-Sides an album of B Sides from their 2007 New Wave album. Pressed on vinyl for the first time on pink vinyl. Limited pressing of 3000.
Dallas Good + Richard Reed Parry - Were "The Watchtowers" the final recordings of Dallas Good of The Sadies before his passing in 2022. An album the duo had been working on for over a decade whenever they had time to record. A limited pressing of 1000 on white vinyl.
John Prine - Found Dogs This album is an archival release celebrating the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessing taken from the original recording sessions of that album with demos and five previously unreleased songs. Each album has a foiled numbered LP. My copy being #720. Limited pressing of 2000 on caramel coloured vinyl.
Pavement - Perfect Sound Forever this ten inch release is the first repress of this 1991 EP. Pressed on white vinyl a limited release of 2000 copies.
Judas Priest - Live In Los Angeles '90
A live album from the Painkiller tour previously only available on CD as part of the 50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music box set. Recorded at the Foundations Forum in Los Angeles on September 13th 1990. Limited edition of 4900.
Violent Femmes - The Blind Leading The Naked
The 40th anniversary reissue of their long out of print third album. This pressing is on translucent yellow vinyl. Limited pressing of 1350.
John Prine - BBC Sessions
A live recording from his 1973 BBC Sessions featuring songs from his first two albums. Limited edition of 7100.
So I had a good haul at this years Record Store Day. Now for a little rant. It seems to me that Record Store Day has lost it's shine. RSD started in 2008 as a way to celebrate independent record shops around the world. It was a way for the record shops to bring in some much needed extra money for the stores and a way to get people out to the shops. Back in the day some of the stores would have live performances from local bands, door prizes,commemorative t-shirts and posters, ticket giveaways for upcoming shows, coffee and donuts for their customers, after parties. Not sure about record shops in your area. But here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada none of the shops here that I know have any such thing. Which is a shame. I used to make a day of visiting all the record shops and buying something at every store just to support the places and enter draws to win prizes, see some live music and just celebrate these awesome people that own these stores. Now I just go and line up at one shop and buy over priced records and call it a day. I miss the days when it was like Christmas for me and I made a day of it. It's great to see the shops have a good sales day. Hell, after 5pm I was on my way to see Sam Roberts Band play at the Jubilee Auditorium here in Edmonton and decided to walk by Blackbyrd and there was still a line up of a dozen people to get in the store, that blew me away. Good day for the store. I miss the old days!
