Record Store Day April 18th 2026

  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!

Record Store Day 2024

  

 Well it's been a week since Record Store Day already, it's about time I talk about my RSD experience this year. As always it starts with checking what is being released and this year there were a few albums that I really wanted to get. Which meant I was going to have to line up early at the local record shop here in Edmonton which is Blackbyrd Myoozik for me as it is just down the street from me. Now I usually line up a couple of hours before it opens, which is 10am. Because there was one album that I really really had to have (Tragically Hip - Live At CBGB's), with a limited pressing of 2500, i was going to have to line up earlier then usual. So there I was at 7am lined up at Blackbyrd. Much to my surprise though was that there were already probably about 75 people in front of me. Well fuck! I wasn't about to line up for three hours until doors opened and then at least another hour before I got in the store. Four hours lined up only to leave disappointed, I said fuck it and went home, trying to decide what I was going to do. Ireally needed to get that Hip album.

Luckily for me, my buddy Nazz was first in line at a different record shop (Freecloud Records) in downtown Edmonton which opened at 9am, an hour earlier then most shops. He had been there since 4am, he too really wanted that Hip album. I shot him a text and told him about my dilemma. Because he is always first in line at Freecloud for RSD, he knew some of the other people lined up. And because you can only buy one copy of each release, I had another dilemma, how the hell am I gonna get this record. But Nazz being the awesome guy that he is, he managed to talk to someone in line that wasn't there for that album and got him to pick up a copy of the much needed album. Thanks Nazz! Not only did he get me the Hip album, he also picked up a copy of the Neil Young with Crazy Horse release Fuckin' Up, as he wasn't getting himself a copy. I can't thank you enough Nazz for what you did for me. So I now had two of the three releases I wanted.

 After sitting at home for a while stewing wondering if I was going to get any of the albums, this was before I knew Nazz had got what I was looking for. I decided I would go to Bonnie Doon Mall and see what the line up was like at Sunrise Records. By the time I got there it was 8:30am and much to my surprise there was only one person lined up. Excellent, maybe I will get what I am looking for. Standing there for an hour and a half and looking through the window, I couldn't see a single RSD release on display, what the hell! Well about five minutes before the store opened the staff showed up and put out there RSD releases. Which was next to nothing, maybe ten different records in all. They did have one copy of the Hip album and one copy of the Pearl Jam's new album Dark Matter a special RSD variant. By this time I heard from Nazz and knew he had the Hip and Neil Young albums for me. So all I needed was the Pearl Jam album. Talking to the lady in front of me for the last hour, I knew she wasn't there for the album I wanted. I was in luck, I was going to get everything that I was after. Yay me!!! By the time Sunrise opened there were maybe ten people in line. I was very surprised by how little RSD releases this store got. But, I got what I wanted and could have got the Hip album too, but thanks to my buddy I didn`t have to pick it up. My buddy Nazz ended up meeting me at Bonnie Doon and bringing me the two album he picked up for me, and I got a ride home.

Here are the albums I got.

Tragically Hip - Live at CBGB`s January 14th 1993 on pink vinyl and with a slip mat for your turntable. Limited pressing of 2500. An awesome sounding live record.

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Fuckin`Up on clear vinyl with a limited pressing of 5000. This is a live recording from the Rivoli in November 2023 where the band played the album ragged Glory in full. The recording is great though the band sounds rough at the start with Neil`s vocals rough as well with him missing some lyrics but the band gets better as does Neil`s vocals as the set goes on. Exactly what I would expect from Neil and Crazy Horse. I love it!

And the final pick up I got was the new Pearl Jam album Dark Matter an exclusive yellow and black ghostly RSD variant. Limited pressing of 15,000, so I am sure you can probably still find this kicking around the shops as that`s a not a very limited pressing in this day and age. The album itself is really good from these grunge veterans.

 After hanging at home and listening to all my new albums, I decided I would wander down to Blackbyrd around 4 in the afternoon and see what they still had kicking around for RSD releases. I sure didn`t expect that there would still be people lined up for the store. When I got there, there were still a line of about ten people, unreal, have never seen that before. I was gonna say fuck it and just head home, but the staff member working the door told me they had a surprise for me behind the counter. Hmmm, ok, I guess I`ll line up for a bit and have browse and see what they had for me. I was surprised that they still had a copy of the Neil Young there. Which meant I could have actually got all the records myself. Sunrise having the Pearl Jam and Hip album and Blackbyrd having the Neil album. But thankfully I didn`t have to worry about that.

 Much to my surprise what Blackbyrd did have for me was a test pressing of Corb Lund`s newest album El Viejo. Holy fucking cool. I guess they got this test pressing from the Corb`s record label and decided that I was the deserving person to get it. As the staff there know I am a huge Corb Lund fan. I can`t thank the staff at Blackbyrd enough for thinking of me. It pays to support your local independent record shops. Thanks again Blackbyrd!

Corb Lund - El Viejo test pressing.

Record Store Day has lost some of its luster over the years at least here in Edmonton it has. There used to be five record shops within walking distance of me, now there is just the one. And the shops used to have live bands playing the shops during the day or an after party once the shops closed, they also used to have concert ticket give-aways. None of that has happened over the past few years. I miss the days when RSD was an all day affair.

Black Friday Record Store Day Nov.27th 2020

Well it's been a month since the Black Friday Record Store Day, I guess it's about time to wrote about what I managed to get. I was impressed with the list for BFRSD, so I booked the day off from work and lined up at my local record shop Blackbyrd Myoozik here in Edmonton. I was surprised to see how few were lined up a half hour before opening. I was fourth in line, so I was pretty sure I was going to get what I was looking for, and I did well. Here is what I got.

* Drive-By Truckers - Plan 9 Records July 13th 2006. A triple live set from 2006 recorded at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, Virginia. I great set list, recorded well and I like how the album cover is an old school take on the classic bootleg album. A limited numbered release of 3800. Mine is number 2107.

* James McMurtry - Childish Things This is an artist I just recently got in to thanks to my friends Mike and Chris Plume. Originaly released in 2005, rereleased for the first time on vinyl this year. If you're a fan of singer/songwriter Amricana this is a good one. A limited release of 3000 on transparent blue.

* Lou Reed - Live At Alice Tully Hall - January 27, 1973 - 2nd Show This recording is from Lou Reed's live debut of being a solo artist. This was a must have for me. A limited release of 5000 on burgundy coloured vinyl.

* Lou Reed - Magic And Loss A re-issue of Lou's 1992 album. I have this on CD but had to have it on vinyl for my collection. Have always liked this album, so it was another must have. Limited pressing of 3300.

* Motorhead - Ace Of Spades 12 inch single. I wasn't necessarily going to pick this up, but being caught up in the moment of buying records, I bought it. And with Xmas around the corner, you have to have an album cover of Motorhead in Santa outfits. The single which is on red vinyl and a pressing of 2500 has three songs. Ace Of Spades of course, and a instrumental version of said song and the song Dirty Love which is a song from their rehearsals from the Ace Of Spades album. The single also came with a Xmas ornament which is just a cheap Warpig Santa Christmas ornament. Still cool nonetheless.

* Motorhead - On Parole (Expanded and Remastered) I've never owned a copy of this album that originally came out in 1979, so I was happy to get the reissue. On Parole was supposed to be their debut album as it was recorded in 1976-76, but never saw the light of day until 1979. It is the only Motorhead album to feature the band's original line-up of Lemmy on vocals and bass, Larry Wallis on guitar and vocals, and Lucas Fox on drums. A limited release of 3000 pressings.

* Uncle Tupelo - Live at Lounge Ax - March 24, 1994 A double live album recoded in Chicago originally broadcast live on WXRT. This album was a must have for me as well. Limited pressing of 2500.

* Willie Nelson - Live at Austin City Limits 1976 This album wasn't on my radar when I went to the record shop, but ended up picking it up. Willie and his band perform his classic album Red Headed Stranger front to back. An excellent recording released on audio for the first time. Limited pressing of 4000. And the last record from Black Friday Record Store Day is an album that no shops here in Edmonton got. I had my brother look for it for me in Vancouver. And lucky me, he found a copy for me. Thanks Citrus!!!

* Masters Of Reality - Sunrise on the Sufferbus Masters Of Reality was a band I have always been a big fan of, so when I saw this was going to be released on vinyl for the first time, I had to have it. And like I say, no luck here but thanks to my Bro. I now own a copy. The hype sticker on it says debut album, but it actually there second album. Limited release of 1500 copies and pressed on clear vinyl. So I did very well on Black Friday Record Store Day. The only album that I didn't get and really wanted was the Beat Farmers - Live at Spring Valley Inn 1983 album. Oh well, I guess you can't everything, unless of course someone can help me out here. If so please get in touch with me.

Record Store Day Drop #3 2020

The third drop for Record Store Day of 2020 was on October 24th. I didn't see much that interested me for this drop other then the Blitzen Trapper album Unreleased Recordings Vol. 2: Too Kool. I didn't line up at my local record shop on this day, but when I did make my way to the shop, lucky for me they still had a copy of this. This title was limited to 1000 copies. There were a few other titles I wanted, like the Allman Brothers Band - First and Second set live albums, but no record shops in Edmonton got these, so I was shit out of luck on that one, bummer!!! Now to see what I can pick up on Black friday Record Store Day releases on November 27th. There are a handful of titles I want, so I'll be lining up for this one. Get out there and support your local record shop.

Record Store Day Drop #2 Pick Ups 2020

Well with another Record Store Day coming up on Saturday October 24th, which will be drop number 3 for 2020. I figured it was time to write about what I got on RSD drop #2. There wasn't a whole lot that I HAD to have on this drop other then the Roger Waters - The Wall Live In Berlin. The record store I frequent here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada sadly didn't get any copies. But lucky for me, i have a great buddy Nazz Nomad who went to a different record shop managed to find a copy for me, which really made my day. So without further a due, here is what I did pick up. * Roger Waters - The Wall Live In Berlin Nice to finally have this on vinyl. I remember watching this on Much Music back in 1990. An incredible line up of musicians playing The Wall in Berlin to commemorate the fall of the wall. Pressed on clear vinyl and limited to 8000 copies. This helps with my The Wall vinyl collection.

My The Wall vinyl collection.

* The Allman Brothers Band - Fillmore West 1-31-71 This was another record I was looking for and really didn't think I would get a copy considering I didn't get into the record shop until a half hour after it opened. But lucky for me I managed to get the last copy. And what a great live album this is. Not to be confused with the Live at the Fillmore East that came out many years ago. This is a live recording from the Fillmore West in San Francisco. First time on vinyl and limited to 6000 pressings. The sound is amazing and there is a wicked version of "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed". Very surprised this wasn't already put out. The album came with a glow in the dark insert which is numbered and looks awesome. Mine is number 2451/6000. Looks great in the dark!

* Wilcovered - Various Artists Being a big fan of Wilco I figured this would be an intersing listen, and it is. Originaly this came as a free CD with an issue of Uncut Magazine out of the UK, now pressed to vinyl for the first time. Limited to 2500 pressings. A lot of interesting artists all covering Wilco songs, artists such as Courtney Barnett, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Kurt Vile, Yo La Tengo, Kacy & Clayton and a lot of other bands and artists I had never heard before. A pretty decent record.

* The Replacements - The Complete Inconcerated Live A triple album of a live recording from 1989 at the University of Wisconsin. Holy fuckin' shit is this ever good. Such a great live band when they wanted to be. Loving this album. Limited to 8500 copies.

* Corb Lund - Cover Your Tracks This album sees Corb Lund whom used to make Edmonton home covering a bunch of artists such as AC/DC "Ride On" which features Ian Tyson, a really cool version I have to say as well as covers of Dr. Hook "Cover Of The Rolling Stone", Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me", and Bob Dylan "I Shall Be Released" plus a few others. This was limited to 1000 copies.

A good haul of records considering I didn't think there was much that I wanted. Now for next Saturday's Record Store Day dop #3. get out and support your local record shop. Good times!!!

Record Store Day August 29th Drop One

So another Record Store Day coming up this Saturday September 26th. This will be the second installment of Record Store Day with one more to come on October 24th. This special day is usually held on the third Saturday of every April, but because of the pandemic it was cancelled this spring. Luckily they have resurrected it and spread it out over three Saturdays. The first RSD of this year was held August 29th and though I didn't line up for it in August as there was really nothing I really had to have, instead I went about an hour after the local record shop here in Edmonton Blackbyrd Myoozik opened. I did manage to spend a few dollars with these purchases.

* The Kinks - The Kink Kronikles This compilation album was originally released in 1972. It has 28 tracks featuring some of their biggest hits and some B-sides too. A double album on red vinyl. Limited pressing of 2500.

* The Pogues - BBC Sessions 1984-1985 An album made up from four different sessions from BBC, recorded from the John Peel Show, The Auld Triangle Broadcast and The Janice Long Show. A great album. Limited pressing of 5000.

* Cradle - The History This was one of the albums I was looking for and much to my surprise they still had a copy when I got to the store, so I was quick to scoop this one up. Cradle was a band from 1969 that featured the Quatro Sisters, this was pre Suzi Quatro solo fame. A double album pressed on purple vinyl and limited to 1400 copies.

* Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways I also came across this version of Bob Dylan's new album. Though I had bought the album when it came out in July, I hadn't seen the indie version which is on gold marble vinyl. So ya, I had to have another copy of this awesome album. Bob's first album of all original songs in eight years. This wasn't a RSD release. Get out and support your local record shop. They could use the help in these trying times.

Black Friday Record Store Day 2019 purchases.

My Black Friday Record Store Day pick ups. The Black Friday RSD isn't near as interesting or as good as the real RSD in April but there is always something I want. Sadly this time I missed out on the one album I really wanted, which was the Pearl Jam Unplugged album. The record shop I frequent didn't even get it in. So I was shit out of luck on that one. I did manage to pick up the following albums though.

John Lee Hooker - Black Night Is Falling
A great live album recorded in Montreal, Quebec at the Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club on May 5th 1977. Some old school boogie rock n' roll. Limited edition of 2000.

Gov't Mule - Bring On The Music, Live At The Capitol Theatre Vol.3
Another live album, this one by jam band Gov't Mule recorded on April 27th and 28th 2018 in Port Chester, New York. This is on Purple/Yellow Striped vinyl and is a limited run of 2000 as well.

Lou Reed - The Raven
This album is Lou's 19th solo album from 2003 and the first time it has been released on vinyl. It is triple album of short stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe. This is a really tough listen and is pretty much for completists only. I paid too much for this and highly doubt it will get another spin. Limited to 5000 copies.

Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies Live
Yet another live album. Recorded in Houston,Texas in April of 1973. This is my favourite pick up for RSD. The sound is great and the performance is amazing. This record also came with a seven inch single featuring "School's Out" and "Under My Wheels". What I thought was cool about this album is that the cover art is sharp and the inside of the jacket is printed green snake like pattern of the album Billion Dollar Babies. A limited release of 6000.

Willie Nelson - Seven inch single with "Sometimes Even I Can Get Too High" on the A side and "It's All Going To Pot" on the B side. A limited edition of 4000.