What is Record Store Day? 

In 2007, Chris Brown and Eric Levin joined forces to pitch the concept of a day to celebrate the importance of independent record stores. Inspired by the movement of Free Comic Book Day, it was an idea for music fans to come together and unite over their interests in a similar fashion. 

Eric Levin worked with Michael Kurtz, Carrie Colliton, Amy Dorfman, Brian Poehner and Don Van Cleave to make the concept a reality all the way back in 2007 and the day has gone forward every single year since. 

Record Store Day sees stores hosting their own events, sometimes even joined by the artists themselves! Huge names like Metallica have made appearances at Record Store Day events. These artists appear to promote their work as well as to meet and greet their fans and hold a special performance, in some cases even raising money for charity and non-profit organizations. 

Another very special part of Record Store Day is special edition releases that come with it. These releases are often produced only in their thousands, often on coloured vinyl and have been known to restore previously lost or unreleased songs.

This year is no exception! 2022 marks the 15th anniversary of Record Store Day and we have a great selection of this year?s exclusive releases for you to have a look at. 

Escape From New York - John Carpenter

John Carpenter?s Escape From New York is an action packed movie that envisions a future where Manhattan has become a high security prison. It forces Snake Plissken, a dangerous loner, to save the president and himself from this newly dangerous New York. The movie is full of violence, guns, blood and of course, an epic soundtrack.

This special Record Store Day release is a 7? single featuring the movie?s main theme on its A Side and a newly available version of ?The Bank Robbery? on its B Side. As well as this, the record has been released in a limited quantity of 2200 individually numbered copies and is pressed on red vinyl with a black splatter pattern. 

The Gun / Jah Jah Style - Mikey Dread

In the 70?s, reggae began finding a voice through several artists, between the legendary Bob Marley and the iconic Mikey Dread. Dread has collaborated with so many reggae artists to produce tracks and records to lure the west into the charms of the genre as well as their original listeners. Familiar names of some of his collaborators include Edi Fitzroy and DATC Dubcrew, who feature in this excellent Record Store Day release. 

Coming in a special disco sleeve, this pressing has been released with a very special twist that will certainly interest collectors. With just 1500 records pressed, they are also pressed in 3 different categories. 500 have been pressed on red vinyl, 500 on green vinyl and 500 on gold vinyl. The record?s colour will be a complete mystery until you open it up! Each variant having just 500 copies makes any of them an immensely rare find for a collector. 

At Home (The Singles) - Shocking Blue

Shocking Blue emerged in 1967 and while they weren?t the longest running band, they left a massive impact before they disbanded in 1974. They were the first Dutch band to ever top American charts. They made hit songs that were so special, so iconic, that their songs would still be used in programmes and TV shows decades after the band had dissipated. 

?At Home - The Singles? was delicately overseen by the band?s own Robbie van Leeuwen, who remastered all featured tracks. Amongst the remastered songs is the band?s very first hit single ?Venus? as well as ?Mighty Joe?, ?Send Me A Postcard? and the incredible release of 4 bonus tracks that had previously been lost to time, only available on B Sides of out of print records. As well as this excellent restoration of the band?s history, this Record Store Day release has been pressed on pink vinyl with a limited 3000 copies.

Alien Talk (That?s What It?s All About) - Wild Willy Barrett

The weird and wonderful Wild Willy Barrett made his name with his outlandish sense of humour paired with his experimental musical genius. He has tackled a plethora of music genres, from folk and blues right up to punk rock, and has made use of homemade instruments such as the famous Wah Wah Wheelie Bin, the Electric Thumbless Guitar, and plenty more. 

?Alien Talk? is a brand new LP, recorded in Barrett?s own home studio. This special, one-off LP was recorded in celebration of Record Store Day this year, and features the aforementioned homemade instruments. The experimental, whacky style of Barrett?s music returns in full swing, with two sides of long and fun tracks. This release was pressed on green vinyl and is another limited edition release in the name of Record Store Day. 

The Hitcher Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Mark Isham

Record Store Day has made rare and sometimes completely unavailable releases more accessible on numerous occasions, this is one such case. The Hitcher?s soundtrack had been unavailable since its 1986 release up until this Record Store Day. Now the soundtrack for this chilling thriller movie is completely available on high quality vinyl. The Hitcher follows the story of a hitchhiker?s violent murders and his failure to kill one young motorist entwines their fates, and sees the young motorist framed for some of these murders. 

In creating this soundtrack, Mark Isham was tasked to compete with John Williams? score on the iconic thriller, Jaws. Isham went about his own work with a much more electronic soundtrack than his competition, with clever use of samples to create a cold sound behind the dark and twisted horrors of the movie and its terrific antagonist. This excellent Record Store Day release has been pressed on turquoise vinyl and in just 2000 copies. 

The Tamarind Seed Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - John Barry

Another movie soundtrack finds its debut release on vinyl this Record Store Day. The Tamarind Seed is a slow burn story of love unfolding during the bitterness of a cold war. The spy movie follows Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif in their dangerous mission of love. Much like The Hitcher, this soundtrack never had a release until now. John Barry?s work often found its way onto soundtrack releases, so this one finally making it is a very welcome addition. 

Featuring the only commercially released song from the soundtrack, Wilma Reading?s ?Play It Again?, amongst ?The End? as written by Don Black and performed by Danny Street, this record features every single major cue from the movie. The soundtrack that beautifully brought every little moment to life, whether it be dramatic or romantic, is finally fully available on vinyl. This release is of 2000 copies and has been pressed on red vinyl for one disc and blue for the other. 

Record Store Day is a Celebration of Music and Records

While the day revolves around the shows some artists put on at stores and the new limited edition records they may release for the day, this day was put together for the love of music. To unite people in supporting local, independent record stores. To create and expand a community around such a special part of our lives and cultures.

Marc Fayd?Herbe, Universal Music?s sales manager, has stated that Record Store Day is the absolute best thing that has ever happened for independent record shops. From 2013 onwards to now, Record Store Day has had a rippling effect on the sales of vinyl records, seeing sales of the records reach all time highs several times! 

Now, 15 years into the tradition, it?s become a time to release some fun records, to restore music that had previously been lost to out of print records and time, and most importantly, to bring everyone that makes a record store together.