It’s Record Store Day this Saturday which means vinyl lovers are in for an absolute treat. Since it started in 2007, the day has been used to celebrate independent record stores around the world.
In 2024, bands and labels return the love by releasing exclusive editions of classic projects as well as brand-new legendary albums, all, of course, on vinyl.
Here are eight of the releases we’re looking forward to most this year. You can check out the full list of vinyls dropping this weekend here.
The Best Vinyls Coming Out This World Record Day
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - ‘Zinc Alloy (50th Anniversary)’
In 1974, fans were not impressed with the album Marc Bolan and his English rock band T Rex released. Now though, half a century later, ‘Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow’ (as it was originally called) is beloved, especially due to tracks like ‘Teenage Dream’, ‘The Avengers (Superbad)’ and ‘Interstellar Soul’.
The Doors - ‘Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20, 1968’ L/P box set
Bootleg recordings of The Doors’ famous 1968 Stockholm show have been floating around for decades. Finally, we’ll get an official release and a newly mixed version of the performance.
Grateful Dead - ‘Nightfall of Diamonds’ 4 x LP
For the first time, the Grateful Dead’s legendary performance at New Jersey’s Meadowland will be available in full on vinyl. The special Record Store Day edition presses the newly mastered mixes from the analogue tapes onto 4 LPs.
Elton John - ‘Caribou (50th Anniversary Edition)’
On two sky blue coloured vinyls, the Record Store Day edition of Elton John’s ‘Caribou’ celebrates its 50th anniversary by not only including the original songs but also a newly compiled LP of bonus tracks.
Pearl Jam - ‘Dark Matter’
Pearl Jam’s 12th studio album ‘Dark Matter’ is set to come out on the 19th. With Record Store Day happening the day after, the band is releasing an exclusive yellow and black vinyl colourway of the album to celebrate.
The Rolling Stones - ‘Live at Racket, NYC’
On the 19th of October 2023, The Rolling Stones played a launch event for their album ‘Hackney Diamonds’. ‘Live at Racket’ is a new seven-track vinyl from a recording of that night including performances of some of the band’s classic and new tracks.
Siouxsie And The Banshees - ‘Nocturne’
Siouxsie and the Banshees’ 1984 live album ‘Nocturne’ from their Royal Albert Hall concert is getting re-released with new artwork and a remastered recording cut at half speed which Siouxsie herself oversaw.
Thin Lizzy - ‘Live at Hammersmith 16/11/1976’
One of Irish rock band Thin Lizzy’s most famous concerts went down in London’s Hammersmith district in 1976. The performance was part of the band’s ‘Live and Dangerous’ box set, but is now coming out as its own two-vinyl LP for Record Store Day.
The Who - ‘The Story of The Who’
The Who’s 26-track best-of 1976 record ‘The Story Of The Who’ hasn’t been released on vinyl since 1989. That changes this World Record Day, with a remastered and recut version being released on pink and green vinyl.
Happy vinyl hunting!
