Record Store Day 2019 is just under five weeks away. In anticipation of the April 13th celebration of vinyl, The Second Disc presents a round-up of Universal Music Group's RSD selections!
The Charlatans, Us and Us Only - LP, clear vinyl - 1,000 copies
Originally released in 1999, Us and Us Only was the British alt-rock group's sixth album. It will be reissued for the first time ever for Record Store Day, pressed on limited-edition transparent vinyl.
Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker With Strings: The Alternate Takes - LP, blue vinyl - 2,500 copies
Previously only available on a deluxe CD, these alternate takes of Charlie Parker give listeners a look into one of the jazz's originator's most beloved and best-selling works. Originally released in 1950, Charlie Parker With Strings presented a blend of jazz and popular music. Now these alternate takes arrive on LP for the first time ever, presented on bright blue vinyl in a vibrant outer sleeve.
Def Leppard, The Story So Far, Volume 2/B-Sides - 2 LP - 2,000 copies
Arena rockers Def Leppard have collected highlights from their nearly forty-year career on The Story So Far, which was released in 1-CD, 2-CD and pared-down 2-LP configurations in November. For Record Store Day, Universal will release selections from the second CD on vinyl for the first and only time, pressed on black vinyl.
Elton John - Live From Moscow - 2 LP, ultra-clear vinyl + DL card - 4,000 copies
2019 marks forty years since Elton John became the first Western rocker to tour Russia. To commemorate the anniversary, Mercury/UMC will release a 2-LP set of the May 28th show with Ray Cooper that was originally broadcast by the BBC. This collection is sourced from the original broadcast masters and was remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway and cut at Abbey Road. The records will be pressed on 180-gram, "ultra-clear" vinyl and the package will include a download code.
John Lennon - Imagine: Raw Studio Mixes - 2 LP - 5,500 copies
Last October, Universal released Imagine: The Ultimate Collection, a multi-disc box set that brought listeners into the studio during the making of John Lennon's landmark album. Now, highlights from that set (indeed, a majority of the third disc) will be pressed on vinyl for the first time. The album follows the original sequence for Imagine, but presents the album takes without reverb, delay, and other effects, providing an alternate view of the album. This collection is different from the bonus disc that appeared on the 2-LP edition of Imagine: The Ultimate Collection, which presented alternate takes of Imagine songs.
Monty Python - Monty Python's Life of Brian - 2 LP picture disc + DL card - 2,500 copies
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Monty Python's film, UMC/Virgin will release a special 2-LP picture disc edition of the album Monty Python's Life of Brian. This edition is adorned with new artwork overseen by Terry Gilliam and features unseen archival material. The album was mastered at Abbey Road and the package will include a download voucher.
The Police - Message In a Bottle - 2x7", color vinyl - 1,000 copies
The Police are set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first international number-one with an exclusive, gatefold 2x7" release that features the original single and B-side on Disc 1. Disc 2, meanwhile, features the "Classic Rock Mix" of "Message In a Bottle," which was originally exclusive to the out-of-print 1995 compilation Every Breath You Take: The Classics. On the B-side of Disc 2 is a previously unreleased instrumental version of "Message In a Bottle." The audio was remastered at Abbey Road and is pressed on colored vinyl -- Disc 1 on "bottle green" vinyl and Disc 2 on blue vinyl. The packaging incorporates the original green U.K. sleeve for the front cover and the blue U.S. "poster" sleeve of the gatefold. The records are housed in colored inner bags featuring the A&M company bag design.
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack - 2 LP, picture disc - 2,300 copies
In celebration of the box office success of the movie of the same name, Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack will arrive as a special edition 2-LP picture disc exclusive to Record Store Day. The album brings together classic tracks and rarities, as well as songs by the pre-Queen band Smile and excerpts from Queen's set at Live Aid.
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody / I'm In Love With My Car - 7" color vinyl - 2,500 copies
Queen and Hollywood Records will also celebrate the Bohemian Rhapsody film with a Record Store Day-exclusive 7" single with the title song on the A-side and "I'm In Love With My Car" on the B-side. Though the song doesn't feature in the original soundtrack, its title is a running joke throughout the film. The disc will be half-yellow, half-purple color vinyl and it features the 2011 Bob Ludwig remasters of both tracks, cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road. It will be housed in a black inner bag and presented in a spined outer sleeve.
The Rolling Stones - She's A Rainbow / Live at U Arena Paris / 25.10.17 - 10" yellow vinyl - 5,000 copies
The Rolling Stones will release a special single of "She's A Rainbow," their 1967 psychedelic classic, as performed during their European No Filter Tour in October of 2017. The unreleased performance will be pressed on a yellow-vinyl, one-sided 10" single.
Roxy Music - Roxy Music: Remixed - 2x12" single - 2,500 copies
In celebration of the recent super-deluxe box set of Roxy Music's 1972 debut, the band commissioned a number of remixes that were informed by their otherworldly space-age vision. The 2x12" single is presented in a sleeve adorned with outtakes from the album cover sessions and the music was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road.
Rush - Hemispheres - LP, picture disc - 5,000 copies
Hemispheres was Rush's sixth album. Released in October 1978, the album was originally recorded at Trident Studios, London, and at Rockfield Studios in Wales. On it, the band continued their progressive rock sound with the side-long epic "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" and the lengthy instrumental, "La Villa Strangiato." Continuing on with last year's anniversary celebrations, UMe will release a picture disc edition of the album for Record Store Day.
Stereophonics - Live From Dakota - 2 LP, white vinyl - 1,500 copies
The arena rock group Stereophonics recorded Live From Dakota during their 2005 world tour. The album will now be re-issued on 180-gram white vinyl for this Record Store Day exclusive release.
Sublime - Nugs: The Best of the Box - LP - 5,000 copies
Nugs: The Best of the Box collects Sublime rarities in a new, single-disc compilation that highlights the best tracks from the Everything Under the Sun box set.
U2 - The Europa EP - 12" EP - 5,000 copies
To celebrate their eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE European Tour, U2 and UMC will release The Europa EP, a 12" EP on black vinyl that collects live rarities and remixes. Housed in a Chaplin-esque sleeve that evokes Zooropa's cover art, The Europa EP features the previously unreleased opening from the recent eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE European Tour - a sample of Charlie Chaplin's final speech from The Great Dictator that is underscored by a unique remix of the 1993 Zooropa track "Love Is All We Have Left." The side concludes with a live performance of "New Year's Day" recorded live in Dublin in November 2018. The second side, meanwhile, includes two remixes: St. Francis Hotel's mix of "New Year's Day" alongside Jon Pleased Wimmin's Euromantic mix of "Love Is All We Have Left." The music is presented on 180-gram vinyl in a newly designed deluxe sleeve.
Weezer - Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets - LP, translucent blue and white swirl vinyl - 4,000 copies
Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets is a collection of B-sides, rarities, alternate mixes, and demos for Weezer's "Blue" Album that originally appeared on a deluxe CD reissue. This Record Store Day-exclusive release marks the vinyl debut of this material, pressed on translucent blue and white swirl vinyl.
Frank Zappa - The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa - LP, clear vinyl - 4,000 copies
Originally released as a cassette-only compilation for Guitar World magazine in 1987, The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa brings together a number of guitar solos including unique edits and mixes that have never been officially released on vinyl before. For this Record Store Day-exclusive release, the compilation will be pressed on clear, 180-gram vinyl.
These titles will be available starting on Record Store Day on April 13. Be sure to visit your local brick-and-mortar shop for your chance to purchase these exclusive titles from Universal Music Group!
Robert Lett says
Would it be possible before Record Store Day to do a feature on the CD only RSD releases? I know there are few but it would be nice.
Patrick Shirley says
Amen. I guess I'm just ignorant of the demand for vinyl. I would totally be at RSD for CDs but never vinyl.
Robert Lett says
There are a few but it's like one in 100 or something.
David B says
Agreed... With vinyl now back in the mainstream shouldn't there be a push for cds. There's still a load of music not yet on cd. Shame this is not going to rectify that situation.
Shaun says
So... Elton in the USSR officially released? Cool, but.. How about a CD release, Universal?
Bill says
You would think that with declining physical sales that a record company would be interested in NOT leaving any stone unturned!
Zubb says
Not usually one to venture out on RSD as I am not into over priced vinyl releases, but I want that Elton John LP.