top of page
  • Writer's pictureBarney Townsend

National Album Day 2024 Staff Picks

National Album Day has announced the exclusive list of limited edition albums that are being released for the annual event celebrating this year's theme of Great British Groups on Saturday 19th October. From All Saints to The Specials, take a closer look at some of our favourites from the amazing NAD 2024 colour vinyl editions available to pre-order now on Townsend Music.

 

Embrace: Out Of Nothing - Red & Black Splatter Vinyl


Embrace's 2004 UK #1 album Out Of Nothing was the band’s first release signed to London’s Independiente label. It includes UK top 20 singles 'Gravity', 'Ashes', 'Looking As You Are' and 'A Glorious Day'.

Out Of Nothing topped the album charts in both Scotland and the UK, while also charting in Germany and Ireland and became Embrace’s highest selling album, certified at 2 x Platinum in the UK. NME reported that lead single 'Gravity' "prompted a complete resurgence in fortunes for Embrace after a number of years on the periphery".

"I see the next phase of Embrace as being quite separate and different from what the band has done up until now and this album is us signing-off on the past" - Danny McNamara, 2002

Out Of Nothing will be reissued as a limited edition 20th Anniversary Red & Black Splatter 1LP for National Album Day 2024.


 

Suede: Dog Man Star 30th Anniversary Picture Disc


Suede’s era-defining second album from 1994 celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with this National Album Day exclusive 2LP picture disc version. Dog Man Star includes the classic hit singles ‘We Are The Pigs’, ‘The Wild Ones’, and ‘New Generation’ and was the last album to feature the band’s guitarist and co-songwriter Bernard Butler.

The album has, over time, garnered wider acclaim from critics; in the decade between Suede's 2003 separation and the release of Bloodsports, Dog Man Star steadily gained a strong following as a classic rock record. In October 2013, NME magazine placed the album at number 31 in its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

"Dog Man Star will be hailed in years to come as the crowning achievement of a line-up that reinvented English, guitar-band rock'n'roll for the 1990s" - David Sinclair, Q

Art and design for this new picture disc has been undertaken for Suede by official designer and photographer Paul Khera and includes new sleeve notes by Cure / Manic Street Preachers biographer Simon Price. The classic album was mastered at AIR by Phil Kinrade.


 

Lightning Seeds: Jollification - Jump Into The Blue Coloured Vinyl


Lightning Seeds celebrate their 35th anniversary this year and the 30th anniversary of their third album Jollification. Their biggest selling album, the record is home to hit singles including 'Lucky You', 'Perfect' and 'Change'. 

Ian Broudie completed Jollification with contributions from Terry Hall, Simon Rogers, Alison Moyet and Ian McNabb. Mark Farrow's album cover featured the use of computer graphics to create an enormous strawberry and depicting seeds with superimposed human faces.

Jason Damas for AllMusic called Jollification Broudie's "strongest batch of songs yet"

Pre-order Jollification on limited edition "Jump Into The Blue" Coloured Vinyl.

 

Simple Minds: Big Music (10th Anniversary) Orange Double Vinyl


Simple Minds' 2014 album Big Music was the sound of a group in retrospection to their artistic heyday, drawing upon irresistible, hook laden synth pop and riotous glam rock. Their first release for five years, Big Music signaled a triumphant return to form and referenced the group’s core influences through covers of The Doors, Patti Smith and The Stranglers.

Originally released in October 2014, Big Music was the sixteenth studio album by the Scottish rock ensemble and debuted at number 12 on the UK albums chart, selling 10,207 copies in its first week. Featuring throwback synth pomp with an elegant commercial sheen, the release that would go on to become the band’s 17th top 75 album.

Big Music features fan favourite tracks 'Blindfolded' and 'Midnight Walking', and the lead single 'Honest Town'.

The 10th Anniversary NAD edition splits the twelve album tracks across two LPs in a faithful reproduction of the original vinyl release, pressed for the first time on opaque orange vinyl and sleeved in a gatefold jacket. Newly remastered audio from Phil Kinrade at AIR Studios and a four page booklet with photography and lyrics complete the package.

 

The Specials: Specials Clear Vinyl


Originally formed in 1977 as The Coventry Automatics, The Specials combined Jamaican ska and Rocksteady mixed with the energy of punk and launched a whole ska revival which helped fellow like-minded bands Madness, The Beat and The Selecter to release their first singles. The Specials' first single, 'Gangsters', was released in May 1979 via their own 2-Tone Records with independent distribution by Rough Trade and the initial pressing of just 5,000 records sold out.

Produced by Elvis Costello, The Specials' debut album captures the disaffection and anger felt by the youth of the UK's "concrete jungle" - a phrase borrowed from Bob Marley's 1973 album Catch a Fire - used to describe the grim, violent inner cities of 1970s Britain. The album features a mixture of original material and several covers of classic Jamaican ska tracks.

In June 2000, Q placed The Specials at number 38 on its list of the 100 greatest British albums ever.

Pre-order The Specials NAD 2024 edition with 3mm Spine Sleeve, 180gm Clear Vinyl and OBI strip.

 

All Saints: All Saints Green Vinyl


In celebration of National Album Day, All Saints' iconic debut album All Saints is finally making its debut on Green Vinyl. This release brings forth the timeless allure of the British girl group's chart-topping hits, including the infectious rhythms of 'Never Ever', the soulful harmonies of 'Under the Bridge', and the irresistibly catchy 'Bootie Call'.

Released on 24 November 1997 by London Records, All Saints worked with many producers on the album: Cameron McVey, John Benson, Johnny Douglas, Karl "K-Gee" Gordon, Magnus Fiennes, Nellee Hooper, Karen Gibbs and Neville Henry.

The song 'If You Wanna Party (I Found Lovin')' was originally released in 1995 with only members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis, under the name All Saints 1.9.7.5.

Let National Album Day transport you back to the late 1990s, where All Saints' signature blend of pop, R&B, and hip-hop captivated global audiences with All Saints on Green Vinyl.


 

Visit the National Album Day 2024 Collection on Townsend Music now, also featuring albums by Simply Red, Dodgy, T.Rex, Babyshambles, Scouting For Girls, The Subways and many more.


Comments


Subscribe to Our Site

Thanks for submitting!

bottom of page