Record Store Day is the one day of the year when over 260 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Each year, RSD and labels help organise exclusive releases that are super limited and available only on Record Store Day. While RSD is finally back to the traditional one-day event, after the three drop dates in 2020 and the two in 2021, labels and organizers understand the implications still imposed on the manufacturing industry, that is why this year has had a "safety net" drop date in June for any releases intended for the April drop that were impacted by shipping delays.
The second drop is this Saturday (18th June) in-store and then the remaining titles will go online on Townsend Music Store at 8 pm on Monday (20th June). We've put together a list of a few of our favourite releases from the drop and added links directly to the Product Pages, ready for you to bookmark for the big moment.
1) Madness: Baggy Trousers - 12" Vinyl
'Baggy Trousers’ is one of the only Madness singles that was never released on 12” back in the day. This EP sees its first 12” outing on 180g vinyl with five additional tracks, exclusively for Record Store Day 2022.
“The title refers to the high-waisted Oxford bags we used to wear with perms - the worst fashion known to humankind. It became so popular with primary school kids that it resulted in us doing a matinée tour.” - Suggs
Complete with etched messaging from the band. The sleeve features the iconic Humphrey Ocean illustration that graced the cover of the original 7” single in 1980.
2) Prince: The Gold Experience - Deluxe Translucent Gold
The Gold Experience was the first full-length Prince album to be credited to his unpronounceable symbol icon and was released at the most public, heated stage of his battle with the major label industrial complex.
The Record Store Day re-release of 'The Gold Experience' is an homage to the rare US-only promo version of the album that was released in 1995.
With the word “SLAVE” written on one cheek, Prince shined on the opulent ballads “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” and “Gold” and the defiant single “Eye Hate U,” and the album earned widespread critical acclaim.
3) Billy Bragg: Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy - Orange Vinyl
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of his seminal 1983 debut recording Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy, Billy Bragg releases a special edition comprising the original album re-mastered, plus a new, live solo version by Billy recorded as a unique encore at his London Union Chapel show on Wednesday 5 June 2013.
"Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy has a very special place in my heart, `being the first step on a 30 year journey that has seen me travel to places that I could never have imagined back in 83" - Billy Bragg
Pressed exclusively on orange colour vinyl just for Record Store Day 2022.
4) Sandie Shaw: Hand in Glove (w/The Smiths) - Red Vinyl
Originally released in 1984 and unavailable for almost 40 years, this was a collaboration between one of the most successful (UK) female stars of the ‘60s and indie darlings the Smiths, who were big fans. Morrissey and Marr having the strong desire to be recognized professionally as great songwriters began writing her letters asking if she would cover their song I Don’t Owe You Anything, which they had written and composed in the hopes that Shaw would agree to perform it. Shaw declined but eventually agreed to cover Hand in Glove and the rest is history.
Shaw and the Smiths would enter Matrix Studios in London in February of 1984, recording three Smiths songs with Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke.
It features three Morrissey / Marr originals on which Sandie is backed by Messrs Marr, Rourke and Joyce. Pressed on fitting red colour vinyl.
5) Jamie T: Keying Lamborghinis - 10" Vinyl
Brand new track from Jamie T, taken from his forthcoming album ‘The Theory Of Whatever’, and released as a 10” single exclusively for Record Store Day!
New material in the lead up to Jamie's new album due out in July 2022.
It comes after Jamie T’s engineer and producer Jag Jago confirmed earlier this year that the album was finished. Featuring an instrumental version on the B-Side.
Record Store Day 2022 releases will be on sale at 8PM on Monday the 20th June on Townsend Music Store.