Record Store Day Americana and Country Releases 2026: When the Vinyl Spins and the Stories Begin

Record Store Day 2026 Logo

There’s a kind of magic that happens on a cool spring morning when the sun hasn’t quite warmed the sidewalks and the smell of fresh coffee mixes with the tang of old vinyl. It’s Record Store Day — that once-a-year celebration of grooves and ghosts — and this year, the date is Saturday, April 18, 2026. On that morning, independent record stores across the country will throw open their doors, and at the stroke of opening hour, lovers of sound will line up like they’re waiting for the doors of the Ryman Auditorium circa 1975 — all hope, heart, and beat-up boots.

This year’s Record Store Day offerings are rich with history, surprise, and serious vinyl heartbeat. From deep catalog treasures to first-ever pressings and special editions, 2026’s list reads like the soundtrack to an epic road trip through sound.

See the full list.

13th Floor Elevators – We Are Not Live – reprise of the 1968 album ‘Live’ by the 13th Floor Elevators. Spurned at the time for being billed as “Live” when in fact it was a compilation of previously recorded studio masters, outtakes and alternate mixes. The “very loud” crowd noise was overdubbed and was actually taken from a boxing match and wholly inappropriate for the purpose. Now, almost 60 years on, the album masters are available, in their original sequence, without the crowd noise, to be enjoyed in their full psychedelic splendor.

The Blasters – Rare Blasts: Studio Outtakes And Movie Music 1979-1985 – Rare Blasts is a compilation of outtakes and movie music tracks from the roots-rock Americana band’s 1980s studio albums. The 14-track collection was compiled as part of the sold out 5-LP box set, An American Music Story, released for RSD 2025. The LP features highly collectible tracks from their studio recordings many never available previously on vinyl. Includes liner notes from L.A. music writer Chris Morris. Pressed on cobalt blue vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Jeff Buckley – Live À L’Olympia – This live album captures Jeff Buckley and band across two nights in Paris July 6th & 7th during his 1995 European tour in support of the release of his Grace album. Captured at the legendary Olympia, it found Buckley before a rapturous French crowd performing half of the songs from his beloved debut album ( including favorites like “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” and “Hallelujah”) plus covers as varied as the MC5’s “Kick Out The Jams,” a Led Zeppelin parody and songs made famous by Nina Simone and Edith Piaf. In addition, the album features an additional live performance of Buckley and Alim Qasimov in a competitive Qawwali singing duet from a festival of sacred music also captured that year in France. Originally released in 2001, this marks the album’s first time on vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day.

Kaitlin Butts – Yeehaw Sessions – Kaitlin Butts: Yeehaw Sessions is a 12” black vinyl release combining two of Kaitlin’s Eps, never before released on vinyl.

Brandi Carlile – Live At Easy Street Records Vol II – Nearly two decades after recording her first live album at Seattle’s Easy Street Records, Brandi Carlile returned to the iconic record store for Brandi Carlile Live at Easy Street Records Vol. II. Celebrating her 8th studio album, Returning To Myself, the show marked a full-circle moment for the 11x Grammy Award winner. Joined by The Hanseroth Twins and SistaStrings, Carlile played to a full house and was met with an outpouring of love from fans who celebrated her return to the city where it all began.

Tyler Childers – Live From Dinosaur World – A 7” single featuring live renditions of “Bitin’ List” and “Dirty Ought Trill” performed during the release weekend of Tyler Childers’ critically acclaimed album Snipe Hunter, exclusive to indie record stores for Record Store Day 2026.

Crosby, Stills & Nash – The Solo Albums – The landmark debut solo albums from David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash after the overwhelming success of the Crosby, Stills & Nash and ‘Deja Vu’. This set also includes an LP of rarities from demos and sessions for all three albums.

Skeeter Davis – The End of the World: The Navy Hoedown Sessions – Skeeter Davis fans are in for a fascinating detour with The Navy Hoedown Sessions, a 50th-anniversary reissue of the 1975 double album that is as much a historical curiosity as it is a musical treat. Originally produced for the U.S. Navy as a recruitment recording, the album was pressed in very limited quantities and has remained almost unheard. Featuring Davis’s signature country-pop sound and some of her greatest hits, these recordings are a true delight. Pressed on pink vinyl for Record Store Day 2026, don’t miss this rare opportunity.

Iris DeMent – The Way I Should (30th Anniversary) – In celebration of the album’s 30th anniversary, Yep Roc Records is pressing The Way I Should on vinyl for the first time. The album is remastered by Mike Westbrook of Material Mastering and is pressed on Summer Sky color vinyl, limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

Jerry Garcia – Reflections (50th Anniversary) – One of Garcia’s most artistically unified statements of harmony, affirmation, and joy celebrates its golden anniversary with an expanded 3xLP set. Reflections (50th Anniversary Edition) presents the remastered original studio album, recorded with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band – plus two bonus LPs featuring studio outtakes, jams and four previously unreleased live recordings. The collection is housed in a tri-fold mirror board jacket and pressed in a limited edition of 5,000.

The Jayhawks – 2 Meter Sessions – Never-before-released recordings – Amsterdam 1997 & 2000
for the first time ever on vinyl, the jayhawks present 2 meter sessions – an exclusive record store day 2026 release featuring two amsterdam sessions from 1997 and 2000.

Waylon Jennings & The Waylors – The Balladeer meets the Dukes of Hazzard – During the process of archiving and unearthing Waylon’s lost studio recordings, his son Shooter found the original recordings of lines of the Balladeer for the first two episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard, complete with bloopers and out-takes. Shooter also found the original recordings for the soundtrack to first season of the Dukes, produced by Richie Albright, and featuring Waylon and his smoking backing band.

George Jones – Cold Hard Truth – George Jones’ 1999 return to traditional country music, his first album with Asylum Records. Produced by Keith Stegall, the album features strong, original honky-tonk ballads and raucous tunes, reminiscent of Jones’ classic recordings. Cold Hard Truth is one of Jones’ strongest albums in nearly two decades, offering a consistent, high-quality listening experience. Pressed for Record Store Day on light blue vinyl.

Freddie King – Feelin’ Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Pulsations Concert – For the first time ever, experience the full power of Freddie King’s explosive 1975 performance at the Jazz Pulsations Festival in Nancy, France — a never-before-released live set that captures the Texas blues legend at his fiercest. King roars through a high-energy set of blues, funk, and soul-drenched grooves, backed by a razor-sharp band and fueled by his searing guitar tone and powerhouse vocals.

Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris – All The Roadrunning – To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the collaboration album between Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris, All The Roadrunning, is reissued on 2LP smoky marble vinyl as part of Record Store Day 2026.

Little Feat – Little Feat (Deluxe Edition) – Next in the lineup of foundational Little Feat albums to get the Rhino Deluxe treatment is the band’s 1971 self-titled debut album. Releasing as a 2LP vinyl set exclusively for Record Store Day 2026, it includes the original album, AAA-cut from original master tape, alongside a bonus disc of rare previously unreleased alternate versions and outtakes from their early recording sessions.

Joni Mitchell – For The Roses – Joni’s 1972 album, For The Roses, was her first for David Geffen’s Asylum Records. Joni originally had intended the album cover to be art that she created that was illustrative of the song, “For The Roses,” and showed her cynicism to the music business at the time. Geffen vetoed her artwork because he thought it was not a good look to have a horse with roses coming out of its ass! So Joni ultimately compromised to use the Joel Bernstein photo that was ultimately the cover. This special limited edition for Record Store Day restores Joni’s original vision for the cover artwork for the first time. Pressed on rose color vinyl.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – July 16, 1978 – Paradise Theater, Boston, MA – A wild night from the You’re Gonna Get It tour was recorded on 2-track at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA, and broadcast by local rock radio station WBCN-FM.

Robert Plant – Saving Grace: All That Glitters… with Suzi Dian – Saving Grace: All that Glitters… is a continuation of Plant’s Saving Grace album and his beautiful collaboration with Suzi Dian and their band. It features four new studio recordings.

John Prine – Found Dogs – A newly curated archival release celebrating the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings. Drawn from the original recording sessions and demos from the era, Found Dogs collects alternate versions, acoustic performances, and five previously unreleased tracks, offering a rare look into Prine’s songwriting and studio process during a pivotal period of his career.

John Prine – BBC Sessions – John Prine recorded live for BBC radio. Featuring solo performances of songs from his first two albums. First official release. 1-LP 140g black vinyl.

Son Volt – Sound Signal Serenades – Son Volt’s latest album, Sound Signal Serenades, released on Sky Blue Opaque vinyl as a special version for Record Store Day 2026. Featuring twelve originals, Son Volt’s return to the elemental strengths that have long defined their sound—restless guitars, melodic clarity, and songs rooted in the lived experience of American landscapes. Anchored by Jay Farrar’s steady, unvarnished voice, the record balances reflection and resolve, drawing lines between personal memory and the wider currents of history, change, and endurance.

Bruce Springsteen – Live From Asbury Park 2024 – Available for the first time on vinyl, hear Bruce Springsteen’s electrifying homecoming performance in Asbury Park at the 2024 Sea.Hear.Now festival. Spanning over three hours of powerhouse performances in front of 35,000 people, this 5LP set features Springsteen at his dynamic best, backed by the legendary E Street Band. Spanning Springsteen’s iconic catalog, this record includes hits such as “Thunder Road” and “Dancing in the Dark,” plus songs that Springsteen wrote just down the road from this stage, including “Blinded By The Light” and “Growin’ Up.”

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Global A Go-Go – Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the second album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros with a limited splatter color vinyl pressing. Features some of his most well-known songs from the Mescaleros era, including “Mondo Bongo,” “Johnny Appleseed,” and “Bhindi Bhagee.”

Various Artists – My Soul Is Lost: Unknown & Forgotten Rural American Musicians – Old-time music compiled by R. Crumb and John Heneghan from their own almost five thousand 78 rpm records in his collection.

Jerry Jeff Walker – Navajo Rug (35th Anniversary) – In celebration of its 35th Anniversary, Jerry Jeff Walker’s Navajo Rug is now available on vinyl for the first time, exclusively for RSD. A fan favorite, the LP features extended liner notes and tracks like “Navajo Rug,” “If I’d Loved You Then,” and Jerry Jeff’s ode to one of his favorite baseball players, “Nolan Ryan (He’s A Hero To Us All).” Pressed on exclusive deep orange vinyl.

Record Store Day Announces 2025 RSD Releases

Record Store Day has recently announced its list of exclusive titles for RSD Black Friday 2024, which happens on Aprl 12th. See here for the complete list.

Some of the notable country and roots-rock releases include:

The Blasters – An American Music Story: The Complete Studio Recordings 1979-1985 – The Blasters are one of the bedrock acts that formed the template for the “Americana” music movement in the 1980s. Since their inception in 1979, the core members of the band have been Phil Alvin and his younger brother, principal songwriter and guitarist Dave Alvin, drummer Bill Bateman and bassist John Bazz. The box set consists of the band’s four studio albums — American Music, The Blasters, Non Fiction and Hard Line– along with a bonus disc of rarities. The 5 LP set is packaged inside a hard cover slip case box with a 24-page book featuring extensive liner notes by music journalist Chris Morris and interviews with the band members. Includes rare photos from the band’s personal collection with memorabilia and collector’s item images, along with a rare promotional poster for the Non Fiction album. The hand-numbered set will be limited to 1,000 copies and available only in the US. A must have for fans of the legendary American music band.

Jeff Bridges– Slow Magic, 1977-1978 – 3 “Music is the weed that keeps popping out of the concrete in my life. It just seems to want to come out.” –Jeff Bridges
Culled from a single decaying cassette tape labeled “July 1978,” these recordings are a window into the secret musical life of the Dude. Even after becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Bridges spent all his free time jamming and recording with a trusted circle of musicians composed of childhood friends, artists, and assorted L.A. oddballs. Imagine The Band playing at CBGB with The Exploding Plastic Inevitable. Or Arthur Russell and the Talking Heads collaborating on a suite of mutant disco. Though Bridges and his friends were brought up around the movie industry, they decided to create their own private musical universe, where they could be as weird as they wanted.
•All tracks previously unreleased
•20-pg booklet including liner notes by Sam Sweet, new interview with Jeff Bridges, and never-before-seen archival photos
•Featuring Burgess Meredith (Rocky)
•Vinyl pressed on transparent blue wax at RTI

Patsy Cline – Imagine That: The Lost Recordings (1954-1963) – Imagine That: The Lost Recordings (1954-1963) gathers unreleased performances of legendary country singer Patsy Cline. Though some have traded as bootlegs, all tracks are officially available in this collection and presented for the first time on vinyl. Expertly curated by discographer George Hewitt, this release provides a comprehensive selection of both rare cuts and live versions of chart hits. Introducing 15 new songs, such as “The Wrong Side of Town” and “Old Lonesome Time,” this marks the first new release of a Patsy Cline album in 13 years and is fully endorsed by the Patsy Cline Estate. Presented in loose chronology, this set traces the evolution of Patsy’s artistry from regional beginnings as a featured vocalist with Bill Peer’s Melody Boys in 1954 to hosting radio shows as a national headliner by 1963. Every period of Patsy’s storied career is represented in the tracklist and the book features insights and commentary on the music, the production, the era, and Patsy. Of special note, this collection offers the long sought “missing middle” by including many recordings from the pivotal year of 1959. Then a proud young mother, Patsy relocated to Nashville and soon after joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. A string of timeless hit records followed for posterity. This limited and numbered 2 LP set is pressed on 180g vinyl and released for Record Store Day 2025.

Ry Cooder – The Main Point – Live 1972 – The first-ever archival release from Warner’s vaults featuring the legendary songwriter, composer, and producer Ry Cooder. This collection includes a rare solo performance recorded at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, PA, on November 19, 1972. While one track from this performance appeared on a Warner promotional release in 1972, this marks the first time the entire set will be available on black vinyl.

Cowboy Junkies– More Acoustic Junk – a new collection celebrating the iconic sound of Cowboy Junkies in stripped-down form.This Record Store Day exclusive release features five brand-new acoustic recordings alongside five tracks from the original Acoustic Junk album—three of which have been remixed for this compilation. Known for their haunting melodies and introspective songwriting, the band’s acoustic arrangements showcase the raw beauty and emotional depth that have captivated fans for decades. 180g Yellow Vinyl, Polylined inner sleeve, 3mm Spined LP Sleeve.

Hank III– Rebel Within – Unlike most post-millennium country “outlaws,” Hank Williams III has actually been fighting against something concrete instead of just nursing a bad attitude. Hank III likes his music as strong as his drink, and includes both his hard-edged trad-styled country and his “hellbilly” thrash metal project Assjack. There’s an undercurrent of metal/punk creeping through a few tracks on Rebel Within (the bursts of Cookie Monster vocals on the title cut and the breakneck finale of “Drinkin’ Over Momma”), but for the most part, this is the most straight forward country music Hank III has released since 2002’s Lovesick, Broke and Drifitin’; Billly Contreras fiddle, Andy Gibson’s steel guitar, and Johnny Hiland’s guitar give these songs a classic acoustic honky tonk feel while adding just enough electric elements to keep this from sounding like an exercise in retro-nostalgia. More than one writer has noted that Hank III sounds a lot more like his grandfather Hank Williams than his dad Hank Willimas Jr. ever did, and he writes the kind of melodies that suit his weathered, soulful twang just right. Rebel Within captures a tone of bad luck and trouble with a grace and gravity that’s manna from heaven for fans of 100-proof roadhouse music. Rebel Within is strong, heartfelt work that proves Hank III hasn’t turned his back on pure country music. Pressed on acid-washed colored vinyl!

The Jayhawks– Blue Earth -The Jayhawks’ second album, released on Twin-Tone Records, has not been on LP since it was originally issued in 1989. This Record Store Day 2025 release includes a 7” EP with four bonus tracks never on vinyl.

Ralph Stanley– Man of Constant Sorrow – Ralph Stanley cut his first recordings with the Stanley Brothers in 1947, and nearly 70 years later, is still one of the leading stars of bluegrass music, as well as one of the towering figures of American roots music. Long a hero in bluegrass circles, Stanley broke through to mainstream popularity in 2000 with his striking performance of “O Death” in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and since then he’s continued to record and perform, teaching new fans about the beauty and history of mountain music.On Man of Constant Sorrow, Stanley and his latest edition of the Clinch Mountain Boys are joined by a diverse cast of vocalists who help perform a collection of bluegrass classics; guests include Robert Plant, Dierks Bentley, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Lauderdale, Gillian Welch, Buddy Miller, David Rawlings, Old Crow Medicine Show, and many more. 12″ LP, Coke Bottle Clear vinyl, 4/C Gatefold Jacket, 4/C Inner Sleeve.

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives– Space Junk – Space Junk, a 20-track double LP, is the first full instrumental album from country legend Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives. This limited-edition release features previously unreleased recordings, focusing on a celebrated aspect of Marty’s longstanding recording career. “Dreamcatcher”, the artwork for Space Junk, has been provided by Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass and A&M Records fame.

Record Store Day Announces 2024 RSD Black Friday Exclusive Titles

Record Store Day has recently announced its list of exclusive titles for RSD Black Friday 2024, which happens on Friday, November 29. See here for the complete list.

Some of the notable country and roots-rock releases include:

Allman Brothers Band – Manley Field House, Syracuse NY April 7 , 1972 – 3 x LP – The complete live recording of the Allman Brothers Band’s April 7, 1972 performance at Manley Field House at Syracuse University in Syracuse NY. The two disc set is pressed on Syracuse colors of orange and blue, and numbered for RSD Black Friday.

Dickey Betts & Great Southern – Southern Jam New York 1978 – 3 x LP – This 110-minute concert performance from the legendary Allman Brothers Band guitarist was recorded at the Calderone Concert Hall on Long Island, New York on August 11, 1978. The show features thirteen tracks including the ABB classics “Jessica”, Southbound”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, “Blue Sky” and “Ramblin Man” along with tracks from the 1977 album from his band, Great Southern. The live performance was previously released digitally and on CD in 2017, but this triple LP set will be packaged in a gatefold sleeve with new liner notes and photos.

The Blasters – Over There: Live at The Venue London 1982, The Complete Concert – 2X LP – On their first international tour, in May of 1982, Americana music legends The Blasters were recorded at the Venue in London England. Six of those tracks were released on Slash Records as a 12” EP later that year. Four more tracks were uncovered and included on the Rhino/Warner Bros anthology album Testament in 1997. As part of a new catalog deal for the Blasters recordings with Liberation Hall, the label has uncovered the thirteen remaining tracks and is releasing the complete concert.
The show found The Blasters firing on all cylinders as they were taking off in London, after Shakin Stevens’ version of the Dave Alvin-written “Marie Marie” hit the top 20 of the UK charts. It is quintessential listening, and a magical music moment uncovered for any fan of the band. The RSD Black Friday classic black vinyl double LP exclusive is housed in a gatefold sleeve with new liner notes, rare photos and memorabilia images.

The Byrds/Buffalo Springfield – Live at the Monterey International Pop Festival – 2X Lp – The two most important American rock bands performing at the Monterey International Pop Festival—Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds—had one thing in common: David Crosby. These sets mark a pivotal moment in Crosby’s career: One of his final performances before leaving The Byrds and, sitting in with Buffalo Springfield at the request of Stephen Stills, the beginnings of the partnership that would become Crosby, Stills, and Nash. While the sets by Otis, The Who, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix were revolutionary moments, these sets by The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield tell a different story, of one artist’s evolution that in turn changed rock music itself.

Buck Owens – I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail – LP – Out of print on vinyl since the ’70s, this prime slab of ’65 Buck is Buck at his best. Topping the country charts and being named the Billboard Country Album Of The Year, the interest in this album never waned. This is THE Buck Owens album to own, as it is the apex of his career with the Buckaroos. Don Rich never sounded tighter (and even throws a guest vocal with “Wham Bam”). There has never been a more distinctive nor instantly recognizable sound in country music than Buck Owens, and this album is reflective of that. There are a handful of hits on this one, including the title track, “Cryin’ Time,” and “Memphis.” If you only have room for one Buck Owens album, well, this is it! Cut all analog and pressed on orange vinyl for RSD Black Friday
2024.

Leon Russell – Hymns Of Christmas – Lp – For the first time on vinyl, Dark Horse Records reissues Leon Russell’s 1995 instrumental album Hymns of Christmas, offering a unique and reflective take on traditional holiday music. Featuring Russell’s masterful piano playing as the centerpiece alongside intricate orchestral arrangements, the album features ten holiday classics including “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” and “Away in a Manger. Hymns of Christmas stands as a testament to Leon Russell’s versatility and his gift for creating deeply moving recordings.

Iron-N-Ink Tattoo and Kustom Culture Festival – Long Beach, CA June 6-8

Looking for a cool place to get a tattoo, see some pin up girls, check out some classic cars, get married on the Queen Marry and catch some great Americana music this summer? Then head over to the Iron-N-Ink Tattoo and Kustom Culture Festival in Long Beach, CA June 6-8.

On the bill is Wayne Hancock, The Blasters, Dale Watson, Rosie Flores, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Junior Brown, The Lonesome Spurs and much more.