UPDATE – Record Store Day’S annual collection of vinyl will be released on three separate days this year — Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24. While the event regularly takes place in April, organizers wanted vinyl collectors to be mindful of social-distancing regulations.
Spring is in the here, birds are out and trees and flowers begin to bloom, and the smell of limited edition vinyl is in the air!.
That’s right folks, Record Store Day 2020 is right around the corner (Saturday, April 18th June 20th, to be exact) and his year is a special one. Record Store Day has selected Americana powerhouse, Brandi Carlile, as their 2020 Ambassador. Speaking about indy record stores support of her career Carlile says:
“The Twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth) and I have never made an album that we didn’t intend to be in an independent record store. Thank you so much for recognizing this love in me and the Twins and giving us this opportunity. We won’t let you down.â€
And she couldn’t have picked a better time to be the event’s representative. Carlile pays tribute to her hometown of Seattle and one of her musical influences by covering Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun†and “Searching With My Good Eye Closed.†Other scarce, unique, and regional releases of interest from Jesse Dayton, The Dead South, Drive-By Truckers, Steve Earle, John Prine and many more.
Check out the Americana and roots selections below and take a look at the full list to see what’s coming out outside of the twangasphere.
Get to your favorite indy record early on Saturday, April 18th June 20th. I’ll be at Good Records in Dallas, but you can check on indy record stores near you.And be sure to share those great finds with me on Instagram and Twitter.
Solomon Burke – Back To My Roots
Format: LP
Label: Anagram
Quantity: 1500
Solomon Burke was an American preacher and singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s. Originally released in 1976, Back To My Roots was his debut album on the legendary Chess Records label, a well-known imprint devoted to the best Blues, R&B, Funk and Soul music. After a long stint on Atlantic and MGM Records, Solomon Burke signed for Chess to work with the wonderful producer Herman Rush who wrote and produced this sensational album.
This release for Record Store Day is its first repress since the original 1976 release.
SIDE A –
1. Burning For Your Love 2. Night And Day 3. Everybody’s Got To Cry Sometime 4. I’m Going Back To My Roots
SIDE B –
1. Precious Flower 2. The Do Right Song 3. Life Has It’s Ups And Downs 4. Over And Over (Hugging And Loving) 5. I’ll Never Stop Loving You
Johnny Cash – Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series – Early Mixes (1987)
Format: 2 x LP
Label: UME (Mercury)
Quantity: 5000
In 1988, two years after signing to Mercury Records, Johnny Cash released Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series, which featured new recordings of classic material. Including renowned tracks like “Ring Of Fireâ€, and “I Walk The Lineâ€, the series captured one of country music’s greats singing songs that made him a legend. For the first time ever on vinyl, exclusively for Record Store Day 2020, UMe/Mercury is proud to present Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series – Early Mixes. Cash’s early mix of the 1988 album, mastered from newly discovered tapes in the Mercury vault. Limited Edition Double LP, pressed on 180g vinyl, it is a must-have for fans and collectors.
LP 1 / SIDE A – 1. Sunday Morning Coming Down, 2. Get Rhythm, 3. I Walk The Line, 4. Long Black Veil, 5. I Still Miss Someone
LP 1 / SIDE B – 1. Blue Train, 2. I Got Stripes, 3. Peace In The Valley, 4. Five Feet High And Rising, 5. Folsom Prison Blues
LP 2 / SIDE A – 1. Cry, Cry, Cry, 2. Don’t Take Your Guns To Town, 3. Tennessee Flat Top Box, 4. A Thing Called Love, 5. The Ways Of A Woman In Love
LP 2 / SIDE B – 1. Ballad Of Ira Hayes, 2. Guess Things Happen That Way, 3. Home Of The Blues, 4. Supper Time, 5. Ring Of Fire
Brandi Carlile – A Rooster Says
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: Elektra
Quantity: 10000
RSD 2020 Ambassador Brandi Carlile has strong ties to her hometown Seattle. Her RSD 2020 release pays tribute to one of the region’s most legendary bands, and one of her strong influences: Soundgarden.
“Black Hole Sun” / “Searching With My Good Eye Closed”
Gary Clark Jr – Pearl Cadillac (Feat. Andra Day)
Format: 45 RPM clear and white (pearl)
Label: Warner Records
Quantity: 3000
Jesse Dayton – Texas 45 RPM Showdown – Doug Saham, Townes Van Zandt
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Blue Elan Records
Quantity: 1000
Jesse Dayton recorded covers of two of his biggest Texas-based influences for this RSD 2020 single.
The Dead South
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Six Shooter Records
Quantity: 500
Canadian bluegrass folk band The Dead South come to the record stores with a 7†of cover songs, “House Of The Rising Sun” originally by The Animals and the classic “This Little Light of Mine”
Side A: House Of The Rising Sun Side B: This Little Light of Mine
Drive-By Truckers – “The Unraveling” b/w “Sarah’s Flame”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: ATO Records
Quantity: 2000
Two brand new tracks from The Unraveling sessions, one from Patterson Hood and one from Mike Cooley – including, in Led Zeppelin-esque fashion, the albums orphaned title track “The Unravelingâ€.
Steve Earle – “Times Like These / It’s About Blood”
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Modern Harmonic
Quantity: 1350
This is a limited edition 7″ recorded during the Ghost Of West Virginia recording sessions (that new album comes to record stores May 22). “Times Like These “is exclusive to this 7” and “Devil Put The Coal In The Ground” will be on the new album.
“Times Like These / It’s About Blood”
Alejandro Escovedo – La Cruzada
Format: 2 x LP
Label: Yep Roc Records
Quantity: 1000
Alejandro Escovedo’s critically acclaimed album The Crossing with the vocals recorded in Spanish, pressed on red, white and green striped double vinyl.
1. Andare 2. Footsteps In the Shadows 3. Texas Is My Mother 4. Teenage Luggage 5. Something Blue 6. Outlaw For You 7. Amor 8. Puro 9. Waiting For Me 10. How Many Times 11. Cherry Blossom Rain 12. Sonica USA 13. Rio Navidad 14. Silver City 15. Fury and Fire 16. Flying 17. MC Overload 18. The Crossing
Blaze Foley – Live at the Austin Outhouse
Format: LP
Label: Art Yard / End Of An Ear
Quantity: 1000
* Rare Blaze Foley recordings from the Austin Outhouse circa 1989
* Includes bonus 45 a version of “If I Could Only Fly†and “Let Me Ride in Your Big Cadillac.â€
“Live at the Austin Outhouse†captures Blaze Foley, Austin’s legendary singer-songwriter, at his final appearance at the iconic Austin Outhouse venue. Recorded over two nights in 1989 just days before his tragic murder these twelve tracks are available on vinyl for the first time. Recorded by his friend John Casner these now-classic Blaze tracks were for years only shared on hand-made cassettes among a small network of friends and fans. This vinyl LP marks the twenty-year anniversary of their initial release on CD by Lost Art Records.
While Blaze’s reputation as a singer-songwriter has exploded in recent years, access to his catalog on vinyl has not kept pace. The tracks here include many of his classics; Clay Pigeons (covered by John Prine), If I Could Only Fly (covered by Merle Haggard), Election Day (covered by Lyle Lovett) and nine others. Blaze is joined in this set by several of Austin’s most beloved musicians including Champ Hood and Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. “Live at the Austin Outhouse†reveals Blaze to be as talented and soulful as his friends and running buddies Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams.
Foley is also the subject of a documentary film, Blaze Foley – Duct Tape Messiah, directed by Kevin Triplett, and the 2018 feature-film, Blaze, directed by Ethan Hawke.
The package includes a bonus reproduction copy of the Blaze’s rare 1979 Zephyr Records 45 RPM record. Recorded in Houston, Texas on a label that quickly disappeared, the Zephyr 45 never received commercial distribution. The 45 includes
a version of “If I Could Only Fly†and “Let Me Ride in Your Big Cadillac.â€
THIS RELEASE IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY THE RSD PARTICIPATING STORE END OF AN EAR IN AUSTIN TX. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL STORES BUT WILL MOST LIKELY BE FOUND IN THAT REGION
Hiss Golden Messenger – Let the Light of the World Open Your Eyes (Alive at Spacebomb)
Format: 7″ Vinyl
Label: Merge Records
Quantity: 1200
NC folk-rockers Hiss Golden Messenger re-record two of their original songs, “Cat’s Eye Blue” (from their critically acclaimed 2019 album Terms of Surrender) “Standing in the Doorway” (a 2017 digital-only single) at Spacebomb Studios in Richmond VA, with contributions from their in-house orchestra. The latest in the Alive at Spacebomb Studios series.
“Cat’s Eye Blueâ€/â€Standing In The Doorwayâ€
The Jones Sisters (Steven Conrad, Lillie Mae and Bobby Bare) – Perpetual Grace, LTD Soundtrack
Format: LP
Label: Fat Possum
Quantity: 500
The original songs written for the EPIX television show Perpetual Grace, LTD. The Jones Sisters is made up of the show’s creator, writer and director Steven Conrad, singer/songwriters Bobby Bare Jr, Lillie Mae and more. Released for Record Store Day 2020 on colored vinyl.
1. “Comet†2. “Iris†3. “You Are Hurting Meâ€4. “Kawasaki Kx80†5. “Resonate†6. “Brother Down†7. “The Power Of Your Soft Young Heart†8. “My Old Old Lady†9. “I Want To Get Something Going On†10. “In The Lowrider Capitol of The World†11. “Drunk (Chicago)†12. “Restless as the Former Horses (Of Jesse James and William Bonney)†13. “Y’all Bless Me Downâ€
K.D. Lang & The Reclines – Angel With A Lariat
Format: Translucent red vinyl LP
Label: Sire
Quantity: 3000
Ennio Morricone – For A Few Dollars More (OST)
Format: 10″ Vinyl
Label: AMS
Quantity: 400
* Record Store Day 2020 Exclusive Release.
* 10†pressed on yellow vinyl & housed in a gatefold jacket
* Includes a poster
In 1965 the previous year’s film “A Fistful of Dollars” by Sergio Leone, thanks to its success, had already helped to codify and massively increase the popularity of the ‘spaghetti western’ genre, together with the one the two lead actors Clint Eastwood and Gian Maria Volonte. “For a Few Dollars More” is the natural prosecution of that movie, with the addition of a third protagonist – Lee Van Cleef – who joins the already mentioned two actors: a triad that made history, for another masterpiece Sergio Leone’s masterpiece.
Ennio Morricone’s music is equally important. The Maestro here chooses a ‘poor’ registry, consisting of folk instruments such as ocarina, Jew’s harp, and chimes, respectively used to accompany the entry stage of the three main actors. But there are, as usual, the contributions of Alessandro Alessandroni and his Cantori Moderni choir, for an incredibly exciting final result.
1. Per qualche dollaro in più 2. La resa dei conti 3. Osservatori osservati 4. Il colpo 5. Poker d’assi 6. Carillon 7. Addio colonnello 8. Il vizio di uccidere
Corb Lund – Cover Your Tracks EP
Format: 12″ Vinyl
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 1000
With his latest EP, Cover Your Tracks, Lund expands on his Western heritage by wearing his more popular and prominent influences on his sleeve. Covering songs from diverse artists such as Lee Hazlewood, Billy Joel, Marty Robbins and AC/DC, Lund expands on not only his favorite songs but on the range, sound and style in which those songs are delivered. Featuring the likes of Ian Tyson and Hayes Carll, Cover Your Tracks is a focused and deliberate collection of classic and unexpected songs, curated by Corb. Released and pressed on 45 RPM 12†opaque blue vinyl.
1. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ 2. The Cover of the Rolling Stone (feat. Hayes Carll) 3. They’re Hanging Me Tonight 4. Outlaw Man 5. Ride On (feat. Ian Tyson) 6. Seven Spanish Angels 7. It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me 8. I Shall Be Released
John Prine – The Atlantic Albums
Format: 4 x LP
Label: Rhino Atlantic
Quantity: 2000
A special four LP 180g boxed set containing the legendary first four John Prine albums, presented in their original packaging: John Prine, Sweet Revenge, Diamonds in the Rough, Common Sense.
The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed (Limited Collectors Edition)
Format: LP
Label: ABKCO Music & Records
Quantity: 900
The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking multi-platinum selling 1969 album Let It Bleed perfectly captured the ominous spirit of the times with opening track “Gimme Shelterâ€. Each copy of this exclusive collector’s edition is handcrafted on the press, using layers of color on top of one another to create a truly unique edition. Due to the nature of the manual process to pour each color onto the press by hand, each piece is unique in design. Hand-numbered Certificate of Authenticity included.
SIDE A – 1. Gimme Shelter 2. Love In Vain 3. Country Honk 4. Live With Me 5. Let It Bleed
SIDE B – 1. Midnight Rambler 2. You’ve Got The Silver 3. Monkey Man 4. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Royal Horses – A Modern Man’s Way To Improve
Format: LP
Label: Okemah Roads Records
Quantity: 100
The much-anticipated, full-length debut album from Royal Horses, a South Mississippi-based Americana trio, featuring ten original songs recorded in New Orleans. Music critic Mik Davis has called the album a “stunning first chapter for the powerful trio.” Released exclusively on 180g audiophile vinyl, each purchase comes with a free digital download that is not otherwise available on traditional music streaming sites. THIS TITLE IS CHAMPIONED BY T-BONES RECORDS & CAFÉ IN HATTIESBURG MS. IT’S AVAILABLE TO ALL STORES BUT WILL MOST LIKELY BE FOUND IN THAT REGION.
1). Bottom of the Chart, 2). A Modern Man’s Way to Improve, 3). Valley of the New, 4). Who Do You Know?, 5). There She Walks, 6). Leave a Light, 7). Call it War, 8). Rattlesnake Smoking a Cigarette, 9). Ruby Do, 10). BLD
Son Volt – Live At The Orange Peel
Format: 2 x LP
Label: Transmit Sounds/Thirty Tigers
Quantity: 1500
Recorded live at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on September 23, 2005, these songs were part of the 6 String Belief DVD, but have never before been released on vinyl.
SIDE A 1 “Damn Shame†2 “Feel Free†3 “Who†4 “Live Free†5 “Back into Your World†6 “Medicine Hatâ€
SIDE B 7 “Joe Citizen Blues†8 “Atmosphere†9 “Picking up the Signal†10 “Straighface†11 “Ipecacâ€
SIDE C 12 “Caryatid Easy†13 “Jet Pilot†14 “Endless War†15 “6 String Belief†16 “Medicationâ€
SIDE D 17 “Barstow†18 “Driving the View†19 “Chaos Streams†20 “Tear Stained Eye†21 “Windfall“
Tony Joe White – The Beginning
Format: LP
Label: New West Records
Quantity: 900
The Beginning was released digitally and on CD in 2001 by Swamp Records in the US and Audium Records in Europe. Long out of print, this record was Tony Joe’s 29th,and the first one where he controlled all elements of the studio. Stripped down and without any bells and whistles, this is Tony Joe recording, himself playing his classic swamp blues sound, and now for the first time on vinyl. Remastered and re-sequenced for RSD 2020 with new art and pressed on clear with black splatter vinyl.
1. Who You Gonna Hoo – Doo Now 2. Ice Cream Man 3. Wonder Why I Feel So Bad 4. Going Back To Bed 5. Down By The Border 6. More To This Than That 7. Drifter 8. Rebellion 9. Rich Woman Blues 10. Raining On My Life
Hank Williams – March of Dimes
Format: 10″ Red Vinyl
Label: BMG
Quantity: 2000
Hank Williams’ complete 1951 March Of Dimes performance on 10†red vinyl. Its first release on vinyl, with a new restoration and mastering of the 16†radio transcription disc. Features five songs, including “Lovesick Blues†and his then-current hit, “Moanin’ The Blues.†The disc also includes a solo track by Audrey Williams and a dual narrative on a Luke The Drifter track, plus a rare PSA read by Hank about Infantile Paralysis.
Produced by Cheryl Pawelski with restoration and mastering by Michael Graves. Together, they earned a 2015 Best Historical Album Grammy award for their work on Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs, 1950.
Side A
1) Lovesick Blues 1:37, 2) Moanin’ The Blues 3:21, 3) There’s A Bluebird On Your Windowsill
Side B
1) Hank Talks About Infantile Paralysis, 2) Help Me Understand 3:06
Hardly a day goes by that we hear about another performer leaving their chosen career trajectory and taking a swing at country music.Some of these travelers deeply feel the need to honor the history, the tradition, of the genre. They also bring something new and interesting to the sound. Then there are the carpetbaggers. The ones who’s career have a justly stalled and are looking to find a new audience in a genre they mistakenly see as an easy get. They carry with them the foul stench of mediocrity they cultivated from whence they came.