Record Store Day 2023 is April 22nd
The List is in for Record Store Day 2023. Paul McCartney, U2, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Cranberries, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, and others are among the artists releasing limited edition and exclusive titles for the annual spring event taking place April 22nd at independent record stores globally. We have shared some highlights of this year’s List below.
Paul McCartney and Wings’ Red Rose Speedway will be available as a limited edition half-speed mastered vinyl LP via UMe. The 50th anniversary pressing will be available on RSD, days before the actual anniversary of the album’s original April 30, 1973 release date.
U2 will issue Two Hearts Beat As One/Sunday Bloody Sunday – War & Surrender Mixes as a limited edition four song EP celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band’s third studio album, War, via UMe. The 12-inch EP features two original studio tracks, both released as singles in 1983, and two reimagined versions from their 2023 album, Songs Of Surrender. Pressed on 180-gram white vinyl and cut at 45 RPM with an exclusive 600x600m poster on glossy art paper included.
Van Halen’s first live album – 1993’s double Platinum Live: Right Here, Right Now – will make its vinyl debut on Record Store Day as a limited edition 4 LP translucent red vinyl set, limited to 7,500 copies worldwide. Recorded in May 1992 as the band was wrapping up their massive world tour in the support of their classic, triple Platinum album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, the collection finds singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony firing on all cylinders and delivering over two hours of Van Halen’s signature hits. The vinyl collection has all 24 songs from the original CD release, plus three additional live recordings that were previously available only on the DVD version of Live Right Here, Right Now. This is the first in a series of Sammy Hagar era vinyl reissues.
Motley Crue is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Shout At The Devil with a reimagined 12-inch picture disc EP featuring all new images from the infamous Blood photo session! The set includes two tracks from Shout At The Devil and two from Too Fast For Love with a paper insert with additional shot from Blood session.
ABKCO Records will release The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (Record Store Day Edition) on 180-gram vinyl LP is a special pressing on grey, blue, black and white swirled vinyl LP, a direct reference to the lyric from “Salt of the Earth,” the album’s closing track. The release will feature the album’s original artwork and will also come with a reproduction of the window display poster created by the Stones’ UK label Decca in ‘68. The poster features a Michael Joseph photo of all five members in a field in front of the decrepit Swarkestone Hall Pavilion in Derbyshire, England, and was mislabeled the title “Beggar’s Banquet.” Staying faithful to the original, this replica version keeps the errant apostrophe intact. A different image from the same photo session appeared on back of the band’s compilation Hot Rocks 1964-1971, released three years later.
The Doors will release a limited edition RSD3 mini-turntable, sporting The Doors-branded dustcover and turntable facing. Each of these special editions of the RSD3 comes in a special box with the complete set of 3-inch records being released for Record Store Day 2023, featuring The Doors classic hits “Break On Through,” “Love Her Madly” and “Hello, I Love You,” in Japanese-designed flip jackets that include the 3-inch record and a lyric sheet.
The Black Keys is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a previously unreleased full-length live recording of their very first show, in 2002, at Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio. The band will issue Live At Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002 on limited edition exclusive tangerine vinyl.
Geffen Records will release The Cranberries’ fifth studio album, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, for the first time on vinyl for Record Store Day 2023. Originally released in October 2001, the album sold 1.3 million copies within its first year of release and was widely seen as a return to form for the band, as they reunited with producer Stephen Street. With this first ever vinyl release the artwork, designed by the legendary Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd), can now be fully appreciated. This release is the latest reissue in UMR’s on-going catalogue work with the Cranberries following on from the deluxe reissues of their debut album and multi-million-selling follow-up.
Fleetwood Mac’s only No. 1 single in the UK was Peter Green’s “Albatross.” For Record Store Day 2023, the band will reissue the original Fleetwood Mac/Blue Horizon single, bringing to light the greatness of Peter Green and his time with Fleetwood Mac. The red vinyl 12-inch single has individually numbered sleeves.
Rhino will release Grateful Dead’s May 7, 1977 performance at Boston Garden for the first time ever on vinyl as a 5LP, 180-gram boxed set. The Grateful Dead performed more the 2,300 concerts, and of these many live shows, a three night run in May 1977, spanning three cities on the East Coast, is arguably the Dead’s greatest trio of shows: May 7 in Boston, MA, May 8 in Ithaca, NY, and May 9 in Buffalo, NY. These three shows, along with their near-equal from May 5 in New Haven, made up the long-ago sold out box set Get Shown The Light. The last two nights of this run have been released on vinyl in previous years, and we’re thrilled to add to the canon the magnificent Boston show. From its opening, playful “Bertha,” through a flawless first set featuring “Cassidy,” “Jack Straw,” “Mississippi Half Step,” “The Music Never Stopped,” and many others, the Dead are clearly having a wonderful night in Bean Town. The second set is filled with then-new and older songs from the Dead’s catalog, including “Terrapin Station,” “Estimated Prophet,” “Eyes Of The World,” and “Wharf Rat,” amongst others. A spectacular show from start-to-finish, Boston 5/7/77 is one of the most upbeat, accessible shows the Grateful Dead ever performed.
Sony Legacy Recordings will release Billy Joel Live at The Great American Music Hall 1975 on gray opaque vinyl and digitally. The concert was recorded at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, June 1975 during the Streetlife Serenade Tour, introducing the earliest available recordings of future Turnstiles classics “James” and “New York State Of Mind” into the Piano Man’s catalog, and includes examples of Billy’s loving imitations of Joe Cocker, Elton John and Leon Russell — a staple of his early concerts.
Fans can check out Record Store Day’s website for the full List.
Husband and wife record store lovers Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires have been named 2023 Record Store Day Ambassadors which will see the pair release The Sound Emporium EP, which includes new songs from both Isbell and Shires. The 1975 are this year’s official Ambassadors for Record Store Day UK. The Manchester four-piece will be releasing a live performance with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra on vinyl for the first time.
