The Pop Corporation

Record Store Day is not what it used to be, but whether it’s been overrun by the worst of the music biz, it still puts a lot of money in the tills of independent record shops, and that’s always a good thing, right?

So, with that, let’s have a look at the releases that are actually worth being interested in. You know where to look and how to use Google if you want to see the full list. If you don’t, here’s a link, you lazy swine.

We’ve not really bothered with the live albums because we rarely like them, although that’s not always the case as you’ll find out with a special Coltrane LP below.

Saturday April 18th is when it all kicks off, and there might be more stuff to check out by then.

13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS – WE ARE NOT LIVE

It comes with a nice poster, and if you know something about the original release of this record, some things have been fixed. Initially, it was a ‘live’ album, which it wasn’t what with it being made up of outtakes and previously recorded stuff. For some reason, crowd noises taken from a boxing match were overdubbed onto it, and it was all very peculiar.

Now, you’ll be able to listen to the album which has been given some TLC and importantly, has had all that overly loud crowd noise taken off it.

MEIKO KAJI – URAMI BUSHI/SHURA NO HANA

Japanese release from actress and singer Meiko Kaji who sees a sweet 2-in-1 set of her most famous tunes, amongst others, for a really nice LP sized thing. Quentin Tarantino is a fan. He’s a dick, but he does put people onto some great music.

JOHN COLTRANE – OF THE MYTHIC RECORDINGS

Trane’s private recordings made by Frank Tiberi are some of the most fabled in jazz history, capturing the great man with his portable tape recorder while he followed him around to his shows. Now, we get to hear what he captured. Exciting stuff!

BLUEY ZOETROPE RECORD

One of those fun things that mums and dads, uncles and aunties can buy the kids if they see it on the racks on RSD. It’s Bluey! Bluey’s great!

CONGO – ASHANTI 2025 REMASTER

The first repress of the ’79 European version with red splatter vinyl, from one of the most unique reggae outfits to ever do it. If you know this album, you’ll know ‘Youth Man’ and ‘Thief Is In The Vineyard’, amongst others. Ernest Ranglin, Sly & Robbie, and Tommy McCook play on this, so you know it’s good!

VARIOUS – POWER POP! AMERICAN POWER POP FOR THE NOW GENERATION 1977-1981

Soul Jazz do great comps, and this one is a limited edition one-off pressing on heavyweight single red vinyl. All good time punk, power pop and new wave business from small independent labels from the States.

BLOODS & CRIPS – BANGIN’ ON WAX 2… THE SAGA CONTINUES

Never released on vinyl before, here we get to go deeper into the catalogue of the Bloods and Crips’ debut with the follow-up which was originally on CD in ’94. It’s on vinyl that’s half blue and half red, fittingly.

CUBA 45 BOXSET CURATED BY DJ KOCO (MR BONGO RELEASE)

Mr Bongo 45 boxsets are always brilliant, and this one looks at the wonderful music to come out of Cuba. DJ Koco likes a good breakbeat, so expect a bunch of them in here. Definitely one to grab if you see it on the shelves.

DAVID HOLMES – THIS FILM’S CRAP LET’S SLASH THE SEATS

It’s the 30th anniversary of this legendary LP and it has been out-of-print for ages. With that, you can grab a nice coloured vinyl version, which is part soundtracky thing, part electronic breakbeaty thing. The soundtrack for a bloke of a certain age.

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – LICK MY DECALS OFF BABY

Deluxe version of one of Beefheart’s best. Originally released in 1970, this new version has been dusted down and tarted up, and now a 2xLP that also features previously unreleased instrumental versions and alternate takes from the original album sessions.

BUSTER WILLIAMS – PINNACLE

Nice remaster job from the original analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl with new liner notes and photos – this looks like a great reissue of a wonderful jazz record that mixes post-bop, fusion and spiritual stuff, originally released in ’75.

STEALING SHEEP – GLO

It feels like Stealing Sheep are Liverpool’s best kept secret – and they shouldn’t be. They’ve branched out from their original psychedelic pop, and keep getting better. For RSD, you can get ‘GLO’ on a nice picture disc which comes with remixes, lyric sheet, hand screened art print, and signed photo postcard.

BADFINGER – NO DICE

Badfinger are great and always worth picking them up when you see them in the racks. This has ‘No Matter What’ on it, and it has been lovingly remastered.

GOBLIN – THE SINGLES COLLECTION 1975-79

On white vinyl (and on record for the very first time!) we get a comp of the golden period of the mighty Goblin, opening with Profondo Rosso and Death Dies, going into Snip Snap, Parte Seconda, Suspiria and loads more. Electronics, progressive rock, atmospheric stuff – this looks like an absolute winner for RSD.