Simon RushworthThis month’s Record Store Day releases have been revealed and if 2019 is less about the casual punter and more about the minted collector – a worrying trend that looks set to continue – then we still appreciate the sentiment behind supporting your local indie stores. And just in case you win the lottery this weekend we’ve handpicked the Top 10 rock and metal titles jostling for position in your vinyl collection…
Artist: Cheap Trick
Title: The Epic Archives Vol 3 (1984-1992)
Format: LP 2xFlame Red Vinyl
Limited to: 750
Price: £51.99
Why: As Cheap Trick proved on their pre-Christmas jaunt with Def Leppard, they remain staples of the classic rock scene and this collection wraps up their commercial peak. And of course it includes The Flame.
Artist: Green Day
Title: Woodstock 1994
Format: LP 140g Black Vinyl
Limited to: 1,000
Price: £17.99
Why: For starters, it’s a fairly modest price compared to many of the eye-watering picks here and it’s Green Day as raw and riotous as they’ve ever been. 25 years ago? That can’t be right…
Artist: Motörhead
Title: Overkill/Bomber
Format: 2×7” 40thAnniversary Pic Disc
Limited to: 1,000
Price: £23.99
Why: Everyone loves a party. And there’s nothing more manic than a Motörhead party. Celebrate the 40thbirthday of two belting tracks in style.
Artist: Thunder
Title: Please Remain Seated – The Others
Format: LP Clear Vinyl
Limited to: 500
Price: £23.99
Why: These are the seven tracks that failed to make the band’s original set of reworked favourites – a collection that underpinned this year’s unforgettable acoustic-led tour. And you can’t beat a clear vinyl.
Artist: Rush
Title: Hemispheres
Format: LP Picture Disc
Limited to: 1,010
Price: TBC
Why: Although we’re a little concerned by the ‘TBC’ price point (expect upwards of £25) if your original copy is wearing thin then this looks like to go-to upgrade. A classic album from a peerless trio.
Artist: Venom
Title: Manitou
Format: Reproduction Shaped Pic Disc
Limited to: 300
Price: £23.99
Why: Well there are only 300. Bag one of these beauties and there’ll be a queue around the block as black metal devotees bang down your door offering big bucks, eye make-up tips and, probably, their own blood.
Artist: Pink Floyd
Title: Saucerful Of Secrets
Format: LP 180g Mono Mix
Limited to: 3,000
Price: £21.99
Why: Good value is increasingly hard to come by on Record Store Day but at a penny under 22 quid this mono mix of typically flamboyant Floyd looks like a relative steal. They clearly think so – 3,000 copies is hardly a limited run.
Artist: Def Leppard
Title: The Story So Far – Volume Two
Format: LP 2xBlack Vinyl
Limited to: 1,150
Price: £29.99
Why: If you’re a massive Leppard fan and felt a little cheated by the lack of diversity on the vinyl version of Volume One then this comprehensive set completes the circle. Hewn from disc two of the CD edition it might even include the classic Nine Lives featuring Tim McGraw.
Artist: Europe
Title: Walk The Earth
Format: 7” Double A Side Transparent Vinyl
Limited to: 1,280
Price: £29.99
Why: If you’ve got the cash, then why not? But seriously? Nearly 30 quid for two songs! We love Europe and Walk The Earth is a cracking track. But the furthest we’ll be walking is to the bargain bin a few months after the Record Store Day hype has died down.
Artist: Halestorm
Title: Buzz/Chemicals
Format: 7” Aqueous Clear Green Vinyl
Limited to: 300
Price: £17.99
Why: It’s almost half the price of the Europe single. And we can count the number of aqueous clear (can you have aqueous and clear?) vinyls in the Rushonrock Wurlitzer on one finger.