Record Store Day postponed until the summer due to coronavirus
It was scheduled to take place on 18th April
Record Store Day 2020 has been postponed until the summer due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Originally set to take place on Saturday 18th April, the event has now been pushed back two months until Saturday 20th June 2020.
In a statement issued this afternoon (Friday 13th March), organisers said: “Record Store Day is a worldwide event involving thousands of people and small businesses—In our discussions over the last few weeks, as information came and changed daily, and then hourly, we’ve taken all of them into consideration as we go over various options: Stay the course. Move the date. Change the structure of the event. No one knows what things will look like in any given place in the next five weeks, and decisions for that time period need to be made now, using current facts.
“There is no perfect solution. There is no easy answer. We’ve decided that the best of all possible moves is to change the date of Record Store Day this year to Saturday, June 20.
“We think this gives stores around the world the best chance to have a profitable, successful Record Store Day, while taking into consideration the recommendations of doctors, scientists, the World Health Organization, Centres for Disease Control, and the need to be good citizens of both local and worldwide communities.
“We’re working with all of our partners and our stores to make this change as smooth as possible for everyone who participates in Record Store Day: customers, record stores, artists, labels and more. Record Store Day is everywhere and we want to hold our party when everyone can gather around safely to celebrate life, art, music and the culture of the indie record store.”
Celebrating its 13th year in 2020, Record Store Day celebrates independent record shops and features a smorgasbord of limited-edition released from a vast array of artists.
Featuring Biffy Clyro, David Bowie, Manic Street Preachers, U2, Pink Floyd, Primal Scream, Mansun, Fleetwood Mac and more, Absolute Radio has rounded up 18 of the best Record Story Day 2020 releases, which you can peruse below.
The best Record Store Day 2020 releases:
Biffy Clyro – ‘The Modern Lepper’ / ‘Modern Love’
The 7" white vinyl release is entitled 'Moderns' and features covers of Frightened Rabbit's 'Modern Leper' and David Bowie's 'Modern Love'. All proceeds go directly to the mental health charity Tiny Changes, which was set up in the memory of late Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison.
Mansun – ‘The Dead Flowers Reject’
Recorded at the same time as Mansun's ambitious second album 'Six' in 1999, 'The Dead Flowers Reject' is an album of more straightforward songs that the band recorded just in case 'Six' was rejected by their label Parlophone Records. Former singer Paul Draper explains: "The Dead Flowers Reject could be thought of as the fourth Mansun album… I think the record, had it come out, would probably have been my favourite Mansun album: it's the closest to how we played live". Previously only available as a bootleg, you can now buy it on 180gm heavyweight white vinyl for Record Store Day.
The London Suede – ‘The London Suede’
At their commercial peak in the mid-nineties, Suede were slapped with an injunction by an American band called Suede. They duly renamed themselves The London Suede stateside for all subsequent releases, however their debut album was never rebranded… until now! 'The London Suede' album is available on 180g Clear heavyweight Vinyl.
Pink Floyd – ‘Arnold Layne’
The limited-edition, one-sided Record Store Day 7" vinyl features a live recording of Pink Floyd's 1967 debut single 'Arnold Layne'. It captures the last live performance of Pink Floyd with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright at the Syd Barrett Tribute Concert - 'The Madcap's Last Laugh' - at The Barbican in London on 10th May 2007.
Primal Scream – ‘Loaded’
Primal Scream will release a limited 30th anniversary edition of 'Loaded' exclusively for this year's Record Store Day. The release features the EP's original track-listing on 12 inch, 180 gram black vinyl with extended artwork and a gatefold sleeve. 'Loaded', of course, was produced by the late-great Andrew Weatherall who helmed Primal Scream's seminal 1991 album 'Screamadelica'.
Neil Young – ‘Homegrown’
Neil Young's fabled previously unreleased 1975 album 'Homegrown' was written when Young's marriage broke down and it was famously shelved at the eleventh hour before release. Described as an "unheard bridge between 'Harvest' and 'Comes a Time'", Neil Young calls it "a record full of love lost and explorations. A record that has been hidden for decades. Too personal and revealing to expose in the freshness of those times."
Manic Street Preachers – ‘Done & Dusted’
This very limited edition 12" vinyl features a Chemical Brothers remix of 'La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh)' and an Ashley Beedle mix of 'Roses In The Hospital'. The artwork for this release is inspired by a club promo 12" released in 1994 called 'Done and Dusted' when The Chemical Brothers were known as The Dust Brothers. £1 from every copy sold goes to War Child.
David Bowie - ‘CHANGESNOWBOWIE’
'CHANGESNOWBOWIE' is a nine-track mostly acoustic session which was recorded in 1996 in New York during rehearsals for David Bowie's 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden. The BBC broadcast the session the following year, on Bowie's 50th birthday on January 8, 1997 by Mary Anne Hobbs. It will be released in limited quantities on LP and CD for Record Store Day and £1 from every copy sold goes to the charity War Child.
U2 - ‘11 O’Clock Tick Tock’
U2's '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' was recorded with producer Martin Hannett in Dublin's Windmill Lane Studios in 1980. Originally released in May that year, the song was U2's first single on Island Records. This 40th anniversary edition includes the full length version of '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' and the original 7" b-side 'Touch', plus two previously unreleased live recordings from the band's show at the Marquee in London in September 1980 – 'Touch' and 'Twilight'. 12" Info: 4 track 12" EP, cut at 45 rpm, Pressed on 180gsm transparent blue vinyl, full colour gatefold outer sleeve, photo gallery on inner gatefold. £1 from every copy sold goes to the charity War Child.
Roxy Music – ‘Roxy Music’ (The Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
Roxy Music's seminal self-titled 1972 debut album was remixed by Steven Wilson eight long years ago and has remained in the vaults ever since… until now! It's being released on 180gram clear vinyl for Record Store Day with the full blessing of Roxy Music.
Motörhead – ‘Ace Of Spades’
To celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2020, Motörhead's seminal anthem 'Ace Of Spades' is being released on 12" shaped picture disc exclusively for Record Store Day. It's a huge year for the band's most iconic single and album, with more celebrations planned for the band's legion of devoted fans.
The Charlatans – ‘The Charlatans v. The Chemical Brothers’
Originally pressed as a four track promo 12" in 1995, and again as a five-track CD for the US market in 2000 (hence the name The Charlatans UK), this is the first time all five Charlatans' Chemical Brothers remixes have been available together on vinyl. It's available for Record Store Day on limited-edition 12" Transparent Yellow Vinyl.
The Cure – ‘Seventeen Seconds’
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, The Cure's second studio album 'Seventeen Seconds' is being released on Picture Disc for the first time as a Record Store Day exclusive. The album boasts The Cure's seminal single 'A Forest'.
New Order – ‘The John Peel Session 1982’
Originally released back in 1986, the 4-track 12" single is newly remastered and features a newly created Peter Saville sleeve. The tracks 'We All Stand' and '5-8-6' later appeared on 1983 album 'Power, Corruption & Lies' but Too Late' and 'Turn the Heater On' (a Keith Hudson reggae cover) were only ever recorded for John Peel.
Thin Lizzy – ‘Chinatown’
As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, Thin Lizzy's tenth studio album 'Chinatown' is being released as a double LP. The newly remastered album comes complete with a second LP of previously unheard demos. The whole glorious package comes complete with an embossed sleeve.
Feeder – ‘Feeling A Moment’
The indie-rockers' chart-denting 2005 anthem is being released on 10" splatter vinyl to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Alongside the epic lead track, it features fan favourite B-Side 'Pushing The Senses'.
Sleeper – ‘Sleeper At The BBC’
Created especially for Record Store Day 2020, Sleeper's 'At The BBC' collates 12 session tracks Sleeper recorded for the BBC between 1994 and 1995. Available on transparent blue vinyl, the album features versions of classic tracks including 'What Do I Do Now', 'Statuesque', 'Delicious', 'Inbetweener' and 'Lie Detector'.
Fleetwood Mac – ‘The Alternate Rumours’
Available on strictly limited-edition 180g 12" Black vinyl album, the Record Store Day release boasts alternate takes mirroring the original album, from the 'Rumours' deluxe edition. Alternate takes include early versions and different versions of 'Gold Dust Woman', 'The Chain', 'Don't' Stop', 'Dreams' and 'Second Hand News'.
You can find your nearest participating Record Store Day shop right here and the full list of record store day releases here.