15 Rarities Worth Purchasing On Record Store Day 2013

In the introduction to 5 Albums Coming Out This Week, I joke about the prospect of driving ALL THE WAY to Best Buy to purchase music, when there’s an entire Internet right in front of you. But Record Store Day isn’t about chains like Best Buy — it’s about supporting independent music stores, of which there are fewer and fewer every year. It’s hard to make a statement like that and not sound like a douche (a douche am I), but it’s true; the Internet is destroying them, and they could use your business.

That’s why you should take note of this year’s RSD 2013, on April 20th. Instead of ironically buying a Smash Mouth album on Amazon to give away as a gag gift, you should purchase any one of these Record Store Day rarities, or any of the hundreds of other exclusives, really. At least for one day a year, pretend you’re in High Fidelity.

Elephant by the White Stripes (reissue)

Pulled from the original analog source, the remastered album comes on two different colored vinyls: LP1 is on split-color black and red vinyl, and LP2 is on white vinyl, all housed in a double pocket gatefold. (Via)

“No Fun” by the Black Keys and the Stooges (7″ Vinyl)

The “No Fun” split 7″ [will feature] the Stooges’ famed track on one side and the Black Keys’ 2002 cover on the flip side. It’s pressed on orange and red sunburst vinyl, and limited to 7,000 copies. (Via)

“Cowboy Nights” by Black Lips/Icky Blossoms (7″ Vinyl)

Old friends Black Lips and Icky Blossoms team up for a Record Store Day exclusive split 7″ featuring covers of two classic tracks. Black Lips take on the Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ rendition of “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys,” while Icky Blossoms cover Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Arabian Knights.” Limited edition of 1,000 on colored vinyl. (Via)

Nothing Can Hurt Me by Big Star

Omnivore Recordings will release the soundtrack to the forthcoming Big Star documentary, Nothing Can Hurt Me, featuring previously unissued versions of classic Big Star songs. The limited-edition set comes pressed on coloured vinyl. (Via)

Live: Volume 1 – Selections from Adrenaline by Deftones

The first volume in its new Live vinyl series containing songs from the band’s debut album, Adrenaline, hand-picked by the band and recorded live at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, on Oct. 13, 1996. The recordings were taken from the original live analog sources and pressed on both 120- and 180-gram-quality vinyl. (Via)

“LUX”/”Sleeping Ute” by Brian Eno, Nicolas Jaar, and Grizzly Bear

Brian Eno, Grizzly Bear, and Nicolas Jaar will join forces for a split 10″ featuring remixes of Eno’s “LUX” and Grizzly Bear’s “Sleeping Ute” by Jaar. (Via)

“Architect/Make It To Me” by Grouplove/Frightened Rabbit/Manchester Orchestra

Grouplove and Frightened Rabbit have both teamed up with Manchester Orchestra to release a very special 12-inch single for Record Store Day. The release, which features the Manchester Orchestra/Grouplove collaboration “Make It To Me” and the Manchester Orchestra/Frightened Rabbit collaboration “Architect.” (Via)

“Sorrow Tears and Blood/Perambulato” by Fela Kuti (12″ Vinyl)

Original version of “Sorrow Tears and Blood” previously unreleased outside of Nigeria (over 30 minutes of music) (Via)

“Criminal Fingers 7″ by the Hold Steady (7” Vinyl)

Two unreleased tracks: Side A. Criminal Fingers, Side B. The Bear & the Maiden Fair (Via)

New American Gospel (Grey Marble Edition) by Lamb of God (12″ Vinyl)

Out of print the last 10 years, this is the original pressing/art of LAMB OF GOD’s debut album. All proceeds received by Prosthetic Records will go to the Justice Now legal defense fund set up for Randy Blythe. (Via)

“After You” by Pulp (12″ Vinyl)

Pulp will release a limited edition 12″ featuring their new single, “After You,” along with a remix of the track by Soulwax and the band’s own “The 4am Desperation Disco to Disco Dub Version.” (Via)

Ege Bamyasi by Stephen Malkmus and Friends (12″ Vinyl)

Last year, Stephen Malkmus performed Can’s seminal album, Ege Bamyasi, in full for its 40th anniversary. The performance wowed audiences at Cologne’s West-End Festival and now it’ll do the same for Record Store Day buyers come Saturday, April 20th. The entire performance will be released on green (U.S.) and red (UK) vinyl limited to 3,500 copies. (Via)

The Singles by Swedish House Mafia

All six of their singles — Don’t You Worry Child; Save The World; One; Antidote; Greyhound; Miami 2 Ibiza — collected on vinyl for the first time. (Via)

“Void b/w Faith” by Superchunk (7″ Vinyl)

Superchunk will release a 7″ containing two brand new tracks: “Void” b/w “Faith”. Only 1,000 hand-numbered copies will be available. (Via)

“San Diego/Gay Fish” by South Park (7″ Vinyl)

South Park delivers two classic songs, “San Diego” and “Gay Fish,” on a limited edition 7″ picture disc. (Via)

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