If you’re not too cool, yet, for Record Store Day, maybe give it another year? Here’s what to do.
Events
Both the Greenfield and Milwaukee stores will be cracking open their doors early, at 7 a.m., with DJs spinning at the latter during morning hours. Live music starts at 5 p.m. with Caley Conway, Saebra & Carlyle (6 p.m.) and Surgeons in Heat (7 p.m.).
A Fuel food truck will be positioned outside for caffeine and carbohydrates.
Both locations have wide-ranging sales, but the single deepest cut is Greenfield’s 50% off used CDs, Blu-rays and DVDs on both Saturday and Sunday.
“Milwaukee’s longest running record shop” (since 1971) likes to have fun with Record Store Day (RSD) with unique giveaways and other treasures. This year, they’ll have nearly all of the new Nicholas Elert EPs up for sale (see below) plus an album and children’s book combo by Dillon Hallen.
The small East Side favorite teased a number of “cool, unusual international music LPs” earlier in the month, part of an installment of special RSD releases. Included will be the eclectic Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol. 2.
The warm and stylish Acme has a long list of bands starting with STEVE at noon and followed by Rexxx (1 p.m.), Dire Wolves (2 p.m.), Elkhorn (3 p.m.), Ghost Cuts (5 p.m.) and Scrimshaw (6 p.m.). You can also expect a smattering of RSD releases and other goodies.
Local Releases
WMSE’s annual 7-inch release will feature GGOOLLDD’s electronic pop this year and an unreleased song, and it looks amazing.
Next on the local wagon is an equally collectible split 7-inch from psychedelic pro Abby Jeanne and Saebra & Carlyle, Best Buds #1: The First in a Series of Smoke Breaks.
Both of these will be in limited supply, but not as limited as Nicholas Elert’s electronic EP Speculative Fiction. According to Milwaukee Record, only 22 copies will be available to the huddled masses.
National Releases
Here are some national releases of varying sizes to look out for. There are many more on the RSD site, and Radio Milwaukee also has a breakdown. The emphasis is on repurposing/unearthing gems to draw out collectors like hungry beetles, with some fresh music here and there.
13th Floor Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds of … (reissue)
B-52’s: Mesopotamia (reissue)
Jeff Buckley: In Transition (unreleased)
Frank Black: Teenager of the Year (first on vinyl)
David Bowie: The World of David Bowie (reissue)
James Brown: Sho Is Funky Down Here (reissue)
Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks Original New York Test Pressing (unreleased)
Bill Evans: Evans in England (unreleased)
Woody Guthrie: I Don’t Like the Way This World’s A-Treatin’ Me (unreleased)
Emmylou Harris: The Studio Albums 1980-83 (new compilation)
L7: Burn Baby (new music)
Iggy Pop: Hippodrome – Paris 1977 (unreleased)
Leon Russell: Live at Gilley’s (unreleased)
Joe Strummer: The Rockfield Studio Tracks (unreleased)
Tangerine Dream: Le Parc (new music)
Johnny Thunders: Que Sera Sera Resurrected (reissue)
For these three local audiophiles, every day might as well be Record Store Day.
Terry Hackbarth
Neighborhood: East Side
Day job: Bullseye Records
Number of years you’ve been collecting: 35 years to varying degrees
Number of records you own: 2000
Favorite record in your collection: Richard & Linda Thompson, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
What inspires you to collect? The quest for new sounds and the perfect song!
Todd Bell
Neighborhood: Whitefish Bay
Day job: Teacher
Number of years you’ve been collecting: 25+
Number of records you own: Around 3000
Favorite record in your collection: Recently: Sunnyboys s/t LP (1981)
What inspires you to collect? Finding favorite music on the most limited or unusual vinyl pressing I can find. I’m a fan of promos, non-US pressings, hype stickers, OBI’s, alternate covers and radio station timing strips. If it has someone’s name on it or was a radio copy, that is a story a record holds. It has survived as a very delicate, often used and extremely fragile item through multiple hands for many years. Finding an original 30- to 50-year-old pressing of a rare title in excellent playable condition is an exciting thing.
Kevin Meyer
Neighborhood: Town Of Lake
Day job: Information Technology
Number of years you’ve been collecting: 37
Number of records you own: Honestly, no idea. I haven’t ever counted (or estimated) and I kind of don’t want to know.
Favorite record in your collection: The Mothers Of Invention, We’re Only In It For The Money
What inspires you to collect? It’s a mix of being obsessed with music since I can remember, and getting off on the historical nature of these little wax artifacts. And I guess I’m a little bit of a hoarder too.
