Far Out staffs’ £150 shopping lists this Record Store Day

Various artists – ‘Stax Killer B’s’ (£34.99)

As is tradition with Record Store Day, some of the most exciting releases are not available worldwide. This ‘killer’ Craft Recordings-released compilation, for instance, does not feature on the official UK list, but that hasn’t stopped various stores from advertising it among their offerings. Just as well, too, because these compilation releases routinely make up the highlights of the yearly list.

For a label that often prides itself on the sheer number of soul and R&B smash-hits it produced during its heyday, Stax also boasts an incredible wealth of underrated B-sides, chased by vinyl junkies and soulies alike. If you find collecting countless seven-inches rather cumbersome, though, this compilation collects many of the finest Stax B’s for your listening pleasure, and on glorious red vinyl at that. Queuing up for hours on end is certainly a lot more tolerable when you have the promise of some Stax grooves at the end of it.

Miles Davis – ‘The New Sounds’ (£34.99)

Record Store Day gets a lot of flak for being made up largely of unnecessary reissues, and it is easy to understand that criticism when looking at this year’s list. However, that list also features a selection of hotly anticipated reissues, as is the case with The New Sounds, another supposedly US-only RSD release.

Originally released by Prestige back in 1951, The New Sounds marked a vital point in the career of jazz master Miles Davis, marking his debut as band leader and essentially introducing the individualistic sound which would typify his sonics for years to come. Original copies of the ten-inch release have been highly coveted by jazz obsessives ever since, and even the rather poor modern reissues tend to fetch a pretty penny on the secondhand market. With this reissue being taken from the original mono tapes, too, it is a must-have for jazz fans and is certainly worth queuing up for.

Bill Evans – ‘Bill Evans at the BBC – The Complete 1965 London Sets’ (£51.99)

As a staunch Yorkshireman, paying £52 for a double album goes against virtually everything I believe in. As a staunch Bill Evans fan, though, the chance to bask in the brilliance of the pianist’s legendary BBC performance from back in 1965 is simply too attractive a proposition to pass up. Accompanied by extensive liner notes and photographs, the album marks the very first time that Evans’ performance has been officially released, and it has been taken from the original BBC tapes, which, given the Beeb’s bizarre tendency to wipe old tapes, is a miracle in and of itself.

This year’s RSD list is particularly strong for the jazz sect, so alongside the Taylor Swift obsessives and prog rock completists, expect to see a selection of jazz aficionados in the early morning queues. If they had any sense, then Bill Evans at the BBC would be high on their wantlists, too.

Essential Logic – ‘Extended Play – Volume I & Volume II’ (£22.99)

One of the most competitively priced releases on this year’s list comes courtesy of post-punk sax icons Essential Logic. First emerging in the wake of Lora Logic’s abrupt dismissal from X-Ray Spex in the late 1970s, the group quickly landed upon the kind of individualistic sound that might not have afforded them much mainstream attention, but did help them amass the kind of cult audience they richly deserved.

No stranger to RSD, band leader Lora Logic has featured on the list in previous years, but even still, this year’s offering is a rather exciting one, presenting the band’s two early-2000s CD EPs on glorious vinyl for the very first time.

Pavement – ‘Perfect Sound Forever’ EP (£28.99)

If there’s one thing that drives record-buyers towards certain items on Record Store Day, it’s the promise of fulfilling completionist urges where possible, and for any fans of slacker rock heroes Pavement, the opportunity to expand their vinyl collection with one of the band’s most sought-after EPs is surely something that can’t be missed.

Featuring cult favourites such as ‘Debris Slide’ and ‘Heckler Spray’, this collection of seven lo-fi cuts that chart a significant moment in the band’s early history will become available on vinyl for the first time since 1991, and while the cost is a little steep for an 11-minute outing, the satisfaction gained from another Pavement classic slotting into your collection is priceless.

Charles Mingus – ‘Town Hall Concert 1964 Vol 1’ (£29.99)

While it isn’t a repressing of that infamous Mingus record with a similar name from 1962, where all hell breaks loose, and the band collapses into unbridled chaos, getting your hands on this alternative Town Hall Concert is a must for lovers of the erstwhile ‘Angry Man of Jazz’.

Performing alongside the legendary sextet that included the likes of Dannie Richmond and Jaki Byard, this performance at the New York Town Hall is notable for being one of the final performances of saxophonist Eric Dolphy, who had announced he would leave the band after touring Europe, only to tragically pass away while on the road. It’s a fitting and emotional farewell to Dolphy and Mingus at his best as a bandleader.

Sonic Youth – ‘Diamond Seas’ (£33.99)

‘The Diamond Sea’, the epic 20-minute finale of Sonic Youth’s 1995 album, Washing Machine, is frequently regarded as one of the finest moments in a career of highlights for the seminal no wave group, bursting into lengthy sections of feedback and noise that exemplified the daring nature of the band.

Even more extraordinary was how Sonic Youth used to dismantle the song even further in a live setting, and with the help of plunderphonics genius John Oswald, the band have stitched together 32 different live performances of the track and created two new orchestrations of it for what is perhaps one of the most intriguing RSD exclusives on this year’s list.

Cabo Verde Show – ‘Caminho de Esperança Coladance 80’ (£26.99)

Given the amount of rarities on offer, you’ve got to be prepared to take some risks on something that you’re not entirely familiar with.

In the case of this reissue of Cape Verdean group Cabo Verde Show’s debut album, its obscurity and status as a collector’s dream is one of the main reasons to nab a copy of this long out-of-print fusion of Latin and African funk rhythms, and the instant nature of this record’s breezy take on dance music from the early ‘80s will have you thrilled from the moment the needle drops onto the grooves.

Various artists – ‘Pioneers’ (£27.99)

Record Store Day is notable for its extensive offerings when it comes to various artist compilations, and the pick of this year’s crop comes in the form of Pioneers, a record featuring a dozen contemporary female, non-binary and transgender artists from the world of electronic music paying homage to their unsung heroines of the genre’s past.

While not direct tributes, and instead original compositions made for those whose sonic innovations they admire most, this collection features the likes of Loraine James, TAAHLIAH and Laurel Halo doffing their caps to the likes of Björk, Susanne Ciani and Eliane Radigue, respectively, in what promises to be a fascinating convergence of electronic music’s trailblazers both old and new.

The Cure – ‘Greatest Hits’ (£53.99)

It might not be rare, it might not be limited, but when considering my record collection, I want to have timeless releases that I’d not only listen to on repeat, but that I’d pass down to kids, nieces, nephews, protégés.

So when it comes to a collection of all The Cure’s best works, it’s an obvious hit that is bound to be played.

Ethel Cain – ‘In Bred’ (£26.99)

When thinking about building that timeless collection, there’s also a contemplation of talents currently working right now that are bound to be generation.

To me, Ethel Cain will be that, as every single one of her releases has been seismic and creative in a way unrivalled by any of her peers. Ethel Cain’s earlier EP feels like her going in with the character at its wildest and most out-there, singing about some insane subject matters as she sharpened her pen.

Fleetwood Mac – ‘The Original Fleetwood Mac’ (£31.99)

If the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac has no fans, I am dead. Obviously, we all love the days of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, but I love the initial blues group the band were formed as.

The records they made, and especially the live recordings of the group, are the perfect hit to play and listen to through albums with no skips and smooth transitions that make you feel like you’re watching them live. To me, that’s exactly what you want from a record.

Paris Paloma – ‘Good Boy/Good Girl’ (£23.99)

When considering what songs I’d want to pass down to a younger generation via the physical media I’d hoarded, these two new songs from Paris Paloma already make the cut.

The first stares straight at the manosphere, while the second is a nuanced contemplation on women’s relationships with their bodies in a world that has made our faces and physiques the focus of so much policing and hate. Two songs that deserve to be in the history books.

Charli XCX – ‘Party 4 U’ (£19.99)

Sorry, I actually just need this on vinyl to crash out to next time I’m let down by a crush.

Slint – ‘Untitled (Albini Rough Mixes)’ (£32.99)

Not to be cliché, but I love Slint. When I discovered ‘Good Morning, Captain’ as a teenager, and subsequently the rest of Spiderland, I felt like I’d stumbled upon pure gold. They’re one of those bands that hold mythical status, precisely because they were so short-lived, calling it a day before they even released Spiderland to the public.

With two albums and an EP to their name, any release from Slint, whether it contains demos or alternative mixes of pre-existing songs, is always welcome in my eyes. And what better than those with the late Steve Albini’s involvement?

Air – ‘Moon Safari – Live Theatre Herodes Atticus, Athènes’ (£32.99)

In 2024, I had the privilege of seeing Air play their iconic debut album Moon Safari in full at Halifax’s Piece Hall, getting to hear some of my all-time favourite tracks, like the indelible ‘Sexy Boy’, in the flesh. The set was incredible, as was the stage design, so what better way to immortalise such a great gig in my memory than through a live album from the same tour?

Sure, The Piece Hall isn’t the same as a Roman theatre, but I’m sure the memories of standing in Halifax’s former cloth hall on a gorgeous summer evening as ‘Remember’ played will be just as strong once I whack the disc on my record player.

Goblin – ‘The Singles Collection’ (£32.99)

When I need to focus, I often opt for a horror score to soundtrack my productivity, finding a slightly odd sense of motivation in the uneasy sounds of piercing strings or ominous soundscapes. I was delighted, then, to see a collection of singles from prog horror icons Goblin released as part of Record Store Day this year, featuring some of their most iconic tracks.

Songs from Dario Argento’s Suspiria and Deep Red, as well as non-soundtrack cuts like ‘Roller’ from the album of the same name, can be found on this white vinyl edition. This one’s non-negotiable for me.

Jeff Buckley – ‘Live A L’Olympia’ (£33.99)

A live Jeff Buckley recording is always going to be good. In 2001, this Live A L’Olympia album was released, just several years after the singer’s tragic death, and it’s full of some of his greatest hits, performed with tenderness to an adoring French crowd.

You can hear him chatting and joking with the crowd, which is always a joy to hear when you’re listening to a live record, and he also finds room to do a Led Zeppelin parody (‘Kashmir’) and a hauntingly beautiful cover of ‘Je n’en connais pas la fin’. You can’t go wrong with adding a record like this to your collection.

Yusef Lateef – ‘Lost In Sound’ (£28.99)

Now, I’m going to have to go a little over budget (forgive me) to get Yusef Lateef’s Lost in Sound, which is being pressed for the first time in over 50 years. I must admit I’m no jazz expert, but Lateef’s 1961 record is one brimming with energy, perfect to soundtrack a sunny day like the one I’m currently enjoying as I write this.

Fast-paced and rather experimental, this is an album that doesn’t get talked about as much as it perhaps should, yet thanks to this new pressing, Lateef’s record might finally get a little more appreciation. And fans will get to experience it on a nice pink, heavyweight vinyl, too.

Alien Sex Fiend – ‘Between Good and Evil’ (£37.99)

I don’t want much, but all I ask is that my psychobilly is suitably brain-clawingly, psychotropically violent. Thankfully, Batcave-alumni Alien Sex Fiend has been rustling the finest LSD-soaked post-punk for the last 40-odd years.

This year’s Between Good and Evil collection scoops up the singles between 1983 and 1994 and features frontman Nik Fiend’s pitch-perfect ghoulish grimace on the cover. I’ve obviously gotta grab the translucent red vinyl option.

The 13th Floor Elevators – ‘We Are Not Live’ (£27.99)

After nearly 60 years, The 13th Floor Elevators’ erroneously titled Live compilation has now had a needed name change, initially met with derision due to its clump of early session cuts and alternate mixes overdubbed with crowd noises, allegedly lifted from a boxing match.

A curio for the most dedicated Roky Erickson fan perhaps, but their hypnotic garage-jug attack is never dull even in the Elevators’ weaker moments.

The Human League – ‘Being Boiled (Expanded 12″ Single)’ (£26.99)

I never, ever, ever get bored with this cut. The lo-fi hiss, metallic whip snares, the Korg 700S’ meaty bassline, everything about 1978’s ‘Being Boiled’ is so packed with thrillingly alien groove that it hits that sweet, sweet synthpop bullseye every time.

The single debut of The Human League before the Mk II school disco makeover, the Sheffield lads’ electronic gem is afforded its first ever 12” expansion, padded out with some juicy Peel Sessions from back in the day!

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – ‘Live In The New World – Berlin ’76’ (£27.99)

If I could travel back in time and see any band in rock history, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band is often the name that springs to mind. I lean on their first two albums as the Scottish hard-nosed glammers’ finest hour, but SAHB coasted through the 1970s on a vaudeville high, still wrestling expert proto-punk cabaret by the time they played Berlin’s Neue Welt late 1976.

Coinciding with the gobsmacking 21 CD Good Evening Boys & Girls collection of rare concert recordings, Live In The New World – Berlin ’76 will offer a perfect slice of Harvey’s buccaneer street theatre.

The Walker Brothers – ‘Nite Flights’ (£26.99)

It’s often forgotten that, contrary to the romantic idyll that avant-garde crooner Scott Walker walked away from fame to brood in his own romantic isolation, he actually cut a lot of shit albums across the 1970s that jumped between everything from wonky country to stodgy funk wincers.

Joining forces with his old Walker Brothers, two average reunion albums were followed by 1978’s Nite Flights, showing the first flash of cavernous experimentalism with the eerie ‘The Electrician’. Now enjoying its first-ever colour pressing in cool ultra clear bio, a nab of Walker’s seismic turn to the darkness is an offer too good to pass up.

CMAT – ‘Diet Baby’ (£53.99)

I won’t repeat the words that came out of my mouth when I saw the price of this, but I was shocked, to put it mildly.

This rare pressing of CMAT’s 2021 EP, first released independently, may be marked at a price point to make the eyes water, but quite frankly, I’ll do anything for our Irish lord and saviour. Consider me caught hook, line, and sinker.

Olivia Dean – ‘Live at the BBC’ (£15.99)

It would be a dereliction of duty, in my opinion, not to consider the offerings of each year’s RSD ambassador, if for nothing else but a signal of the economy and how this year’s event is set to run.

Olivia Dean’s live seven-inch gives me hope, not only for its fairer price tag, but also for the fact that I will be seeing her in concert just days afterwards, so this will put me right in the mood.

Kae Tempest – ‘Self Titled (Stripped)’ (£22.99)

Self Titled was one of my top album picks of 2025, and I will forever front the campaign that Kae Tempest should be a much bigger artist, tearing up stages and putting the world to rights.

His lyrical poetry, often acerbic as it is tender, is the perfect embodiment of political anthems that everyone needs to hear to invigorate them right now. With this vinyl being stripped back, it’s the ideal chance to take in every syllable.

Fleetwood Mac – ‘The Original Fleetwood Mac’ (£31.99)

This won’t go down well in my house, as my mum is the world’s biggest and perhaps only Fleetwood Mac hater, but despite the slaughtering I’ll inevitably face, I’m prepared to take the hit for this.

Everyone knows Rumours and the Stevie Nicks stardom, but taking it back to blues basics and hearing from The Original Fleetwood Mac will be a welcome reprieve.

David Bowie – ‘Hallo Spaceboy’ (£26.99)

Last year I said I wanted to start a Beatles vinyl collection. So far, I’ve bought one. So, in the spirit of new beginnings, I’ve decided to move on to my other favourite classic artist, David Bowie.

This exclusive offering, honouring the 30-year anniversary of the Pet Shop Boys’ remix of the Starman’s single, may be an obscure place to start, but there’s nothing like getting into the spirit of the weird and wonderful world of vinyl.