The most prized vinyl records being released on Record Store Day 2024
After a long year of waiting, Record Store Day is finally back. The day that music obsessives and vinyl-collecting completists descend on the independent record shops of the world is rapidly approaching. With such a broad range of exclusive releases, all in varying levels of scarcity, it can be difficult to know what will prove to be the most popular release on the day. Is any record really worth camping out on the cold concrete streets of the UK to get your hands on?
There is a common misconception among record buyers that any Record Store Day exclusive release is rare and, by extension, worth adding to your collection. The reality, though, is that the vast majority of releases on the day are no rarer than a bog-standard vinyl release. Just because it has a ‘limited edition’ sticker pasted on the front does not mean that an orange vinyl pressing of Joe Pesci singing will command a high second-hand price when you immediately get bored of it and decide to flog it on eBay.
A lot of the exclusive releases this year are tarted-up represses of studio albums and singles, which are fairly common anyway. For instance, Record Store Day has consistently been reissuing The Cure’s discography on limited picture discs over the past few years, with 2024’s instalment being The Top, but you can pick up an original pressing of that album pretty easily. Plus, an original copy, or even a recent repressing, will likely sound better, given the poor quality sound of most picture discs. There are countless reissues featured on this year’s list, some of which are more appealing than others – surely everybody who wants a copy of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac has one by now?
Nevertheless, there are numerous releases featured on this year’s list which are sure to get Discogs junkies foaming at the mouth. One of the great things about Record Store Day is that there is something for everyone, with releases spanning from ska to prog and everything in between. From soul singles that have been long out-of-press to newly released material by a range of iconic artists. So, with that in mind, join us as we share some of the most sought-after releases up for grabs this year.
Prized Record Store Day releases:
5. Wonderwall Music – George Harrison
The first solo album ever released by a Beatle, Wonderwall Music is an incredibly important record in the history of popular music. In addition to being important, though, it is also an undeniably brilliant record. Of all the Fab Four, George Harrison enjoyed perhaps the most interesting and compelling solo career.
While you can find second-hand copies of this album pretty easily, often for less than half of what this Record Store Day version retails at, this new pressing is something quite different. Released by Dark Horse Records, the trippy picture disc version is limited to only 8,000 copies worldwide, with each being individually numbered. For The Beatles and Harrison completists, it is a must-buy.
4. ‘I Have No Choice’ – Johnnie Mae Matthews
If you think vinyl collectors are intense, then collectors of soul vinyl are on another level. Due to the inherent scarcity of most old-school soul singles, the genre boasts some of the highest price tags in the land. This particular track from Johnnie Mae Matthews was originally released by the obscure label Big Hit Records and has never been officially reissued since.
Original copies of the single are incredibly hard to come by, with the last copy selling online back in 2022 for over £700. This new heavyweight repress will undoubtedly sound superior to the original and be a hell of a lot cheaper. The intense scarcity of the original version will likely mean that this release flies off the shelf on Record Store Day.
3. Tilt – Scott Walker
Another repress, this time featuring Scott Walker’s velvety baritone vocals. As one of his later albums, Tilt is not often afforded the same praise as some of Walker’s earlier work, but it is well worth revisiting. Signifying a rebirth in the vocalist and a move towards more obvious influences of the avant-garde, it is truly an album to behold.
Originally, the record was released in 1995, at a time during which vinyl was losing favour among the musical mainstream. As such, original copies are fairly expensive and hard to come by. For Record Store Day, UMR remastered the record at half-speed, pressing it onto heavyweight double vinyl. The incredible sound quality, along with the legendary status of Walker, are sure to make this release a popular one on the day.
2. ‘Harvest Time (Radio Edit)’ – Pharaoh Sanders
While fans of rock and pop might find joy in the colourful vinyl and picture discs of Record Store Day, jazz collectors are an entirely different kettle of fish. Favouring audiophile sound quality and rare releases, jazz collectors are a force to be reckoned with. Luckily, there are plenty of jazz records on the RSD list this year, with this seven-inch by Pharaoh Sanders the undisputed highlight.
Unlike most of the releases mentioned above, this single features previously unreleased material, making it a must-have for Sanders obsessives. Pressed on black vinyl by Luaka Bop, the record features an admittedly stunning picture sleeve, complete with Japanese imagery and writing. Whether or not the sound quality will reflect the superiority of Japanese vinyl is not clear, but the release remains a highlight of Record Store Day 2024.
1. Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth) – David Bowie
Just when you think the music industry has milked as much content as it possibly could from the songwriting genius of David Bowie, they find some more. This exclusive collection collects tracks from the studio sessions of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, including four songs cut from the final release.
The likelihood is that Bowie fans will have already heard these studio tapes, but the sheer power of the songwriter’s name and status will undoubtedly make this one of the most popular releases on Record Store Day. Reportedly limited to 4000 copies and pressed on heavyweight black vinyl, it is worth picking up for a peek behind the curtain on the production of one of the finest records of all time.
