San Francisco Record Store Day Guide
420 isn’t only about ganja parties in San Francisco. Record Store Day, an international day to celebrate limited edition records, returns Saturday with deals at many of the city’s independent record stores.
This year Amoeba Music, Streetlight Records, Rasputin Music, Aquarius Records and The Explorist International are all participating with special releases. However, what releases each store will carry is unconfirmed until Record Store Day arrives.
Founded in 2007, independent record stores worldwide carry limited vinyl and CD releases or reissues to celebrate Record Store Day on the third Saturday of April each year.
The first RSD kicked off at Rasputin Records in Mountain View with a Metallica in-store signing and special releases by 10 artists. Since then, it has been celebrated globally with a growing roster of limited releases. This year, there is expected to be close to 1,000 limited edition singles, box sets and album reissues.
We checked in the managers at a few of San Francisco’s remaining record stores to see what they are looking forward to for Record Store Day.
Paige Brodsky, marketing manager at Streetlight Records
Brodsky has been working for Streetlight Records for 24 years. This year she hopes to carry as many releases as possible. “Its our favorite holiday,” she says. “We like the opportunity that it gives us to interact with our customers and employees as big music fans.”
Releases Brodsky is looking forward to this year:
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts – ALBUM 12” Vinyl
Dave Brubeck Trio – Distinctive Rhythm Instrumentals 10” Vinyl
Black Keys/Stooges – Side By Side: No Fun 7” Vinyl
Dave Matthews Band – Live Trax Vol 1 Vinyl Box 12” (in demand)
Flaming Lips – Zaireeka 4LP Box Set (in demand)
Big Star – Nothing Can Hurt Me 12” Vinyl
Andee Connors, co-owner of Aquarius Records
Aquarius Records carries a more eclectic selection of music in comparison to most record stores. As such, co-owner Andee Connors hopes to carry RSD selections that are difficult to find, including local band and national releases.
“We try to track down stuff that’s hard to get,” Connors says. “We’re getting a few European RSD releases that I don’t think are making it over here.”
Releases Connors is looking forward to this year:
Goat “Run To Your Mama Remixes Vol. 1 and 2 12”
Golden Void “Rise to the Out of Reach” 7″
Bong “Untitled” lp on Blackest Rainbow
Half Japanese – Half Gentlemen Not Beasts 4XLP release, CD reissue
Flaming Lips – Zaireeka 4LP Box Set
Thee Oh Sees “Moon Sick EP” lp on Castle Face
Tony Green, manager at Amoeba Music
Tony Green says he’s ordering as many records off the RSD list as possible this year, with a healthy mix of off the grid and popular releases.
Releases Green is looking forward to this year:
Public Image Ltd. – Public Image B/W The Cowboy Song 12” Vinyl
G. Love – Bloodshot and Blue 10” Vinyl
Flaming Lips – Zaireeka 4LP Box Set
Chris Dixon, proprietor of The Explorist International
The Explorist is also hoping to carry underground and independent releases for RSD, but “every day theoretically is Record Store Day,” says Chris Dixon. “Every day is an awesome day to go out and get a record and listen to it”
Releases Dixon is looking forward to this year:
Roky Erickson – Mine Mine Mind B/W Bloddy Hammer 7” Vinyl
Public Image Ltd. – Public Image B/W The Cowboy Song 12” Vinyl
Invisible Hands – Insect Dilemma/Disallowed 7” vinyl
View the complete list of Record Store Day releases.
