Now that Record Store Day is just under two months away, the list of limited-run discs to hit shelves worldwide and become sold-out mere hours later come April 21 has begun to surface. As with last year’s event, Wax Poetic has an early scoop with a list of vinyl 7″, 10″, 12″, LPs, and compilations aiming for release. Here are the most intriguing items to catch my eye, which in most cases happen to be related to recent stories.
Ryan Adams: “Heartbreak a Stranger” b/w “Black Sheets Of Rain” – 2,500 Copies, Colored Vinyl. This pair of Bob Mould covers were recorded back in the fall at a tribute concert in Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Hall. A decent fan-shot video of the A-side performance hit the web at that time, in addition to Adams’ take on the B-side for a Letterman webcast, but this will be a great chance to revisit a few nods to one of Adams’ heroes as an official recording in the spring.
Sufjan Stevens / Rosie Thomas: Hit & Run Volume 1 – Split 7″ – “Where Were You” b/w “Here I Am” Sufjan’s muse is keeping busy of late, as he’ll follow up two 2010 releases with this year’s collaborative Beak & Claw EP and a split single alongside longtime collaborator Rosie Thomas.
Joey Ramone: “Rock & Roll Is the Answer” b/w “There’s Got To Be More To Life” Our first taste of Joey Ramone’s posthumous sophomore solo LP, Ya Know?, will arrive in the form of these two demos pressed on 7″ vinyl.
The Mynah Birds: “It’s My Time” b/w “Go On and Cry” At first glance, you might think this was a typo meant to read “The Mynabirds” (an excellent indie-rock band performing at our Waynestock party this year). They have a Record Store Day release coming, too, but this is a bit more rare of a sighting: The Mynah Birds were a short-lived mid-’60s group starring none other than a young Neil Young and an even younger Rick James. Back in 1965, they recorded tracks for Motown that never saw an official release, but it looks like they’ll finally reach our turntables this spring. We took a Mynah Birds bootleg for a spin last year.
Regina Spektor: “The Prayer Of François Villon” b/w “Old Jacket” 7″ – If Spektor’s promising new Mike Elizondo-produced single is any indication, these two traditional Russian folk songs should find the Soviet Kitsch songwriter in top form.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: “Hummingbird” (Leon Russell cover) b/w “Tribulations” (E.C. Ball Cover) & “Because of Your Eyes” (Merle Haggard Cover / Solo Version) A fine addition to the collection of any Will Oldham completist.
David Bowie: “Starman” Picture Disc 7” feat. “The Jean Genie” Live on Top of the Pops This previously unreleased B-side surfaced back in December after a retired cameraman unearthed a reel of film thought to be lost by the BBC. Check out the video here.
Flaming Lips Collaborative LP: It will be very impressive if the Flaming Lips have actually pulled this feat off in time for Record Store Day, but here’s hoping they did, as their list of previously-recorded and hopeful guests includes Bon Iver, Ke$ha, Nick Cave, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Plastic Ono Band, Neon Indian, Erykah Badu, and more.
These announcements are always somewhat tentative, so keep an eye on Wax Poetic and check back here for updates of note.
Given that we never miss a chance to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the life of a rock band — especially amid the bustle of a new record release — we’re excited that MOG and Sony have provided us with just that in the form of this stellar new video footage of The Fray. What’s more, The Fray’s third LP, Scars & Stories, was produced by one of our favorite studio rats, Brendan O’Brien, who’s helmed the boards for the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and too many other notables to list.
It’s been over a year since an infamous