Getting Ready for Record Store Day 2021 Drop #1
Welcome to the May installment of the Paradise Found Records blog. Now that we’ve transitioned to our beautiful new space at 17th and Pearl, we’re getting ready for the first of 2021’s two Record Store Day drops on Saturday, June 12; the second drop is happening on Saturday, July 17. We’re excited to announce that for the first time since 2019, our customers will be able to line up (in socially distanced fashion) outside the store and shop on a first come, first serve basis (without the online time slot reservation required in 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions). Of course we will be following the guidelines (e.g. masks required in the store) to keep everyone safe. As of today, there is a cap on 25 customers in the store at any one time. Check with us (including on our Instagram feed) as June 12 approaches for the latest updates.
There is a lengthy, impressive list of 400+ exclusive records coming out for Record Store Day. You can view the full list here; here are some of the albums we’re most excited about:
Live Albums
RSD’s first drop features a ton of first-time-on-vinyl releases of classic live concert recordings. The biggest draw is the 6-LP box featuring all of the Grateful Dead’s first show in Paris from their famed 1972 tour. Four of the songs from this show made it onto the their epic Europe ‘72 triple-album. The box features 11 sides of the group at their best plus an etching on side 12. Universally acclaimed as one of the Dead’s best concerts ever, this one is sure to sell fast. Other live albums we’re looking forward to:
Devo — Somewhere With Devo
Grateful Dead — Olympia Theatre, Paris, France 5/3/72 (6LP)
The Police –Live! Vol. 1: Boston 1979 (2LP)
The Police — Live! Vol. 2: Atlanta 1983 (2LP)
Iggy Pop — Live at the Channel Boston (2LP)
Various Artists — Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live in San Francisco 1973 w/MFSB, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul and The O’Jays (2LP)
Soundtracks
As usual, the Record Store Day list includes some tasty, previously unreleased film soundtracks. June’s drop has a distinctly Kinks angle to it, including the rare soundtrack to the 1971 British film Percy (starring Denholm Elliot and Elke Sommer) and the once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between John Carpenter and Dave Davies for the music to the 1995’s Village of the Damned. That film featured Christopher Reeve in his last role before the tragic accident that left him paralyzed.
John Carpenter & Dave Davies — Village of the Damned
Don Davis — The Matrix–The Complete Edition 3LP
The Kinks — Percy
New to Vinyl
Several recent CD box sets are having excerpts released on vinyl for the first time. Of particular note: selections from The Doors’ Morrison Hotel 50th Anniversary box, Joni Mitchell’s Archives, Vol. 1 box, and The Replacements’ Pleased To Meet Me box. Yacht rock aficionados will enjoy the last two Steely Dan studio records. Elton John is releasing his previously-shelved Regimental Sgt. Zippo album from 1968. Look for:
Gerald V Casale (from Devo) — AKA Jihad Jerry & The Evildoers
The Doors — Morrison Hotel Sessions 2LP
Elton John — Regimental Sgt. Zippo
Joni Mitchell — Archives, Vol. 1 (1963-1967): Highlights
Rage Against The Machine — Battle of Mexico City 2LP & Alternates
The Replacements — The Pleasure’s All Yours: Pleased to Meet Me Outtakes
Steely Dan — Two Against Nature 2LP
Steely Dan — Everything Must Go
Warren Zevon — Preludes 2LP
Picture Discs
Who doesn’t love a picture disc? Black Sabbath is offering two in June and The Cure is continuing its RSD series with Faith. They look so good in your collection!
Black Sabbath — Mob Rules
Black Sabbath — Heaven & Hell
The Cure — Faith
U2 — Fire (40th Anniversary Edition)
Other Notable Releases
Along with the aforementioned Grateful Dead release, the biggest seller be Prince’s The Truth, the 1998 acoustic record that was released along with Crystal Ball and is seeing its first vinyl release. Tom Petty’s often overlooked She’s The One soundtrack, featuring Beck and Lucinda Williams covers and originals left over from the Wildflowers sessions, is being repackaged for Record Store Day as Angel Dream with four previously unreleased tracks. The Soft Bulletin Companion 2LP set, new to vinyl, features outtakes and live tracks from around the time of The Flaming Lips’ best record.
The Flaming Lips — The Soft Bulletin Companion 2LP
Tom Petty — Angel Dream
Prince — The Truth 1st time release
Rolling Stones — Hot Rocks (50th Anniversary Edition) 2LP
The Who — Face Dances — 40th 2LP
