Record Store Day 2022: releases list, when was the first RSD, participating UK shops - and when is it?

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Record Store Day is coming up, an opportunity to support the local music shops which are vital to the music scenes of towns and cities across the UK.

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2022, Record Store Day has appointed one of the world’s biggest pop stars as its first global ambassador.

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But what is Record Store Day exactly, and how is it being celebrated in the UK?

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is Record Store Day?

Used as a way to celebrate the independence and culture of record stores across the world, Record Store Day brings together music fans, artists, sellers and promoters.

It is celebrated on a Saturday every April - although the pandemic meant that Record Store Day looked a little different last year, with two separate ‘drops’ of limited vinyl.

Although it originally began in the USA in 2008, Record Store Day has become a major event for vinyl lovers, with organisers across every continent except Antarctica.

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Your local record store may organise special in-store live performances from local artists, and a huge trove of Recrod Store Day exclusives are released to mark the occasion from international acts big and small.

Many of these go on to become collectors items, and range from anything from specially reissued classic albums, to previously unheard live recordings and demo tape compilations.

Over 200 independent record stores across the UK take part each year, selling thousands of copies.

A limited edition vinyl of David Bowie’s ‘Changes’, which released as part of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)A limited edition vinyl of David Bowie’s ‘Changes’, which released as part of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
A limited edition vinyl of David Bowie’s ‘Changes’, which released as part of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

When is Record Store Day 2022?

This year Record Store Day is returning to a single day – after a two day event last year due to social distancing laws making it difficult to safely sell large numbers of records.

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It will be happening on Saturday 23 April, with the majority of releases available from participating stores.

However, one lingering effect of the pandemic is a global delay in vinyl manufacturing, which means that some discs will not arrive on time for the big day, and will instead be available on 18 June.

What’s being released this year?

There will be more than 400 limited edition pressings released on Record Store Day, including new vinyl from David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, and James Blake.

Lou Reed, Def Leppard, Elton John, and The Cranberries are just some of the other acts who will be releasing Record Store Day exclusives, and fans of Alice in Chains, Belinda Carlisle, Madness, and Noel Gallagher will also have new releases to look forward to.

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This is very much just scratching the surface of what will be on offer though, and it’s likely that even if your favourite artists isn’t listed above, they’ll still have something releasing on Record Store Day.

For the official list of Record Store Day 2022 releases, head to recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list.

It should be noted that not all shops will stock all titles, so a couple of shop visits may be required if there’s a less popular title you are keen to get your hands on.

But as is the affable nature of many a record store proprietor, they will likely do their best to sort a requested copy for you if they can.

A record shop employee arranges their vinyl stock ahead of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)A record shop employee arranges their vinyl stock ahead of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
A record shop employee arranges their vinyl stock ahead of Record Store Day 2015 (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

How can I buy Record Store Day vinyl?

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To stand the best chance of getting the particular releases you want, you’ll need to physically attend your nearest record store.

And yes, as has become commonplace in recent years, an early start and a couple of hours queuing will probably be on the cards for you, with lines of people starting to appear outside some shops the day before the event!

If there’s something you can’t stand to miss out on, the earlier you can get to the shop the better.

The majority of stores ask you to write out your wishlist while in the queue – so don’t forget a pen and paper – collecting it before you enter the shop and packing up your order so it is waiting for you at the counter.

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You might think it’d be easier to order your chosen vinyl online, but because of Record Store Day’s intention to support ‘bricks and mortar’ record stores, participating shops are prohibited from reserving records for particular customers or offering records online on the day itself.

If online ordering is the only option for you, this year, shops will be able to offer any unsold stock from 8pm on Friday 29 April, though whether the release you’re looking for will still be available is subject to limited stock levels.

Which shops are taking part?

Again, with hundreds of record stores taking part in the festivities, to list them all here would be impossible.

To find your nearest participating shop, head to recordstoreday.co.uk/shop-locator, where you’ll be able to see a full list of all the stores taking part.

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Many shops will be hosting live performances in store from local acts; check with your local store to see what kind of events they will have on offer.

Limited edition cassettes - a format which is also making a comeback -  are sometimes also released as part of Record Store Day (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)Limited edition cassettes - a format which is also making a comeback -  are sometimes also released as part of Record Store Day (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Limited edition cassettes - a format which is also making a comeback - are sometimes also released as part of Record Store Day (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Who is this year’s ambassador?

In previous years, Record Store Day has appointed ambassadors, recognisable names from the worlds of music and entertainment who promote the event.

This year, Record Store Day has announced Taylor Swift as its first-ever global ambassador, for its 15th anniversary celebrations.

“I’m very proud to be this year’s Ambassador for Record Store Day,” Swift said in a statement.

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“The places where we go to browse and explore and discover music new and old have always been sacred to me. Record stores are so important because they help to perpetuate and foster music-loving as a passion.

“They create settings for live events. They employ people who adore music thoroughly and purely. Those people and shops have had a rough few years and we need to support these small businesses more now than ever to make sure they can stay alive, stay eccentric, and stay individual.”

The growth of vinyl

This year’s Record Store Day follows a year in which vinyl sales grew to their highest level in more than three decades as consumers turned to the format during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than five million vinyl albums were purchased in the UK in 2021, up 8% on sales in 2020, according to figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

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This marks the 14th consecutive year of growth for the format since 2007.

Campaigns such as National Album Day, Record Store Day, The Record Club and Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties helped rally sales for independent record shops and specialist chains.

The end-of-year figures, released by industry body the BPI using Official Charts Company data, indicate vinyl albums now account for nearly a quarter of all albums purchased (23%).

The report also forecasts that some 190,000 cassettes were purchased in 2021, up a fifth on 2020 and the highest number since 2003 when 243,000 tapes were sold and Now 54 was the biggest seller on the format.

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