Record Store Day is back with new vinyl from Taylor Swift and others – USA TODAY

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Vinyl fans, rejoice.

Record Store Day returns April 22 with dozens of exclusive new releases as well as reissues from artists in an array of genres, from Paul McCartney to Pearl Jam, RZA to Wilco, Miles Davis to the Grateful Dead. A full list of 2023 releases is here.

Since 2009, musicians with a deep-seated love of vinyl have teamed up to remind digital-age music fans that some of the more revelatory audio moments happen on hot wax.

“Over the years I’ve fallen in love many times and many of my greatest loves have been discovered in record stores,” says singer Amanda Shires, who along with star musician husband Jason Isbell are this year’s Record Store Day ambassadors.

“I fell in love with Leonard Cohen at Ralph’s Records in Lubbock, Texas. I found Big Star at Offbeat in Jackson, Mississippi,” Shires says in a release. “Record stores are environments where you can be yourself, like what you like and love what you love.”

Record Store Day ambassadors Isbell and Shires offer up new music

There’s more than just good fun to be had in today’s record stores. Today’s enduring vinyl resurgence often gives audiophiles a level of sonic fidelity that simply didn’t exist a half-century ago.

Particularly popular are vinyl releases that are half-speed mastered or 33 rpm releases that are now set to 45 rpm, the slower turn of the turntable allowing for more musical details to hit your ears.

For example, one upcoming re-release will be Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Red Rose Speedway,” that iconic band’s first major U.S. release in 1973, which is delivered now as a limited edition half-speed mastered disc.

Among other notable releases amid the dozens due:

• “Beggars Banquet” The 1968 album from the Rolling Stones, will be available on 180-gram vinyl, a heavier weight than standard vinyl which translates to greater fidelity. This is also a special pressing on grey, blue, black and white swirled vinyl, a reference to a lyric Mick Jagger sings in “Salt of the Earth.” The album will also come with a reproduction of the window display poster created by the Stones’ UK label Decca in ‘68.
•  “folklore: the long pond studio sessions” is on tap from Taylor Swift, who served as the day’s ambassador last year. Taylor and her collaborators recorded the Grammy-winning release during the COVID-19 lockdown, but didn’t get to play their work together until Sept. 2020, when the Long Pond Studio Sessions brought together Taylor Swift, Aaron Dessner (The National) and Jack Antonoff (Bleachers) for a live recording and Disney+ documentary.
• “The Sound Emporium” is the EP offering from co-ambassadors Isbell and Shires,  featuring brand new music that includes a reimagined version of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit’s “Tour of Duty” as well as a cover of Richard Thompson’s “Beeswing.”  Shires also makes the list with a solo EP, “Live At Columbia Studio,” featuring tracks recorded at the legendary Nashville studio in the run up to her critically acclaimed 1992 album, “Take It Like A Man.”

Vinyl sales continue to soar as the retro trend continues

There are releases for virtually every musical taste under the sun this year. These include the first-time-on-vinyl release of reggae star Peter Tosh’s “Live & Dangerous Boston 1976,” a first-time collection of A and B sides of Dolly Parton 1960s singles, “The Monument Singles Collection 1964-1968,” and a lemon-colored edition of Joan Jett’s rocking 1988 album, “Up Your Alley.”

This marks the 16th anniversary of Record Store Day. The first one was held April 19, 2008. Typically, the event is held on the third Saturday in April, often with artist appearances at some of the 1,400 independent record stores in the U.S. Over previous years, the pandemic lockdown cut into vinyl sales as stores were shuttered.  

While these days streaming represents the bulk of music consumption, vinyl sales continue to impress. According to a mid-year report by the Recording Industry Association of America last fall, the number of vinyl units shipped rose 15.7% over the same period last year — from 18.8 million to 21.8 million — and dollar value is up from $460.5 million to $570.2 million.