Record Store Day 2023 at Vinyl Tap
Audiophiles and analog enthusiasts rejoice, for 2024’s edition of Record Store Day is right around the corner! Since 2008, RSD has been championing independent record stores and local music communities around the country and beyond. This year’s celebration falls on Saturday, April 20, and we’ve got details on the exclusive releases offered on the day and where around town you can find them.
This year’s RSD ambassadors are our Nashville neighbors, Paramore, who became newly independent after their decades-long contract with Atlantic Records ended late last year. Following tradition, the band has a few RSD exclusives of their own. There’s a vinyl pressing of Re: This Is Why, an LP of remixes of their Grammy-winning album This Is Why; the remixes are available on their own or bundled as a two-disc set with the standard version of This Is Why. Those are Atlantic releases, but a 12-inch single of Paramore’s cover of Talking Heads’ staple “Burning Down the House,” with David Byrne covering “Hard Times” on the flip, is via Fine Print, which may be the band’s own new label.
The Beatles turntable and 3-inch records, available on Record Store Day 2024
There are many kinds of record shoppers and even more types of music fans, so we’ve got recommendations to help you narrow down the list of nearly 400 releases and find your new favorite listen. If you’re an antiquarian obsessed with the classics, or a newbie just starting your collection, check out the exclusive Beatles 3-inch record player and singles, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours picture disc and the 60th anniversary edition LP of The Rolling Stones’ self-titled album. Crate diggers will take an interest in exclusives like Wiz Khalifa’s five-pack of 7-inch singles titled Loud Pack or Lil Uzi Vert’s Luv Is Rage mixtape. There will also be an RSD First release of De La Soul’s Live at Tramps, NYC 1996, both in LP and CD format.
Indie-pop girlies and people who use TikTok as a music discovery platform may want to snag Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” 7-inch, Laufey’s A Night at the Symphony double LP, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” 7-inch, or Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan’s BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge singles together on a single 7-inch. That one weird kid from middle school who probably owned a bearded dragon will probably take an interest in the Snake Eyes 10-inch by 100 gecs, the Doctor Who: Edge of Destruction picture disc, the two-LP deluxe edition of Gorillaz’s latest album Cracker Island or the Live at KEXP 12-inch EP by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, all RSD exclusives. And if you’re shopping with your dad, show him U2’s Atomic City 10-inch, recorded live at The Sphere in Las Vegas. You know it’s what he wants.
If you’re hoping to score some of these sweet finds, you’re in luck. Plenty of independent record stores in the Nashville area are participating in Record Store Day with exclusives, sales and special events to boot. McKay’s (636 Old Hickory Blvd.) will open at their regular 9 a.m. to offer RSD exclusives on top of their standard selection. All area locations of The Great Escape (5400 Charlotte Pike, 105 Gallatin Pike N. in Madison and 810 N.W. Broad St. in Murfreesboro) will have RSD exclusives as well as giveaways and a special deal. Each customer can take up to five items from their 99-cent selection for free, no purchase necessary. All locations will have extended hours that Saturday, open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Third Man Records (623 Seventh Ave.) is doing its own thing, as usual. They won’t be stocking RSD exclusives, but they just might have some special in-house releases; watch their social media or visit the store for more. In addition, any customer who presents a receipt from another participating RSD store will receive 10 percent off their purchase. You can also cap off your RSD celebrations with the Lisp queer dance party at The Blue Room at Third Man, or head over to The Vinyl Lounge at The Vinyl Lab (1414 Third Ave. S.) at 7 p.m. for an RSD after-party featuring Luther Dickinson, Teddy and the Rough Riders and more.
On the East Side, The Groove (1103 Calvin Ave.) is once again going all-out with RSD celebrations, offering exclusives and teaming up with Acme Radio Live to present a stellar lineup of local talent performing in the shop’s backyard throughout the day. The live music kicks off at 11 a.m. with appearances from Nordista Freeze, Tayls, Bre Kennedy, Chuck Indigo and many more. There will also be a silent auction benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
While you’re there, be sure to head over a few blocks and check out the mecca of Nashville record stores, Grimey’s New and Preloved Music (1060 E. Trinity Lane). They’ll open a little early at 10 a.m. and stay open till 7 with RSD titles aplenty. Of special note is a release featuring Grimey himself: Look for the 25th anniversary edition of Boo-Tay by Bare Jr., which includes Grimey’s founder and co-owner Mike Grimes on guitar, check out our feature story on the reissue and catch the band playing at Grimey's at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
For a great selection of records and tasty treats, check out the extravaganza at Vinyl Tap (2038 Greenwood Ave.) starting at 9 a.m. They’ll have two stages for live music with performances from Becca Mancari, Emily Nenni, The Watson Twins, Afrokokoroot, Hector Tellez Jr., Rich Ruth with Spencer Cullum and Patrick M’Gonigle, and many more. The store will have a selection of exclusives, plus vendors, food trucks and drink specials. Expect the whole neighborhood to be in on the fun with offerings for the whole family and perhaps even a few surprises.
Some of our other independent record sellers won’t have RSD exclusives, but they’ll have sales and specials to celebrate. Analog Your Life (2546 Lebanon Pike) will offer 10 percent off all new and used vinyl, plus 50 percent off red-tagged items and a curated selection of records with a 4/20 theme. Hi-Fi Frontier (inside Dashwood Vintage and Plants at 2416 Music Valley Drive) will celebrate with live music, food trucks and more, and will be joining in an after-party at No Quarter on the East Side. Elevator Vinyl (500 E. Trinity Lane) will be set up at the Scene-organized Crafty Bastards arts and crafts fair at OneC1TY, but they might have some specials in-store too. And don’t forget to also check out what’s in the bins at Alison’s Record Shop (994A Davidson Drive), Phonoluxe (2609 Nolensville Pike), Swaggie Records (211 Union St.), Soulfolks (115 E. Old Hickory Blvd. in Madison) and Jimbo’s Records and Tapes (inside Vinterest at 2416 Music Valley Drive) — record stores of all sizes are important for a thriving music ecosystem.
