Record Store Day – a day to celebrate the world’s independent record stores as vinylphiles line up around the block for the chance to shop for (or in some cases fight over) special releases of vinyl records ranging from limited edition re-releases to new live albums, singles, picture discs, previously unreleased demos, and more is back. RSD had to adapt last year due to the pandemic and is continuing to spread out the annual event over two days to help keep stores and music lovers their fix. For 2021, Drop #1 is Saturday, June 12th while Drop #2 falls on Saturday, July 17th.
As stated on RSD’s official website, “Things are improving but in this continued “unprecedented global situation”, where production and shipping is still in a state of struggle, the focus of these two Drops dates is on bringing revenue to the stores– as well as to the artists, labels, distribution and every other business behind the scenes making record stores work, in a fiscally and socially responsible way. The spread of titles over two dates in two months allows some flexibility for the struggling vinyl pressing plants and distribution companies as well as provide stores time to prepare budgets and place the orders that safely get music into the hands of customers on a larger than normal release day.”
As everything still isn’t how it once was, your best bet if you are planning on heading out to your local record store is to call ahead and see what their protocols are to keep everyone safe. And it doesn’t hurt to ask if the store has what you are looking for (some stores are helpful that way) as that will also help with the number of people showing up.
Some of the country selections on this year’s list features Jimmie Allen (6/12), Bobby Gentry (7/17), Parker McCollum (6/12), Tim McGraw/Tyler Hubbard (6/12), Kip Moore (7/17), and John Prine (7/17). For a full list of RSD releases, click here.
For a list of participating stores near you, visit: https://recordstoreday.com/Stores