What is Record Store Day? — Things You Should Know for RSD 2021
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! RSD has just released its drop list for this year and I couldn’t be more excited. But what exactly is record store day? Let me fill you in!
Record Store Day, or RSD for short, is a special “holiday” that usually happens once a year to promote independent record shops. It does this through the release of exclusive records that can only be obtained on RSD. These may be special pressings on a funky color or a first-time pressing. Each release is usually a limited quantity, making them an excellent collector's item too!
RSD began in 2008, with the first one taking place on April 19th. Since then, it has been adopted internationally by many independent music shops and has even attracted a number of “Record Store Day Ambassadors” — basically musicians would come to a certain store and meet fans all day in the spirit of drawing attention to these independent businesses. We aren’t talking small fry either — we’re talking Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Pearl Jam, just to name a few!
Last year, in 2020, the world was shaken by a global pandemic, so RSD had to undergo a few changes. The main change is that the RSD exclusives would be coming in waves or drops. The releases were spread out across three dates: August 29th, September 26th, and October 24th. While there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic (fingers and toes crossed), they are still being cautious with two drops: one on June 12th and the other on July 17th. The dates were announced a while back, but the release list has just come out today for both drops! The link below will take you to the release list, although if you live outside of the US, you may get some additional releases — like here in Canada we’re getting some extra Canadian favorites like Stompin’ Tom Connors and The Barenaked Ladies!
https://recordstoreday.com/NewsItem/9578
I personally love Record Store Day. It’s one of the things that really piqued my interest in record collecting and is one of the reasons I got into it! The energy in the store is absolutely amazing — it’s just pure love for music. RSD really has something for everyone, whether you’re into classic rock, a hip-hop head, or a polka enthusiast! I also appreciate RSD because it brings attention to the heart of any community music scene: the local record shop. It’s great to see an event that supports local businesses and draws attention to businesses run by those with a passion for music. Record Store Day is for everybody, and with hundreds of stores participating, it’s very likely that you will have one near you. Some of my best memories of record collecting are on RSD with my brother, who got me into collecting in the first place. Going from store to store, meeting people, seeing what people are getting, and sharing our love of music with our local community is absolutely amazing and I suggest you give it a shot if you’re into records at all.
A couple of personal picks that I might look into getting this year are Prince’s “The Truth”, Charlie Parker’s “Bird in LA”, the 3" “Meddle With Metal” by Czarface, and MF Doom (I had no clue 3" mini records existed but I might have to get a mini-player for this!), and, of course, the Shrek Soundtrack, just to name a few. I’m very excited for this year, to say the least! I’d love to hear your picks in the comments!
If you have the money, why not go support your local record shop this Record Store Day? Trust me, it is worth it!
