All the 2022 Record Store Day Special Releases

Ever since its inauguration in 2007, Record Story Day has been an exciting annual event for music fans to look forward to. Participating record stores will release special material on this day, from vintage live sessions to RSD-specific editions. Some artists even choose to release their new albums on RSD.

This year’s RSD is on April 23, and the list of special releases is pretty eclectic! It features all kinds of different artists, there’s sure to be something to your liking.

Special Releases

For the full list, click the RSD newsletter here. There are two versions to look at: the standard web version and a downloadable PDF (for anyone who wants to print out a list to take with them as they go shopping). Both are available to choose from at that link. However, for the visually motivated, here is a page that features album covers to go by.

As for which artists are notable … well, that depends on your taste, right? The list is pretty expansive, and what’s commendable is it’s managed to find a good blend of mainstream, older, and esoteric artists. There’s truly something for everyone, from a highlight edition of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” to the first-ever LP version of Childish Gambino’s “Kauai.” Of course, there will also be plenty of remasters, but there’s no harm in giving your favorite artist a little extra love, right? I certainly plan on honoring Jonathan Richmond’s 35th remaster this way.

One special release that’s gotten some buzz is Patti Smith’s “Curated by Record Store Day” LP. The title says it all; this LP will feature the favorites of various record store staff members all over the country. It’ll only be available for in-store purchase on this day—all remaining unsold copies will be sold online thereafter.

Of course, there’s gotta be something for the Taylor Swift fans, especially since she’s RSD’s first-ever global ambassador. To celebrate her special edition of “the lakes,” as well as this special commemorative title, Swift had this to say:

I’m very proud to be this year’s Global Ambassador for Record Store Day. 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. It’s been a true joy for me to watch vinyl sales grow in the past few years and we, the artists, have the fans to thank for this pleasant surprise. Happy Record Store Day, everyone! Stay safe out there.

Personally, I’m excited to see Karen Dalton get some love, and I’m interested to hear Chet Baker’s Live in Paris release, too. Which releases are you most excited for, and why? Let us know down in the comments!

(Featured Image: Record Store Day)

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Madeline Carpou

Madeline (she/her) is a staff writer with a focus on AANHPI and mixed-race representation. She enjoys covering a wide variety of topics, but her primary beats are music and gaming. Her journey into digital media began in college, primarily regarding audio: in 2018, she started producing her own music, which helped her secure a radio show and co-produce a local history podcast through 2019 and 2020. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz summa cum laude, her focus shifted to digital writing, where she's happy to say her History degree has certainly come in handy! When she's not working, she enjoys taking long walks, playing the guitar, and writing her own little stories (which may or may not ever see the light of day).

Link to madelinecwrites.com