The coronavirus stopped many worldwide events in their tracks, but one of those that couldn’t be stopped was Record Store Day. The biannual celebration of independent record stores (one in April and one on Black Friday) just had to change things up. Over the next four months, Record Store Day will be releasing their haul of rare, one-time releases over the course of four “drops,” the third of which will be happening this Saturday, October 24th. To celebrate, two record enthusiasts (John Saeger & Tyler Asay) will share what they are most excited about for The Philadelphia Globe.
Bob Mould – Circle Of Friends
Former Husker Du singer Bob Mould has had many different stages in his career; fronting one of the most influential punk bands of the 80s, pivoting to sweet power-pop with his 90s band Sugar, and then eventually melding those sounds together with his solo records. Each version of his art is layered on with both its poetic intricacies and in-your-face anthems, and they all come together on Circle Of Friends, a live album from 2006 that showcases a legendary performance from the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Arriving for the first time on vinyl, you can also watch this entire performance below. –Tyler
Warren Zevon’s Greatest Hits (According To Judd Apatow)
This is a fun one. Noted Director/Warren Zevon super fan Judd Apatow has assembled his favorite tracks from Zevon’s catalogue to take a twisted look at the shape of his career. There’s some classic favorites (“Accidentally Like A Martyr”), beautiful ballads (“Renegade”), and even a cover of “Something Bad Happened To A Clown” by Taylor Goldsmith (of Dawes) and Blake Mills. –Tyler
Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987
Captured Tracks is releasing Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987, a compilation of college rock and jangle pop from the mid-80’s. Basically if you love early REM or the more melodic cuts from The Replacements, this is something you’ll need to investigate. Listen to “Trusted Woods” by The Reverbs below. –Tyler
No Distraction/Eventful Days Remix, Beck
Few high-profile artists have dedicated themselves to provocative remixes as regularly as Beck. Two of the megastar’s recent songs received remixes from St. Vincent and newcomer Khruangbin. Both songs dropped online after the pandemic delayed Record Store Day, but are available as a 7” for September’s drop day. St. Vincent’s release drops Beck into a glam sound that even one of the most eclectic artists of his generation has yet to explore. Khruangbin’s recut is a trippy retro piece that adds a timeless feel to Beck’s song. – John
Double Image: Rare Miles From The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions
As far as classic jazz, it does not get much better than the legendary Miles Davis. The sessions of his Bitches Brew album are getting special RSD treatment on the record’s 50th anniversary. The double vinyl LP is being re-released in limited quantities and includes special moments in the crafting of the album. The prospect of being able to hear the work of session artists like Chick Corea teases a unique listening experience. I do not have many jazz albums, but a release like this demands a look from even passive jazz listeners like myself. – John
The Who: A Quick One Live
The Who were my first concert and one of my early favorite rock bands. Any release from the classic rockers piques my interest and A Quick One Live certainly falls into that category. The record features a half-dozen tracks from their performance at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. The concert is a snapshot of the band just before they altered the rock landscape with albums like Tommy and Who’s Next. “Substitute” and “My Generation are among the songs on the first-ever official vinyl recording of the concert. The record will fittingly have red, white, and blue vinyl. –John
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