PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – New Taylor Swift and Pearl Jam and a laundry list of special releases. Record Store Day 2024 promises to be a big one for independent record stores in the Philadelphia area and worldwide.
Here’s what you and the music lover in your life need to know for this year’s Record Store Day.
When is Record Store Day 2024?
Record Store Day, an annual celebration of record stores, will take place on Saturday, April 20 at more than 250 participating stores. Record collectors in the US can find a participating store near them on the Record Store Day website, which also includes links to internationally participating stores.
What is Record Store Day?
According to the website, Record Store Day was founded in 2007 as a way to celebrate independent record stores, with the first event taking place on April 19, 2008.
“This is a day for the people who make up the record store world – the staff, the customers and the artists – to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role they play in their community . ‘, the website reads.
Record Store Day features special vinyl and CD releases. Some record stores hold performances, cookouts, meet & greets and other festivities in the store.
Sales of vinyl records continued to rise again last year. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl CDs sold more for the second time since 1987: 43 million compared to 37 million. Vinyl sales exceeded CDs for the first time since 1987 in 2022.
What will be released on Record Store Day 2024?
Record Store Day 2024 features 387 special releases; you can find them all on the special releases page of the website.
Here are a few of the releases:
Noah Kahan And Olivia Rodrigo will have a 7-inch colored vinyl featuring each other’s songs – Kahan plays Rodrigo’s “Lacy”, while Rodrigo sings “Stick Season”. It was recorded from the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.
Kahan will also sell 15,000 copies of a blue “I Was/I Am” vinyl at RSD.
7,500 copies of 1975’s “The 1975 Live at Gorilla” will be available on a 2-LP white vinyl.
The Weeknd’s first live album, “Live At SoFi Stadium,” is also among the releases.
Each store has a limited quantity of each unit, so it’s good practice to check your local store’s social media pages to see what they have in stock.
Will Taylor Swift get a Record Store Day release?
Taylor Swift, born in Berks CountyThe Tortured Poets Department’s new album was released at midnight on Friday, but according to the Record Store Day website, no special RSD releases have been recorded for 2024.
Yet it turns out that “Tortured Poets” is a big money-maker for record stores. With the album going on sale Friday, Swifties could theoretically still buy it on RSD if there’s still a store left. Some record stores may also have special in-house releases for the album.
What is Pearl Jam’s special release “Dark Matter” RSD?
If Swift isn’t your Jam, maybe Pearl is. Pearl Jam’s new album ‘Dark Matter’ was also released Friday at midnight, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band will have an exclusive vinyl for sale on Record Store Day.
The exclusive “Dark Matter” RSD LP will be yellow and black, and will be limited to 15,000 copies – a reminder that supplies are limited. For example, Repo Records on South Street only has 14 copies of Pearl Jam’s RSD release.
Pearl Jam will also have a limited-edition Philly variant of “Dark Matter” on offer – Young Ones in Berks County, Repo Records and Siren Records in Philly are three stores that will carry it.
Pearl Jam will be back in Philadelphia in September for two concerts at the Wells Fargo Center as they tour their twelfth studio album.
Which Philadelphia record stores are participating?
Eleven stores in Philadelphia are listed on the Record Store Day website.
48 Record Bar, located at 48 S. 2nd St. in Philly’s Old City neighborhood, will host a pop-up vinyl market featuring RSD releases curated by the Record Store Day organization from noon to 5 p.m.
Which record stores in Philly’s suburbs are participating?
RSD is not limited to city limits. Numerous suburban record stores are participating in this year’s event. You can find the full list of participating Pennsylvania record stores on RSD’s website, but here are the stores in the Philly suburbs.
Which record stores in New Jersey are participating?
New Jersey has more than 30 record stores listed on the Record Store Day website. Here are some participating stores in South Jersey.
Which record stores in Delaware are participating?
The RSD website has five Delaware stores listed on its website.
Tom Dougherty
