Early songs by the late, great David Bowie,
Early songs by the late, great David Bowie.

Record Store Day is a scourge to most small indie labels. For several months, major labels clog the vinyl pressing plants with their massive orders for records that commonly can be found used for under $10, thus delaying schedules for less powerful companies doing smaller runs. Mix in crass music-biz opportunism and consumers who care nothing about the releases except for their resale value, and you have a shitshow that seems to worsen every year. You know the drill. However! A small percentage of RSD releases are actually worth hearing, as best as we can gauge (we'll get to those soon) and the frenzied, extravagant shopping obviously boosts the financial health of brick-and-mortar stores. That is no small thing. RSD may be a "one step forward, two steps backward" affair, but it doesn't look like it's going to hit the run-off groove in the foreseeable future. Let's try to make the best of the situation, shall we? After the jump, we'll take a look at some worthy RSD releases and list the participating Seattle establishments.

808 State- Pacific 12"
Air- Casanova 70 12"
Big Star- Complete Columbia: Live at Missouri 4/25/93 2XLP
David Bowie- I Dig Everything: The Pye Years 1966 12"
John Coltrane- The Roulette Sides 10"
J Dilla- The Diary LP
The Easybeats- Good Friday LP
The Feelies- Uncovered 12"
Green River- 1984 Demos 12"
The Grateful Dead- Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ 4/25/77
The James Brown Revue- Get Down at the Apollo with the J.B.'s 2XLP
Junior Kimbrough- "I Gotta Try You Girl (Daft Punk Remix)" 12" [WTF?]
Lush- Origami boxed set

Its Ravi in 1971—of course you need it.
It's Ravi in 1971—of course you need it.

Metz/Mission of Burma- "Good Not Great"/ "Get Off" split 7" on Sub Pop
Thelonious Monk- London Collection, Volume 3 LP
Ol Dirty Bastard- "Brooklyn Zoo"/ "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" 12" picture disc
The Shaggs- "Sweet Maria"/ "The Missouri Waltz" 7"
Ravi Shankar- In Hollywood, 1971
Skywave- Killerrockandroll LP
The Sonics- Live at Easy Street LP
Sun Ra- Spaceways LP
Superpitcher- So Far So Super 2XLP
The Third Power- Believe
VA- Hallucinations: Psychadelic Pop Nuggets 2XLP
VA- Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll 2XLP
African Head Charge- Super Mystic Brakes 10"
The Bevis Frond- Miasma LP

I shouldnt even be telling you about this French avant-rock badboy, because I want ALL of the copies.
I shouldn't even be telling you about this French avant-rock badboy, because I want ALL of the copies.

Locust- Morning Light 2XLP on Medical Records
The Move- Something Else from the Move 7"
Richard Pinhas & John Livengood- Cyborg Sally 2XLP
The Summer Hits- Beaches and Canyons LP on Medical Records
VA- C86 2XLP
Jean-Claude Vannier- L'Enfant Assassin des Mouches (Alternate Takes) 7"
John Renbourn- The Attic Tapes 2XLP
The Kinks- Dave Davies Hits 7"

Participating Seattle retailers

Wall of Sound
Everyday Music
Jive Time
Spin Cycle
Sub Pop Records
Zion's Gate
Easy Street
Silver Platters
Sonic Boom
Light in the Attic Record Shop
Neptune Music Company
Bop Street
Singles Going Steady