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Record Store Day 2016 comes to the UK tomorrow (April 16th), with collectors and music fans across the nation venturing into their local music shop in order to keep the electricity on for one more year by rummaging through aisles upon aisles of re-issues, exclusive releases and collector’s editions of albums and singles both old and new.
This year will be no different, with a slew of great music to choose from over 200 indie record stores across the UK. But with so much music on offer, you’re going to want to go in with an idea of which vinyls are definitely worth your cash. With that being said, we’ve selected our ten favourite records from Record Store Day’s mighty line-up, which you can view in the gallery below:
10 Vinyls You Should Buy on Record Store Day 2016
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie's death rocked the world earlier this year, with Record Store Day choosing to celebrate his life by offering up three exclusive releases. The most attractive of these is the 12" picture disk of The Man Who Sold The World , Bowie's third studio album which has been re-issued with its original, rare German artwork.
J Dilla - The Diary
Arguably the stand-out LP in this year's batch of Record Store Day exclusives, J Dilla's The Diary is the late rapper's "long lost vocal album", containing tracks that were found on a tape shortly after his passing in 2006. With many of the tracks mixed by Dilla himself, this is a rare LP that should be at the very top of your RSD wish list.
Sage Francis - Shit Brick House
The thoughtful Floridian rapper has a Record Store Day exclusive of his own in the form of 'Shit Brick House,' which sees him "returning to his favorite pastime of shooting political fish-in-a-barrel over a nightmarish beat that may or may not have been sampled from a horror flick." It seems that Francis has his sights locked onto Donald Trump this time around, with the RSD excerpt adding: "You can't build a big dumb wall around everyone's ear, Mr. Trump. Beats by Dre already tried that."
Foals - Rain / Daffodils
Containing the band's previously unreleased single 'Rain' alongside an oddball cover of Mark Ronson's 'Daffodils', this 7" single represents one of the only opportunities Foals fan may get to purchase new material from the band in some time, with frontman Yannis Philippakis having previously stated that they're on a break following the release of their last album back in August 2015.
Outkast - Elevators (Me & You)
The 20th anniversary of Outkast's classic album ATLiens has seen a special glow-in-the-dark, 10" "alien green" release of 'Elevators (Me & You).' It will mark the first time the single has been released on vinyl, with it also including Crazy “C” & ONP 86 remixes of the track.
Lush - Origami
A major Record Store Day exclusive, this box set contains all five Lush albums, from Spooky through to Topolino, on clear, silver, red, pink and yellow vinyls. It's a must-have for fans of the band, especially considering it features the first vinyl print of their last LP.
Mac Demarco - Another (Demo) One
A collection of lo-fi demo tracks pulled from laid back recording sessions in Mac Demarco's bedroom, for fans of the slacker singer-songwriter this is essentially peak Mac Demarco.
Florence + The Machine - Delilah / Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Florence + The Machine present an attractive RSD proposition for their fans, with them issuing an exclusive in the form of both a studio and demo version of their track 'Delilah,' as well as a very special recording of their cover of Neil Young's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart.' The band have broken out their rendition of this track at a few live shows, but this marks the first release of its studio version.
Xiu Xiu - Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks
The greatest loss in the prolonged death of physical music releases is that feeling of going into a record store, picking up a vinyl from the look of its cover alone, then excitedly hurrying home in order to find out whether or not you've just wasted your money. Record Store Day presents the opportunity to indulge in this auditory game of pot luck in the modern day, and no LP in RSD's exclusive line-up is weirder than experimental band Xiu Xiu performing their interpretation of the music of Twin Peaks . Give it a shot.
The Flaming Lips - Lightning Strikes the Postman
An alternative mix of The Flaming Lips' 1995 album Clouds Taste Metallic, Lightning Strikes The Postman will also include a comic book illustrated and written by the band's Wayne Coyne. Former Flaming Lips Richard Jones also makes a reappearance.