Record Store Day: Our Favourite Vinyl
This Saturday 13th April, over 200 independent UK record shops will come together to celebrate Record Store Day. Exclusive vinyl drops, artist performances and events will bring together vinyl lovers across the country – it’s an amazing opportunity to do some crate digging and perhaps even find a few bargains while you’re at it.
For the Leland Music and Leland Originals teams, Record Store Day is an opportunity to geek out over new releases, old reissues, and hidden gems. Here are some of their favourite ever purchases…
Ed Bailie picks: De La Soul “3 Feet High and Rising"
I’ve been crate digging for a copy of De La Soul “3 Feet High and Rising” for longer than I care to remember. Although I’ve been tempted by silly expensive copies online I’ve never been able to justify taking the plunge. It’s also not on streaming services (yet), so you can imagine my excitement when this limited edition 30th anniversary reissue was announced by VinylMePlease a few months ago.
Flicking through the racks in the vain hope of finding an earlier pressing no doubt lead me to picking up many other gems along the way – part of why supporting your local record store is a must.
Buy the vinyl here.
Toby Williams picks: Prince Of Denmark "8" (or "∞")
An audaciously presented (and priced) 8 x vinyl only release from 2017's #1 mystery man of techno. Rumoured to have an infinite number of possible track combinations (thus the debate over its actual title – depends which way you hold the box) – as each copy differs in terms of sequencing, whole tracks, or select production elements. It's either tantalisingly cryptic or maddeningly pretentious depending on your disposition. The wooden box it comes in is definitely very pretty though.
Grab the vinyl here.
Gary Downing picks: Iggy Pop “Post Pop Depression: Live At The Royal Albert Hall”
Codie Childs picks: Childish Gambino “Awaken My Love” Limited Edition Box Set
This was the special edition box set of Childish Gambino’s mind-blowing third album, Awaken My Love. I’m all about the music, of course – this record in particular was so unexpected from him but brilliant from start to finish and It’s already a classic as far as I’m concerned – but I was also drawn to the album’s visually arresting Afro-Futurist artwork. The box set has a glow-in-the-dark cover and came with a VR headset and app which allowed you to immerse yourself in a live performance by the artist.
Grab the vinyl here.
Katherine Melling picks: Radiohead “In Rainbows”
Picked because it was a game changer. I’m no fanatical Radiohead supporter, happy to miss most of (what became) their seminal 1997 headline set at Glastonbury because I was busy waiting for a very delayed Primal Scream to appear in the dance tent. However, despite the clunkiness of the campaign and messaging around the release, it succeeded in opening up a conversation about the value of music and the link between the artist and the product. Along with the pay-what-you-want download, it was also an important release during the early days of the vinyl revival. I bought it for my then boyfriend, but fought to keep it in the break up. I think ‘All I Need’ is still my favourite Radiohead track.
Grab the vinyl here.
