Record Store Day 2012 Does Ska and Reggay!

If you don't already know, Record Store Day (Saturday, April 21, 2012) is basically a way to celebrate and support the remaining bricks-and-mortar independent record stores that have managed to survive, even thrive, in the digital file-sharing/pirating age. So, in order to help draw record freaks to the shops, a host of labels press and release 100s of exclusive RSD vinyl singles and LPs that are only available for sale in these indie stores.

Typically, the a good number of the artists that are featured are from the classic rock and new wave eras (to appeal to Baby Boomers and Generation X, the last two demographic groups that grew up buying their music in physical formats from stores)--this year's US releases include reissues, remixes, rare tracks, or new material from David Bowie, The Clash, The Cult, Devo, Iggy Pop/The Stooges, PIL, Joey Ramone, Lou Reed, Luna, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Social Distortion, T-Rex, Paul Weller, and the "Pretty in Pink" and "Breakfast Club" soundtracks (plus there are loads of releases from current indie rock groups for those just coming around to the joys and pleasure of listening to and collecting vinyl...).

US-based reggae fans should know about two US RSD releases:

Lee "Scratch" Perry
Blackboard Jungle Dub (Limited Edition Box 10" Box)
Format: 10" LP
Label: Get On Down
Format: 3 x 10" vinyl box
Lee Perry's Blackboard Jungle Dub issued for the first time ever in a 10" vinyl pressing. The triple vinyl is in red, green and gold, housed in a full color box hinged box secured with a magnetic clasp. Also included is a 30" x 30" poster of the cover art.

Peter Tosh
Legalize It: Echodelic Remixes Picture Disc
Format: LP
Label: Delicious Vinyl
Format: 12" Picture Disc
Four all new “echodelic” remixes of the Tosh classic, fully licensed and endorsed by the estate of Peter Tosh, are presented here on a deluxe full color picture disc.

In addition to the Perry and Tosh releases listed above, ska and reggae fans in the UK should try to track down the following on RSD:

Keith Hudson
Bloody Eyes EP
12" packaged in the super rare original Greensleeves house bags
QTY: 300
Label: Greensleeves

The Beat
Release: “Mirror In The Bathroom,” “Too Nice To Talk To”
Format: 7-inch single picture sleeve, colored vinyl
Quantity: 750
Label: Edsel Records

The Specials
Release: The Specials Live
Format: 7-inch single
Quantity: 1,000
Label: EMI

To see all planned releases for both the US and UK versions of Record Store Day, check out the lists at Slicing Up Eyeballs. (Of course, the UK RSD has a much cooler and diverse selection of releases...)