BeatCaffeine’s ‘Record Store Day 2020 Part 1’ Recommendations
Record Store Day has typically been an annual event that has took place in mid-April. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s RSD was originally postponed to June 20th, and unfortunately moved again to now three separate Saturday dates, August 29th, September 26th, and October 24th. Even though many record stores have been able to find ways to open up again in a limited capacity, it’s safe to say like everything in 2020, this year’s RSD will be very different than what it has been in the past.
With the original intention of the day to bring attention to local record shops globally, much of the focus of RSD has in recent years, been on the limited-edition releases associated with the annual event. I’ve personally always had mixed feeling regarding RSD. I obviously love the original intent of drawing attention to your neighborhood record shops and digging spots, however I often feel that the RSD releases have now overshadowed what should be the main focus, and that is supporting record stores. If the exclusive releases are what draws more people in, then great, however it shouldn’t be the only time someone visits a record store each year.
A couple of years ago on RSD, I stood in a long line for about an hour to get into one of my local shops. Once the doors opened, people flocked into the store like it was Black Friday at Walmart and grabbed each and every RSD release. The majority of the shoppers then just got in line, and the whole event was over in 30 minutes. In and out, without even saying hello to the shop’s owner or digging through the rows of used crates. As a person, prior to the pandemic, visited my local record shops on a weekly basis, this was an unfortunate experience to witness. So I think it’s important as we get excited and purchase RSD releases, we recognize the original intention of what Record Store Day was meant to be all about, and that is showing love to your favorite local record shops.
With that being said, this year’s RSD features a number of incredible and attention-worthy exclusive releases. Due to the pandemic, many of these releases will be available sooner than usual online. To help navigate the hundreds of tomorrow’s RSD releases, BeatCaffeine has put together a short list of recommendations below. Given COVID-19, if you cannot make it to your neighborhood record spot, please find a creative way to say thank you to those shops that continue to make all of this great music available. More than ever, they need your support!
BeatCaffeine Record Store Day 2020 Recommendations
Various — ‘Brazil Funk Power’ 7inch Box Set
(Soul Jazz Records)
London-based Soul Jazz Records releases an incredible collection of rare and classic ’70s era Brazilian funk and samba soul cuts across five individual 7inch singles housed in a box set. Includes music by Jorge Ben, Brasil Ritmo, Azymuth, Donato, Deodato, Tim Maia, Dom Um Romao and more.
Sun Ra — ‘Egypt 1971‘
(Strut)
Strut releases a massive Sun Ra 5LP box set featuring the 3 previously released albums recorded in Cairo: Dark Myth Equation Visitation, Horizon, and Nidhamu. The remaining 2 LPs feature entirely unreleased recordings from the sessions, recorded at the house of Hartmut Geerken in Heliopolis and Ballon Theatre in Cairo. This official release is in conjunction with Estate Of Sun Ra.
Ezra Collective — ‘Samuel L. Riddim’ 12″
(Enter The Jungle Records)
Breakthrough London Afrobeat-meets-jazz ensemble Ezra Collective release their funky dancefloor groover “Samuel L.Riddim” on vinyl for the first time, backed on the b-side by the incredible new track “Dark Side Riddim”. The twelve-inch gatefold single is pressed on splattered color vinyl.
Minnie Riperton — ‘Les Fleur / Oh By The Way’ 7″
(Selector Series)
Selector Series releases a 7-inch remastered, reissue of Minnie Riperton’s iconic 1970 cosmic soul gem “Les Fleur”. The equally serene “Oh By The Way” is featured on the b-side. Highly recommended!
Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul — ‘s/t’
(Mr Bongo)
UK’s Mr Bongo label officially reissues the obscure 1973 soul-funk self-titled album by Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul, which features the massive funk gem “(I’ve Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind”.
Various — ‘Brazil 45’ 7inch Box Set (curated by DJ Format)
(Mr Bongo)
If one Brazilian box set is not enough, Mr Bongo is also releasing the 5-part 7inch collection featuring ten funk-psyche-break-beat Brazilian gems from the ’60s and early ’70s. Compiled by Brighton’s DJ Format, the compiled collection features music by The Modern Tropical Quintet, Toni Tornado, Manito, Free-son, Marisa Rossi, Antonio Adolfo, Os Novos Bahianos, and many others.
Don Cherry — ‘Cherry Jam’
(Gearbox Records)
Gearbox Records unearths four previously unreleased recordings by legendary trumpeter Don Cherry. Including three new compositions, this limited-edition release was taken from a session recorded in 1965, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Milton Nascimento — ‘Ultimo Trem’
(Far Out Recordings)
For the first time on vinyl, Far Out Recordings releases Milton Nascimento’s brilliant 1980 album Ultimo Trem. Featuring much of the same all-star line-up as the recently reissued Maria Maria, this double LP includes legendary Brazilian musicians Nana Vasconcelos, Joao Donato, Paulinho Jobim and members of Som Imaginario, amongst many others, like Maria Maria, the album holds what Milton himself considers to be the definitive versions of some of his most beloved tracks, including ‘Saidas E Bandeiras’ and ‘Ponte de Areia’.
Ivan “Mamão” Conti — ‘Poison Fruit’
(Far Out Recordings)
Far Out Recordings re-releases Ivan ‘Mamao’ Conti (of the legendary Brazilian jazz-funk/fusion group Azymuth) critically acclaimed rootsy electronic samba 2019 Poison Fruit album, which includes a limited edition 7inch with an unreleased track from the original Katmandu sessions. Both records are pressed on grey “splattered” vinyl.
Fela Ransome Kuti & His Highlife Rakers — ‘Fela’s First: The Complete 1959 Melodisc Session’
(Cadillac Records)
Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Ransome Kuti’s first recordings of highlife and calypso, recorded in London back in 1959, on a limited edition 10inch release. Considered lost, two of the tracks featured on this four track recording are released here for the first time ever. Absolutely essential!
To learn more about Record Store Day, and all of this year’s releases, visit here. Now go support your local record shop!
