BeatCaffeine’s Record Store Day 2025 Recommendations
This Saturday, April 12th is Record Store Day 2025, which over the last several years, has greatly become the prime day for many labels to release limited-edition or never-before-released vinyl albums, singles, compilations and reissues — often (even to BeatCaffeine’s disliking) on color vinyl. You can even make the argument that this annual event has become more like “record label day” or “new vinyl collectables day”, given its evolution. While the day usually attracts many hardcore collectors (sometimes camping out for 10-12 hours or more), shops also often see a large influx of casual music fans and even a few that might be buying their first record. Regardless, these are all great things.
In past posts I’ve expressed my “very complicated feelings” about RSD, and therefore there is no need to delve into those thoughts again here (even though I fully stand by them and support those Record Shops that have chosen to not participate with official RSD inventory). With an inflow of special RSD releases, I’ll focus my energy on some of BeatCaffeine’s recommended releases that will hit shelves (for probably only an hour or less … reminder, don’t panic — the records are often issued again, even when it’s marketed that they won’t be).
Similar to the the past years on Record Store Day, I would like to request four things:
1) Include at least one non-RSD release in your purchases (used or new)
2) Crucial: Before you make your way to the record shops this Saturday, please read BeatCaffeine’s Record Shopping Etiquette: The Do’s, The Don’ts, and Best Practices
3) Most importantly, have fun digging and be nice to everyone in the shops and be respectable to everyone around you. Record shopping is fun, so let’s keep it that way.
4) For BeatCaffeine, everyday is “record store day”, so make sure to return and support your favorite shops throughout the year.
In no particular order, here are BeatCaffeine’s recommended 2025 Record Store Day releases
(as always I’m sure I missed a few)
Sun Ra — ‘Nuits De La Fondation Maeght’ 6xLP Box Set
(Strut)
In what now has begun to feel like an annual tradition on Record Store Day (in a great way), London-based Strut Records continues it’s deep dive into the cosmic universe of Sun Ra’s highly expansive catalogue, releasing the group’s full recordings from the 1970 Nuits de la Fondation Maeght festival. Recorded over two nights, these were the first concerts Ra and the Arkestra had performed outside North America and featured one of the great Arkestra line-ups with mainstays John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Pat Patrick, Danny Davis and Danny Ray Thompson. The 6xLP set is housed in a hardboard box and includes a reprint of the original festival programme, a 12-page over-sized booklet featuring liner notes by Daniel Caux, Jacqueline Caux and Paul Griffiths and stunning restored photos of the festival by Philippe Gras.
Various — ‘Timeless Jazz Classics Vol.02‘
Compiled by Gilles Peterson
(Music On Vinyl / Timeless Records)
As a follow-up to last year’s Record Store Day exclusive vinyl reprise of the 2015 Timeless Jazz Classics compilation, Gilles Peterson has now put together Volume Two, celebrating the prominent Netherlands-based label. Featuring tracks by Louis Hayes, Machito And His Salsa Big Band, Mike Nock Quartet, George Adams – Don Pullen Quartet, as well as previously unreleased version of “Morning Song” (Live In Bremen 1978) by Eric Kloss & Barry Miles and bonus track “La Pacita” by the Marion Brown Quartet. For this RSD release, this record will be on translucent blue colored vinyl (last year Volume 1 was released on silver, and then later on black wax).
Idris Ackamoor Ankhestra, Rhodessa Jones & Danny Glover — ‘Artistic Being’
(Strut)
For half a century, saxophonist and bandleader Idris Ackamoor, with his longtime legendary group The Pyramids, has been one of the pioneer artists at the forefront of Afrofuturism and spiritual jazz. Similar to their work with Sun Ra, Strut Records has been issuing new and classic works celebrating the innovative sounds of Ackamoor and The Pyramids. For this year’s Record Store Day, the label will release a 2024 live San Francisco recording of and expanded version of the Pyramids, dubbed The Ankhestra with special guests Danny Glover and Rhodessa Jones, who provided spoken word and poetry to the performance. This 9-track recording captures one of the greatest concert events of Idris Ackamoor’s illustrious career.
Alessandroni E Il Suo Complesso — ‘L’Ora Del Cocktail’
(Far Out Recordings)
Far Out Recordings pulls out all the stops for this year’s Record Store Day, reissuing for the first time since the late 70s, one of the most notable and unique jazz-focused lounge albums of it’s time in L’Ora Del Cocktail by legendary Italian composer and multi-instrumentalist Alessandro Alessandroni. Originally released in 1974, this 10-track album is a perfect blend of psychedelic jazz, bossa nova, lush instrumentation, and Italian library grooves, resulting in a timeless lounge sound that definitely sets a cool 70s sonic vibe.
Various — ‘Gilles Peterson Presents: International Anthem’
(International Anthem)
Over the last two decades you can make a strong case that there hasn’t been a more forward-thinking record label for jazz and experimental music than International Anthem. For this year’s Record Store Day, legendary DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson has compiled a 29-track compilation featuring selections he has played on his BBC 6 Music and Worldwide FM radio shows as a celebration of the longtime connection between the two entities. The 2xLP compilation also includes a previously unreleased track from Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti and Frank Rosaly, which was recorded live on the Peterson-founded online radio station Worldwide FM.
Various — ‘Brazil 45 Vol.6’ 7″ Box Set
Compiled by BadBadNotGood
(Mr Bongo)
In what has become another Record Store Day tradition, UK’s Mr Bongo label and record shop teams up with Canadian jazz-funk group BadBadNotGood to issues volume 6 of it’s highly-acclaimed and collectible 7″ box set. Featuring five unique 45s, the Brazilian flavored selections range from 60’s gems to modern day classics, including tracks by Antonio Adolfo E A Brazuca, Naire, Guiherme Coutinho and Grupo Stal, The Menahan Street Band, Rogê, O Terno and more!
Sabrina Malheiros — ‘Equilibria’
(Far Out Recordings)
For the last two decades, vocalist Sabrina Malheiros (daughter of Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros) has been one of the prominent voices in Brazilian “nu jazz” and modern bossa nova, releasing four now classic original studio albums for Far Out Recordings. For this year’s Record Store Day, Joe Davis’ Far Out label reissues Sabrina’s stunning and hard-to-find debut, Equilibria, which included a superb blend of sambas and bossa grooves. The recording was produced by prolific producer and her partner Daniel Maunick, and also features members of Azymuth, as well as the legendary Incognito frontman and guitarist Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick (also of STR4TA).
Sun Ra — ‘Stray Voltage’
(Modern Harmonic)
Not for the faint of heart, the Modern Harmonic continues their deep dive into what seems endless Sun Ra catalog, compiling a release featuring previously-unreleased otherworldly wild cosmic electronic peregrinations recorded by Sun Ra and the Arkestra during the 1970s and ’80s featuring a heavy dose of soundscapes with electronic keyboards. Space continues to definitely be the place!
Jose James / Ben Westbeech — ‘Brownswood Remix Editions 005’ 12″
(Brownswood Recordings)
Over the last year, one of the best 12inch series to emerge is the Brownswood Remix Editions featuring reworked dancefloor focused versions of music released off of Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. In just a short timespan, the series has produced must-own singles featuring music by Bokani Dyer, Oreglo, Lefto Early Bird, and Galliano, with remixes by Musclecars, Laroye, Danalogue, Izco & Reeko, Kid Fonque and others. For Record Store Day, Brownswood will be issuing the fifth edition, which will include reinterpretations by Joe Claussell of Daymé Arocena and Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band, and Moodymann putting his creative imprint on José James’ “Desire”.
Pharoah Sanders — ‘Izipho Zam (My Gifts)’
(Strata-East Records / Mack Avenue)
Recently, Mack Avenue has teamed up with Strata-East Records to make their iconic catalog finally available digitally, and once again on vinyl (given the massive prices now for most of the original copies). This Record Store Day marks the first release of what I assume will be many from the new Strata-East reissue series, kicking off with Pharoah Sanders’ 1969 recorded masterpiece Izipho Zam (My Gifts). Originally released in 1973, the wildey adventurous 3-track recording features a heavy-hitting 13-member ensemble, including Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Liston Smith, Sonny Fortune, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart, Leon Thomas and others. This well-crafted gatefold vinyl edition includes new liner notes by Harmony Holiday and never-before-seen photos.
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