On Tuesday, March 8th, Record Store Day held their press conference to celebrate record stores and the launch of the 2016 Official Release list at Electric Lady Studios. Among the panelists were Lenny Kaye of The Patti Smith Group, Brian Sella of The Front Bottoms, Record Store Day co-founder Michael Kurtz, Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, Lee Foster of Electric Lady Studios and Wendy Schneider, producer/director of The Smart Studios Story.
Just as Record Store Day celebrates independent record stores of all sizes and specialties, the list is varied and covers nearly every genre of music. Once again this year, nearly 60% of the titles are from independent artists or released through independent labels and distributors.
Several artists, including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle, Jason Molina, Brandi Carlile, Florence + The Machine, Regina Spektor, John Grant, New Barbarians, and over a hundred more will release exclusive tracks for Record Store Day.
Metallica is the official Ambassador of Record Store Day 2016 and is helping RSD support and honor the victims of last year’s tragedy in Paris with the release of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, Metallica! – Live at Le Bataclan. Paris, France – June 11th, 2003, a CD featuring a live recording from the club, with the band, distributor Think Indie, Record Store Day and independent record stores donating proceeds to Fondation de France’s Give For France charity. In addition, Twenty One Pilots, Anthrax, and The Doors will be releasing Disquaire Day 7” singles in a show of solidarity and to celebrate the relationship between Record Store Day and Disquaire Day, between French record stores and US record stores, and between American and French lovers of music, art and culture. In addition, Record Store Day will see special releases from French artists Air, Erik Satie and Metal Urbain, as well as a recording of Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers’ 1977 final gig, also at Le Bataclan in Paris.
Record Store Co-founder Carrie Colliton said, “Record Store Day is not about a single genre of music or a single format, but Record Store Day has drawn a whole new audience of music fans into the world of independent record stores. This year’s line-up should continue to do that and we’ll hopefully continue to introduce the next generation of record buyers to both vinyl and the unique world of the record store.”
The Fat Angel Sings 