The Fat Angel Sings

This 50th Anniversary edition comes on five LPs and expands on the original with 42 additional tracks – curated by Lenny Kaye and supervised by Elektra Records’ founder Jac Holzman. 

There are a lot of classic rock fans — or aficionados of obscure classic rock, if that’s not an oxymoron — that will be looking for this boxed set as the first thing they do when they get in the store. The pressing quantity is high for an item that retails for around $100, so the supply should meet the demand for a while, though you may well have to hit more than one shop. You’ll be glad you did: This probably counts as one of the most essential Record Store Day releases ever, for rock history buffs. If you’re not familiar with the original “Nuggets” release from 50 years ago, it was a collection that evinced nostalgia for something that had transpired only about five or six years before: the intersection of garage-rock and psychedelia.

Still the daddy of all 60s psychedelic pop collections, the original double-disc “Nuggets” was lovingly compiled by music writer and future Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye, under the supervision of Elektra Records’ boss Jac Holzman, in 1972. Inspiring the early punk movement, the compilation also laid the groundwork for further 60s psych-pop collections, such as the multi-volume Pebbles series, before expanding to four discs for a CD box set reissue in 1998.

There was a plan to follow that 1973 comp with a two-LP “Vol. II” — it never came out, but it’s included here, at last. And so is a fifth disc (!) of songs that had been considered for either collection but didn’t make the cut. The expanded set is curated now, as it was in ’73, by the great Lenny Kaye, of Patti Smith Group and other fame. He and fellow history buffs Jac Holzman and Bill Inglot have contributed liner notes to a 16-page booklet that accompanies the individually jacketed slide-out LP jackets-within-a-jacket. A “Nuggets” neophyte will know a few of the tracks (“I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night),” “Pushin’ Too Hard”), but what a voyage of discovery this is. “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” said the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, and man, we do.

The original “Nuggets” showcased a few acts, such as The Electric Prunes, 13th Floor Elevators and The Shadows Of Knight, who did enjoy a bit of a career (or at least established a legend) in music, though many of the acts featured on its additional discs rapidly disappeared back into obscurity, leaving behind just one fantastic single to prove they existed. Collectively, though, these short-lived 60s US outfits bequeathed us a seminal psych-flavoured smorgasbord to tuck into – one which vinyl lovers can again greedily chow down on thanks to the expanded “Nuggets’ first appearance on wax.

A seminal collection, this 5LP edition easily tops our list of the best Record Store Day 2023 releases.

Original mixes by album producer Graham Gouldman and 3 additional songs from the sessions not included on the original album. Will feature alternative artwork found in the Warner Library. Yellow vinyl

Produced by 10cc’s Graham Gouldman, The Ramones’ sixth studio album, “Pleasant Dreams”, remains an unsung part of the NYC punks’ catalogue. Even polarising opinion within Ramones themselves, many of the album’s pop-punk highlights “She’s A Sensation”, “The KKK Took My Baby Away” and the angry “We Want The Airwaves” are right up there with the best Ramones songs. Pleasant Dreams makes a timely return on yellow vinyl, its status as one of the best Record Store Day 2023 releases secure, thanks to the inclusion of three extra tracks and alternate artwork from the vaults.

The Ramones’ “Pleasant Dreams” might not receive the accolades “Leave Home” or “Rocket to Russia”, but it is an interesting work in its own right. In 1981, Joey’s pop heart and Johnny’s hard-rock leanings converged to deliver one of the most sonically diverse works in the band’s catalogue. These rough and ready New York mixes with album producer Graham Gouldman yield raw versions of favorites such as “We Want The Airwaves” and “The KKK Took My Baby Away” as well as three songs not included in the original track listing, namely the Beach Boys-evoking “Touring” (which would later appear on 1992’s “Mondo Bizarro“). If you’re curious about how this record sounded before the 10cc guy glossed it up, make sure you pick this up.

Released On Sire Records

The early 80s was quite a time for Talking Heads fans. Not only were the band releasing seminal albums such as “Remain In Light”, but the individual members all weighed in with memorable solo projects. David Byrne and Brian Eno’s “My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts” copped the critical plaudits, while Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth won hearts with their spin off Tom Tom Club. However, guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Harrison was the dark horse, with his underrated solo debut, 1981’s “The Red And The Black“, tapping into a dense and fascinating seam of urban funk. Still ripe for rediscovery, the record returns as part of a suitably fetching red and black vinyl set; it’s been recut from the original master tapes and comes with a disc of previously unreleased outtakes and alternate mixes.

Whether it was with the Modern Lovers or Talking Heads, multi-instrumentalist Jerry Harrison was the secret weapon that pushed both groups to creative heights. His 1981 solo debut is one of the lost treasures of the Talking Heads multiverse, featuring guest vocals from Nona Hendryx and guitar sparks from current tourmate Adrian Belew. This limited edition expanded edition to be released on Record Store Day adds on a full bonus LP worth of instrumental versions of the album’s funky, angular nine songs, recut from the original tapes.

Formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, Pixies are one of the key acts associated with the late 1980’s American alternative rock scene and were also considered a big influence on acts such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead.

The more obscure of the two RSD 2023 releases from the Pixies (the Massachusetts band is also releasing their 2009 Brussels gig on vinyl), “Demos” comprises the nine (of 17) tracks that were recorded in the band’s first studio session in March 1987 but didn’t make their first album, “Come On Pilgrim”.

These remaining songs from that 17-track demo reel, which has become known as ‘The Purple Tapes’, were released for the first time in 2002, but this EP marks their debut on 10-inch vinyl, which, by the way, is purple, comes with a printed inner sleeve and is limited in quantity. While this isn’t new or unheard material – these songs found their way onto subsequent albums from the band in some shape or form, after all – these original demo recordings, especially of “Here Comes Your Man” and “Rock A My Soul”, are very tasty indeed – and together here on coloured wax make for an attractive collector’s item for diehard fans.

‘Demos’ comes in a Limited Edition 10” EP pressed on purple vinyl with a printed inner sleeve.

The songs on this release were recorded by Pixies in March 1987 and were included in what has come to be known by diehard fans as ‘The Purple Tapes’. From this collection of 17 songs, 8 were chosen to comprise Pixies’ first album – ‘Come On Pilgrim’. The 9 remaining songs are featured on this release.

Available for the first time on 10” vinyl, including original demo recordings of ‘Here Comes Your Man’, ‘Broken Face’, ‘Down To The Well’ and ‘Rock A My Soul’.

Released on Cooking Vinyl Records

Denton, TX indie folk-rock pioneers Midlake announce their first catalogue-spanning double live album, “Live At Roundhouse”. Recorded at London’s historic Roundhouse in April 2022, the album includes material from their latest album “For The Sake Of Bethel Woods”, fan favourites from 2013’s exploratory Antiphon, dark psych-folk thickets of 2010’s “The Courage of Others“, and the highly wondrous and critically acclaimed modern classics of 2006’s “The Trials of Van Occupanther”.

A pivotal city to the band’s success and their dedicated fanbase, London was the obvious show to record during their most recent tour. Midlake’s Eric Pulido shares, “Since our early days, London has been like a second home. We’ve been embraced so warmly all of these years and knew our show at The Roundhouse would serve as the perfect night to celebrate our 20-year relationship with our first live album.” A long overdue retrospective, “Live at Roundhouse” includes 75+ minutes of music including Midlake classics “Roscoe,” “The Old and the Young,” “Head Home,” and “Acts of Man,” featuring vocals from singer/songwriter Bess Atwell.

We are pleased to announce our first-ever live album, “Live At Roundhouse”, coming to you April 22nd for Record Store Day UK / Record Store Day on Bella Union and ATO Records.

Recorded on April 6th, 2022 at the historic Roundhouse in London, the double LP will be pressed on Translucent Orange and Translucent Red 180 gram vinyl with expansive artwork by our friend and photographer Andy Little. Also big thanks to Tom Bejgrowicz for nailing our vision with the packaging.

The album showcases material from our entire catalog including “Roscoe,” “The Old and the Young” “Head Home,” and “Acts of Man,” featuring guest vocals from Bess Atwell.

Thanks to everyone who played a part in the making of this record. The live double album is actually the indie rockers’ first, which spans its catalogue, featuring tracks from latest album “For the Sake Of Bethel Woods”, and ventures back through their direction-changing “Antiphon” (the first post-lead-singer-Tim-Smith record), their ‘very Midlake’ “The Courage Of Others“, and of course the die-hard classics from 2006’s “The Trials Of Van Occupanther” – ya Roscoes and Head Homes and whatnot.

These superior example of a live albums that are only being made available on vinyl, and only for RSD (for now, at least). Midlake has not been around for 20 years, of course, but on this career-surveying set, they sound like they’ve been around for 50+ — they’re so in touch with a kind of moody rock timelessness that you can easily close your eyes and imagine Bill Graham is in the wings, putting them on between Santana and Ten Years After.

The packaging showcases a gorgeous matte-board double album, printed on Translucent Red (Side A) and Translucent Orange (Side B) 180-gram vinyl, with expansive artwork by photographer Andy Little. “Live At Roundhouse” is a true collector’s item for any fan of the band.

If you missed the recent joint stadium headlining dates by these two, here’s a chance to recreate ’em on your turntable, kind of. These are two examples of live album that were previously squeezed into a boxed set, now made available as independent titles for the first time. In the case of Nicks, her December 1981 performance at L.A.’s Fox Wilshire Theatre — needless to say, that would count as an underplay now — was part of a 2016 deluxe CD edition of her first solo album, and includes material from that as well as what she’d done with Fleetwood Mac to date. More than 40 years later, her solo performances still include a lot of this material, of course.

One of rock’s all-time great vocalists, at the peak of her powers, performing tracks from one of her great albums, and some of Fleetwood Mac’s most-loved songs, live on stage; what more could we ask for? 

Another title making its vinyl debut among the best Record Store Day 2023 releases, Bella Donna Live captures Stevie Nicks on stage during her White Winged Dove Tour, at Los Angeles’ Fox Wilshire Theatre, on 13th December 1981. Part of the tour to promote Nicks’ quadruple platinum solo debut album, “Bella Donna”, the show features sublime versions of many highlights among the best Stevie Nicks songs (Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, Leather And Lace, Edge Of Seventeen), in addition to Fleetwood Mac perennials “Gold Dust Woman”, “Dreams”, “Sara” and “Rhiannon“.

Available for the first time on vinyl, this 2LP set features Stevie Nicks live recording from the ‘White Winged Dove Tour’ at the Fox Wilshire Theatre on December 13th 1981. The show included tracks from “Bella Donna” including “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Leather and Lace” and “Edge of Seventeen,” along with Fleetwood Mac favourites “Gold Dust Woman,” “Dreams,” “Sara” and “Rhiannon.” Black vinyl

Released on Rhino / Atlantic ?

Exclusive vinyl pressing of Amythyst Kiah’s “Pensive Pop” EP. The common themes throughout this record address the lamenting external factors that can impede us on our journey in life and the struggle to accept and work through those challenges. Fear is at the centre of all these songs: fear of rejection, fear of change, fear of sobriety, fear of living in the present. “Pensive Pop” is Kiah’s reinterpretation of pop/rock songs in order to bring more attention to the stories being told.

How good a song was Tori Amos’ “Sugar”? Good enough that it pops up, improbably after 30 years, on two Record Store Day releases this year — Amos’ own, as mentioned above, but also this four-song EP of covers from the estimable Kiah. She’s been rocking some of these songs on tour, and shows a lot of savvy in her picks, from Green Day’s “Hitchin’ a Ride” to one of Katy Perry’s most unexpectedly stealth-mature songs, “Chained to the Rhythm.” Three of the covers are fairly loud or high-energy, but a quieter closing take on Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” really delivers the lamentable goods.

Boygenius were the musical guests on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last night (April 20th), and they performed their song “Not Strong Enough.”

“Not Strong Enough” appears on the Boygenius’ highly-anticipated debut album, “The Record”, which arrived earlier this month. The Kimmel appearance arrives between the weekends of Coachella, where the band will return to the Outdoor Stage on Saturday. Lucy Dacus used the first weekend’s set as an opportunity to speak up in support of trans youth, with Phoebe Bridgers adding, “And abortion rocks. And fuck Ron DeSantis.” The day before, the trio joined Muna for a performance of “Silk Chiffon.”

Later this year, Boygenius will tour America in support of The Record,

This Is The Kit, the group led by Paris-based bandleader Kate Stables, today announced the band’s new album “Careful of Your Keepers”–produced by Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals)–will be released on June 9th, 2023, via Rough Trade Records. The album’s propulsive yet introspective lead single “Inside Outside” finds Stables as magnetic as ever, joined once again by her stalwart band of Rozi Plain(bass/vocals), Neil Smith (guitar), and Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums), and accented by a cascading horn quartet arrangement by Jesse Vernon.

“Careful Of Your Keepers” is daring and soft, cutting and warm–a wild feat of complexity and combined dispositions. There’s a shared language of the band’s family experience that is as audible as ever in these recordings, which boast beautiful instrumental performances that still leave the nuanced space required for Stables’ vocals to live at the forefront. “The album was nearly called Goodbye Bite. And in a way it still is,” says Stables. “I went for “Careful of Your Keepers” in the end. It’s one of my favourite songs on the album, a song that for me holds the general feeling of the album as a whole. The fragility of things. Of situations. Of relationships. Of humans. What we do to look after each other and ourselves. The passing of time and what that does to us, and how we live our lives going forward.”

Guiding the ship through changing seas is producer Rhys. Stables described his role as being a “tonesetter,” watchful and attentive to the band dynamics while making sure to always follow a hunch for where a new sound could find its place in the recording. “I’ve always loved the idea of working with him somehow, and when this album started getting planned, I realized that maybe this was my chance to reach out and see if he was up for working together,” Stables explains. “And he was! As if that wasn’t enough, he was also up for doing a bit of singing on the record, which totally blew my mind and made my year. His way with harmony and melody and the tone and quality of his voice is a totally killer combo.”

“They are so ridiculously talented–and every member is a great producer in their own right–so it was just a matter of trying to capture the magic they make when playing live together,” Rhys says of the recording process. “Their playing is by default so thoughtful and complimentary in terms of respect to each other’s parts and to the integrity of the songs themselves that it creates a beautiful foundation of often cosmic interplay that’s always in aid of Kate’s voice and vision as a songwriter.

We are celebrating 20 years of “Want One”! Both “Want One” & “Want Two” have been remastered – “Want One” also has a newly designed gatefold jacket & “Want Two” is now a double LP with a newly designed gatefold jacket. In addition, The Go or Go Ahead (Live) + Waiting for a Dream (Live) 7 Inch has never been on vinyl until now and if you pre-order both albums you will receive the 7 inch for free! Every purchase includes a 16 page fanzine featuring an interview with me, a track by track guide to the albums, rare photos + more.

Rufus Wainwright’s eminently desirable pair of pop masterpieces, ‘Want One’ (2003) and ‘Want Two’ (2004), is now on coloured vinyl for the very first time, exclusively from Bandbox!

‘Want One,’ named the best album of 2003 by VH1 and Paste, arrives in July on 2xLP metallic bronze vinyl, while its 2004 follow-up, nominated for top honors at the Juno and GLAAD award ceremonies, is on metallic silver wax. Beautifully lush, baroque arrangements like “Oh What a World,” “Dinner at Eight” and “Little Sister” earned each album a spot in the prestigious music criticism compendium 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

These Bandbox exclusive color pressings are accompanied by the Rufus Wainwright issue of our signature artist fanzine, this time featuring an interview with the celebrated songwriter and composer, exclusive photography and much more.

Fans who purchase both ‘Want One’ and ‘Want Two’ receive a brand-new seven-inch single (on metallic silver vinyl) sporting live performances of album tracks “Go or Go Ahead” and “Waiting for a Dream” for free!