This year’s Record Store Day occurs this Saturday, April 12th, 2025. Get your lists ready and prepare to dive into the key vinyl releases for this celebration of indie record stores. The Record Store Day “Ambassador” for ’25 is Post Malone, and he shared in a press release:
What an honor, I can’t believe I was chosen to be Record Store Day’s Ambassador for 2025. Record Store Day is so important and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive. We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road, seeing all the crazy artwork, the whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring. I feel at home. It’s really an unexplainable feeling to hit up a shop and dig through crates, just see what grabs your eye. You can be looking for something super specific and end up finding something totally different. It’s the best. Keep supporting y’all and let’s keep records and these local shops going strong. Happy Record Store Day everybody!”
In this article, I’ll be providing some tips & tricks for navigating this year’s Record Store Day observance, plus some early previews of some of the key titles. You can also check out my initial RSD ’25 preview here.
First, a few key things to remember:
- There are three categories of Record Store Day Titles:
EXCLUSIVES: These titles are physically released only at indie record stores.
RSD FIRST: These titles are found first at indie record stores but may be released to other retailers or webstores at some point in the future.
SMALL RUN/REGIONAL TITLES: These titles are either regionally based and sold at specific stores, or are press runs under 1000, which means they may be harder to find at record stores around the country. - Many of these RSD titles are in “limited” variety, so that usually means waking up early to secure your place in line. I’d highly recommend calling your local record store, or visiting their social media page, to see if they offer any guidance on how the queue will be operated. While most stores opt for a “first come, first served” mentality, other stores hand out physical, numbered tickets for patrons to know their exact place in line.
- Record Store Day is meant to be a celebration of indie record stores! Yes, scalpers suck and are definitely ruining the fun, but even if you don’t find the title(s) you’re looking for this Record Store Day, many indie record stores will sell their leftovers online as early as this Sunday. Check your favorite indie record store websites to see when they will release their stock so you can set your alarm and secure your next favorite record. Additionally, the Record Store Day website recently launched the Indie Record Store Day Marketplace to help you with finding those key titles at retail price.
Collective Soul – Blender
This “RSD First” release is limited to 3,000 copies and comes courtesy of Craft Recordings. The 25th anniversary album is pressed on a gorgeous “Translucent Cobalt Blue” vinyl that is a housed in a full-color lyric sleeve.
A Day To Remember – Attack of the Killer B-Sides
The 15th anniversary of A Day To Remember’s Attack of the Killer B-Sides is getting pressed for the first time on 10″ vinyl (all previous variants were pressed on 7″ vinyl). The “RSD Exclusive” limited edition version of the 2010 EP is being pressed on orange vinyl, cut at 45 RPM, and is limited to 2,000 units. It features two covers and two B-sides from the band’s early material.
Dead Sara – Ain’t It Tragic
The new Linkin Park front-woman, Emily Armstrong, has her original band (Dead Sara) releasing their third album (Ain’t It Tragic) for the first time on vinyl. It is limited to 3,100 copies and is pressed on “Lemonade” colored vinyl. Dead Sara recently did an “unboxing” video of the release here.
Rage Against The Machine – Live On Tour 1993
This “RSD First” 2x LP set from Rage Against The Machine comes via Legacy Recordings and is limited to 15,000 copies. The set is advertised as “unreleased, unmixed, and raw” and showcases the band at the height of their career. It is a compilation of various performances during that year, and features 10 key songs from their discography. The vinyl includes three sides of music and a cool etching on the fourth side.
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Arguably the most sought after vinyl release this year, Taylor Swift is teaming up with the Record Store Day Ambassador, Post Malone, to release a 7″ dual-sided single of “Fortnight.” Record Store Day did not share the pressing number for this release, but I did see some of my local shops advertise that they had obtained at least 200 (!) copies.
Best of luck this Saturday, and remember that every day can be “Record Store Day” if you continue to support your local indie record shops!