Now that the official Record Store Day ‘25 list has been released, it’s time to take a deeper dive into the most sought after releases. Record Store Day occurs on April 12, 2025. In this article, I’ll be diving into some key re-presses, long overdue first pressings, and offer up some additional insight to the vinyl community.
Kicking things off is a trio of 30th anniversary pressings from the label 4AD. Pale Saints’ Slow Buildings, Lisa Germano’s Geek the Girl, and Belly’s King are each getting the vinyl treatment for this year’s Record Store Day observance.
The third and final album from Pale Saints, who by 1994 were the quartet of Meriel Barham (vocals/guitar), Chris Cooper (drums), Graeme Naysmith (guitar) and Colleen Browne (bassist), showcases the band’s affinity for fuzzy guitars paired with undeniable pop hooks. The special pressing of Slow Buildings sees this long out of print record being remastered and expanded for new audiences and longtime fans.
Ranked in Spin’s Top 100 albums of the 90s, Lisa Germano’s third album, Geek The Girl, is unlike most music of the period and a testament to both Lisa’s artistry and courage. Working with Abbey Road Studios in London, the album has been remastered for its 30th anniversary and has had both ‘Cry Wolf’ b-side ‘The Mirror Is Gone’ and 5 track pre-cursor EP, Inconsiderate Bitch, added to deliver the complete package. This coveted first pressing will be on double, crystal clear vinyl.
Belly found themselves at something of a crossroads when it came to following up their 1993 debut album Star - a wildly successful record that earned the band two GRAMMY nominations including the coveted Best New Artist award. Having been out of print on vinyl since its release 30 years ago, 4AD are delighted to be working with both the band and Rhino in North America to finally put it back on the shelves on Record Store Day 2025. Keeping its original sleeve design by Chris Bigg, this long demanded repress is coming on limited green vinyl with the album having been remastered by Kevin Vanbergen.
Bill Evans Further Ahead: Live in Finland (1964-1969) offers up a limited, 180-gram two-LP set from the master jazz pianist. Further Ahead comprises recordings made during the keyboardist’s Scandinavian tours of the 60’s.
Also up on the docket for classical music fans is Patsy Cline’s Imagine That: The Lost Recordings (1954-1963). This unprecedented, limited edition two-LP set, produced in association and with the full endorsement of the Patsy Cline Estate, features 48 unissued tracks, all faithfully transferred, mastered and released legitimately for the first time.
Kelsea Ballerini’s debut, The First Time, is getting a stunning pressing that features five additional tracks and a 12-page book-bound jacket on orchid splatter vinyl. The set is limited to just 2,500 copies, but is a “RSD First” variant.
Beabadoobee’s recent acoustic performance in London’s Lafayette is getting a vinyl pressing on “Red Slushy” vinyl and features ten tracks that were recorded before her latest album, This is How Tomorrow Moves. Live and Acoustic in London is limited to 4,500 copies, is a “RSD First” variant, and the recording also includes a cool backing string section.
Better Than Ezra’s How Does Your Garden Grow? Is getting a first-time vinyl pressing on “Orange Crush” vinyl via Real Gone Music. Featuring two noteworthy singles of “One More Murder” and “At The Stars”, this set is limited to 1,800 units and as a “RSD First” variant.
Charli XCX dominated the airwaves with last year’s undeniable Brat, and so it comes as little of a surprise that she is rewarded with a duo of RSD releases. “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish is a 7” record and is an exclusive Record Store Day title of 10,000 units. It features the original version of the track on the A-side, and the B-side features the remix. Additionally, Charli XCX’s Number 1 Angel “mixtape” is getting a new pressing on “Apple”-colored vinyl and it also has a pressing number of 10,000 units.
CHVRCHES are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their sophomore effort, Every Open Eye, and it’s getting the expanded pressing treatment on 2x transparent blue vinyl. Packed with a second disc of rarities like “Up In Arms” and other B-sides/remixes, this great collection is limited to 2,500 copies and is a “RSD First” variant.
Collective Soul’s Blender is getting a much-needed re-press via Craft Recordings. This single-LP pressing is limited to just 3,000 copies and is a “RSD First” release.
Joywave’s long sought after debut, How Do You Feel Now?, is also celebrating a ten-year anniversary and with it comes a double LP Yellow & Blue vinyl variant. This “RSD exclusive” set is limited to 6,000 copies and features the bonus track “Life in a Bubble.”
The Killers recently teamed up with “The Boss” at Madison Square Garden, and this great three-song encore is being pressed to vinyl via Island Records. Encore At The Garden is a “RSD First” release limited to 5,000 units and features the songs “Badlands,” “Dustland” and “Born To Run.”
The Record Store Day ‘25 Ambassador, Post Malone, is gearing up for the first time release of his Tribute To Nirvana on yellow vinyl via Republic Records. This single-LP set features several noteworthy and passionate covers of Nirvana’s catalog and the backing band features blink-182’s Travis Barker on drums, guitarist Nick Mack and bassist Brian Lee. The set is limited to 17,000 copies.
No Record Store Day celebration would be complete without Taylor Swift, right? Taylor Swift’s lead single from The Tortured Poets Department, “Fortnight” features guest vocals from Post Malone and is pressed on a 7” white vinyl, with no pressing numbers available at the time of publication.
Wallows recently announced their new single called “Your Favorite Song” and this coincides with an EP titled More, which is getting the RSD treatment. This single LP is pressed on Evergreen and White vinyl, with no pressing numbers available at the time of publication.
This is just the tip of the iceberg that is Record Store Day. Be sure to check in with your local indie record store near you to put your requests in for the titles that you are most looking forward to. This will greatly help your local shop owners in determining the demand for key titles and possibly influence their ordering plan.