The Top Record Store Day Releases (Non Jazz) : Ranked & Reviewed

Thanks A LOT, Mazzy. I just hunted down the Lowell & the Beefheart from online retailers based on your reviews & along the way I picked up FOUR MORE (!) that I wanted but got gun shy on Saturday, ON TOP of the four I that actually DID buy! That’s what happens when RSD & 4/20 are on the same day…

Thanks for reminding me of the Gandalf album. I came across this many years ago and it had completely fallen off my radar. It is indeed a fine recording and thoroughly deserves to be in your list.

Great stuff. I was pretty bummed because I had to fly out of town on business that morning and missed getting Chris Isaak. Everything was gone from my local shop but I was able to hunt down Bowie Waiting in the Sky which I’m happy with. My buddy got to see the sweethearts tour in PA, but they never came to Utah, would have loved to pick that up as well but it’s gone. You’re right $78 is crazy! Thanks for the video.

Dear Mazzy, I am speechless by the beauty of Gene Clark No Other sessions : OMG the side C…thanks Mazzy for this precious advice years ago !

Mazzy, superb review of your favorites from RSD. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for another great video Mazzy. Unfortunately my RSD pick up wasn’t as great as yours but I was able to get SRC. I really wanted the Gandalf record but the store only had one copy which of course they sold. Anyway, great video. ✌️

Hey Mazzy - missed on the Tharpe. Good stuff you highlight. I was hoping that you would’ve reviewed the Acetone live record. But as you said…

Very entertaining and informative...as always. Thx Mazzy.

I usually don’t listen to albums that are rough cuts of what came out on the album but comparing Dream Syndicate to the screechy VU has me intrigued. That is one of my favorite albums. Wish I had found Talking Heads though I wasn’t really looking for it. I did find my top 5 on Sunday luckily and really didn’t grab anything else, showing self control as moving is quite expensive

Great video as usual. You have shown us a great selection of RSD releases. I like the Electrafixion.

Loved all that music. Thank you for the review

I hunted down the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album because I loved what I heard on a KZhead concert video. I bit the bullet but I also wanted a used copy of CCR Cosmos Factory so the store owner was kind enough to sell me both for $85 w tax. Still pricey but it was either I do or I don’t and I love the Byrds and I saw Marty and the FS’s last year and they were incredible. I completely missed the concert when this tour passed though Clearwater Fl. So when I saw it listed and that 2,000 copies were being pressed. I expected to be disappointed. I visited a couple of stores then called some more and got lucky it may have been the last one still available. You’re right the cost is fucking ridiculous considering they didn’t include a nice booklet and the sleeves suck. So I totally agree with you they overcharged and didn’t include anything besides colored vinyl and a nice looking outer sleeve. I do like the artwork very much.

I charged $69.99 for the Byrds at my shop. Crazy for a 2 record set! It is a great release. I’m really loving the latest Marty album, Altitude as well! Great list, Mazzy!

I LOVE YOU MAZZY! Great video, enjoyed that sooo much!

Chris Isaak's Beyond the Sun is brilliant and a stylish cover to boot. Was heavily into his first 3 albums but then lost track after the excellent San Francisco Days until now. Glad you're sharing an appreciation for The Dream Syndicate. Saw them in Stockholm in 1984 and since seen them every time they made it to our shores as well as all the Steve Wynn tours. Wanting the Lowell album but is it a gatefold (yes, well aware that it's about the music)? The Gene Clark is a given but are these sessions also on the box set that came out a couple of years ago? Top choices. I missed out on RSD so thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this video. I mostly collect Jazz, The Blues and Vintage (Otis and Wilson era) Blues. I sadly missed the Yardbirds album, thanks for the description. With luck others may have missed it as well and when I go back to my Indie Music Store I will get it. Enjoy your videos greatly. Take care.

Yeh, I passed on the Byrds... that was some serious sticker shock. I think your take on Gandalf was spot on. It fits right in with the Zombies, Pretty Things etc. Peace.

Great picks, I may try and grab the Beefheart, Electrafixion . Bowie "Waiting in The Sky" , Kristin Hersh "Hips & Makers + Bonus" & Sparks/Noel 2-fer are a few you may have missed.

Great countdown. Think the Sister Rosetta Tharpe album looks wonderful may try and get a copy if I can find any. Billy Bragg played at Resident records here in Brighton on recordstore day. Cheers Mazzy

I definitely hope the Gandalf album will be released after RSD and I did purchase the Sweetheart of the Rodeo for $65.00 because the store owner knew I loved the Byrds.

Gruff Rhys’ solo project Neon Neon’s LP "Stainless Style " is worth seeing out. Not just for Delorean and Star Wars fans, I might add :).

I got McGuinn, Hillman, Stuart for $65 at Lost Weekend Records in Columbus. I didn't know the price going in, so I thought that was high, but the owner told me heard it was higher everywhere else and he was right. Mazzy is right, it sounds fantastic and the band is great.

The Sweetheart of the Rodeo record was one of my top three RSD wants, but when I saw the price (although lower than the price in Seattle apparently) I put it back. For the the price of SotR I could buy two records even doubles! Not certain what the deal was, but even the record store owners were embarrassed by the price.

Thanks Mazzy RSD was fun! I agree with you on the Byrds it was high at 79 at my record store. I hope they release again. But my 2 favorites from RSD was the Yardbirds and Captain Beefheart. Have a good Mazzy !

Thanks Mazzy! I'm now headed back to Neptoon and Apollo to check the left over RSD bins...

After watching the other video with the Mind Games EP and the Lou Reed tribute I found the video of Keith recording U'm Waiting For My Man. I loved it, and would not have known about it without you talking about it. No Other is a really great album, it;s great to see that an album of outtakes has been released. I think there a couple on the remastered CD version. I was really into White Light, and passed on No Other for awhile. Once I got it I was amazed at how good it is. I don't have Osmium, But I've read that Bernie Worrell and Eddie Hazel are particularly great sounding. Did you find that to be the case? The 50th anniversary Sweetheart tour didn't come to Colorado either. Unfortunately I don't havre $78n5o spend pm thr record. That is definitely a gouge.

Always a fun listening romp. The Chris Isaak was one I wanted but did not get as it was gone. Two I have been listening to over and over are the Talking Heads and the Elton John. They sound amazing. Thanks again!

Thanks Mazzy The cover of the single by Super Furries for Man Don’t Give a F**k has the football (soccer) player Robin Friday. There is a book about him called the Greatest Footballer you never Saw. A number of stories about him, worth seeking out and reading! I’ve purchased the Sister Rosetta in your recommendation so looking forward to hear it when it arrives ✌️

Forgot to mention - on your recommendation I purchased the Histoire de Melody Nelson. As you emphasized - cool ass record. Very pleased - listening to it now. Thanks, man.

AWESOME Caricature!!! Looks just like you 😊

Glad that Gandalf resonated with you. I listened to it again last night to make sure I still want the original press and yeah, I do. Such a moody dark, ballad heavy psych lp. Doesn't even matter that they didn't write the songs, or at least all of them. Perhaps I locate one this Nov at WFMU. yep working on finding a place to stay now. I could not get behind that Roger McGuinn Sweethearts release. Was $78 here in store. Don't get that.

Thanks for the video. How does the sister rosetta tharpe sound quality?

I saw in one of your vids you talk about Nine Horses from David Sylvian. Never heard of him and took a quick scan on Tidal to see if could be of interest to me. It was. I hoped it would be available in The Netherlands and I eventually found one copy. I bought, cleaned and played it. Been a while since I was blown away by an album of an artist unknown to me. The album is awesome. Not a super expert, but the pressing seems really great to me too. What a find (for me anyway). I have no doubt you'll get your copy through your network and you better start looking forward to it. 😁 Gonna dig deeper into Sylvian's catalogue.

When I met Dom and Brandon in December at Record Archive in Rochester they had a beautiful OG copy of the Gandalf. I think it was 300 so Dom passed but was cool to see.

Mazzy, That was my take also on the ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ release; way too much for the 2 album set in my book. I’m sure it was a great performance to see live, but ticket type pricing for a recording just doesn’t cut it for me. I do have the Gene Clark ‘No Other Sessions’ on the way. It’ll serve as a nice completion to the box set that I had to have back in 2019. I had opportunity to meet Gene back in ‘85 when he was on the road with The Salute to The Byrd’s 20th Anniversary tour. I brought a big smile to his face and got a nice Thank You when I told him that ‘No Other’ was one of my favorites of all time. Actually got to spend a good bit of time talking with Gene that memorable night. He was The Best for this longtime fan!💜

The Parliament record was my goal for RSD. I had already the CD version of the early 2000 with the same bonustracks. Btw..the bonustracks, The Breakdown (both versions) and Come In and Out of the rain contains Clyde Wilson aka Steve Mancha as lead singer who was at that time the lead singer of other HotWax/Invictus group, 100 Proof Aged In Soul and he also did then leadvocals for the 8th Day (also on HotWax/Invictus). And a white female, Ruth Copeland, produced Osmium and she released also an solo album, The Silent Boatman, on Invictus around same time as Osmium. And N.W.A. did an cover version of Automobile only with a bit more dirty language.😃

The Mind Games EP album cover artwork looks cool. I had never heard of Gandolf until I saw that RSD list. It has a cool cover as well, good album; I'm checking it out on KZhead.

I was wanting the Chris Isaak release and now I want it even more. I may have to track down a copy. Thanks for your recommendations. Take care. ❤️

Just listened to the Gandalf lp last week ❤

1:30 There ya go, Mazz, that's nice. Marsha's a gifted artist. This puts you one up on my old man, an Irishman who was intractable in everything: ' *You can't teach an old dog new tricks* ' - - my old man took that adage as some sort of triumph for the dog. As if the dog was saying, "Ho-ho - - you can't fox *me* with your new tricks!" By the time he was 70 you couldn't tell him anything. I agree with you: it's a fabulous caricature, which should motivate you to write a VC memoir so you can ask *Marsha the artist* if you can use the caricature as the book cover image. I'd buy it. I'm serious. I'd count the pages if it's supposed to be 220 to make sure it's not 212, but I'd buy it.

The Sister Rosetta Tharpe was high on my list when the titles were announced. Luckily my local got a couple copies so I was able to pick it up. I actually have a few of her original 78s. Great artist. Love that she played a Gibson SG guitar.

Marty's shows are so great! Stuart played with Lester Flatt, I think he was 12 years old? I'm still itching to have that record, hopefully there will be a mass release later on.

Didn't get a chance to pick up the Orb's release this time around?

Thanks Mazzy. 64 yr. old music nerd here

... in Europe they called it "Show Biz Kids" by Steely Dan

I love the Gandalf lp too… i do need to find an OG.

Mazzy! That's Why I Asked You About " Gandalf" On Rachel's Ghost, After Seeing You Had Picked It up!! So I Am Now On Getting The Re- Issue!! I Knew You'd Love It!!!

That SFA album is great 🎉

Gandalf is a favorite pop/psych album. Love it. Favorite song: You Upset The Grace Of Living.

Missed the Byrds record, had it in my hand, thought it was expensive. Now being flipped for triple the price. On well, better luck next time.

The Poets a Scottish band deserve a record store release of their 1960’s singles, excellent all original singles, even John Lennon was impressed by their innovative sound! Andrew Oldham managed them as well. 😊 There is a CD retrospective available!

The price I paid for the McGuinn , Hillman & Stuart was $86. The record is fantastic!

You are a gem 💎

a lot of albums you showed where not available in Europe. That Chris Isaak is one of my favourite RSD releases as well

The most beautiful guitar I have ever seen was a candy red Rickenbacker. Of the records you've shown, the Byrds record does look interesting. The Byrds last as long as McGuinn lasts, in my opinion. Thanks.

Would have loved to have gotten that #1 album of yours but I just couldn't do it due to the price 😒 I had to shop with a budget & I hit that budget with the Talking Heads, Jerry Garcia, Bowie, & Average White Band. I do feel a little better knowing for that price there was no real effort in making that release worth (packaging, extras) it.....I know I know..... It's about the Music & I will miss it.

75 bucks for a double lp set??? Who the hell would pay that? Im sure most people who were interested in that lp left it where they found it. I sure did.

I have a similar album called Electrafixion .

What did you think of Pearl Jam?

I bought the Sun Zoom Spark boxset and was disappointed with vinyl. It was noisy.

I loved your review and rant about the price of the Sweetheart of The Rodeo LP’s. The only poetic justice about the price is that the main interest in the LP’s is from baby boomers like us (the most pampered generation in the history of the country) and maybe we should pay more!

Heather gray is much less aggressive than black. I like it

Absolutely bummed out about the price of Lowell George's Thanks I'll Eat It Here... $85 over here in Europe for a double LP. What the f&*k!

"...this ain't for you, baby."😅

Did this video freeze a lot on anyone else it was almost too much to watch?

I love the Byrds but have no interest in that release. I have spoken to people that saw that tour and they loved it. It is great that it was released.

The band Gandalf had split up before the record was released and more than half of the albums had the wrong vinyl in them. Capitol at the time would let you choose another Capitol release from their catalogue because they couldn't find enough Gandalf vinyls. It was a complete sh*t show going on back in 1969. That is why it is so rare to find an original with the correct vinyl.

Jeez you bought a lot...over $1000 easily...

*I'm surprised a man of your age who has collected for years that you did not already own the Beefheart or Gandalf. Whatever. NO MORE colored vinyl.*

Lou Reed; Jewish! 😊😊😊😊

You bought all those records, spent all that money and didn't get anything good! Wheres the Taylor Swift? TS is the only real music! You wasted your money on a lot of nonsense.

That was just an awful video stick with jazz, will you please?