Record Store Day 2016

Another Record Store Day is coming to a close. Despite saying a few weeks ago that I wasn't going. each time I looked at the list of records available I found something else to interest me. So this morning, like last year, I headed to South Records in Southend for an experience much like last year's. I got there about 6:40 and was 10th in the queue, which soon expanded.

Phil Jupitus arrived about an hour later carrying 2 boxes of records - he was DJing from 8-10, before going on to do 2 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang shows so he had a busy one!

Phil Jupitus, South Record Shop 16/4/16

The doors opened bang on 8 o'clock, and in an unfortunate repeat of last year, they proceeded to let the entire queue into the shop at once. I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to regulate the number of people in the shop like a lot of other records stores do on RSD. Anyway, I headed straight for the 12" section where I got most of the singles I wanted, then turned round and eased towards the albums. By the time I'd grabbed a few of those I was literally stuck in the middle, unable to move towards the till, or anywhere in fact. Some shuffling and persuading took place and I managed to reach the box of 7"s to grab a few and then ease my way forward to pay. Squishing aside, I still got mostly everything I went for, and the prices were certainly more reasonable than in places like Rough Trade. I was out of the shop by 8:30 and headed off to the seafront for a marathon training run. Here's a picture of what I bought.

I've listened to nearly all of these and the one that absolutely sounds the best is 'Private Life' by Grace Jones - the bass and drums in particular are amazing. The Public Service Broadcasting picture disc probably looks the best, but I'm not sure which is my favourite buy yet. I've got Xiu Xiu's Twin Peaks covers on at the moment, which is a strong contender, along with the Requiem For A Dream Soundtrack and Howard Marks doing Dylan Thomas. Here's the full list of what I got.

1. The Other Side - Public Service Broadcasting (7" picture disc)
2. Cool Out - Matthew E White & Natalie Prass (7")
3. Lightning Strikes The Postman - The Flaming Lips (CD & comic)
4. When A Woman Is Around - Unloved (12", red vinyl)
5. Mantra For A State of Mind - Primal Scream (12")
6. Private Life - Grace Jones (12")
7. The Great Confuso EP - Blanck Mass (12", mulberry vinyl)
8. Unreleased Versions & Remixes vol 1 - Django Django (12")
9. Where Are U Now - Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber (12", yellow vinyl)
10. A Badman Sound / Heath Town / Inf Inf Inf Inf - Mark Pritchard / Bibio / Clark (12")
11. Do Not Go Gentle - Howard Marks reads Dylan Thomas (12", green vinyl)
12. Xiu Xiu plays the music of Twin Peaks - Xiu Xiu (double album, 1 red & 1 blue vinyl)
13. Requiem For A Dream OST - Clint Mansell & Kronos Quartet (double album)