Did you know that Record Store Day is tomorrow? Of course you did if you’re a music nerd like we all are here at Potholes. But if you didn’t — and you live in the U.S. near a participating shop — we’re here to help. If you head over to the music holiday’s website, you’ll find a list of all the new and exclusive items being sold and, well, it can be pretty overwhelming. That’s where this post can help. We have named the 10 essential Record Store Day 2012 purchases for you and, hopefully, this will help drive down your anxiety levels tomorrow. Sorry, bank accounts!
10. Mastodon/Feist: Commotion/Black Tongue
Don’t pretend like you don’t want to hear Mastodon covering Feist and vice versa. Even if you only like one of these acts, you know your curiosity is wylin’ out to hear these tunes. Probably. Oh wait, you can just listen below!
9. Gorillaz: DoYaThing
You have probably already played “DoYaThing” — Gorillaz’ collaboration with Andre 3000 and James Murphy — to death since it dropped earlier this year. But now you can own the crazy-ass 13-minute version on vinyl. Why not, right?
8. St. Vincent: KROKODIL
No one outside of St. Vincent‘s circle has heard the studio version of “Krokodil” yet. This limited-edition single changes that. Also, we heard she gets pretty wild on here with her guitar. Rawk.
7. Flaming Lips: Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends
This would be higher on the list if the music we’ve heard from it was better and not just completely spaced-out psych-rock. While that’s certainly our thing at times, the Flaming Lips and their Heady Fwends got a lil’ too nutty on here. Bah, who are we kidding, this is rad. Also, you could get one of 10 vials of Ke$ha’s blood for, um…yeah.
6. Aretha Franklin/Otis Redding: Respect
Because I’m condescending and pretentious (sometimes), one of my favorite things is to tell people that Otis Redding actually wrote and recorded “Respect” before Aretha Franklin. Don’t just cop this to be a jerk, though. Cop it because you love one of the best songs of all time and need to hear it on wax.
5. Shabazz Palaces: Live At KEXP
This one’s for everyone. What better way to remember that Shabazz Palaces concert you went to than with a killer live recording? And if you haven’t seen them, get one hell of a preview with this limited vinyl release.
4. James Brown: There It Is/Pass The Peas
These two James Brown tracks, “There It Is” and “Pass the Peas”, have never been released before. What the hell are you waiting for?
3. Atmosphere and The Uncluded: Self-Titled
As if the picture disc itself isn’t ill enough to want in your collection, Atmosphere and the Uncluded (aka Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson) have thrown some previously unreleased music on here. Plus there’s a hidden poop story.
2. Afrika Bambaataa/MC5: Kick Out The Jams
If you somehow haven’t heard MC5′s classic/absurdly influential “Kick Out the Jams”, consider this your chance. Also, everyone should be listening to more Bambaataa, who here covers “Kick Out the Jams”. Plus, it’s a white 7″ with some splatter. Ill.
1. The Pharcyde: Bizarre Ride II The Singles Collection
This is easily the one thing you should be buying if your wallet is really hurting. This thing has it all for all the Pharcyde lovers out there, from previously unreleased instrumentals and a cappella tracks to colored 7″ vinyl singles to a freakin’ PUZZLE.
