Record Store Day 2026
On April 18th, it was Record Store Day. A year ago, I shared my love for listening to vinyl records and list of records I picked up for Record Store Day in 2025. I wanted to follow-up with that on sharing the list of records I picked up for Record Store Day 2026.
My list:
- Violet Grohl - What's Heaven Without You / Swallowtail 7"
- Third Eye Blind - Rarities & First Drafts LP
- Ramones - Live in San Francisco 2x LP
- Bruno Mars – Collaborations
- Against Me! - New Wave B-Sides 12" EP
- The Cure - Greatest Hits 2x LP
- Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer 12" single
- John Lennon - Love Meditation Mixes 3x LP
- Weezer - 1192 LP
Silver Platters runs a great process. I went to the Bellevue, WA location as its closest to me. You get there and get in line. Then they come out with give you a sheet and you fill out all the records you want for Record Story Day. They collect the sheets which are numbered to your position in line. This year, I was #32 (last year I was #43). They then collect the sheets from you that you filled out and then call you in and fill your order. Depending on their inventory of what they received, you get what you marked down. I really, really like their process.
I ended up getting all the records I wanted on my list… except for Weezer’s 1192. Which was the record I wanted the most. Special thanks to this person on eBay who I was able to purchase the album at not a very terrible price. I listened to this album today, as I just received it. It’s incredible.
Of the records on my list – my favorites so far are Violet Grohl, Bruno Mars’ Collaborations, and Third Eye Blind’s Rarities & First Drafts though. Regarding Violet Grohl being a “nepo baby” – no she went off and did her thing on her own and I think that’s rad. Her album is fantastic and unique. She has created a very interesting sound for herself that I find really interesting to listen to. She’s not her father. But she’s also very talented and I look forward to her first album in May.
This year, I seem to have seen a lot of “resistance” to Record Store Day from a bunch of small record stores that wanted to participate – but received very little in terms of inventory. It disappointed me that so many record stores are saying they no longer want to participate. I strongly hope that those who put on Record Store Day listen and find a way to address the feedback from the smaller record stores wanting to take part. I’m aware of some smaller record stores in towns I grew up in and around and they deserve to have the same access to Record Store Day exclusives, just like everyone else. But at the same time, I understand that focusing on record stores that bring in the most customers makes sense from a business perspective. But Record Store Day should be special across the board. My feedback would be giving the “little guys” more in the future. Perhaps be public about who and what stores get exclusives and why.
Overall, I had another successful Record Store Day this year. I really like Record Store Day. It brings together fans of bands and musicians and celebrates the medium of creating music. I look forward to what Record Store Day has in “store” for us in November. Typically, Record Store Day happens twice a year: in April and in November with Black Friday.
