There is a bounty of releases coming out on Saturday for Record Store Day 4/20/24. I’ve assembled the list of those titles likely to be of most interest to readers of Cultural Attaché. Most of these releases are going to appeal to fans of jazz music.
A few things first: there are three types of releases: Exclusives, RSD First and Small Run Titles/Regional Titles.
Exclusives are going to be found ONLY at independent record stores. One they are sold out at your local store they are going to be harder to find.
RSD First are titles that may get released via other retailers or available for streaming online after Record Store Day 4/20/24 is over.
Small Run/Regional Titles are usually the most limited runs and may be only found in limited areas.
If you don’t find the title you want, you can always check Ebay for opportunities to buy the record(s) you want from others who were able to get them.
On to my list of the best for Record Store Day 4/20/24:
BURNIN’ IN BORDEAUX: LIVE IN FRANCE 1969 – Cannonball Adderley – Elemental Music (RSD First)
Saxophonist Adderley was joined by Nat Adderley on corner; Victor Gaskin on bass; Roy McCurdy on drums Joe Zawinul on piano for this concert which is being released for the first time.
It’s a 2 LP set with 12 tracks including Manha de Carnaval, Blue ‘n’ Boogie and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.
POPPIN’ IN PARIS: LIVE AT L’OLYMPIA 1972 – Cannonball Adderley – Elemental Music (RSD First)
Four years later and in a different part of France, Adderley performed with Nat Adderley, Walter Booker on bass, George Duke on piano and Roy McCurdy on drums. This, too, is a first-time release.
This is also a 2-lp set with nine tracks including Black Messiah, Autumn Leaves and Hummin’.
MONTREUX ALEXANER: THE MONTY ALEXANDER TRIO LIVE! AT THE MONTREUX FESTIVAL – Monty Alexander – MPS (Regional Release)
This concert is from 1976 and finds pianist Alexander joined by John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drum.
This single LP release has six tracks with an eclectic set-list that includes Feelings (yes, that song from the 70s), Satin Doll and Battle Hymn of the Republic.
IN PERFECT HARMONY: THE LOST ALBUM – Chet Baker/Jack Sheldon – Jazz Detective (RSD First)
This is an unreleased studio album from 1972 that featured the two trumpet players joined by Nick Ceroli on drums; David Frishberg on piano; Jack Marshall on guitar and Joe Mondragon on bass.
This single LP release has 11 tracks including I’m Too Blue, But Not For Me and You Fascinate Me So.
AIN’T NO SUNSHINE – Brother Jack McDuff – Reel To Real (RSD First)
If you don’t know Brother Jack McDuff you owe it to yourself to check out this very cool jazz/soul organist. This live recording is being released for the first time and includes Vinnie Corrao on guitar, Ron Davis on drums and both Leo Johnson and Dave Young on saxophone.
This 2 LP set has nine tracks and includes the title song, I’m Getting Sentimental Over You and The Jolly Black Giant.
LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE CHICAGO – Nat King Cole – Iconic Artists Group (RSD Exclusive)
This is the first-ever release of this concert from 1953. This is a 2 LP release with 27 tracks including Nature Boy, Route 66, Unforgettable and Sweet Lorraine.
This record will also be available as a RSD Exclusive CD release.
EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS – Bill Evans – Craft Recordings (RSD First)
This is a mono release of Evans’ 1959 album. Pianist Evans was joined on this recording by Philly Joe Jones on drums and Sam Jones on bass.
This single LP features 10 tracks including Night and Day, Tenderly and What Is There to Say.
ATLANTIS LULLABY: THE CONCERT FROM AVIGNON – Yusef Lateef – Elemental Music (RSD First)
Concerts from France seem to be popular this year for Record Store Day. Multi-instrumentalist Lateef is joined by Kenny Barron on piano; Bob Cunningham on bass and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums.
This 2 LP set has 7 tracks including Yusef’s Mood, I’m Getting Sentimental Over You and the title track.
JAZZ FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST – Shelly Manne and His Men – Reel to Real (RSD First)
Drummer Manne is heard in three different concerts on this 2 LP set. The first recording is from the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958. Joining Manne for that recording are Monty Budwig on bass, Russ Freeman on piano, Herb Geller on flute and alto saxophone and Stu Williamson on trumpet.
The second recording features performances from Seattle’s Penthouse jazz club from two dates in September of 1966. Manne is joined here by Conte Condoli on trumpet, Hampton Hawes on piano and Frank Strozier on flute and alto saxophone. Singer Ruth Price joins for two tracks.
There are nine total tracks here including Stop, Look & Listen, Summertime and Surrey With a Fringe on Top.
BUT WHO’S GONNA PLAY THE MELODY? – Christian McBride/Edgar Meyer – Mack Avenue Records (RSD First)
I included this wonderful recording when it was first released digitally a few weeks ago.
McBride and Meyer are two of the top bassists working today, so the idea of putting them together is truly an inspired one as this album proves. The cheeky title implies who is the leader. It doesn’t matter with music this good.
This is an inspired album that features 15 tracks and 66 minutes of sublime music. Most of them were written by either McBride or Meyer. The covers include Solar by Miles Davis, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and Days of Wine and Roses.
REINCARNATIONS – Charles Mingus – Candid (RSD Exclusive)
If you were able to get your hands on Incarnations which was released for RSD Black Friday earlier this year, you’ll want to get this single LP of more rare Mingus tracks. This isn’t their first time on vinyl, but it is the first time they have been released in this format in decades.
There are six tracks including Reincarnation of a Lovebird, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams and Body and Soul.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – ORIGINAL DEMO TAPES – Richard O’Brien – Medical Records (RSD Exclusive)
Imagine being in the room when O’Brien was first pitching The Rocky Horror Show. Imagine no longer as the original demo recordings O’Brien made are now being released.
This single LP includes all the songs you know from the beloved musical including Science Fiction Double Feature, Sweet Transvestite and Over at the Frankenstein Place.
NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC- Charlie Parker – Verve (RSD First)
It’s a bit of a misnomer to classify this as a Charlie Parker album. After all it includes Ray Brown, Roy Eldridge, Hank Jones, Flip Phillips, Buddy Rich, Tommy Turk and Lester Young all on stage at Carnegie Hall in September 1949.
I have a CD collection of many of the tracks that were released as part of Jazz at the Philharmonic. These are some incredible recordings that you won’t want to miss.
This reissue features four tracks: The Opener, Lester Leaps In, Embraceable You and The Closer.
LITTLE JOE SURE CAN SING – Joe Pesci – Real Gone Music (RSD First)
This album was released in 1968. That was long before we knew Pesci from this film roles in Home Alone and Goodfellas. This single LP proves that Pesci can certainly sing. I’ve known about his singing for quite some time and have always thought that Little Jimmy Scott was an influence on him. Listen to this album and see if you agree.
The ten tracks include Holiday, Born to Be Blue and three Beatles covers including Fixing a Hole. (How’s that for an obscure choice?)
HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU? – Nancy Sinatra – Light in the Attic (RSD Exclusive)
This is Sinatra’s second album and it was released in 1966. The title track and Bang, Bang were hits for her from this record. This reissue is considered by the label as the definitive vinyl reissue.
There are 13 tracks here including the non-album b-side The Last of the Secret Agents and the outtake If Things Don’t Start Picking Up.
OMAR SOSA’S 88 WELL TUNED DRUMS – Omar Sosa – OTA Records (RSD First)
This is the soundtrack to the documentary about pianist and composer Omar Sosa. The 8 tracks on the album serve as a cross-section of Sosa’s genre-crossing music.
Fans of Cuban music will want to find a copy of this album. Good luck – there are only 750 copies being issued.
JEWELS IN THE TREASURE BOX: THE 1953 CHICAGO BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB RECORDINGS – Art Tatum – Resonance (RSD First)
Oh to have been in Chicago in the summer of 1953. Jazz pianist legend Tatum was joined by Everett Barksdale on guitar and Slam Stewart on bass.
This 3 LP set features 39 tracks totally almost three hours of pure jazz bliss. Amongst the songs performed are Night and Day, Tenderly, The Man I Love, September Songs, Sweet Lorraine and Stompin’ at the Savoy.
Of all the recordings being released for Record Store Day, this is the one I most hope to get my hands on.
JAZZ DISPENSARY: THE FREEDOM SOUND! THE PEOPLE ARISE! – Various Artists – Craft Recordings (RSD First)
By various artists this means saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist Ran Blake, The Dungills, saxophonist Joe Henderson, saxophonist Azar Lawrence and composer/arranger A.K. Salim.
Songs of protest are at the center of this single LP release. This is a compilation so each artist has one track on the album.
THE MIGHTY WARRIORS – Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy – Elemental Music (RSD First)
Pianist composer Mal Waldron and saxophonist Steve Lacy released 15 albums together beginning with 1971’s Journey Without End. This live recording is from a 1995 concert in Antwerp. Joining them for this concert were drummer Andrew Cyrille and bassist Reggie Workman
This 2LP set features six tracks including three compositions by Waldron (What It Is, Snake Out and Variations on Theme by Cecil Taylor), one track by Lacy (Longing), one track by Workman (Variation of III) and two Thelonious Monk compositions (Epistrophy with Kenny Clarke and Monk’s Dream).
That’s my list for Record Store Day 4/20/24. It is worth noting that there are 387 different recordings being released on Saturday. If you want to check the full list (because we all listen to a variety of genres of music), please go here. You’ll also be able to find what stores are participating in Record Store Day 4/20/24.
Happy shopping on Record Store Day 4/20/24 and happy listening!
Main Photo: Part of the album cover for Art Tatum Jewels in the Treasure Box