Record Store Day, the annual celebration of those wonderful hubs of musical creativity and community, is nearly upon us.
And, as the event grows in popularity and prestige with every passing year, the list of special releases coming out for it is also expanding.
There's a veritable smorgasbord of delights for just about everyone (you can check out the full list here), and here's our guide to the 20 essential releases that you should do your best to get hold of.
Plenty of great record stores are taking part - some will be available online but others you'll need to queue for on the day.
Good luck!
Record Store Day takes place Saturday 16 April
Metallica - Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, Metallica!
Legends of noise Metallica are the official "ambassadors" for Record Store Day this year, and they are really spoiling us with this special CD release featuring a 2003 live show at Le Bataclan, the venue tragically attacked last year during an Eagles of Death Metal gig. Proceeds are going to charity and, even putting that aside, the recording is bound to be amazing.
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie was always going to feature in Record Store Day and the label suits have duly obliged with two picture disc releases: a 7" of 1976 single TVC15 and a 12" of 1970 album The Man Who Sold The World.
12" LP - picture disc / German Cover artwork
Alan Partridge - Knowing Me, Knowing You
Look - we don't really know what's going to be on this, audio-wise, but it's a picture disc of Alan Partridge. Who wouldn't want that on their mantelpiece?
Billy Cobham - Stratus (Part 1)
Grab yourself a piece of jazz - and trip hop history by snaring this replica of the 1973 Atlantic 7" release of Billy Cobham's seminal fusion track Stratus, famously sampled by Massive Attack on Safe From Harm, but a banging track in its own right.
Sensible Record Labels Volume 2
There have been complaints in recent years that the major labels have hijacked Record Store Day - meant to be a celebration of indie culture and a way of getting people back into their local stores - so take it back to the roots by investing in Sensible Record Labels Volume 2 on splatter multi-coloured vinyl, featuring exclusive tracks from ten of the best UK indie labels, curated by Alcopop! Records, and featuring artists from Transgressive, Fortuna POP! and Elefant amongst others.
Bastille - Hangin/Overload
Indie pop favourites Bastille give a sneak preview into their forthcoming second album with two new tracks on a limited edition 7": Hangin is a track previously only heard on FIFA 2016 (so a lot of you will undoubtedly know it well), while Overload is a cover of the Sugababes breakthrough hit, which appeared on the Kill Your Friends movie.
Blossoms - You Pulled a Gun On Me
The great new indie hopes Blossom get involved with Record Store Day with a 7" of the band's track You Pulled a Gun On Me - the track which persuaded the Coral's James Skelly to produce them. However, of possibly even more interest is the B-side - a live cover of the lost classic Getting Away With It, by Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr's Electronic. If it's half as good as the original it'll be amazing.
Foals - Rain/Daffodils
A bit of a special one here as Foals released a limited edition 7" featuring a previously unreleased track Rain - recorded during the sessions for last album What Went Down, while the flip side sees them cover Mark Ronson's Daffodils. Expect fierce competition for this one.
John Williams - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Talking of fierce competition: expect an army of Star Wars fans to be fighting it out to get their hands on this limited edition 10" vinyl picture disc featuring two tracks taken from John Williams' outstanding score for The Force Awakens. Bring your lightsabers.
Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life
Last year saw a Record Store Day picture disc of the Holy Bible top the very first UK vinyl album chart, so naturally the Manics are back again - this time with a beautiful-looking, Mark Farrow-designed copper, mirrored sleeve 12", four track single, headed by A Design For Life, celebrating its 20th birthday this year. Which, in case you needed reminding, is an incredible tune.
Frank Turner - Positive Songs (acoustic)
Indie folk favourite Frank Turner cooks up something special with an acoustic version of his no.2 album Positive Songs For Negative People. Just 1,000 copies on 180gm vinyl, featuring a bonus download code, will be available, so get in quick.
The Weeknd - The Hills Remixes
Hip hop star The Weeknd unveils a limited edition 12 inch vinyl, exclusively for Record Store Day, featuring remixes of his hit The Hills. Which normally would be an 'OK, but not amazing' release, were it not for the fact that rumours are that the tracks will feature guest spots from both Eminem and Nicki Minaj. Nice.
Muse - Reapers
This 7" picture disc features both live and studio versions of the track; but more importantly - it includes a fold-your-own paper drone. Brilliant.
Run The Jewels - Virtual Reality Viewer
And if you thought that was a cool release, well it's nothing compared to rap duo Run The Jewels, who complement their recent fully-immersive virtual reality video for Crown with these customised RTJ cardboard viewers. All you need is a smartphone and off you go. As if that wasn't cool enough, there's also a download code for a new unreleased RTJ track.
Outkast - Elevators (Me & You)
Staying on the hip hop theme, the legendary Outkast released a 10" record - on "alien green glow in the dark" no less - of their 1996 single Elevators (Me & You), taken from their Atliens album (ah, now it makes sense).
Ian Brown - Solarized
While we wait for new Stone Roses tracks - will they ever come? - it's good to be reminded of the consistent quality of Ian Brown's solo work with this limited edition heavyweight vinyl release of fourth album Solarized - the first time it's ever been issued on vinyl.
Various Artists - Communion 10
Indie folk label Communion, founded by Mumford and Sons' Ben Lovett, Bear's Den's Kevin Jones and producer Ian Grimble celebrate their tenth anniversary this year, and they have plenty to toast, with a host of great artists including Ben Howard, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Daughter - as well as the best of their new talent all featuring on this release.
Public Service Broadcasting - The Other Side
We love Public Service Broadcasting, so we'll need to persuading to invest in a 7" picture disc of this highlight of last year's brilliant record The Race For Space.
Elton John - The Thom Bell Sessions
The famous 'lost era' of Elton, as he used a temporary hiatus in his partnership with Bernie Taupin to record Philly soul tracks with producer Thom Bell in 1977. Finally released in 1979, after John had moved on to other sounds, they became something of a lost gem, until Ashley Beedle remixed Are You Ready For Love in 2003, producing a number one single. You can enjoy them on glorious vinyl with this new reissue.
The LaFontaines - Paper Chase/Class
Finishing by keeping it indie, why not try a single by cult Scottish act The LaFontaines, who mix rock, pop and hip hop to spectacular effect and release music on their own label. You never know, you might like it...
