RSD Dream Lists

Tom's picks

• Masters Of Reality - Give Us Barabbas CD-only collection of album outtakes and unreleased material from the godfathers of desert rock. An odd, but intoxicating mix of drugged-out, jangley weirdness and very groovy hard rock that'll leave you thinking "I can see why THAT didn't make the album" / "WHY did they leave this OFF the album?!"

• Forest - Peel Sessions Acid-folk heroes Forest recorded numerous live-in-the-studio sessions for John Peel (who was a huge fan of theirs) in the late '60s - think Wicker Man soundtrack-esque gothic-psych-folk, but several years before the original film was made (and released on Harvest Records). Sadly none of these sessions have ever seen the light of day, and are presumed to be gathering dust in a BBC archive somewhere. You'd think RSD's partnership with BBC Music might mean they'd take the time to send an intern rummaging around in the BBC archives to find this sort of stuff... unearth these lost gems, "cash waiting"!!

• Beck - Stray Blues: A Collection Of B-Sides‎ Some of my all time favourite Beck songs were only ever released as B-sides / non-album tracks, and this collection makes an attempt at highlighting them. Only ever released on CD (and a Japanese import at that!), it could do with another two or three volumes, collecting all the oddities and rarities he was recording at his artist peak throughout the '90s. While we're at it, how about vinyl issues / reissues of Banjo Story, A Western Harvest Field By Moonlight, Don't Get Bent Out Of Shape, Golden Feelings, Golden Leftovers, and everything else pre-Mellow Gold too? MTV still makes a lot of us want to smoke stuff...

• "Blind Owl" Alan Wilson - Last Sessions Recorded in hospital shortly before his death, these solo demos have only previously been available as part of the Canned Heat CD compilation Boogie House Tapes Vol. 2. It's a haunting and deeply personal listen, and the obvious influence the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Skip James had on Wilson's guitar playing and singing style (combined with the lo-fi recording) means you could easily be forgiven for thinking this was a genuine Delta blues obscurity from the 1920s/30s. Here's what I propose, RSD; get the original tapes, remaster them for vinyl, slap them on a 10" with some kind of 78 shellac replica centre label / cover art, and TAKE MY MONEY!

• 4 Non Blondes - Mary's House Written and recorded as the band was breaking up, this only ever appeared on the Wayne's World 2 soundtrack (which also never made it to vinyl, but maybe that's not so surprising). Just a kick-ass, thoroughly smacked-up, grungy, sort-of-Hendrix-esque rock song which no-one seems to have heard of, and easily surpasses anything off the band's lone studio album (to my ears, at least). Get it on wax, at long last!

Ben's picks

• Soreng Santi - Iron Man Finders Keepers introduced the world to this incredible Thai psych-fuzz Sabbath "cover" back in 2009, and this 7" has been impossible to find at a reasonable price ever since.

• Pink Floyd- Vegetable Man / Scream They Last Scream This is a real no-brainer. Still unavailable as a stand alone 45, the way Syd intended... sort it out RSD!

• Michael Hurley - Blue Navigator Originally released as an LP back in '84. This classic Hurley album was reissued by the awesome Mississippi Records in 2010, but as an 8-track cartridge ONLY. Frustratingly brilliant? YES! But, for those of us without an 8-track player this is long overdue an LP reissue.

• Dolly Mixture - Demonstration Tapes This criminally under-appreciated album by Cambridge post-punk group was FINALLY reissued last year, but in an annoyingly limited edition which is now out of print again (and fetching silly prices).

• Guided By Voices - Propeller How is one of the greatest albums of all time out of print? Originally self-released in 1992 (and then reissued in 2005), Propeller is long overdue another reissue. With GBV releasing an average of three new albums per year at the moment, you'd think they'd consider reissuing their first masterpiece?

Lauren's picks

• Various Artists - The Country Girls! 1927-1935 (16 Rare Blues And Ballads With Guitar) Compiled in 1964 by blues and jazz historian Pete Whelan on his label Origin Jazz Library, The Country Girls is a rare collection of even rarer songs by female blues musicians (including Geeshie Wiley). It’s raw, it’s beautiful, and it’s near impossible to find a good copy on vinyl.

• John Prine - Bruised Orange Considered by many to be one of the greatest lyricists America has ever produced, John Prine knows how to write a line, and Bruised Orange is the man at his most poignant and cerebral. I want a copy on 180g orange vinyl probably even more than I imagine Kacey Musgraves does.

• Tom Waits - Big Time Tom Waits is at his most creative and exciting in this Frank trilogy spanning live show. Full of “grim reapers and real weepers”, Big Time is screaming out for a RSD limited edition gatefold and concert DVD with devil-singed playing cards in spotlight yellow presentation box.

• Michael Hurley - Have Moicy! RSD, have moicy and give us the Michael Hurley reissues we’ve been waiting for!

• Blaze Foley - Live at the Austin Outhouse Blaze Foley was the duct tape outlaw who called Townes Van Zandt his best friend; he also wrote one of the most heartbreakingly fragile, funny, and beautiful songs ever in Clay Pigeons. This performance bristles with everything that made Blaze great, it needs the vinyl release that it deserves.

Bryan's picks

• Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos Despite a 7" release of the title track on a previous Record Store Day, this has only been reissued in the US. Would be nice if RSD issued it in other territories.

• David Bowie - The Gouster Only available on the Who Can I Be Now? boxset, this early draft of the Young Americans LP is an interesting record on its own, featuring a radically different track listing and mix.

• Mayo Thompson - Corky's Debt To His Father Not available since 1994, this 1970 LP from the Red Krayola's Mayo Thompson is an eerie delight.

• Fairport Convention - What We Did On Our Holidays HMV gave us a nice pink vinyl reissue of Unhalfbricking recently, would be nice to see this one get a similar treatment on RSD.

• Beck - Mellow Gold In my opinion his best album, but still no official vinyl reissue? RSD must remedy this!

Barney's picks

• Pantherman - Pantherman Dutch glam banger from '74 which has become my personal anthem over the last few years. Man in leather panther suit howls about how he's going to BITE YOU. Will cost you close to £100 to possess; I actually own this but every home should have one, it's important.

• Antisocial - Traffic Lights Mad tale behind the Birmingham band and this, their only release. Too long to fully go into here but they offered £15,000 to anyone willing to be killed onstage by guillotine during one of their gigs. Look it up, it's a wild ride. This 7" from '77 made it into Peel's legendary record box and goes for literally THOUSANDS. Also two of this band were Justin Broadrick's mum and stepdad.

• United Snakes - United Snakes Only two known copies of this in existence; I own one, Henry Rollins the other. Sadly short lived 2008 unit starring future Relevant basement humpers DJ Woodglue and Quadrodad. Fingers crossed for a reunion, this is superior fuzzpunk spew that deserves to be heard by more than just me and Hank.

• The Stains - The Stains Recorded in '81, released in '83, largely unavailable since, this LA band played wild hardcore with crazed lead jamming. An absolute Reagan-era RIPPER which has never been reissued due to SST's nefarious and inexplicable business practices. Will cost you hundreds to grip - if I ever find a copy I will cry real tears.

• Nasty Facts - Drive My Car An absolute power pop / punk gem from '81 which was this band's only release. Possibly the catchiest tune EVER written, I could listen to this song on an endless loop for ages, and in fact have. The other two songs are also amazing, and one can only imagine what these kids could have done if they'd stuck around longer. Sigh. Needless to say it's a three figure expenditure you'll be looking at; am thinking of starting a Gofundme to buy this single - I need it bad.

Jacey's picks

• Buckingham Nicks - Buckingham Nicks A precursor to their success in Fleetwood Mac, this album was released by the duo in 1973 whilst they struggled to find their footing in California. With songs such as Stephanie, a gorgeous song performed by Lindsey Buckingham and clearly dedicated to Stevie Nicks and the brilliant Crystal, later released on their debut Fleetwood Mac album, this LP has never been re-released and is at the top of several fans wishlists, including mine.

• Courtney Love - America’s Sweetheart Courtney Love has effectively disowned this, her only solo album with songs very rarely getting live performances and her very rarely even mentioning it’s existence. Admittedly it's not a masterpiece but it has some absolutely gorgeous moments on it that I believe deserve more love and appreciation than they currently receive. Two highlights in particular are Sunset Strip, a gorgeous track that shows Courtney’s awareness of celebrity and pop culture, and Uncool, a track in which Courtney questions fans' perception of her and her feelings on the matter. This album has never received a release on vinyl and hopefully 2020 is the year this changes.

• Bjork - Live Boxset In 2004, Bjork released a four album live CD box set with each CD focusing on a different tour from each of her first four albums. There are some gorgeous moments on here and it shows Bjork’s ability to rearrange songs depending on the context of the tour they were being performed on. These include (but are not limited to) an electronic version of Isobel performed on the Homogenic tour and a far gentler version of All Is Full Of Love performed on the Vespertine album cycle. This set has never been released on vinyl.

• The Cure - Live At Hyde Park 2018

  A concert used to celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band, this show was released on CD last year. A Greatest Hits of sorts and the most solid the band have sounded in years, it is a surprise to me that this did not have a vinyl release alongside the CD version. Including some rarely played tracks from Three Imaginary Boys and focusing on their entire career, I hope to see this released.

• Fleetwood Mac - Alternate Rumours Following on from their recent releases of alternate versions of each of the Buckingham Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac. Several of these tracks were made available to hear on the super deluxe version of Rumours released almost a decade ago, including a haunting early version of Silver Springs and the original Stevie Nicks demo of The Chain - it would be brilliant to see this collection complete this year through the alternative release on one of the best albums of all time.

Geordie Steve's picks

• The Weather Prophets - Mayflower Released in 1987. The Weather Prophets were a huge indie band and when they played The Burleigh Arms, Cambridge Evening News even proclaimed “it’s like U2 playing the Corn Exchange”, and they were ably supported by The Giant Polar Bears, who later became The Charlottes. It’s a very solid album, less jangle / more rock, still indie through-and-through. They were sadly underrated.

• The Parachute Men - The Innocents Released in 1988. This is a fantastic jangle-fest of guitars and moody indie depths. Imagine Debbie Harry singing, backed by The La's. Every song on the album is superb, it’s like listening to a Greatest Hits collection. They should have been massive.

• The Hummingbirds - loveBUZZ Released 1989. The Hummingbirds hail from Sydney, Australia. More indie jangle, with a sunny antipodean slant. These songs will melt your heart.

• The Popguns - Snog Released 1991. The Popguns are probably my favourite indie band. They possess that C86 sound, but they were so much more than that. This is their first album and it’s a non-stop indie thrill. With such a melt-in-the-mouth title, it can’t fail to please. Featuring two lead guitars, Wendy Morgan’s plaintive voice, full of passion and pathos. There’s even an ex-Weddoe Shaun Charman behind the drumkit.

• Snakefarm - Songs From My Funeral Released 1998. Surprisingly there isn’t an indie jangle in sight on this album. The band have taken a set of traditional murder ballads and given them a truly unique rendering by applying an almost trip-hop veneer and echoey guitar, to create a landscape for the haunting vocals of singer Anna Domino to inhabit.

Prof. Steve's picks

• William Orbit - Strange Cargo 3

• The KLF - Chill Out

• Black Affair - Pleasure Pressure Point

• King Biscuit Time - Black Gold

• Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons

Chris's picks

• Be Good Tanyas - Blue Horse This was reissued on as a limited edition vinyl set in 2011. I have never seen one for sale. I would love a copy on vinyl as this is a fantastic LP, and the harmonies and interplay between their voices is to die for.

• Be Good Tanyas - Chinatown Never been released on vinyl, but as above I love it.

• Jane Siberry - When I Was A Boy Never been released on vinyl and it's my favourite album of hers. Has the sublime Calling All Angles with K.D. Lang on it.

• Aaliyah - One In a Million She's a great artist, and on Discogs the vinyl version goes from $111 + shipping for a not very good condition promo copy, to $600 + shipping for a VG+ copy.