Record Store Day 2020

We are delighted to announce an exclusive list of records from Irish and international artists which will only be available in record stores around the country. This year, with the world looking a little different, Record Store Day has adapted to help stores comply with social distancing rules and the event will be split into three dates instead of one. This means that you’ll be able to get in and support your local record store on August 29th, September 26th and October 24th.    

 After launching on April 19th in 2008, Record Store Day has returned every year since and grown into the world’s largest single-day music event for record stores, record collectors & artists. Originating in the US, Record Store Day is now celebrated worldwide and continues to attract music collectors and enthusiasts, both new and old.

The day is all about bringing together people who work in, buy from and supply to record stores all around the world. For customers, it gives them a chance to get their hands on exclusive records, re-releases and special editions that are released specifically for Record Store Day. For the stores themselves, a great buzz is generated as customers eagerly enter and flick through the stacks of limited edition records. In previous years, record stores all around the country have held in-store performances from local artists and bands.

All of this combined helps to bring people from all areas of the music industry together to create a fantastic sense of community. Perhaps most importantly, the day is about celebrating the unique culture of the record store and the roles these independently owned businesses play in our communities. 

On August 29th, for Record Store Day Drop One, Universal Music Ireland will be supplying record stores with some exclusive vinyl releases by several of our favourite artists. These records will only be available in store! 

U2

Marking the 40th anniversary of U2’s first single release on Island Records in 1980, “11 O’Clock Tick Tock”, will be released on 12” 180g transparent blue vinyl and includes a photo gallery on the inner gatefold. Recorded with Martin Hannett in Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios, the bands pop punk roots are front and centre on this track with driving bass and drums accompanied by the Edge’s signature guitar tone and Bono’s emotionally charged vocals. The EP features the original 7” b-side “Touch” as well as two previously unreleased live recordings from the legendary band’s show at the Marquee in London in September 1980.

Christy Moore

Next up, we have the release of “Prosperous”, the seminal album from Irish folk legend Christy Moore, pressed on 180g 12” blue vinyl. This edition of the classic Christy Moore folk album, originally released in 1972 through the influential Tara Records (now Tara Music) features remastered tracks taken from the original master tapes and is limited to 1000 hand numbered copies. “Prosperous” hasn’t been pressed to vinyl for nearly 40 years, making this release just that little bit more special! The record contains some classic artwork too, with Christy and his accompanying musicians sat outside the house where the album was recorded, in the town of Prosperous, County Kildare.

Dermot Kennedy

What a year it has been for Dermot Kennedy. The sensational Irish singer-songwriter released his stunning debut album “Without Fear” back in October of last year and it was the fastest selling album in Ireland in 2019. On top of that, “Without Fear” is the fifth fastest selling debut album of the past decade here in Ireland. His recent single “Giants” currently sits at number one in the Irish Homegrown Charts and a new video which resonates with us all, made during lockdown, was released just last week. To celebrate the debut number one album, “Without Fear” will be released as a special edition picture disc and limited to 1500 copies.

The Academic

The Academic released their long-awaited debut EP “Loose Friends” back in 2015 and this Record Store Day, we see the original release pressed onto 12” vinyl for the very first time. Limited to just 500 copies, the perfectly executed indie rock EP features the explosive singles “Northern Boy” and “Different”. Since the release of their debut EP back in 2015, the band have gone from strength to strength, releasing their debut album “Tales from the Backseat” in 2018 which was then nominated for the Choice Music Prize the following year

Bob Marley

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original release of “Redemption Song”, this Bob Marley anthem will be available once again on 12” clear vinyl. This pressing will be a recreation of the original limited edition 12” and it will be the first time that the record has been released outside of the UK. The release features the original acoustic version, which was inspired by the folk boom of the 1960s, as well as the rare “Band Version”. There’s also a live version of “I Shot the Sheriff” recorded live at the Rainbow Theatre concert in 1977 included as a b-side, available on vinyl for the first time since 1980. The pressing of this Bob Marley classic  will be limited to 1100 copies.

Originally written, recorded and released in just 10 days back in January 1970, “Instant Karma!” became a smash hit for John Lennon. The track reached number 5 in the UK and number 3 in the US Billboard charts. It was the first time that a member of The Beatles had collaborated with producer Phil Spector, who then went on to produce their twelfth and final studio album, “Let It Be”. “Instant Karma!” features Lennon on piano, George Harrison on guitar, Klaus Voormann on bass and Alan White on drums. The audio has been mixed from the original multitracks and has been pressed to 7” black vinyl. The cover honours the original artwork taken from the UK sleeve released in 1970. This pressing of “Instant Karma!” will be limited to 1600 copies.

Robyn

Robyn’s self-titled album was released back in 2005 and it is an example of synth-pop at its finest. The album features the singles “Be Mine” & “With Every Heartbeat”, with the latter gaining Robyn her first UK number 1. The Record Store Day release features a newly configured track listing, original artwork and previous bonus tracks. The album has been pressed to two coloured vinyl.

The Who

The Who’s “Odds and Sods” will be released as a double album on red and yellow vinyl. Limited to 1750 copies, the reissue consists of the original album from 1974 on the first record and “Odds and Sods Too” as the second, a further selection of b-sides, outtakes and rarities. This reissue indicates just how prolific the band were in the early stages of their career. The album also documents the band’s development and ability to dip into a range of styles which fell under the umbrella of rock including more groove based blues tracks such as “I’m The Face”. The result is a definitive collection of 25 classic tracks that sound just as good today as they did when they were first released in 1974.