Record Store Day 2019 gets back to that muddy garden in a big way, with 50th anniversary Woodstock releases from Janis Joplin and Sly & the Family Stone. Complete the experience with three mono LPs of festival action taken straight from the soundboard.
The psychedelic/underground world is well represented on RSD, as usual. Highlights for April 13 come from the 13th Floor Elevators, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, the Stones and Captain Beefheart. Releases are almost all on vinyl and are “Record Store Day exclusives” unless noted.
Woodstock: Offering “a fresh perspective on some very familiar repertoire,” Atlantic Records celebrates the uber-rock festival’s half-century mark with three platters of music and stage chatter — “exactly what you would have heard coming out of the loudspeakers.” (The film and soundtrack included sonic monkeyshines here and there.) Artists on the real-deal “Woodstock Mono PA Version” set include Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, etc. Update: Previous reports that the (actual) festival versions of Arlo Guthrie’s “Coming Into Los Angeles,” and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Sea of Madness” and “Wooden Ships” were used for this release are bring disputed by several buyers. Audio quality also is under fire. Buyer beware. /update
Janis Joplin: Recorded at the fest just weeks before her first solo album debuted, “Woodstock Sunday August 17, 1969” features a mix of new and old material: “Kozmic Blues,” “Try (Just A Little Bit Harder),” “Summertime” and, of course, “Ball and Chain.” Columbia Legacy released the performance on CD back in 2009, but here it debuts the entire performance on vinyl — including the stray “I Can’t Turn You Loose.”
Sly & the Family Stone: Same electrifying tracks as on “The Woodstock Experience” CD, but this time debuting on double-disc vinyl. “Woodstock Sunday August 17, 1969” packs in “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and the “I Want To Take You Higher” medley. All recorded live in the middle of the night — Sly don’t mind. Etched with band logo.
Canned Heat celebrates its festival heritage with the release of “hand-picked Woodstock-era” tracks taken from various points in its career. (None recorded at Woodstock itself.) Check out the remixed title cut, “Remember Woodstock,” plus “Goin’ Up the Country” (live 1986) and “On the Road Again” (1972). Curated by longtime drummer Fito de la Parra. Red vinyl. Via Friday Music.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: The Woodstock veterans later released “4 Way Street,” considered one of the best live collections of the era. Atlantic revives the eclectic album for RSD on three LPs. Reportedly cut by Chris Bellman, making this a hot title for RSD. “4 Way Street” captured the supergroup at various venues in 1970, shortly before its first breakup. Two sides live, two sides acoustic.
Procol Harum: A welcome return of the original U.S. release of the British band’s debut album. Kicks off with “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” unlike the European version that has been in release for decades. Two LPs with “variant tracks from international editions; related singles tracks; and a few outtakes.” Hidden track “unavailable elsewhere.” Two posters. Fly Records limited to 1,000 copies.
Pink Floyd: RSD regulars return with a dedicated mono version of “A Saucerful of Secrets.” With “a black poly-lined inner sleeve, and a faithful reproduction of the original sleeve.” Album saw the retreat of Syd Barrett and the arrival of David Gilmour. Also marked the first Hipgnosis design team cover. Tracks include psychedelic classics “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and the 11-minute title track. Previous mono versions of “Secrets” have slight variations on some tracks. “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” re-emerged on mono/vinyl for RSD 2018 and was well received — and hard to get in some markets. Via Legacy.
The Rolling Stones: The psychedelic touchstone “She’s a Rainbow” gets a live revival on 10 inches of vinyl. From U Arena in Paris, October 2017. Via Polydor. Also from the Stones, a 50th anniversary edition of the “Through The Past Darkly” hits collection. “Housed in restored octagon jacket, with die-cut back sleeve showcasing color-coded stereo inner sleeve.” Orange vinyl. Also, “Big Hits (High Tides and Green Grass)” with original fisheye artwork. Green vinyl, of course. “Limited edition to North America manufactured locally in the USA.” ABKCO Music.
Captain Beefheart: Major remastering of “Trout Mask Replica,” via the newly relaunched Bizarre label. Audio resurrection by Bob Ludwig and Chris Bellman. “Utilizing crystalline-quality safety masters kept in the Zappa family vault for decades.” Cal Schenkel cover photo sourced from original. Two LPs via Third Man Records.
Frank Zappa: Official vinyl release of the compilation “The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa.” Previously released on cassette by Guitar World magazine in 1987. Zappa’s guitar solos date from 1972-1984. Via Ume.
The 13th Floor Elevators: Britain’s Charley label squeezes out 1,000 copies of the debut album on picture disc. “The Psychedelic Sounds Of” uses the original cover artwork from 1966. Limited with “regional focus.”
Alexander Skip Spence: “I Want a Rock & Roll Band / I Got a Lot to Say/Mary Jane.” One cut from the “AndOarAgain box set” and an “unheard” recording.” 7-incher from Modern Harmonics.
The Doors: “London Fog” on two discs of 10-inch vinyl. Elektra revival of the seminal audience recording from May 1966.
The Grateful Dead: “Sage & Spirit” is yet another tie-dyed tie-in, this time with Dogfish Head American Beauty beer. Curated by David Lemieux. LP tracks include “Lost Sailor,” “Saint of Circumstance” and “High Time.” Also from the band’s label, “The Warfield, San Francisco, CA 10/9/80 & 10/10/80” on two CDs or LPs.
Jerry Garcia Band: “Electric on the Eel: August 10th, 1991” is a new four-LP box set with the “legendary electric set from 8/10/1991.” Covers include “And it Stoned Me” and “Shining Star.” Via ATO Records.
Flaming Lips: Early release of neo-psychedelic outfit’s 15th (or so) studio album, “King’s Mouth: Music and Songs.” Narration by Mick Jones of the Clash. Music from art installations of the same name. Rhino. RSD “first” title.
Various artists: “Poppies: Assorted Finery From the First Psychedelic Age” proffers “rare and unreleased psych rock tracks” from the Concord catalog, including titles from the Vanguard, Original Sound, Hip and Musart labels. Via Craft Recordings.
Tangerine Dream: “Machu Picchu” is a 42-minute composition recorded in honor of band booster John Peel, who died near the ancient Inca site. Debuting on vinyl; previously on CD. From Kscope. Also, the double-LP “Le Parc,” whose title track was recorded for the U.S. TV series “Streethawk.” Recorded in 1985 with a pair of guest vocalists. Via Culture Factory.
Gong: “Live 1973 Bataclan (France).” Prog out on two slabs of pink and green vinyl. “One-time pressing” gatefold jacket. Culture Factory.
Hawkwind: “The 1999 Party — Live At The Chicago Auditorium 21st March, 1974.” Double LP from Rhino. Originally released on a 1997 CD. Rhino.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: “Live At Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, PA, U.S.A., 9th July 1972” makes its debut on vinyl. Gatefold double LP in yellow and brown vinyl. Recorded live at the bad-weather-beset festival, with the prog party beginning about 4 a.m. Via BMG.
John Lennon: “Imagine (Raw Studio Mixes).” Recorded “raw and live on the soundstage located at the center of Ascot Sound Studios at John and Yoko’s home in Tittenhurst.” Via USM. RSD “first” title.
John Cage, Sun Ra: DVD of “John Cage Meets Sun Ra.” Summer 1986 performance of sorts along the Coney Island boardwalk. Includes 45 rpm with poetry reading and “Silent Duet.” “Never before seen in its entirety visual documentation.” Modern Harmonics.
Marshall Allen: Sun Ra Arkestra bandleader teams with saxophonist and multiinstrumentalist Danny Ray Thompson for “Ceremonial Healing.” Backed by a trio. Three LPs via RareNoise.
Allman Brothers Band: “Bear’s Sonic Journals: Fillmore East. February 1970.” Drawn from three nights of shows and recorded by Grateful Dead soundman Owsley Stanley. Includes “Whipping Post” and other usual-suspect Allman tracks. Numbered glow-in-the-dark poster.
Also of interest:
Yes: Rerelease of “Yes” debut album from 1969. LP via Atlantic.
Cheech & Chong: “Up in Smoke” on 7-inch picture disc. Rhino/Warner.
Various artists: “Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets Highlights” on two LPs. Rhino Records.
Art Ensemble of Chicago: “The Spiritual” on LP, via ORG Music.
Sigur Ros: “Variations in Darkness” and “22° Lunar Halo,” both dance works on 12-inch vinyl, via Krunk.
Van Morrison: “Astral Weeks” alternate takes on 10-inch vinyl, via Rhino.
Andrew Oldham Orchestra: “The Rolling Stones Soundtrack” on LP. Via Slow Down Sounds.
Todd Rundgren: “The Complete U.S. Bearsville & Warner Bros. Singles” on four LPs. Bearsville.
Tiny Tim: “Live at Albert Royal Hall,” two LPs, Rhino Custom.
The Troggs: “Athens Andover” (1992) with R.E.M. First vinyl release.
Various artists: “Folk and Pop Sounds of Sumatra Vol. 2” on two LPs. Via Sublime Frequencies.
Dennis Wilson: “Holy Man” single. Revived track with Taylor Hawkins, Brian May.
Ten Years After: “The Cap Ferrat Sessions” on LP via Chrysalis.
Santana: “Breaking Down the Door” single with singer Buika. Concord Music.
There’s much to get excited about in many genres — we mostly deal in psychedelics and ’60s stuff here — so check out the full Record Store Day 2019 list of titles.
Methinks that Gong was an international group of musicians formed in Paris and, though there were French musicians aboard, they were not French rockers.
Oh hell yes. How could I forget Daevid. Thanks, Harley … fixed.
“Woodstock Mono PA Version” does not contain the festival versions of Arlo Guthrie’s “Coming Into Los Angeles,” and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Sea of Madness” and “Wooden Ships”, that part of the description is FALSE.
Thanks, Joshua. These complaints and others are making the rounds post-RSD. Information was provided by the label and, unfortunately, appears to be false, as you say.