(Credits: Far Out / Record Store Day UK)

Groove is in the groves. Small wrinkles on big discs. Welcome to the world of music. The vinyl record is the pioneering medium that continues to draw in listeners. It has long stood at the frontlines of a musical revolution, as people drop the needle and fill their space with whatever sound they choose. The record—and the music it holds—is a beautiful thing. So, it’s only right that we take a moment to honour the albums, the shops that stock them, and the people who buy them. This is Record Store Day 2025.

I read High Fidelity recently. Didn’t care for it. However, one of the parts I loved was when the main character, whose name I’ve already forgotten, was discussing organising his record collection. Mid-break up, our character is trying to think of ways to occupy himself and decides that reorganising his record collection is the best way to do it. He considers the classics, like doing it by name, genre or date of release; however, what he opts for instead is particularly interesting.

He decides to arrange his records chronologically from when he bought them. This means that the order means something to him but seems somewhat haphazard to everyone else. Do you want to listen to Abbey Road? Well, I bought that when I first started record collecting, head to the left. You want the Sex Pistols? I was at University when I first heard that, it’ll be around here. And so on and so on. 

I’ve since tried to organise my record collection this way and have failed miserably. Unfortunately, my memory just isn’t good enough to remember when things were bought; however, the sections in my collection that I know are accurate are those albums that I purchased on Record Store Day. They almost act as page breaks in the chaos that is my trying to recount my life, moments of stability in what is otherwise a mess, and, of course, are reminders of very fond days past. 

Since I was young, Record Store Day has been marked in the calendar as a must-attend. Not only is it a great day to buy some exclusive records which look gorgeous in a collection, but it’s also a lot of fun, a day of celebration and an opportunity to meet like-minded music geeks, revelling in our collective poor money management as arms are stacked with LPs.

It won’t surprise you that I’m not the only one at Far Out looking forward to Record Store Day either. It’s funny being in our work chats early this month and knowing full well that all of our paychecks will be getting spent on the same thing. Since we’re inevitably all going to buy some exclusive records, we figured, as writers, that we may as well write about it.

So, here are our collective hauls for Record Store Day. Who do you think bought the best?

Far Out’s £150 Record Store Day haul:

Ben Forrest 

West Yorkshire is wonderful, as the football chant goes, and the region’s record shops are certainly a reflection of that fact. Ardent Record Store Day patrons will already be aware of the likes of The Record Cafe in Bradford, Five Rise Records in Bingley, and Crash Records in the centre of Leeds. For my haul, though, I chose to visit my spiritual home, Jumbo Records. After all, nothing soothes the anguish of waiting in a queue for two hours like the soothing egg-punk sounds of The Oidz, who are on hand at Jumbo to provide a soundtrack to this monumentous day. 

Confidence Man – 4AM (LA LA LA): Like virtually all record collectors, I have a serious problem with completism. So, the fact that I own every record Confidence Man has put out to date dictates that I must opt for 4AM (LA LA LA), a 12” featuring remixes of the band’s recent material by the likes of Orbital and The KLF’s Jimmy Cauty. The opening track is called ‘Far Out’, so it would be rude not to queue for it. (£25.99)

Poly Styrene – Flower Aeroplane: Originally a self-released CD by the queen of UK punk, X-Ray Spex songwriter Poly Styrene, Flower Aeroplane gets a long-awaited vinyl pressing for RSD this year. In the midst of all the picture discs and coloured vinyl, it is always worth seeking out the first-time-on-vinyl rarities. (£20.99) 

Kitty Winter Gipsy Nova – Feel It: Another record which has been due a repress for quite some time, original pressings of this cult German jazz masterpiece from back in 1978 can fetch upwards of £200 these days – although that is a pittance in contrast to what some of this year’s releases will be listed at on eBay at 8am this Saturday  (£29.99)

Gloria Jones – Tainted Love / My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home: Is £15 a lot to spend on one brand-new 45? Yes. Do I already own a 7-inch copy of Gloria Jones’ northern soul stomper ‘Tained Love’? Also yes. Will this shiny new silver vinyl pressing, backed with the underrated ‘My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home’, be at the top of my RSD list? I’m afraid you already know the answer. (£14.99)

Soul Slabs Vol. 4: Speaking of sweet soul music, this year also sees the release of Soul Slabs Vol. 4, the fourth instalment of Colemine Records’ compilation series Soul Slabs. If the tracklisting is anything to go by, the release will feature some truly underrated gems and even some previously unheard anthems. It certainly earns its hefty price tag.(£40.99)

Pop Psychédélique: Les Extras: It’s been four years since Brighton label Two Piers released the Pop Psychédélique compilation, and it still finds its way onto my turntable virtually every week, so this follow-up of extra anthems is a no-brainer. (£35.99)

Subtotal: £142.95 (leaving £7.05 to counteract the fatigue of queuing with copious amounts of coffee).

Callum MacHattie

Air – Moon Safari Live & Demos: Snatched from the shelves with haste because I know I’m not the only one after this. ‘La femme d’argent’ is a suitable opener to spin on my turntable on a spring-tinged Record Store Day, and as the needle drops, it will ring in the reminder that live music will never be beaten, and my first festival is just around the corner. (£35.99)

Blur – The Magic Whip: Yeah, sure, The Ballad Of Darren represented a more defiant comeback for Blur and got them on stage at Wembley, but it didn’t have ‘Ghost Ship’ on its tracklisting. I am simply never going to pass up the opportunity to listen to my favourite Blur track, especially on a Zoetrope picture disc. Let the sweet sounds of Southeast Asia ring in my ears as I get hypnotised by the spinning vinyl. (£31.99)

Feet – Can’t Get In/Changing My Mind Again: A fun-sized record for a fun band. A live show of theirs has quietly been on my bucket list for several years now and what better than a vinyl purchase to kick me out of my funk? Extra points for buying a record that soundtracks my regular misplacement of house keys. (£12.99) 

Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac: This is sliding into my tote bag for the sole reason that it will provide me with opportunities to dish out my Fleetwood Mac hot-take. This album is streaks ahead of its successor, Rumours, and should be treated with the appropriate respect. ‘Rhiannon’ is the band’s most fun pop hook, ‘Landslide’ is Stevie Nicks’ finest lyrical take and don’t even get me started on ‘World Turning’. (£28.99)

Gil Scott Heron – Moving Target: If a record has a piano slide like Moving Target does on ‘Washington D.C.’ then you’re simply obliged to buy it on vinyl. While it may not be Heron’s most accomplished work, such is his lyrical genius and nuanced vocal delivery that even the more modest of his musical contributions will sit proudly in my collection. (£31.99) 

Panda Bear and Cass McCombs – Venom’s In: One of the standout songs on Panda Bear’s Sinister Grift would comfortably sit on my shelves without the backstory. But when I read that Noah Lennox originally wrote ‘Venom’s In’ as a gift to Cass McCombs, who never recorded it, the idea of owning a musical easter egg couldn’t be missed. One great track, two different versions and the blissful hope that it’s worth at least the price of three pints. (£18.99)

Subtotal: £163.94 (a quite sizeable overspend, but if Trump can blow a hole in the world economy, then I can spill over my budget).

Dale Maplethorpe

Sheffield is a city which has music injected into every single step you take. Whatever street you walk down, the left right left right of these cobbles come equipped with the likes of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Def Leppard. It’s no surprise that Record Store Day is so loved here, and my day shopping was as productive as it was financially crippling.

Sly & The Family Stone – The First Family Live at Winchester Cathedral (1967): There is no musical revolutionary who has left as big a stamp on this world as Sly Stone has. His combination of funk and soul with rock ‘n’ roll made people realise that genres were guidelines rather than strict boundaries, and his ability to be both mainstream while also being cool and opinionated was truly unprecedented. This early live recording will perfectly capture the sound that took America (and the world) by storm, so I’m willing to deal with the hefty price tag. (£44.99)

Bruce Springsteen / The Killers – Encore at the Garden: I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and will take any chance I can to experience him live, even if that means just hearing his beautiful raspy voice through an exclusive vinyl. It would have been very cool to have been there during The Killers gig when he joined the band on stage, but I’ll settle for the next best thing. (£29.99)

Moment: The Montreux Years Vol.1: How could anybody possibly resist this album? It looks stunning and contains previously unheard performances from some of the greatest musical minds in the world. It’s hard to even begin to put into words the impact that Montreux has on music, but the excitement I feel around an album like this comes close to a definition of sorts. (£33.99)

The Sword – Warp Riders (15^th Anniversary Edition): There’s a lot to say with this one; I absolutely love this record and would like to own it. To honour 15 years since the release of their third album, Warp Riders, The Sword have brought out this lava-looking coloured vinyl with new remixed and remastered songs on there. It’s very exciting, looks stunning and would fit perfectly in my collection. (£39.99)

Subtotal: £148.96

Lauren Hunter

Glasgow is known as the city of music, so really, there’s no better place to bring you all the best that Record Store Day in Scotland has to offer. I’m focusing on growing my collection of records with staple artists this year, so I hit up my favourite stores, including Monorail, Love Music, and Mixed Up Records, to secure all my top vinyl picks. 

Talking Heads – Live on Tour ‘78: In recent weeks, I have fallen down a bit of a rabbit hole in terms of the Talking Heads’ 1980s discography, but they do say variety is the spice of life, so this record is the perfect chance to delve into their early days, taking in the stylings of everything from punk to funk and Afrobeat. (£39.99)

Sam Fender – Me and the Dog EP: Yes, it’s the most obvious pick for this year’s RSD, but say the words ‘unreleased Sam Fender songs’ and I’m there. It also gears me up nicely to see him live this summer, which has been a long time coming as I still haven’t quite forgiven him for cancelling in December. (£22.99)

Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak (Alternate Version): I fear I may have been the only six-year-old around in 2008 who knew who Thin Lizzy was, but thanks to my dad’s hard rock tastes and many a long road trip in the car, I was well-acquainted with the band from a young age. This one is a nostalgia trip more than anything – and how better to express it than in some limited-edition vinyl? (£25.99)

Joni Mitchell – US Live Tour 1976: The priciest one of the lot by a country mile, but anything for Joni. Having painfully likely missed any chance of seeing the folk fairy queen in the flesh, I think the second-best thing is to hear it in record form. I’m also a sucker for coloured vinyl, so the ‘Blue Jay’ hues on this have reeled me right in, despite the price tag. (£69.99)

Total: £158.96 (An over-spend of £8.96)

Lucy Harbron

Moments: The Montreux Years Vol. 1: On my first-ever press trip as a journalist, I was lucky enough to be brought to the Montreux Jazz Festival. As a famously pricey place, it was truly one of those surreal trips that I knew I never would have gone on if it wasn’t for this job. Set against Lake Geneva, it is so beautiful that it feels fake, and the rich history of the festival buzzes in the air. With this special release featuring a selection of the festival’s best live moments being a custom Lake Geneva blue colour disc, I think it’s a necessity. (£33.99)

Levitation Room – Minds Of Our Own: One thing I feel like I always look for in a vinyl purchase is a perfect start-to-finish listen, and Levitation Room nailed that with their 2015 debut EP, Minds Of Our Own. I’m just as obsessed with it now as I was back then, so it being released on vinyl for the first time is an exciting offering this year. (£26.99)

Prince – Live At Glam Slam: If there is one thing I love, it is an insane Prince live album. The box set of his Live At Syracuse show is one of my favourite belongings as each track is so maximalist; it makes the listening experience so fun, and I imagine this would be just the same. Recorded in 1992, it’s all later-stage material but delivered with the same crazy energy that never faltered. (£70.99)

Pop Psychédélique (Les Extras): I have a vision. The sun is shining into my room, it’s a gorgeous sunny day, I’m picking an outfit, doing my hair, doing my makeup, feeling gorgeous. I can hear ice snapping in a glass as the warm air gently breaks it apart in a G+T or a spritz or whatever. I’m texting my friends something like, ‘On my way!’ even though I’m not yet – and this is playing. It’s a French pop summer, and I will be partaking. (£35.99)

Total: £167.96 (Allow it)

Reuben Cross

Air – Moon Safari – Live & Demos: One of the defining records of ‘90s downtempo and electronic pop, Air’s debut album Moon Safari is the perfect antidote to the French house that Daft Punk were offering as the soundtrack to a debauched night out. The Parisian duo knew exactly how to bring listeners down from the chaos of the dance music their peers were putting out and tuck you underneath a warm, comforting blanket of dreamy soundscapes, and this remains their finest outing to date.

This RSD exclusive record takes rarities, demos and live session recordings from the Moon Safari era and places them on record for fans to hear for the first time, having recently celebrated the record’s 25th birthday in style with a series of anniversary shows. If you consider the source material itself to be a must-own for any record collection, then these special unheard recordings should take pride of place next to it. (£34.99)

Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – Barafundle: If you thought Super Furry Animals were the strangest band to emerge from the initially-dubbed ‘Cool Cymru’ wave of Welsh indie rock, then think again. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, the brainchild of perennial oddball Euros Childs, were able to bring psychedelic folk, progressive rock and electronic pop experimentation together on Barafundle, their fourth studio album and perhaps their most wide-reaching record.

Now reissued for RSD25 on ‘jungle swirl’ coloured vinyl, you can now revel in the peculiar brilliance on wax for the first time since its 1997 release. It might be the most expensive pick in my recommendations, but if you want to be regaled in both English and Welsh with inventive and fantastically folkloric tales that often have a macabre twist thrown in, it’s well worth splashing out for. (£39.99)

Panda Bear & Cass McCombs – Venom’s In (7″): To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure what’s in store with this half of this release, but sometimes you’ve got to take a risk in a record shop and pick out something on a whim on the off chance that it’s a gem. As a fan of both artists, it’s unlikely that this split single will be a disappointment, and hearing their two distinctively different styles take on the same song on different sides will hopefully be a treat for the ears.

The context behind the release is that Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox of Animal Collective) wrote the song as a gift for McCombs, who has long been a close friend of the artist, and while McCombs never released his version of the track in an official capacity, Lennox chose to incorporate a reworked version on his newest studio album, Sinister Grift. Given how McCombs’ output can vary from release to release, second-guessing how his interpretation will sound will be a challenge, but will be a treat nonetheless. (£18.99)

Swell Maps – The John Peel Sessions: Despite only releasing two studio albums during their shortlived run as a group, Birmingham post-punk group Swell Maps made such an immense impression on their peers, and are often cited as a massive influence on much later acts like Parquet Courts and Iceage for how they channelled abstract ideas into furious bursts of wailing guitar. 

Over the course of three years, from 1978 to 1980, they appeared on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show and performed three completely unique sets of material, which are now compiled on an official release for the first time, having only previously been available as a bootleg. These live versions of tracks from A Trip to Marineville and Jane From Occupied Europe, as well as some of their loose single releases, are perfect examples of Swell Maps at their unfiltered and unpolished best. (£29.99)

Waxahatchee – Much Ado About Nothing / Mud (7″): As though releasing her strongest album to date in Tigers Blood wasn’t enough for Katie Crutchfield last year, she followed it up with a series of standalone singles that didn’t make the cut for the album that were somehow just as good as all of the material that did surface on the album.

Given how these songs are equally worthy entries into the Waxahatchee catalogue as anything else she’s released of late, it makes sense for her to offer the opportunity to own a physical copy of them for eager fans this RSD. Sure, they could’ve been included on the album in the first place, but I’m hardly going to say no to picking something like this up based on a technicality. (£14.99)

Total cost: £138.95 – leaving £11.05 to spend on something in the bargains section