
What Not To Buy on Record Store Day 2020 (August)
I try to every Record Store Day, sift through the absolute dreck of releases and list what you should and shouldn’t buy – of course my tastes lead me to only …
I try to every Record Store Day, sift through the absolute dreck of releases and list what you should and shouldn’t buy – of course my tastes lead me to only look at punk, some metal and reggae – because that’s where my tastes are.
YOU CAN FEEL GOOD BUYING THIS
Hawkwind – At The BBC 1972 LP
While the double LP features Hawkwind at their peak – including some great tracks, the only reason you might not want this crucial piece of proto-punk and early psyche, is that it’s a mono recording.
YOU SHOULDN’T BUY THIS (BUT IF YOU DO, AT LEAST IT’S A DECENT BAND/RELEASE)
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Teenage Head – Drive In 7″
Available in Canada at a limited amount, Drive In is a mid-80’s number and the flip is Blood Boogie (Daniel Lanois mix) and Don’t Cage Me In. Don’t go wild and crazy trying to find this unless you’re a completist.



Linton Kwesi Johnson – Bass Culture/In Dub 2xLP
Probably LKJ’s best release (Bass Culture) and second best (In Dub) and shouldn’t be out of print. But the records are out there and probably can be had fairly cheaply.



The Soft Boys – I Wanna Destroy You/Near The Soft Boys (40th Anniversary Edition) 2×7″ EP
A great song, that’s not widely out there, and while I tend to pooh-pooh straightup releases at inflated prices, but these songs are still well sought after and I think are probably pretty pricey. The listing on the Record Store Day site suggest this is psychedelic influenced pop – but really I hear power-pop all the way ala The Nerves.
YOU SHOULD FEEL SHAME BUYING THIS (AND NO THERE’S NO PRETTY COVERS TO LOOK AT)
Motorhead – Ace of Spades/Dirty Love 12″ EP
It’s a picture disc, and while it’s the 40th anniversary of the quintessential song, it’s a straight up re-issue on the worst format (picture disc) ever. While it is a killer song, you absolutely don’t need this when you can grab an original 7″ for probably half the price of this glorified poster.
Refused – Not Fit For Broadcast BBC LP
Refused are among the most overrated bands ever.