Record Store Day typically always takes place on the third Saturday of April in any given year, but for 2025, that date fell on what is a bank holiday across much of the globe, so the date was pushed forward to April 12. Rhino is again offering a broad selection of 47(!) limited edition LPs that encompasses an array of rarities, enhanced albums, picture discs, and specialty releases that are among the hundreds of exciting albums that will be available from independent record stores everywhere. The limited edition LPs cover an impressive range of artists and genres, and many are being made available in cool colored-vinyl variants. The list of titles being offered includes the following albums:
- A-Ha, Hunting High and Low – The 1984 demos
- Air, Moon Safari Live & Demos
- The B52's, The B52's (Picture Disc)
- Belly, King (2025 Remaster)
- Black Sabbath, The Eternal Idol
- Bobby Charles, Bearsville Studio Sessions
- Count Basie, Best of the Roulette Years
- The Cure, The Head on the Door
- David Bowie, Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios '03)
- The Doors, Strange Days 1967 – A Work In Progress
- Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac (Picture Disc)
- Geddy Lee, The Lost Demos
- Gloria Jones, Vixen
- Grateful Dead, On a Back Porch Vol. 1
- Grateful Dead, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/14/76
- Hindu Love Gods, Hindu Love Gods
- Ice-T, Power Rarities
- The Jayhawks, Blue Earth
- Jet, Get Born Rarities
- Jethro Tull, Songs From The Vault: 1975-1978
- John Morris, High Anxiety - Original Soundtrack / Mel Brooks' Greatest Hits Featuring The Fabulous Film Scores Of John Morris
- John Williams, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (OST)
- John Williams, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (OST)
- John Williams, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (OST)
- John Williams, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (OST)
- Joni Mitchell - Live 1976
- Klaus Doldinger and Giorgio Moroder, The Never Ending Story (OST)
- Morphine, Bootleg Detroit
- Neurotic Outsiders, Neurotic Outsiders
- Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (OST)
- Peter Tosh, Greatest Hits
- Public Image Limited, First Issue (US Version)
- Ramones, Loco Live
- The Replacements, Tim (2 LP Edition)
- Robert Hunter, Tiger Rose Rarities
- Ry Cooder, The Main Point - Live 1972
- Starship, We Built This City (Picture Disc)
- Stone Temple Pilots, Live In New Haven 1994
- Talking Heads, Live on Tour '78
- Todd Rundgren, Initiation
- Various Artists, Over The Edge (OST)
- Various Artists, The Virgin Suicides Deluxe (25th Anniversary Edition)
- Vegyn, Blue Moon Safari
- The Veronicas, The Secret Life Of...
- WAR, Why Can't We Be Friends (50th Anniversary Deluxe)
- Warren Zevon, Piano Fighter - The Giant Years
- The Wombats, Glitterbug (10th Anniversary)
- Yes, Live at the Rainbow, London, England 12/16/1972
I received eleven of the albums and LP sets for evaluation; they were all perfectly realized with gorgeous pressings and beautiful jackets from a range of pressing plants stretching across multiple continents. Rhino allows a certain amount of latitude in RSD pricing to the independent record stores and online locations participating in the event, so the actual prices for these albums may vary slightly at the point of sale. You can see a list of all outlets participating in RSD April 2025 by clicking HERE.
Belly, King (2025 Remaster). 140-gram Green Vinyl LP
The hard-edged US post-punk/pop band Belly was founded by former Throwing Muses member Tanya Donelly after her short stint with The Breeders. King is their second studio album on Sire Records, and this is the first reissue on vinyl since the album came out in 1995. Featuring "Now They'll Sleep," "Seal My Fate," and the title track "King," the album was a great collection of songs, but didn't fare as well commercially as their debut, 1993's Star. This reissue of King is pressed on a beautiful opaque green colored vinyl LP that's available exclusively in North America for Record Store Day. Unfortunately, this one would have benefited from a remix, as Tanya Donelly's almost angelic vocals are a little too buried in the fairly dense mix. I still love this album, and the RSD version is a beautiful package. Strictly limited to 4300 copies!
David Bowie, Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios '03). (2) 180-gram LPs
On September 8, 2003, David Bowie made history with the biggest ever live and interactive music satellite event the world had ever seen. The special one-off concert was beamed via satellite from London's Riverside Studios simultaneously to 50,000 fans in 86 cinemas in 26 countries around the planet from Hong Kong to Helsinki, thrilling them with a spectacular, first-ever live performance of his brand new album Reality. Record Store Day 2025 sees the first-ever release of the concert, available on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl and CD, including a replica poster of the original event. This is one great-sounding live album, and definitely has me wanting to take another listen to Reality, an album which I gave pretty short shrift at the time of its original release. Highly recommended! Strictly limited to 3600 units worldwide.
Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac. LP Picture Disc
Fleetwood Mac's 7X platinum-certified 1975 self-titled album on picture disc for the very first time in celebration of its 50th Anniversary! Features 2-sides of unique artwork and includes the hit singles "Landslide," "Say You Love Me," "Monday Morning," "Blue Letter," "Over My Head," and "Rhiannon." Not one you'll want to play (picture discs generally sound awful!), but beautiful to look at and quite collectible—Fleetwood Mac is the album that redefined the band for all time. Strictly limited to 13,000 copies worldwide.
John Williams, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (OST). (2) Clear Vinyl LPs
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets soundtrack, composed by John Williams, expands the franchise's iconic sound with new themes. Tracks like "Fawkes the Phoenix" capture the film's adventurous spirit. Nominated for a GRAMMY, the score explores the film's darker moments while maintaining a sense of wonder. This soundtrack builds on motifs from the first film while introducing fresh elements. For fans who might have missed the limited edition box set, a great opportunity to have this on crystal clear colored vinyl LPs. While both this release and the red-vinyl box set were pressed at GZ, the clear vinyl is the clear (pun intended) winner in terms of sound quality—it's much quieter than the vinyl from the box set. Highly recommended! Strictly limited to 7500 copies worldwide.
John Williams, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (OST). (2) Clear Vinyl LPs
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone soundtrack by John Williams set the tone for the entire franchise, with "Hedwig's Theme" becoming the series' signature music. Its blend of magic, wonder, and tension shaped the musical landscape of all eight films. Nominated for an Academy Award and a GRAMMY, the score's success paved the way for a consistent musical identity across the franchise, with its themes reappearing throughout the series. Again, for those who might have missed the box set, a great opportunity for fans to get the cool crystal clear colored vinyl LPs. While both this release and the red-vinyl box set were pressed at GZ, the clear vinyl is the clear (pun intended) winner in terms of sound quality—it's much quieter than the vinyl from the box set. Highly recommended! Strictly limited to 4500 copies worldwide.
Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (OST). (2) Clear Vinyl LPs
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire soundtrack, composed by Patrick Doyle, introduces a darker tone to the franchise. Key tracks like "Hedwig's Theme" and "The Quidditch World Cup" capture the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament, while darker themes like "The Goblet of Fire" and "The Black Lake" add to the film's mystery. Nominated for a GRAMMY, the score blends new themes with familiar motifs, enhancing the film's emotional depth. A cool crystal clear colored vinyl LP alternative to the box set's opaque red vinyl. While both this release and the red-vinyl box set were pressed at GZ, the clear vinyl is the clear (pun intended) winner in terms of sound quality—it's much quieter than the vinyl from the box set. Highly recommended! Strictly limited to 7500 copies worldwide.
Joni Mitchell, Live 1976. (3) 140-gram Black Vinyl LPs
Joni Mitchell's 1976 US Tour (RSD 2025) features her live performances from around the country as she set out with the L.A. Express on a national headline tour at the start of 1976. Culled from hours of unreleased content into a 3 LP offering on 140g black Vinyl, this album is a breakout of material from the Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 4. box set that's on vinyl for the first time. These recordings were taken from a previously unknown soundboard mix, and while they're definitely not audiophile quality, they're still an important historical document. And a great companion to the official live album from this period, Shadows and Light. Recommended, but will mostly appeal to true fans and completists. Strictly limited to 6400 copies worldwide.
Morphine, Bootleg Detroit. Translucent Milky Clear Vinyl LP
Morphine's Bootleg Detroit, recorded live at St. Andrew's Hall during their legendary 1994 Cure for Pain tour, is available for the first time on vinyl. This remastered edition is pressed on a translucent milky clear vinyl LP and features the classic songs "Buena" and "Cure For Pain." A great recording and an essential companion to the studio album. While this is an audience recording, it's surprisingly professionally done, and the remaster greatly improves the sound quality. Fans will definitely want this for their collection. Limited to 5800 copies worldwide.
Peter Tosh, Greatest Hits. Red, Green, and Yellow Vinyl LP
Greatest Hits spans Peter Tosh's complete Parlophone catalog, including "Johnny B. Goode," "Wanted Dread and Alive," and "Bush Doctor." I was particularly excited to see that "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back," which was a duet with Mick Jagger, was also included in this set. Unfortunately, a long-running feud between Tosh and the Stones ensued following the song's release on Tosh's 1978 album Bush Doctor, and it appears that most of Jagger's vocals have been excised from the mix. Shards of Jagger's vocal still occasionally come through, making it clear what great chemistry the two had in the studio. Originally released in 1987 in Brazil only, it is now being reissued globally on a beautiful tri-color vinyl LP, which is nearly mesmerizing to watch spinning on the turntable! Great to finally have this available on LP, one of the best sounding releases among the bunch, and highly recommended! It's strictly limited to 5800 LPs worldwide.
The Replacements, Tim (2 LP Edition). (2) Transparent Purple Vinyl LPs
Rhino celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Replacement's fourth studio album, Tim, with a 2 LP purple colored vinyl LP set including the 2023 remaster of the original album mix, as well as the Ed Stadium remix from the critically acclaimed Let It Bleed Edition box set. Featuring hits such as "Kiss Me on the Bus," "Swingin' Party," "Bastards of Young," "Here Comes a Regular," and many more. For those who might have missed out on the box set, it's great to have both the Ed Stasium mix and remastered original on LP; both easily blow away the horrible sounding original! Strictly limited to 7900 copies worldwide.
Stone Temple Pilots, Live In New Haven 1994. (2) Purple Vinyl LPs
Stone Temple Pilots Live in New Haven 1994 was recorded at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on August 23, 1994, only a month after their sophomore album Purple was released that July. The set list features live versions of hits such as "Vasoline," "Plush," "Interstate Love Song," "Meatplow," "Creep," and "Sex Type Thing." Available for the first time on a pair of beautiful purple colored vinyl LPs, and an indispensable companion to the studio album. Fans and collectors will definitely need to run to grab a copy of this one, which really shows clearly what a great live band STP was with the late Scott Weiland. Highly recommended! Limited to 6800 copies worldwide.
April's Record Store Day Comes Early This Year
Rhino's selection of RSD offerings will appeal to most every music lover, and with the limited edition quantities, you'll want to get in line early! The quality of the pressings and their packaging was superb across the board, and the overall sound quality was also first-rate. The colored vinyl LPs were beautiful and often quite unusual, and will definitely have a significant level of appeal to collectors and fans alike. A number of these albums have either been out of print for decades, or have never been released as LPs, so don't dally, these outstanding titles are very likely to sell out quickly. Happy hunting!
Rhino Entertainment
All images courtesy of Rhino Entertainment
