Record Store Day 2018: Official Charts team reveal their ultimate vinyl wants

This year's Record Store Day UK, on April 21, will see the music collectors snap up more than 500 special edition vinyl releases from independent retailers across the country.

Artists like Florence + The Machine, Duran Duran, Steven Wilson and Courtney Barnett will offer unreleased material to their fans for the first time, while classic music from ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and The Police will also be available in refreshed formats. See this year's full list of limited releases.

Newer stars such as Sigrid, Niall Horan and Wolf Alice are also getting in on the action, while there are oddities including Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to Blue Planet II (packaged in an environmentally friendly fashion, of course), and The Lovely Eggs are releasing their fifth album This Is Eggland on 'fried egg' vinyl. Yes, really!

RSD, a worldwide initiative that promotes the importance of local record shops, is now in its 11th year. A cornerstone of the revival of the vinyl market in the UK, this year's campaign sees Rag'n'Bone Man act as UK ambassador. 

Before popping into your local record shop this weekend, the Official Charts team reveal their most desired on this year's release list. We'll see you in the three-hour long queue.

Martin Talbot, CEO

Courtney Barnett - City Looks Pretty / Sunday Roast

It’s harder than ever this year to identify one essential purchase from the RSD list, primarily because there are so many to choose from, both reissues and brand new music. My list of absolute “must haves” is about 20 titles long this year, but if I had to boil it down to one new and one classic, I’d plump for Courtney Barnett’s new-album-taster, The City Looks Pretty c/w Sunday Roast 7 inch and the 12 inch, 4-track sampler from the soon to be released lost 1985 Miles Davis album Rubberband. 

Gabbie Witham, Operations Executive

The Streets - The Streets Remixes & B-sides

I have this 2004 release on CD, most likely covered in dust, scratched and skip-prone. I can’t wait to get my hands on a vinyl version and this time treat it with the upmost respect and care because it’s absolutely brilliant - anything Mike Skinner produces is a winner with me.

Justin Myers, Freelance Editor

ABBA - Summer Night City

ABBA’s Summer Night City was always the unloved stepchild from the Swedish pop geniuses’ back catalogue – they were never satisfied with the end result, and the song didn’t appear on a studio album. Their displeasure with it only heightened when it failed to secure them a UK Number 1. Shame, as it’s a mammoth banger, but on RSD the track gets the recognition it deserves, and any super fan would be thrilled to get their hands on this special vinyl edition to mark its 40th anniversary.

I wouldn’t say no to popping the black vinyl edition of Prince’s 1999 in my shopping basket either, tbh – never has the future sounded so depressing yet vibrant and exciting at the same time. 

Jack White, Content and Brand Assistant

Elton John vs Pnau - Good Morning To The Night

An amazing collection that saw Elton John scoop his first Number 1 record on the Official Albums Chart in 22 years, Good Morning To The Night was one of 2012's best albums by far. I'll be adding this album pressed on clear wax to my near-100 strong vinyl record collection. RIP my bank balance.

Zoe Morfakis, Operations Assistant

Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea & David Fleming - Blue Planet II 

Hans Zimmer may be one of my favourite composers of all time and the Blue Planet II series left me in awe. Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming composed an incredible soundtrack which complements the series beautifully and leaves me with Goosebumps every time I listen to it. Plus the vinyl release carries on the documentary’s warning on the negative impact that plastic has on our oceans by making sure the release is more eco-friendly. This is my must have vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day.

Robert Copsey, Editor

Cheryl Lynn - You Saved My Day / Got to Be Real

Cheryl Lynn’s self-titled debut is one of my all-time favourite disco records, and You Saved My Day is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the big single that never was. Serviced to the clubs and said to be a favourite of the late Frankie Knuckles when he was at Chicago’s infamous Warehouse, the song’s rare (and superior) 12” mix is being reissued for its 40^th anniversary and, in the words of Cheryl herself, “just like an SOS, you came to my distress - you saved my day”. 

David Murray, Digital Commercial Lead

Linkin Park - One More Light Live

Linkin Park pretty much sum-up a number of my best teenage years and hearing them instantly takes me back to ‘the good old days’. This, and the fact that I want to pay my respects to Chester Bennington and his music in any way possible means this is a must have for me on Record Store Day.

Rob Poole, Commercial Manager

Ocean Colour Scene - Marchin' Already

If I can get my hands on it, I’ll surely be purchasing this classic OCS album from one of the great British rock bands that emerged in the 90s. This is also their only Official Number 1 album so it’s a must have for the collection!