Record Store Day 2017

Record Store Day 2017 will be taking place this weekend, on Saturday April 22! As usual, many limited releases will be available at record shops only from that date. Below is a selection of some of the best stuff that shouldn't be missed.

Check out the official site for the full list of releases and participating shops. As the rule goes, online sales will only start a week later (April 29).

Some events are also being held through the day, some of which are listed here.

Nosa Reina is The Blue Valentines "Bye Bye Baby Sayonara / okeiko gurashi" (7")
野佐怜奈がブルーヴァレンタインズ「バイバイ・ベイビー・さよなら / お稽古暮らし」

This is the final release of Nosa Reina's Blue Valentines project, this time changing the name from "and" to "is". Both sides feature different musicians. The A-side was written by Ygal and features guitarist Akamatsu Haruka and bassist Ozawa Nozomi, while the B-side was written by drummer Nakajima Hajime with lyrics by Reina, and features guitarist Mutō Yoshiaki and bassist Katsuhara Daisaku.

Nosa Reina will be at Disk Union Jinbocho from 19:00 to 21:00 to sign autographs and take photos, wearing a kimono, for those who buy the new 7" there.

A. Bye Bye Baby Sayonara
B. okeiko gurashi

apricot sounds ACEP4
Out 4/22, ¥1852 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kinoco Hotel "Marianne no kakumei" (12" picture disc)
キノコホテル「マリアンヌの革命」

A 12" picture disc release of Kinoco Hotel's latest album (2016). Limited to 500 copies!

A1. hangyaku no kisetsu
A2. onedari Strange Love
A3. kaiten Restaurant no higeki
A4. te no hira gaeshi
A5. enrai
B1. kago no naka no Alastair
B2. ai wa gebageba
B3. aka no rōgoku
B4. rurō Gamble (Mecha shiyō)
B5. tsuki yo tokoshie ni

Voltage Records BQGS-41
Out 4/22, ¥3241 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Salome Lips "shindoi ondō" (7")
サロメの唇「しんどい音頭」

A new single by the popular GS/wamono band Salome Lips (aka Salome no kuchibiru). The A-side is a previously unreleased song, and the B-side is a song that previously appeared on 3rd album "shū" (2012).

An in-store event will be held at dues Shinjuku (Disk Union) on May 21 from 13:00 only for those who bought the single at eligible Disk Union stores. Details here.

A. shindoi ondō
B. koisuru Tokyo

Sazanami Label SZDW-1036
Out 4/22, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Chie and The Wolf Baits "Two Timin' Man c/w Mean Mean Man" (7" red vinyl)

Chie and The Wolf Baits is led by Learners' guitarist Horiguchi Chie. These two 7"'s are the first releases by this new band. Each is monaural, pressed on color vinyl, and limited to 300 copies!

A. Two Timin' Man
B. Mean Mean Man

Voltage Records BQGS-39
Out 4/22, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Chie and The Wolf Baits "Thunderbird c/w Precious Lie" (7" yellow vinyl)

A. Thunderbird
B. Precious Lie

Voltage Records BQGS-40
Out 4/22, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Mary & The Flying Bowties "It's Only A Paper Moon / Birth Of The Boogie" (7")

Speaking of Learners, this is the debut single of a new band with singer Sara Mary! A release party will be held on April 29 at Asakura Golden Tiger (details).

A. It's Only A Paper Moon
B. Birth Of The Boogie

Niw! Records NEP-73
Out 4/33, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Shonen Knife "Adventure" (12" gold or silver vinyl)

Shonen Knife are celebrating their 35th anniversary! This is a vinyl edition of their latest album on UK label Damnably. It comes pressed on gold and silver vinyl. The color is random so which you get is a mystery until in your hands. Shonen Knife are currently on tour in the US! Their next time in Tokyo will be on July 8 at Fever with The Pats Pats.

1. Jump into the New World
2. Rockʼnʼroll T-shirt
3. Calabash
4. Dog Fight
5. Wasabi
6. Green Tangerine (Kabosu)
7. ImI (Emoji)
8. Hawaii
9. Tasmanian Devil
10. Cotton Candy Clouds

Damnably DAMNABLY40A
Out 4/22, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: To be added later if available

Vanilla Beans × The Pen Friend Club "sweet life / River Deep - Mountain High" (7")
バニラビーンズ × The Pen Friend Club 「sweet life ／ River Deep - Mountain High」

The Pen Friend Club is a band formed of 5 girls and 2 guys, with some deep influences of the 60's, mainly from the Beach Boys and Phil Spector. They're releasing two split singles, of two songs from their latest album "Wonderful World of The Pen Friend Club". Vanilla Beans, The Pen Friend Club and RYUTist will hold an in-store event at Tower Records Shinjuku 7F on April 22 from 15:00.

The first single is a split with Vanilla Beans, the first physical release of their newest song "sweet life" (written by bice). The other side has The Pen Friend Club's "River Deep - Mountain High", a cover of Ike & Tina Turner.

A. Vanilla Beans / sweet life
B. The Pen Friend Club / River Deep - Mountain High

Sazanami Label SZDW-1034
Out 4/22, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

RYUTist × The Pen Friend Club "futari no yūhi Line / 8gatsu no ame no hi" (7")
RYUTist × The Pen Friend Club 「ふたりの夕日ライン／8月の雨の日」

The other single from The Pen Friend Club is a split with Niigata idol group RYUTist. "futari no yūhi Line" is performed by The Pen Friend Club (also from their latest album) but in a new version with vocals by RYUTist.

A. RYUTist / futari no yūhi Line
B. The Pen Friend Club / 8gatsu no ame no hi

Sazanami Label SZDW-1033
Out 4/22, ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Tentenko "Wa-shoi!" / Good bye, Goog girl." (7")
テンテンコ「Wa・ショイ！/ Good bye, Good girl.」

Tentenko, formerly of BiS, covers techno-kayō/ondō classic "Wa-shoi!" (originally by Hori Chiemi)! The song was previously released digitally only. The B-side contains debut single "Good bye, Good girl." (2015). In-store events will be held on May 14, from 15:00 at HMV record shop Shinjuku Alta (6F), and from 19:00 at HMV record shop Coppice Kichijoji (A kan 2F). Details here.

A. Wa-shoi!
B. Good bye, Good girl.

Narisu Records NRSP-736
Out 4/22, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

hitomitoi "hitomitoi Club Re-edits by XTAL" 12"
一十三十一「HITOMITOI CLUB RE-EDITS BY XTAL」

XTAL (solo artist and also member of (((sssurrounddd))) and Jintana & Emeralds) remixes 3 songs by hitomitoi, updated with the dancefloor in mind. "Weather Report" and "kemuriiro no koibitotachi" were singles released in 2006 and 2002 respectively, and "koi wa omoi no mama" is an album track from "City Dive" (2012). All three versions are brand new and previously unreleased.

A1. Weather Report
B1. kemuriiro no koibitotachi
B2. koi wa omoi no mama

East End Classix / Jet Set JS12S120
Out 4/22, ¥1800 (excl. tax)
Order: Jet Set

Yogee New Waves "Ride On Wave e.p." (7")

7" cut of Yogee New Waves' new song "Ride On Wave", to appear on next album "Waves" to be released on May 17, and a non-album version of song "C.A.M.P".

1. Ride On Wave
2. C.A.M.P (Stoned Forest ver.)

Roman Label / Bayon Production HR7S046
Out 4/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Predawn "Absence" (12" + download code)

Predawn's latest album "Absence", released on CD last September, is being pressed on 12". It comes with a download code.

A1. Skipping Ticks
A2. Black & White
A3. Universal Mind
A4. Don't Break My Heart
A5. Sigh
B1. kasumisō
B2. Autumn Moon
B3. Kinds of Knot
B4. Hope & Peace

Flake Sounds FLAKES-163
Out 4/22, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Towa Tei "EMO" (2LP)

Towa Tei's brand new album "EMO", just out last month, is being released as a limited 2-LP edition! This is mastered by Sunahara Yoshinori.

A1. Exformation
A2. Brand Nu Emo
B1. GBI
B2. Sugar
C1. Xylocopa
C2. TG
D1. YOLO
D2. REM
D3. Continua

Mach Beat / Disk Union MBLP-1701
Out 4/22, ¥4600 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Ino hidefumi "Can't Sleep / Good Night" (7")

Two songs from Ino hidefumi's upcoming album. The A-side is an original, while the B-side is a cover of John Lennon. Limited to 700 copies.

A. Can't Sleep
B. Good Night

Innocent Record IREP-010
Out 4/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

koshi miura / eiichi kogrey "good so good!! e.p." (7")

A split-single of Miura Koshi (Kuchiroro) and Kogure Eiichi (the band apart). Both songs are themes for regular party "good so good!!" held every month on the 3rd Monday at Organ bar.

A. good. / koshi miura
B. so good. (We Love The Night) / eiichi kogrey

Niw! Records NEP-74
Out 4/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Mondo Grosso "Labyrinth" (12")
MONDO GROSSO 「ラビリンス」

Mondo Grosso, the solo project of Ōsawa Shinichi, is back after 14 years! A new album seems to be coming, but first is this single that features a mysterious female singer. The song will be released digitally on April 28.

A1. Labyrinth (Original Mix)
B1. Labyrinth (DUBFORCE Mix)
B2. Labyrinth (Acoustic Mix)

cutting edge CTJ1-40386
Out 4/22, &1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kaji Hideki "La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~" (7")
カジヒデキ「LA BOUM ～MY BOOM IS ME～ラ・ブーム～だってMY BOOM IS ME～」

Kaji Hideki's hit song from 1997 is being re-issued on 7"! The B-side is from "Muscat e.p." (1996).

A1. La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~
B1. A Small, Good Thing

Polystar / Jet Set JS7S154
Out 4/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kaji Hideki "Muscat e.p." (7")
カジヒデキ「MUSCAT e.p.」

... and this 7" with the title "Muscat e.p.", and the same jacket as his debut CD EP of the same name released in 1996, contains two other favorites from it.

A1. SIESTA
B1. MUSCAT

Polystar / Jet Set JS7S155
Out 4/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Scha Dara Parr "Ani Shinbou" (12")
スチャダラパー「あにしんぼう」

Scha Dara Parr's latest mini-album "Ani Shinbou" is being released on 12".

A1. Ani ga Bose de Shinco ga Ani de
A2. Let's Rock On
A3. dokimekinishisu
B1. jankuri-tokonguru feat. Robochū
B2. yosa G na Scat
B3. zài jiàn Adios

Melody Fair SDPLP-1701
Out 4/22, ¥2750 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kyoto Jazz Sextet "Song For Unity / Mission" (12")

Kyoto Jazz Sextet, a side-project of Kyoto Jazz Massive, has a new songs "Song For Unity" and "Mission" being released on 12". A new album is expected to be released on June 14. A release party with a live set will be held at The Room in Shibuya on April 22, starting at 19:00. Details here.

A. Song For Unity
B. Mission

Extra Freedom, ltd / HMV record shop HR12S004
Out 4/22, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Luv Master X "LMX #1" (2LP)

The only album by this unit of Dub Master X with Fujiwara Hiroshi. Re-issued on CD with 4 bonus tracks in 2016, it is now being released on vinyl as a set of 2 LPs.

Victor / HMV record shop HRLP-072
Out 4/22, ¥4300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Subliminal Calm "Subliminal Calm" (2LP)

Same concept for this unique album by the unit of Itō Seikō and Fujiwara Hiroshi. The 1992 album was re-issued with 6 bonus tracks in 2016, and is here being released for the first time on vinyl.

Victor / HMV record shop HRLP-074
Out 4/22, ¥4300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

This list is just a glimpse of what's to be released on Record Store Day in Japan, and there's so much more to look out for, so be sure to have a look at the full list. Visit your favorite record shops on April 22 wherever you are!

And a notable Japan-related release from overseas...

Penguin Cafe & Cornelius "Umbrella EP 1" (12")

Coming from a UK label is this 4-song collaboration EP by Penguin Cafe and Cornelius. Included are two mutual remixes, plus two tracks by Penguin Cafe. Released last year in digital form only, this is a pressing limited to 1000 copies.

1. Solaris (Cornelius Mix)
2. Birdwatching at Inner Forest (Penguin Cafe Mix)
3. Close Encounter
4. The Track Of The Dull Sun

Erased Tapes 4050486113073
Out 4/22, open price
Order: Jet Set

Tentenko "Good bye, Good girl."