Record Store Day (RSD) 2025 may be over (well, until Black Friday/RSD later this year), but you can still find plenty of special editions in the racks of your favorite shops and online. Here’s a quick round-up of a few I snagged—mostly happy with my picks, but there’s one I’m still hunting for! If you can’t track these down locally, look for them on Amazon.
Various Artists: Soul Slabs, Vol. 4
Colemine Records (affiliated with Cincinnati’s Plaid Room Records store) has championed independent new modern vintage soul music since 2007. When you play any of the tracks from their Soul Slabs singles sampler series, the music feels at once familiar but it’s all new music and much of it is wonderful. I love bands like Thee Sinseers and The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, groups I’ve discovered from Colemine, which has released three prior volumes showcasing the best of their massive 45 RPM release catalog – many of which are now collectors items in their own right. This fourth Soul Slabs set doesn’t disappoint. This time ‘round I’m connecting initially with Parlor Greens and Monophonics but others will inevitably bubble up as faves. Essential listening for fans of classic ‘60s and ‘70s soul and lowrider doo wop-inspired sounds.
The Meters: Live at Great American Music Hall
I’m glad I scored this album but its origins are a little mysterious. Some of the album may be from a bootleg source of a perhaps mislabeled concert from 1975. Questions remain among some collectors as to whether it was in fact recorded at Great American Music Hall or some other San Francisco venue. Sound quality varies but mostly its a decent quality soundboard recording. Some tracks may be from a disc source (an audible click on side one is not visually apparent). Nonetheless, the performances are great and the music timeless. The Meters remain ground zero for New Orleans funk.
Archie Shepp & The Full Moon Ensemble: Live In Antibes
Only a part of me is pleased that I bought this live 2LP by free jazz legend Archie Shepp. The color vinyl pressing is pretty good and the performance interesting, but at first listen it didn’t blow me away (as many Shepp studio recordings have). Is it essential? I don’t know yet. But I do know that the 1971 pressings — originally issued in two volumes, covers reproduced in the inner sleeve artwork as well as period-accurate BYG/Actuel Records labels — are sought after, pricey collector’s pieces, so I thought I’d go for it. FYI, the “obi” on the cover is a little misleading as it is not a gatefold cover but a single pocket jacket holding two discs. But other than, it is an OK package. Nonetheless, I do wonder if I jumped the gun on my Shepp fandom at this point. Your mileage may vary.
The Grays: Ro Sham Bo
One of the albums I’m was most hoping to score on RSD was the first time vinyl edition of Ro Sham Bo, the lone release by short lived rock / power-pop semi-super-group The Grays. A beloved mid-90s one off gem, this features producer Jon Brion and Jason Falkner (i.e. Jellyfish, The Three O’Clock, etc.). If you see Ro Sham Bo out in the wilds, grab it! If you are a fan of The Beatles and many of the bands and artists they influenced — Badfinger, Big Star, Emitt Rhodes, Cheap Trick, Matthew Sweet, Jellyfish, etc.) — you’ll probably dig The Grays. Sadly, San Francisco’s Amoeba Music did not get any copies of the album in their shipments and some other stores I checked on around only procured a few copies which sold out quickly. The good news, this appears to be an “RSD First” title which means eventually it will see broader commercial distribution.
Tip: You can often find the original CD in store bargain bins and the album is streaming online so you can hear the album now until you find the vinyl edition.
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
Related Reading
- All RSD coverage
- Craft Recordings’ Record Store Day 2025 Reissues That Are Sure To Sell Out Fast
- Japanese Jazz Kissa and the Art of the Piano Trio
- Time Traveling at Tokyo Jazz Kissa
- Podcast: A Journey to the Japanese Jazz Kissa
- Record Store Day 2025 is This Saturday! Remember to Bring Elbow Pads and Coffee
