It’s that time of year again, the dog-days of winter. Post-Super Bowl, pre-MLB training camp. What else is there to look forward to? Record Store Day – that’s what! That polarizing love it or hate it celebration of records, record stores, capitalism, supply chain issues, long lines, overpriced titles, and unnecessary releases that make some people as angry as it makes others giddy. I fall into the latter camp. Anything that gets people out to record stores and unreleased Cheap Trick live albums onto my turntable is ok with me. The next RSD is April 23rd, and there are hundreds of titles coming out that may or may not be up your alley. Let’s talk about what this next Record Store Day means to fans of The Replacements.

First of all, as a knowledgeable prophet once predicted in this Pencil Storm article not long ago, the live set included on CD in the recent Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash box set is coming out on vinyl. Unsuitable for Airplay: The Lost KFAI Concert captures The `Mats in January 1981 at the 7th Street Entry in their home town of Minneapolis. It’s a raw and rambunctious set that makes up for in energy and spirit what it lacks in sonic fidelity. Do you need this if you have the CD? If you’re me you do, but otherwise maybe not. They’ve pressed 10,000 of them so I don’t think they’ll be hard to find. [RSD Link]

Next up is Rags to Riches by The Bleeding Hearts. Replacements fans know the name because it features the guitar work of the rambunctious original `Mats guitarist Bob Stinson, who sadly passed away in 1995. Many feel - myself included - that Bob was the real spirit of the band, the Yang to Westerberg’s Yin, and that things were never quite the same after he was justifiably jettisoned in 1986. I haven’t heard this album, it’s technically unreleased, but it’ll be at the top of my list. Bob’s guitar style was the perfect balance of chaos and structure, noise and melody, and any opportunity to get more of that will be welcome. [RSD Link]

To round out the trio of Replacements-related Record Store Day goodies is the debut LP by Golden Smog, On Golden Smog. Originally released in 1992, this five-track EP contains covers of songs by The Stones (“Backstreet Girl”), Thin Lizzy (“Cowboy Song”) and my favorite – “Shooting Star” by Bad Company, sung by guest Dave Pirner of Soul Aslyum. Handling drum (and kazoo) duties on this EP is one Christopher Mars; who also did the killer cover art, just two years after quitting The Replacements before their anti-climatic swan song. Golden Smog would go on without Mars, but with founding members Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo/Wilco) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) - among others - to release fantastic albums of original material after this EP, but it’s a fun reminder of where it started. [RSD Link] 

There’s tons of other great-looking, non-Replacements related titles too. Scott Carr might talk about some of those as the day approaches. Meanwhile, save them pennies and get in line early to snag whatever’s on your list!  

Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
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