Record Store Day 2026 [April] is upcoming and EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE wants to encourage you all to come out and help all your local record shops celebrate the day by purchasing as many wonderful new vinyl releases as possible!

We hope you find something you love to take home with you, whether that be something released exclusively for Record Store Day or something fantastic from what the store nearest you regularly stock.

Yes, every day should be Record Store Day, we agree, so we encourage you to make stopping by your favorite record store AND stopping by this website a regular thing - because we’ll be telling you about awesome things going on at record stores all year long!

And so, as our dear friends at Omnivore Recordings (an independent record label based in Los Angeles, USA which was founded in 2010 by music industry veterans Cheryl Pawelski, Greg Allen, Dutch Cramblitt, and Brad Rosenberger; the label specializes in preserving legacies and music created by historical, heritage, and catalog artists - they are also known for releasing previously unissued and newly found lost recordings) have kindly sent us a few of their RSD 2026 [April] releases for review, we shall review and highlight them all.

From The Muffs to Françoise Hardy to Jeff Buckley, and from Bob Brady & Con Chords to Rock And Roll Doctor: Lowell George Tribute, Omnivore’s offerings this year include rare and previously unreleased materials from various artists across its broad catalog slate.

Rock And Roll Doctor: Lowell George Tribute - Various Artists (2LP – First Time on Vinyl): The all-star lineup includes Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Newman, JD Souther and more! Features the previously unissued bonus track “Willin’” by Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. Laser-etched art on the fourth side.

Side A:
1. Cold, Cold, Cold - Bonnie Raitt & Little Feat
2. Feets Don’t Fail Me Now - Taj Mahal
3. Roll Um Easy - JD Souther
4. Rocket In My Pocket - The Bottle Rockets And David Lindley
5. Sailin’ Shoes - Randy Newman & Valerie Carter

Side B:
1. I’ve Been The One - Jackson Browne
2. Two Trains - Allen Toussaint And Leo Nocentelli
3. Long Distance Love - Keisuke Kuwata
4. Rock And Roll Doctor - Eddie Money
5. Straight From The Heart - Chris Hillman And Jennifer Warnes

Side C:
1. Honest Man - Little Feat
2. Spanish Moon - Phil Perry, Merry Clayton And Ricky Lawson
3. Willin’ - Willie Nelson & Emmylou Harris [Previously Unissued]
4. Trouble - Inara George
5. Rock And Roll Heaven - Lowell George (Previously Hidden Bonus Track on original CD release)

Side D:
Laser-etched art

This quite brilliant tribute albums opens on the Bonnie-fied excellence of Cold, Cold, Cold (Bonnie Raitt & Little Feat) and the horntastically-grooved Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (Taj Mahal) and then we get the instantly emotional Roll Um Easy (JD Souther), the contagious Southern rock-hued Rocket In My Pocket (The Bottle Rockets And David Lindley), the first record rounding out on the masterfully intriguing Sailin’ Shoes by Randy Newman & Valerie Carter.

The second vinyl LP opens on the beautiful tune I’ve Been The One (Jackson Browne) and the blues rocker Two Trains (Allen Toussaint And Leo Nocentelli), and then we get the warmly all-embracing Long Distance Love (Keisuke Kuwata), the smooth AOR of Rock And Roll Doctor (Eddie Money), this record rounding out on the simply heavenly Straight From The Heart (Chris Hillman And Jennifer Warnes).

The third, and final record opens on the funkily-grooved Honest Man (Little Feat) and a soulfully crafted Spanish Moon (Phil Perry, Merry Clayton And Ricky Lawson), and then we get gifted our national treasure on the lushly sculpted Willin’ (Willie Nelson & Emmylou Harris), the simply breathtaking Trouble (Inara George), everything come to a close on the formidably smooth, cultured and just darn great Rock And Roll Heaven by Lowell George himself.

Bob Brady & Con Chords - Love-In: The Chariot Records Recordings (1LP – Opaque Blue Vinyl): Long out-of-print 60’s Baltimore Blue-eyed Soul. Featuring the hits “Everybody’s Goin’ To The Love-In” and “More, More, More, Of Your Love.”

Side A:
1. Everybody’s Goin’ To The Love-In
2. Love Is The Master (I’m The Slave)
3. Savin’ All My Love For You
4. Illusion
5. It’s Love
6. Goodbye Baby

Side B:
1. More, More, More Of Your Love
2. It’s Been A Long Time Between Kisses
3. It’s A Better World
4. Please Stay
5. I Love You Baby
6. Tell Me Why
7. I Stand Rejected

Funnily enough, the original line-up of the Con Chords did not actually feature Brady. The group was instead fronted by George Layfield, who was backed by guitarist Dennis Zwirlein, bassist Vince Sansone, keyboardist Jim Samuel, trumpeter Lou Patti, saxophonist Dave Wladkowski, and drummer John Drexler.

Actually, Brady joined in early 1965, as well as trombonist Larry Sprigg. Lou Patti was replaced from multi-instrumentalist Tony Constantino. After their third single release, I Love You Baby the group sacked Sansone and Drexler, adding bassist Tommy Thompson and drummer Marty Fisher.

They played their final show on December 29th, 1970 and several members later reunited in the group PennLucy, while Brady went on to work for music consulting firm A.I.R.

OK, that’s the facts, Jack, as they say, but now let’s dig a little deeper as this brand new RSD collection is one of the best primetime examples of just what you would hope blue-eyed soul sounds like, trust me.

By 1967, Bob Brady & The Con Chords were one of the region’s most popular live acts, opening for the likes of the Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Martha & The Vandellas. After the release of their third single (‘I Love You Baby’), Sansone and Drexler were fired from the band and were replaced by Tommy Thompson (bass), and Marty Fisher (drums) in time to record ‘Everybody’s Going To The Love-In’ in 1968.

This song was eventually embraced by the DJs and dancers who populated Britain’s Northern soul club scene, and decades later, it appeared in a British commercial for the fast-food chain KFC. Over a year would go by before Bob Brady & The Con Chords released their next single, the highly enjoyable ‘It’s Love.’ One final single (‘Savin’ All My Love For You’) was also released later in 1969.

The Muffs - Live At Fort Apache 1LP - Opaque Yellow Vinyl): Fort Apache was one of THE studios of the late 80’s/early 90’s. Artists like Radiohead, Hole, Weezer, Pixies, The Lemonheads, Buffalo Tom, Uncle Tupelo, Juliana Hatfield, Throwing Muses, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr., all recorded there and put Boston on the map of destination studio cities.

The radio show Live At Fort Apache was broadcast live on Boston’s alternative rock station WFNX directly from the now-legendary Fort Apache studio and allowed bands and listeners to share a performance in real-time, making Live At Fort Apache a must-listen event.

On June 1st, 1995 The Muffs took over the studio and the airwaves for a 14-song set.

Side A:
1. Agony
2. Lucky Guy
3. Saying Goodbye
4. I Need You
5. Sad Tomorrow
6. Laying On A Bed Of Roses
7. What You’ve Done

Side B:
1. Oh Nina
2. Red Eyed Troll
3. End It All
4. Right In The Eye
5. New Love
6. Big Mouth
7. Ethel My Love

This blistering set was recorded while the band were touring behind the release of their second album Blonder And Blonder and is a most wondrous flashback to a time when alt-pop-rock music was at its finest.

Sometime in the spring or summer of 1993, a certain co-ed earworm from southern Cali named The Muffs burrowed its way into my head by virtue of their slamming self-titled LP, and at that point I was sold on the notion that the 80’s would in fact have a decade of equal significance adjacent to it.

One of the finest punk and roll aggregations to ever combust their way out of the City of Angels, The Muffs’ first three albums were something to musically behold: the self-titled debut, the brilliant sophomore effort, Blonder And Blonder and 1997’s Happy Birthday To Me.

And now we get this brilliant 14-track recording which myself, and all longtime Muffs fans - and newer acolytes - can continue to (re)discover Kim’s singular style, her caustic wit, her sly sarcasm, her crisp melodies, economical arrangements and of course, her trademark yowl.

Françoise Hardy - Françoise Hardy in English (1LP on White Vinyl + 7 Inch Single): Françoise Hardy’s Vogue years have left a mark on the history of French and international music. Even today, the 5 years between 1962–67 remain an exceptional moment in her career, the ones when she exploded in the eyes of a generation that was born during or just after the World War II, the generation that would be part of the May 1968 Paris protests.

Hardy exploded not only in France alongside her fellow “Yéyés,” but also internationally, where she became the symbol of French elegance, talent and charm. The United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain — no one could resist Françoise, who recorded most of her hits in English, Italian, and German.

Side A:
1. This Little Heart
2. All Over The World
3. However Much
4. It’s Getting Late
5. Only Friends
6. Only Friends
7. Say It Now
8. Just Call And I’ll Be There
9. The Rose
10. Only You Can Do It

Side B:
1. It’s My Heart
2. Another Place
3. Autumn Rendez-Vous
4. Find Me A Boy
5. I Wish It Were Me
6. Catch A Falling Star
7. You Have To Say The Word
8. So Many Friend
10. I Will Change My Life

In English collects Françoise Hardy’s English-language studio recordings and does so having fully remastered them, one and all - and also includes a 7 inch single re-press of her first French EP (“J’suis D’accord” / “Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles).

Françoise Hardy was a teenager when she became a phenom in French pop. The term yé-yé, describing the pop movement, came from a 1962 interview on television where a host asked Hardy what yeah yeah means. At age 25, Hardy broke free of the confines of pop music and began an unparalleled run of moody, spectral folk music in the 70’s.

Her 1970 self-titled album (often called Soleil) was the first one I heard from her discography. Her beautiful, easy-going, yet full and sonorous voice fills an otherwise sparse backing. Her 1971 self-titled album (La question) is even better, mixing elements of Brazilian music into her hermetic chansons for a truly gorgeous, and well-rounded work of musical art.

There are a lot of eras in her work to explore, if you don’t know her, for there are incredible singles in her 60’s work, probably her best known and best loved songs. She had an unexpected late career highlight with 1996’s Le danger, pivoting towards gritty alt rock. I personally like her 1972 album that has a slight American country patina, but this album of all her English-speaking songs is a real gem to behold, trust me.

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