It’s Spring time and that means Record Store Day 2025 is fast approaching. Do I normally participate in Record Store Day? Well sort of. Most years the record store day list will have a handful of items I am loosely interested in and this year is no different. If anything, Record Store Day is a great excuse to go out and support one or several of your local independent record stores, regardless of whether or not they are officially participating.
Record Store Day Special Releases for 2025
Compared to previous years where the reaction to the release list was mostly disappointment from collectors, there was a lot more positivity about what is going to be available on April 12. Of the 334 special releases, there are plenty for all kinds of collectors to be excited about even if many of the pressings will have you thinking “Who the hell asked for that?” You can find the full list of releases on the official Record Store Day list.
Personally, there are a few things I will be on the lookout for at my local participating stores here in Portland. On the jazzy side of things this Bill Evans live recording, could be a winner. Evan’s live performances are always something special so even without hearing any of the music on the LP I am feeling pretty confident of the quality.
One of my favorite and one of the most underrated power-pop albums of all time is also getting a vinyl pressing for Record Store Day 2025. Harvey Danger is often remembered as a one-hit wonder for “Flagpole Sitta,” however this is quite unfair as albums like the King James Version can hold their own against any power-pop album of the 90’s.
Speaking of Power-pop, one of the more hyped releases for Record Store Day is the repressing of “Time Flies…” by Oasis. This collection from the UK rockers comes with four colored LPs that includes every single the band ever released. Only 1,000 of these are getting released for record store day so expect fierce competition if this is something you are interested in, as the scalpers will be out in full force.
I’m assuming the above-mentioned Oasis album will be just out of reach for myself and most collectors, but another great album that’s getting a larger pressing run is “Tim,” which I would consider my second favorite album by The Replacements, only behind “Let It Be.” the 40th-anniversary release of the 1985 album will have 6000 copies available, making it a little more realistic of a find.
I don’t collect a ton of 7” records but am always on the lookout for interesting ones. This year I have my eyes on Waxahatchee’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” which was one of my favorite tracks on Waxahatchee’s fantastic folk album that was released last year, Tigers Blood.
Those are the albums I will personally be on the lookout for but there is tons of other interesting stuff based on what you like and what kind of albums you collect. There are some interesting soundtrack options such as the John Williams score for the first three Harry Potter films, amongst others.
Record Store Day 2025 Across Portland
Tons of record stores across Portland will be celebrating Record Store Day, whether or not they are a part of the official list. Music Millennium, one of my favorite Portland Record stores will be one of the best places to find records on the special releases list. Once upon a time, the Music Millennium owner helped start Record Store Day, so the shop is always high on the list for the more limited releases.
The Record Pub in SE Portland will also be having plenty of giveaways and festivities and is probably second on my list for shops to hit on the big day.
Plenty of other record stores across Portland will be celebrating on April 12 in some way. Currently, the official Record Store Day list for Portland (and its suburbs) is as follows.
Stores Participating in Portland Record Store Day 2025
Vinyl Resting Place
Exiled Records
Mint Gallery Records
Suburbs
Daily Records (Milwaukie, OR)
503 Records (Beaverton, OR)
Vortex Records (McMinnville, OR)