More than 250 stores nationwide will take part in this year’s Record Store Day celebration Saturday, April 12, with full-day events planned at The Record Connection in McKinley Heights and Fat Hippy Records in Brookfield.

The participating stores will offer a selection of anywhere from a dozen to hundreds of the 371 exclusive titles specially made for the day.

Because the whole point of RSD is to drive interest in the neighborhood independent record store, the releases – on vinyl – are available only at participating stores. They can’t be purchased on a website. 

There is a wide range of first-time releases, and they touch on every genre; it’s not all obscure indie rockers and classic live album reissues.

The list includes some huge pop stars.

For example, it includes Gracie Abrams’ “Live from Radio City Music Hall” double album. There’s also a 7-inch vinyl single of Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight.”

On the other hand, a rerelease of the U.S. version of the Rolling Stones’ “Out of Our Heads” (1965) – a landmark album that includes “Satisfaction” and “The Last Time” – will also be available.

Check out the full list HERE.

If what you’re looking for isn’t in stock or is sold out by the time you get there, your record store can usually order it for you.

The following stores in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are participating in Record Store Day: 

  • The Record Connection, McKinley Heights.
  • Fat Hippy Records, Brookfield.
  • The Exchange, Boardman.
  • The Exchange, Niles.
  • Indie Wax, 6911 Market St., Boardman.
  • Melusina, downtown Sharon, Pa.

THE RECORD CONNECTION

As usual, the biggest RSD event will be at The Record Connection, which is in Pine Tree Plaza on U.S. route 422.

The event will start at 9 a.m., with coffee and donuts, and will run well into the evening.

Owner Jeff Burke always stocks most of the RSD titles and has placed a bigger than usual order this year.

Tents will be set up in the parking lot, with merchandise available there and in the store. 

The day also will include live music.

Valley-based folk rocker Demos Papadimas and his band will play from 10 a.m. to noon.

Leadfoot Granny, a female-fronted rock band from Toledo, will play from noon to 2 p.m.

And finishing the day will be the Fitch High School rock bands, featuring students from the Austintown high school’s Rock Band class taught by John Anthony of The Vindys. They’ll play from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Burke is excited for all three acts. “[Papadimas] is well-known in the area, and Leadfoot Granny will be something new,” he said. 

The Fitch rock bands are a whole new concept that will attract a new audience in the afternoon, he said.

“I saw them play at West Side Bowl [last year] and thought they were fantastic,” Burke said. “They were so excited and energetic.”

Six bands from the high school will take turns on stage, playing three or four songs apiece.

FAT HIPPY RECORDS

Fat Hippy Records, 7188 Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield, will also have a carnival-like atmosphere on Record Store Day, with legendary psych-rock band Poobah playing a set at 3 p.m.

Poobah is led by Youngstown native Jim Gustafson.

The band’s 1972 debut album, “Let Me In,” has been widely covered in the rock press as a masterpiece of its era. It is prized by record collectors, with original copies fetching upward of $1,000, said Zac Younkins, owner of Fat Hippy. The album was recently rereleased.

DJ Justin Pounds will provide music throughout the day, when Poobah is not playing.

The store will open at 10 a.m. and will be well-stocked with RSD merchandise.

“We are stocking all of the Record Store Day releases and having selected sales, including 15% off all past Record Store Day titles,” Younkins said.

Customers tend to start lining up at 8 a.m. to make sure they get the titles they’re looking for.

Vendors will be set up at the site to keep the crowd caffeinated and fed. They will include Slow Hurry Coffee, Sugar Mama Cannoli Cart and the Vegatier Express food truck.

There will also be giveaways, Younkins said, and every purchase includes the opportunity to enter a raffle.

The day will also include a cornhole tournament outside and other games.

Pictured at top: Poobah, led by Youngstown native Jim Gustafson, will perform at Fat Hippy Records on Record Store Day.