Monday 14th February: Record Store Day UK are pleased to announce three exclusive releases in association with their Official Charity Partner War Child.
A collection of highly collectible records from world-famous artists will be released on Record Store Day on 23rd April 2022. The releases from Patti Smith, Deacon Blue and Dire Straits will only be available at participating independent record shops, with a donation of £1 from every copy sold going to War Child to help protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living conflict.
Sophie Mckay, Music and Events Executive at War Child, says: “We are so excited to be the charity partner for RSD again this year. It is a partnership that we are really proud of, and one that is making such a big difference year on year. Coming together to celebrate music and independent record stores on Record Store Day through these amazing vinyl releases feels really special, and to know that we are raising money for War Child’s vital work in process, makes it all the more so.”
Patti Smith’s release is a double LP made up of hits spanning her career from 1974 to 1996. The compilation - officially titled Curated By Record Store Day - features Gloria, Because The Night, Dancing Barefoot and People Have the Power among others and has been limited to 2,250 copies in the UK.
Also in the War Child collection is a 35th anniversary edition of Deacon Blue’s debut album Raintown. Each of the 2,000 copies are individually numbered, packaged in a foil embellished sleeve and feature new liner notes from frontman Ricky Ross. The album features tracks like Loaded, Chocolate Girl and Dignity and stayed in the UK charts for 18 months when it was released in 1987.
The third War Child release is an exclusive version of Dire Straits’ album Love Over Gold. This new “half-speed mastered” edition, cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, celebrates the album’s 40th anniversary. Printing at half-speed allows the cutting process to take twice as long, hugely improving the sound quality. This reissue features an embossed lithograph, an essay about the album including a new interview with Mark Knopfler and a certificate of authenticity from Abbey Road. Although the original version has sold millions of copies around the world, there will only be 1,500 copies available at participating record stores in the UK on 23rd April.