Record Store Day 2026 is almost here, and once again Newton Abbot’s Phoenix Sounds is preparing for the annual vinyl pilgrimage — a ritual I’ve been covering for musomuso for the past eight years. Every April, the shopfront becomes a gathering place for collectors, crate‑diggers, and the sleep‑deprived faithful, all united by the thrill of the hunt.
Last year set a new local legend: two fans arrived before midnight, camping out through the cold to secure their must‑have titles — the purest expression of RSD devotion. The question now is whether 2026 will break that record. With vinyl sales still booming and this year’s list stacked with exclusives, rarities, and blink‑and‑you’ll‑miss‑them gems, it’s entirely possible someone will push the queue even earlier.
While the headlines will go to Bowie, Blur, Charli XCX, and The Cure, the real magic of RSD lies deeper in the list — in the obscure, the unexpected, the cult treasures waiting quietly in the racks. Below is musomuso’s hand‑picked selection of ten under‑the‑radar releases that deserve your attention. These are the records that won’t make the tabloids but will absolutely make a collector’s year.
1. Addis Rockers – Warriors (Real Rock Records, LP)
Letter: A Who they are: A cult roots reggae outfit whose ’70s recordings are prized by collectors. Why it’s collectible: Real Rock’s reissues are tiny‑run and often disappear forever. Why you should grab it: Reggae collectors will be hunting this like treasure — expect it to vanish early.
2. Beathoven – Live at Pascoe Vale High School 1977 (Grown Up Wrong, LP)
Letter: B Who they are: A raw, obscure Australian proto‑punk band with a tiny recorded legacy. Why it’s collectible: Live ’77 Aussie punk is incredibly scarce. Why you should grab it: Punk collectors will be all over this — a proper rarity.
3. Cabo Verde Show – Caminho De Esperança Coladance 80 (Charly Records, LP)
Letter: C Who they are: A legendary Cape Verdean dance band blending funaná, coladeira, and Afro‑Latin rhythms. Why it’s collectible: Clean Cape Verdean vinyl is notoriously hard to find. Why you should grab it: A global‑crate‑digger favourite — this will not linger.
4. Darkthrone – As Wolves Among Sheep… Live in Oslo (Peaceville, LP)
Letter: D Who they are: Norwegian black‑metal royalty with a fiercely loyal underground following. Why it’s collectible: Live Darkthrone releases are rare and always snapped up instantly. Why you should grab it: Metal collectors queue early for anything Peaceville touches.
5. Eastern Dark – Julie Is A Junkie / Johnny And Dee Dee (Grown Up Wrong, 7”)
Letter: E Who they are: A cult Australian punk/power‑pop band with a tragically short career. Why it’s collectible: Their singles are holy‑grail items for punk collectors. Why you should grab it: A perfect RSD pickup: rare, raw, and guaranteed to sell out.
6. Faith NYC – Love Is A Wish Away (Creation Youth, LP)
Letter: F Who they are: A gritty New York soul‑punk outfit with a lo‑fi, underground aesthetic. Why it’s collectible: Creation Youth pressings are tiny and cult‑driven. Why you should grab it: This is the kind of release that becomes a future “why didn’t I buy that?” regret.
7. Grady Tate – Lady Love / Moondance (Janus, 7”)
Letter: G Who he is: A revered jazz drummer and vocalist whose ’70s output is adored by soul‑jazz collectors. Why it’s collectible: Janus 7” reissues are scarce and often become DJ favourites. Why you should grab it: A perfect slice of soulful, dance‑floor‑friendly jazz.
8. Heliocentrics, The + Marshall Allen + Knoel Scott + Bilal – Nuclear War (Strut, LP)
Letter: H Who they are: A London psych‑jazz collective collaborating with Sun Ra Arkestra legends. Why it’s collectible: Strut’s spiritual‑jazz releases are premium, limited, and highly sought after. Why you should grab it: Sun Ra‑adjacent material always skyrockets in value.
9. I‑Roy – Crisis Time (Charly Records, LP)
Letter: I Who he is: One of Jamaica’s most influential toasters, known for witty, politically sharp delivery. Why it’s collectible: Charly’s reggae reissues are small‑batch and quickly become collector staples. Why you should grab it: A foundational voice in reggae — essential for genre completists.
10. Jah Wobble – The Early Years 1983–1986 (Lantern Records, LP)
Letter: J Who he is: Post‑punk bass icon, PiL alumnus, and experimental dub explorer. Why it’s collectible: Lantern’s archival releases are beautifully curated and limited. Why you should grab it: Early Wobble material is catnip for post‑punk and dub collectors alike.
Record Store Day has always been about more than limited vinyl, it’s about the people who show up, the stories shared in the cold morning air, and the sense of community that forms long before the shutters roll up. Phoenix Sounds has become a kind of annual meeting point for the South Devon music faithful, and 2026 looks set to be no different. Whether you’re chasing a holy‑grail reggae reissue, a lost punk 7”, or something beautifully strange from the outer edges of jazz, this year’s list has more than enough to reward the early risers.
So pack your layers, charge your phone, bring a flask, and get ready for another year of bleary‑eyed excitement on Courtenay Street. I’ll be there as always, capturing the atmosphere, the anticipation, and the inevitable “did you get it?” conversations as the doors finally open.
See you in the queue.
Please remember that the shop has moved to its new location 2-4 East St, Newton Abbot TQ12 1AF