Record Store Day UK Announces First Three Official 2022 Releases – Patti Smith, Dire Straits, Deacon Blue

Photo Credit: Record Store Day UK

Record Store Day UK has announced three exclusive releases in association with their charity partner, War Child.

The collection of vinyls for this unique Record Store Day drop will be available on April 23, 2022. Patti Smith, Deacon Blue and Dire Straits collectible vinyls will be available at participating independent record shops. A donation of £1 from every copy sold will go to War Child to help educate and protect children living in conflict zones.

“W are so excited to be the charity partner for RSD again this year,” says Sophie Mckay, Music and Events Executive at War Child. “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 progress makes it all the more so.”

Record Store Day UK – 2022 Vinyl Exclusives

There are over 240 independent record stores across the UK that participate in Record Store Day on April 23, 2022. These special vinyl releases are one of the reasons why vinyl has seen such a resurgence in recent years.

Patti Smith’s release is a double LP made up of hits spanning her career from 1974 to 1996. The tracklist was selected by the Record Store Day team for this exclusive release. The compilation is officially titled Curated by Record Store Day. It features “Gloria,” “Because The Night,” “Dancing Barefoot,” and “People Have the Power” among other releases. This vinyl will be limited to 2,250 copies available in the UK.

Also available 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 sleeve, and feature new liner notes from frontman Ricky Ross. This album features tracks like “Loaded,” “Chocolate Girl,” and “Dignity.”

The third exclusive RSD release is Dire Straits’ album Love Over Gold. It’s a new ‘half-speed mastered’ edition, cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios to celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary.

Printing at half-speed allows the cutting process to take twice as long, hugely improving sound quality. The re-issue features an embossed lithograph, an essay about the album, and a certificate of authenticity from Abbey Road. Only 1,500 copies of this limited RSD exclusive will be available in the UK.