April 21, 2012 14:38

Record Store Day 2012 underway

UK chief Spencer Hickman says Arctic Monkeys' single 'R U Mine?' is already flying off shelves... did you get one?

Photo: PA

Record Store Day 2012 is already underway, with special releases from Arctic Monkeys and Two Door Cinema Club available in shops today (April 21).

Over 300 artists have offered up new vinyl releases for today's celebrations, with new material, cover versions, rare tracks and studio outtakes all set to be released.

Arctic Monkeys' new single 'R U Mine?' is available on special purple vinyl, while Two Door Cinema Club's 'Acoustic EP' boasts acoustic versions of their tracks 'Something Good Can Work' and 'Undercover Martyn'.

Kasabian have released their covers of Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games' and Gwen Stefani's 'Sweet Escape' on 7'' vinyl and The Clash have a newly digitally remastered version of 'London Calling' on vinyl, while Arcade Fire are offering remixes of their track 'Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) and Noel Gallagher has dropped a new EP titled 'Songs From The Great White North'. To read the complete list of releases, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Record Store Day UK chief Spencer Hickman, who is currently at London's Rough Trade East, told NME that the Arctic Monkeys' release had been particularly popular. "I can't believe it," he said. "We had 250 and they were gone in 15 minutes." He also said releases from the likes of Arcade Fire had been flying off the shelves.

There have also been a glut of special instore appearances, with Billy Bragg playing at London's Sister Ray Shop and a series of names including the Jack White-endorsed Smoke Fairies set to take to the stage at Rough Trade West.

At Rough Trade East, meanwhile, Johnny Flynn, Wet Nuns, Becoming Real, Little Boots and Keane are all set to play instore gigs, while outside the capital, Big Deal were at Brighton's Resident store and Summer Camp and The Duke Spirit are amongst the names at Rise in Bristol.

To read more about this year's Record Store Day, including Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines and more speaking about the records which changed their lives, pick up the latest issue of NME. It's on UK newsstands and available digitally now.

Video: John Lydon - Why Record Store Day Matters

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