So it’s almost that time again – the third Saturday in April is nigh! This can mean only one thing for the physical format enthusiasts amongst us (read as vinyl geeks) – there’ll soon be a boatload of extra special exclusives via RECORD STORE DAY.

Now, much has been made over the past few years about the relevance of RSD, or the perceived lack of it, by various corners of the music loving world. Mostly along the lines of “Waah waah waah Record Store Day is rubbish! Physical is DEAD, what’s the point?!” Or: “BOOOOOO! How dare you?! You mp3 loving HEATHEN, it’s your fault, you’re ruining EVERYTHING!”

(Granted, that’s a rather concise summation – you can find far more detail on last years internet based noisemaking and it’s plethora of angry responses here)

For all of the impassioned pleas, and despite the more negatively minded naysayers of years gone by – 2012 marks the 5^th year of International RSD and it’s a huge comfort to watch it become even bigger and better than before. With an increased number of participating stores, an ever growing commitment from artists and labels alike, and more over, a palpable excitement from those of us who do celebrate the day – I can’t help but sit back and gleefully plan my shopping list. What’s more is that today, Friday 20^th April, marks the launch of the New Official Record Store Chart – in association with the Official Charts Company – aiming to reflect the resurgence in physical sales that independent retailers have contributed to over the past couple of years.

I’ll not go into too much detail as to why I love hearing, and seeing, my favourite artists on record – as it would stretch far beyond the characters I’m confined to. I will say one thing though; you don’t only love your Mother on Mothering Sunday, or your Dad on Father’s Day. You wouldn’t only be nice to your loved ones on St Valentines either… Yes, Record Store Day does have some novelty value, and yes, big labels can be seen to ‘cash-in’ via back catalogues – but anything that focuses on the importance of supporting your independent retailers, and the artists within, has to be a good thing – whichever way you look at the event itself.

It’s an ethos that we here at amazing are extremely proud to support, and one that many of the artists on amazingtunes.com, and of course those amongst our playlists on Amazing Radio, are heavily involved with. Below are just some of the highlights from those that are new and emerging in this year’s exclusive product list. Happy hunting!

Beach House

Lazuli
7″ Blue/opaque vinyl
Label: Bella Union

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Beth Houghton Jeans & The Hooves Of Destiny

Atlas
7″
Label: Mute

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Django Django

Storm
7″
Qty 500
Label: Because

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Field Music

Actually, Nearly
A: Heart
B: Rent
7″ white vinyl
Qty: 500
Label: Memphis Industries

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NZCA/Lines

NZCA/Lines
LP White Vinyl (+MP3 Insert)
Label: Loaf

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Oberhofer

Time Capsules II
LP
Qty: 300
Label: Glassnote

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Slow Club

Paradise
LP
Qty: 500
Label: Moshi Moshi

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Stay+

Dandelion
10″
Qty: 200
Label: Fourth Wave

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The Heartbreaks

Funtimes
Label: Vinyl Music

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The Jezabels

Rosebud
7″

Label: Play It Again Sam

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Tom Williams & The Boat

Teenage Blood
LP & 7″
Qty: 140
Label: WBR/Moshi Moshi

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com.

Hello! Congratulations once again to Holy Esque, who’ve stayed on top of the tree this week with their wonderful track Rose, holding up off the attentions of Horse Thief in a week of ‘as you were’ inside the Top 2.

Close behind, Midnight Lion are up to their highest position to date with the brilliant Sleeping In The Woods at Number 3, while the rest of the Top 5 is completed by Django Django’s yo-yo track Default and a former Number 1 from Lianne La Havas.

Elsewhere in the Top 10, Lucy Rose, NZCA/LINES, Jonquil and Pushing Hands, while Sharks have the highest New Entry this week with Arcane Effigies landing at Number 14.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if Holy Esque can make it three weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com…

Hello! It’s a case of “another week, another new chart-topper” this time, with Glasgow band Holy Esque climbing a massive 16 places to reach the Number 1 spot with Rose, displacing Lianne La Havas at the top in the process after just one week.

Not only have the band have been firm favourites at Amazing Radio since the turn of the year, they’ve also been drawing increasing amounts of positive online coverage in the wake of some great live gigs in recent weeks.

Horse Thief are the Glaswegians’ closest contenders at Number 2, with the Simon Raymonde-approved Texans also having rising up the rankings with poise and purpose thanks to a beautiful ode to Oklahoma called Warrior. Slightly further down, Midnight Lion and NZCA/Lines have entered the Top 10 for the very first time, while Monogold and Vanbot continue to climb.

This week has witnessed a small portion of New Entries, with Three Blind Wolves, Midi Matilda and Pushing Hands all making their Amazing Chart bows in the lower reaches of the Top 20.

Click hereto see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if Holy Esque can make it two weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com…

Hello! We’ve got a brand new chart-topper this week, with London singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas hitting the heights with Forget in the immediate aftermath of her new EP release. Fresh being announced as part of The Great Escape line-up in Brighton, Lianne has scored her first ever Amazing Chart Number 1 and becomes the first female Londoner to do so since Daughter hit the top in October last year.

This means that Friend Crush by Friends has slipped a couple of places after a fortnight on top, with Swiss Lips glued to the Number 2 spot for a third consecutive week. Slightly further down, Django Django and Monogold have risen further this week, with Default and Spirit Or Something climbing to Number 4 and Number 7 respectively.

This week sees eight (yep, EIGHT) new arrivals inside the Top 20. Oxford band Jonquil have the highest-placed of them all with It’s My Part at Number 12, while Lucy Rose, NZCA/Lines, Midnight Lion, Holy Esque, The Reads, First Aid Kit and Alt-J are all close behind in the rundown, all liable to climb further come Sunday.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if Lianne La Havas can make it two weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!