As we all try to adapt to our “new normal” and find a way forward in the current hellscape in which we live, music will play as vital a role as it ever has. No matter the genre, music is the cliched universal language, and it’s the one thing almost everyone turns to in times of uncertainty. It has the power to console, calm, soothe, and transport.

And I think we could all stand to transport away from current events for a while.

For those who are unaware, Record Store Day is an annual event (begun in 2007) “to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1,400 independently owned record stores in the U.S. and thousands of similar stores internationally.” It’s intended to be a day for people to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities.

And in these times? When businesses are involuntarily closed and suffering… and when retail employees have suddenly lost their jobs and filing for unemployment in astonishingly record-setting numbers? I think it’s important to do whatever we can to support our local, community businesses that survive on the slimmest of margins in even the good (virus-free) times.

Record Store Day 2020 was originally scheduled for April 18 but has recently been rescheduled to Saturday, June 20 (for obvious reasons).

The show, as they say, must go on.

If you’re a vinyl fan – or if you just want to support a local business – check here for all participating stores (organized by state) and then check here for a full list of this year’s releases. The good people at Record Store Day HQ have also put together a list of which stores offer curbside pickup, local delivery, and online ordering.

Most RSD releases are limited to just a few thousand copies, and not all stores will carry every release, so it’s a good idea to contact your store in advance if you’re looking for something in particular.

There’s tons of great stuff, but from here on out, we’re going to highlight five film soundtrack releases from Varèse Sarabande Records that are part of this year’s Record Store Day lineup (and available online in both vinyl and CD formats). All look incredible…

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Just look at these beauties! The Aureyal picture disc is complemented on the other side with the cover art from the Volume 1 CD and digital release, and the Crystal Chamber disc is complemented with the cover art from the Volume 2 CD and digital release. Note that these two releases – and the track selections on them – are completely different. Although available for individual purchase, they are thematically a set.

The Aureyal Track List

• Dzenpo!” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Remember Your Oath” – Samuel Sim
• “Puppet Show” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton
• “Song Of Thra” – Daniel Pemberton
• “The Skeksis Arrive” – Samuel Sim
• “Outcast” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Outside Podling Wayhouse” – Daniel Pemberton
• “An Old Story” – Daniel Pemberton
• “The Three Brothers Rise” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Attack Of The Arathim” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton
• “Our Sister Is Gone” – Samuel Sim
• “The Dark Crystal: End Credits” – Daniel Pemberton
• “The Dark Crystal: The Age Of Hope” – Daniel Pemberton

The Crystal Chamber Track List

• “The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Another World, Another Time” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Story Of The Dark Crystal” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Rian + Mira Dreamfast” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Aughra Awakes” – Daniel Pemberton
• “The Crystal Chamber” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Essence Draining” – Daniel Pemberton
• “What Lies At The Dream’s End” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Together We Fight” – Daniel Pemberton
• “The Blue Flames Part 1” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Deet In The Woods” – Samuel Sim
• “Speak For The Dead” – Daniel Pemberton
• “Brea And The Library” – Samuel Sim
• “Her Light Faded” – Daniel Pemberton

Army of Darkness

This double LP soundtrack for Sam Raimi’s 1990’s classic Army of Darkness features the original cover graphics with new notes and images and a newly remastered score by composer Joe LoDuca. LoDuca has continued to score Evil Dead projects through the Starz series, Ash vs The Evil Dead. Army of Darkness is musically distinct, however, in having a secondary contributing composer: Danny Elfman’s killer theme “March of the Dead.”

Track List

• “Prologue”
• “Building The Deathcoaster”
• “Give Me Some Sugar / Bone’Anza”
• “Time Traveller”
• “Ash Splits”
• “Little Ashes”
• “Ash In Chains”
• “Night Court”
• “The Forest Of The Dead / Graveyard”
• “The Pit”
• “God Save Us”
• “Foul Thing”
• “March Of The Dead” Theme Composed by Danny Elfman
• “Whites Of Their Skulls”
• “The Deathcoaster”
• “On Parapet”
• “Ash Bucklers”
• “Skeletor”
• “Soul Swallower”
• “Manly Men”
• “End Titles”

Mortal Kombat

Originally released on CD in 1995 and currently unavailable in any physical format, this score is getting the LP treatment in conjunction with the film’s 25th anniversary. Side A of this two-sided picture disc features the Mortal Kombat logo, and Side B features Goro. The music was composed by George S. Clinton with a heavy assist from the guitarist Buckethead (Guns N’ Roses, Primus) who appears on 10 of these 26 tracks.

Track List

• “Taste Of Things To Come”
• “Liu Vs. Sub-Zero”
• “It Has Begun”
• “The Garden” featuring Buckethead
• “Goro Vs. Art” featuring Buckethead
• “Banquet”
• “Liu Vs. Katana”
• “Liu’s Dream” featuring Buckethead
• “Liu Vs. Reptile” featuring Buckethead
• “Stairway”
• “Goro Goro”
• “Kidnapped”
• “Zooom”
• “Johnny Vs. Scorpion” featuring Buckethead
• “Hand And Shadow” featuring Buckethead
• “Scorpion And Sub-Zero” featuring Buckethead
• “Soul Snatchin'”
• “On The Beach”
• “Johnny Cage” featuring Buckethead
• “Goro Chase” featuring Buckethead
• “Evening Bells”
• “Monks”
• “Friends”
• “Flawless Victory” featuring Buckethead
• “Farewell”
• “Kids”

Hackers

On vinyl for the first time, the soundtrack to Hackers is being released in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the film. The double LP features never-before-released tracks from composer Simon Boswell and two pieces by Guy Pratt that feature David Gilmour (Pink Floyd).

Additionally, tracks that weren’t on the original 1995 soundtrack release, including “Protection” by Massive Attack and “Open Up” by Leftfield, are part of this special album edition. The commemorative package includes two black vinyl LPs in a gatefold, new notes from director Iain Softley, and unreleased photos of the cast.

Track List

• “Halcyon and On and On” Performed by Orbital
• “Hackers Suite” Performed by Simon Boswell
• “Open Up” Performed by Leftfield
• “Cowgirl” Performed by Underworld
• “Voodoo People” Performed by Prodigy
• “Connected” Performed by Stereo MCs
• “Original Bedroom Rockers” Performed by Kruder & Dorfmeister
• “One Love” Performed by Prodigy
• “Good Grief” Performed by Urban Dance Squad
• “Protection” Performed by Massive Attack
• “One Combination” Performed by Guy Pratt
• “Grand Central Station” Performed by Guy Pratt, featuring David Gilmour
• “Heaven Knows” Performed by Squeeze