Hey, remember vinyl records? Remember record stores? Remember stores?

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.” The 2020 event was originally supposed to be on April 18.

The pandemic had other plans.

The folks behind Record Store Day – full of adorable optimism – rescheduled the event for June 20.

The pandemic had other plans.

Thanks to COVID-19 and our country’s complete lack of leadership – and most Americans’ shocking inability to show basic levels of compassion or respect for one another – we’re at the end of August, still in the midst of a pandemic with no end in sight.

Therefore, Record Store Day is now Record Store Days. The event is taking place on three Saturdays across three months (8/29, 9/26, 10/24). And having three separate “record store drops” means that if you’re looking for something specific, you need to do your homework about when it’ll be available.

We previously brought you news about the five soundtrack releases from Varèse Sarabande Records (click here for images, track listings, and more details), and here’s when you can get them:

• Army of Darkness: August 29
• Mortal Kombat: September 26
• Hackers: September 26
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Aureyal disc): September 26
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Crystal Chamber disc): October 24

Folks, we managed to get our hands on the two Dark Crystal discs, and… words kind of fail to describe how beautiful they are.

I’m not in love with the clear plastic sleeves, but the discs themselves are gorgeous. Even if you have no intention of playing these discs on an actual record player, you’re going to want these for your collection… or your wall. Frame these bad boys and marvel at their beauty every day.

But even if you don’t ever listen to these discs, please – for the love of Thra – listen to Daniel Pemberton’s score. It’s hauntingly beautiful and will make you want to rewatch The Age of Resistance. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Visit your local record shop on September 26 and October 24 for these stunning discs. You won’t be sorry.

Just please wear a mask.