Craft’s RSD Drop

Craft Recordings used Record Store Day on April 18 to put nine limited-run vinyl titles into indie shops, betting on collectors who chase reissues, vault pulls, and first-time pressings. (craftrecordings.com) The label’s 2026 slate ran from jazz and soul to emo, alt-rock, and Latin compilations, and Craft said the records were available only through participating independent retailers on release day. Record Store Day’s official guide said stores order titles individually, carry different selections, and could begin selling leftover stock online on April 19. (craftrecordings.com) (recordstoreday.com) Two of the most archival releases were mono jazz editions: Abbey Lincoln’s 1957 album *That’s Him!* and Miles Davis’ 1951 debut as a leader, *The New Sounds*. Craft said the Lincoln LP was cut all-analog by Kevin Gray and limited to 4,200 copies worldwide, while Record Store Day listed the Davis 10-inch as a 2,000-copy exclusive. (craftrecordings.com) (recordstoreday.com 1) (recordstoreday.com 2) The rest of the drop leaned on records that had either been hard to find or had never been on vinyl in this form. Record Store Day listed *Here Come The Tears* by The Tears as a 1,350-copy first vinyl reissue, and Mayday Parade’s *Tales Told By Dead Friends* as a 20th-anniversary pressing on translucent orange vinyl. (recordstoreday.com 1) (recordstoreday.com 2) Craft also used the event for compilation projects built around label history and crate-digger appeal. Record Store Day described *Stax: Killer B’s* as a 14-track set of hard-to-find B-sides from the Stax vault, and *Jazz Dispensary: Magia Brasileira* as a Brazil-focused collection with artists including Bola Sete, Flora Purim, Dom Um Romão, João Donato, and Paulinho da Costa. (recordstoreday.com 1) (recordstoreday.com 2) One of the broader-audience titles was *Just Tell Me You Love Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac*, which Record Store Day said was making its vinyl debut as a 2-LP set with covers by acts including HAIM, MGMT, and Tame Impala. The site classified that release as “RSD First,” meaning it debuted at indie stores but could later reach other retailers. (recordstoreday.com) (recordstoreday.com) Craft’s own announcement also highlighted a long-awaited vinyl issue from Violent Femmes alongside the Lincoln, Davis, Mayday Parade, Tears, Stax, and Jazz Dispensary sets, underscoring how the label mixed catalog maintenance with fan-service pressings. That spread mirrors how Record Store Day now works: exclusive editions drive foot traffic, but stores decide title by title what to stock. (craftrecordings.com) (recordstoreday.com) (recordstoreday.com) Record Store Day began in 2008 and now spans about 1,400 independently owned U.S. stores, according to the event’s website. For Craft, the 2026 package put its catalog strategy in one place: mono jazz, Memphis soul, cult British indie, emo nostalgia, and compilations built for people willing to line up early. (recordstoreday.com)