You can delete your downloads and take a turn to the traditional - because this Saturday sees the return of the annual Record Store Day, when vinyl junkies come out to play en masse.
Ever since some not very bright sparks in the music industry decided to knock vinyl on the head, fans have been leading a revolt.
And you know what, vinyl sales are now at their highest for years which says plenty about our fondness for the form.
More than 200 independent record shops will come together to celebrate their unique culture, with a swell of strictly limited edition vinyl releases made exclusively for the day.
Some of the most anticipated this year are by Madonna, Muse, Elvis Presley and David Bowie.
Milton Keynes might have a lot going for it, but it is sadly bereft of independent record stores these days, still, if you travel you can participate.
In Northampton, family run store Spunout will lead the way, just as it has done every year.
The beauty of an independent is that the staff are as passionate about the product as the buyer, and they know what they are talking about. There is nothing like a bit of knowledge on the other side of the shop counter, is there?
Last year, shoppers came from as far as 50 miles away to participate in the day, and Spunout, found on Gold Street, are colouring up the event further by presenting live music courtesy of psychedelic rockers Thee Telepaths. DJ sets from Kev Palmer and Swiss Vince will also figure.
Metallica are this year’s event ambassadors.
Their cassette-issued demo collection No Life Til Leather became the biggest seller of RSD 2015 and they will issue a CD this time around.
Proceeds from ‘Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite, Metallica! - Live at Le Bataclan, Paris, France, June 11th, 2003 will be donated to Fondation de France’s Give For France charity, following the tragic events in Paris last November.
And while the majority of issues on Saturday are vinyl, CDs aren’t the only other format getting a look-in. Cassettes are on the menu too – including a reissue of Marilyn Manson’s controversial breakthrough album Antichrist Superstar, which sold an incredible seven million copies, and spawned the immortal singles The Beautiful People and Tourniquet.
This release marks the album’s 20th anniversary, which is also incredible.
Get in a spin this Record Day, why don’t you?
Total MK will be...
> The first Record Store Day was in San Francisco, in 2008
> More than 500 releases are being pressed specifically for this year’s event
> Each year, RSD has an official ‘Ambassador’.
Previously, Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes, QOTSA’s Josh Homme, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, White Stripes’ Jack White, Public Image’s Chuck D and Dave Grohl have all previously held the title. In 2016, Metallica are the collective ambassador
