Record Store Day 2023 is almost here. How to get the most out of it in Bucks County

Small indie record shops everywhere are gearing up for Record Store Day which falls on April 22 this year.

The occasion is so coveted by music fans and vinyl collectors looking to get their hands on the rarest and most exclusive vinyl releases, it almost harkens back to the days when folks would line up for hours outside their nearest Ticketron location in hopes of scoring the best concert tickets.

Those long lines are a huge part of the experience, said Kevin Sandridge, owner of Positively Records in Levittown.

"Everyone who shows up has the same love for music, the same interests, so they start talking about what they’re looking for or what concerts they’ve been to. And it almost becomes this big music lovers' fest," he said.

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Ready to get in on the fun? Here's what you need to know to help you rock Record Store Day:

What is Record Store Day?

Founded in 2007, Record Store Day falls on the third Saturday of April each year, celebrating the culture of the independently owned record store. The day is meant to bring together fans, artists and thousands of independent records stores all over the world.

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The day features special vinyl releases, as well as a handful of albums on CD and cassette tape. Stores may also host in-store events, such as live music, and carry various promotional products made exclusively for the day.

Which shops in Bucks County are participating in Record Store Day?

Siren Records, Doylestown

On Record Store Day, Siren Records won't open to the general public until after its reservation period, which goes from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

If you're set on getting a certain title before it sells out and missed the chance to sign up for a time slot, owner Blair Elliot encourages customers to line up early, since walk-ups will be accepted during the reservation period if space becomes available.

Go: 25 E. State St. in Doylestown; 215-348-2323; sirenrecords.com

Newtown Book & Record Exchange, Newtown

Newtown Book & Record Exchange will open an hour early at 9 a.m., allowing a small number of people in the store at one time, so customers have plenty of room to shop.

If you’re hoping to be near the front of the line, plan to camp out hours in advance, noted owner Chelsea Mitchell. In previous years, she’s seen customers start showing up as early as midnight.

Love swag? Their earliest customers will receive exclusive Record Store Day giveaways.

Go: 102 S. State St. in Newtown; 215-968-4914; newtownbookandrecord.com

Positively Records, Levittown

Positively Records will open up two hours earlier than usual at 8 a.m. in order to accommodate the long line of customers who typically start camping out several hours in advance.

For those who would rather wait out the big early morning rush, Sandridge said crowds usually die down after the first two hours. So, as long as you’re not looking for a high demand album or very limited release, you might consider coming after 10 a.m. to avoid the lines.

Go: 4151 Woerner Ave. in Levittown; 215-945-8063; positivelyrecords.com

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What are some sought-after albums to look for on Record Store Day?

More than 200 titles will be released at physical record stores, including exclusive releases, first releases, limited runs and regional releases. Here is just a sampling of albums expected to go quickly:

• Taylor Swift’s "folklore: the long pond studio sessions." Swift and her collaborators originally recorded folklore during the pandemic lockdown remotely from one another. This release, recorded in September 2020, was the first chance they had to play together for a Long Pond Studio Sessions live recording and Disney+ documentary.

• Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes - The B-Sides. A collection of the b-sides and rarities featured alongside the singles from her solo debut album, "Little Earthquakes."

• The Black Keys’s "Live at Beachland Tavern March 31, 2002." In celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary, The Black Keys present a previously unreleased full-length live recording of their very first show, in 2002, at Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio.

• Pearl Jam’s "Give Way." Recorded live in 1998 at their Melbourne Park show in Austrailia. The 17-track album, is released on vinyl and CD, and includes live versions of "Given To Fly," "Faithfull" and "Do The Evolution."

• The 1975’s "Live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra." This double clear vinyl release features songs from their second studio album — "I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It" — with the full BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The title will also be released on CD and cassette.

Other highly anticipated titles include Miles Davis’s "TURNAROUND: Unreleased Rare Vinyl from On The Corner;" Billy Joel’s "Live At The Great American Music Hall – 1975;" Grateful Dead’s "Boston Garden, Boston, MA 5/7/77 (Live);" Nas’s "Made You Look: God’s Son Live 2002," Eric Carr's "Rockology;" and The Cranberries's "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee."

Keep in mind, there is no guarantee which titles each store will carry or the number of copies they'll get in, especially with the more limited releases, so if you're looking for a lesser-known title, its best to call around a few days in advance.

For a complete list of Record Store Day 2023 titles, go to recordstoreday.com.

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Love rare vinyls? Here's your Bucks County guide to Record Store Day