Saturday (4/17) is the third annual national Record Store Day, an event designed to celebrate independently-owned record stores. Though their numbers have dwindled, record stores are back into a groove, with artists clamoring for shelf space and fans craving a tangible fix. In addition to free stuff from vinyl, to CDs, posters, and promo items, (courtesy of record labels, artists, and indie record stores), labels and distributors have shipped $1.3 million in limited-issue vinyl and CD releases exclusively for Record Store Day.

Expect exclusive vinyl from Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. The Rolling Stones will unleash the numbered Plundered My Soul, a newly unearthed tune from the upcoming Exile on Main Streetreissue, while The Doors offer two songs from the When You're Strange documentary and Bruce Springsteen serves up a live set. Collectors will be looking for items like The Beatles' Paperback Writer/Rain (limited to 1,000 copies) and R.E.M.'s out-of-print EP Chronic Town on blue vinyl. Of course, not every store will have every RSD release: you'll need to go visit the stores to see what they've got, but to check out a list of items to expect, go to recordstoreday.tuneportals.com/page/836

Long Island stores participating include:

Utopia in Centereach and Hicksville

Mr. Cheapo in Commack and Mineola

Long Island Vinyl Exchange in East Northport

Whirlin Disc in Farmingdale

Sound Traks in Huntington

Record Stop in Ronkonkoma    

Infinity Records in Massapequa Park

Platinum Hits in Riverhead

CD Island in Rockville Center

Looney Tunes in West Babylon