Limited Edition Record Store Day LPs can be such a luxury item for the vinyl enthusiast or to some it’s nothing more than a crude attempt to fleece hardcore physical purchasers in a world that’s leaving them behind. Wherever you sit on the debate there are always some records that raise an eyebrow and for Replacements completists, this would be one such release that will have them queuing round the block amongst all the Noel Gallagher fans and scalpers to pick up a copy on Red Vinyl.

With a mere 2000 pressed worldwide. Bleeding Hearts’ ‘Riches to Rags’ is a decent collection of rock ’n’ roll songs featuring the guitar work of Bob Stinson, founding member of the Replacements. Stinson’s untimely death, back in 95 seems so long ago now (I guess it is) this 1993 recording was shelved and remained the stuff of legend among Replacements fans. The album is upbeat, catchy Minneapolis rock, with Bob’s ever-present licks and bright chords shining through like a diamond in the rough. It also comes wrapped in a sleeve with liner notes from Grammy Award Winning journalist Bob Mehr, who wrote the definitive biography ‘Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements’. He describes Riches to Rags as “the final piece to the puzzle of Bob Stinson’s musical career”. If you didn’t know he also released a class album with the legend that is Sonny Vincent. The remaining members of Bleeding hearts are rumored to be playing these tunes at some shows to celebrate the release of ‘Riches to Rags’.

The opening track and title track is an uptempo rocker with a punchy melody and some sweet guitar playing then to follow it up with the rough house brawler ‘Gotta Find A Way’ it truly is classic Minneapolis rock n roll. With an ear for a great hook, it’s radio-friendly and should have come out back in the day and been a huge hit but hey, shit happens, and it’s better to be late than never at all right? ‘Imagination’ is a cocksure riff with added honky tonk and a 70s Rod Stewart lick for good measure. ‘Gone’ has the spirit of The Heartbreakers running through it.

To be fair you should know the drill by now ‘Tonight’ is a bit of Tom Robinson’s 2-4-6-8 and Mats rolled into one – great stuff just what this scribe was looking for this RSD and to reaffirm my faith in sloppy Rock n Roll with attitude. The Bleeding Hearts have got the Bleedin lot to be fair. ‘Happy Yet’ has got the punch of Thin Lizzy at the top of their game with a punk rock hook. Damn it’s such a shame Bob left this world so young he had so much to offer and this is evidence that there was a wealth of talent in the Stinson family. The band sails fairly close to some hard rock seas with the mouth organ riff a rama of ‘What Do You Want?’

Get out of bed early and go find a copy this is a must-have release but like a lot of RSD records, there might just be a release down the track which might go to smooth some ragged hearts who will be in the mix for a copy but won’t pay scalper Ebay prices. Good luck kids and if you have to nick a copy be careful.

Author: Dom Daley