During their recent run of enormously popular Australian shows, Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea made the comment one night on stage that "live music is the lifeblood of humanity" and if that's the case, than recorded music could well be the backbone. Just a thought. Anyway, with that in mind it's worth noting Record Store Day is just over a month away, held around the world on Saturday, April 13.

In this 12th annual Record Store Day more than180 independent music stores around the country will be celebrating the day with you, the record, CD, DVD and cassette buying folks who keep the doors of these wonderful stores open.Who would have thought cassettes would make a resurgence? Thankfully there's record stores to cater to the artists and music lovers who want their music on various formats.

This year's Record Store Day ambassadors are Sydney surf rockers Hockey Dad, who just last month released their second album Blend Inn, the follow up to their 2016 album Boronia. Joining Hockey Dad as ambassadors will be Hoodoo Gurus frontman and Australian Music Prize judge Dave Faulkner, as well as Kate Ceberano.

As well as live entertainment in many stores on the day, there will again be special, limited edition releases of music available. For more information and a comprehensive list of participating stores, go to recordstoreday.com.au

album of the week
Mick Thomas' Roving Commission
Coldwater DFU
(Bloodlines Music)
★★★½
Back on the road for a national tour through March, April and into May, Mick Thomas and his band are taking a swag of new songs with them and a bunch of typically Thomas lyrics, such as "f---ing roadworks, I can't believe the time it takes" on the opening track here, Boxing Day Drive. The voice of such classic Australian songs as Monday's Experts and Fathers Day, Thomas recorded this album last year in Memphis, where his much loved WPA recorded 1989's The Big Don't Argue. On the current tour the Roving Commission welcomes lap steel player Nick O'Mara. For tour information, go to mickthomas.com

selecta
White Boy - Magic Dirt
Psychocandy - the Jesus and Mary Chain
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - the 5th Dimension