Record Collector – August 2026

Summary

Peter Frampton calls it "a nightmare" on the cover of Record Collector issue 586, and August 2026 backs him with 89 of the most electrifying performers of the last 100 years, from Frank and Mick to Kurt, plus a Martin Carthy BBC set giveaway.

Record Collector magazine August 2026 (issue 586) fronts on Peter Frampton at page 48 and runs The Coral at 56, Lincoln 45s at 62, él Records at 72 and Nick Heyward at 88. The cover story lists the 89 most electrifying performers of the last 100 years without a printed page number in the contents. News opens at 8, collecting runs RC Investigates at 22 through Most Wanted at 36, and opinion carries Luke Haines at 42, Talking Heads at 44 and 33 1/3 minutes with Jarboe at 46.

The back stays full: From the Vaults at 98, New Albums at 108, Books at 114, Singles at 116 and Lives at 128, with reader services at 117 to 130 and Coda closing on 10 of the Best at 138. Competitions at 132 offer a 20CD Martin Carthy box set. The issue's pull is the performer list and the Carthy giveaway; collectors get the él Records and Lincoln 45s pieces as the real reading.

—————

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story
p.48 · PETER FRAMPTON
Peter Frampton takes the cover feature at 48, describing the period behind "It Was A Nightmare" in his own words. The interview covers the records and the touring that followed. Play Frampton Comes Alive with the interview in front of you.

▸ Features
p.56 · THE CORAL
The Coral get a feature at 56, tracing the band's records and the players across their line-ups. The piece names albums and the years they landed. Start with their debut if you only know the singles.

p.62 · LINCOLN 45s
Record Collector digs into Lincolnshire 45s at page 62, covering the local singles that collectors chase. The piece names the records and the shops that traded them. Ask a local dealer for the specific 45s listed here.

p.72 · ÉL RECORDS
él Records gets its feature at 72, mapping the label's catalogue and the artists who defined it. The piece names the releases and the people behind them. Build a want list from the label's named releases rather than buying blind.

p.88 · NICK HEYWARD
Nick Heyward is profiled at 88, covering his solo work and his time before it. The interview names the records and the writing behind them. Queue the solo album he discusses here before the band material.

▸ Collecting
p.22 · RC INVESTIGATES
RC Investigates at 22 goes into collectable shaped picture discs, naming the records and how the format behaves on the market. It separates the ones worth owning from novelties. Check a shaped disc against this column before paying a premium.

p.24 · THE COLLECTOR
The Collector at 24 profiles Jon Radford, a touring drummer, on his still-growing vinyl hoard. He names what he buys and why. Compare his buying rule with your own before the next record fair.

p.36 · MOST WANTED
Most Wanted at 36 floats Eddie Van Halen's old school report among the lots, giving the items and the interest in them. It names the pieces rather than only prices. Track the lots listed here if you collect memorabilia beyond records.

▸ Opinion
p.42 · LUKE HAINES
Luke Haines writes at 42 on why every great album must have a "duff track", arguing the point with the albums to back it. He names the records he uses as evidence. Listen for the track he would cut on your favourite album.

p.46 · 33 1/3 MINUTES WITH JARBOE
Jarboe, ex-Swans, takes the 33 1/3 minutes slot at 46, talking through her work in the column's set format. She names the projects and collaborators. Look up one collaborator she names after reading.

▸ Regulars
p.6 · FOR THE RECORD
For the Record at 6 prints readers' letters and responses to the last issue. It is where arguments with the magazine happen in public. Read it before trusting a review you acted on.

p.98 · FROM THE VAULTS
From the Vaults at 98 covers reissues and compilations, with labels and formats named for each. The column flags which reissue deserves the money. Choose the reissue named here over a costly original.

p.108 · NEW ALBUMS
New Albums at 108 reviews fresh studio records including The Rolling Stones and Durutti Column. Each notice gives a verdict and format. Sample the Stones release named here before the rest of the section.

p.138 · 10 OF THE BEST
10 Of The Best at 138 closes with ten Y Records picks, naming each record and its reason. It is the page that ends the issue. Take the two picks on labels you know and skip the rest.

—————

Editor's Take

Record Collector issue 586 has the best hook of the three: "89 most electrifying performers of the last 100 years" is a list that sells the magazine on a newsstand, even though the contents page oddly prints no page number for it. Peter Frampton at 48 delivers, and él Records at 72 is the piece collectors will actually use. Luke Haines on the necessary duff track at 42 is the sharpest column here. The weakness is structural: the reviews run from 98 to 128 and much of it is filler for a general reader, and the Lincoln 45s at 62 is narrow. The cover is cluttered, stacking Frampton, three names and a competition flash, but the nightmare quote carries it. Buy this for the performer list and the él Records history; skip it if you only follow current releases.

Strengths
• 89 performers list is the year's best hook
• él Records piece maps a collectable label
• Luke Haines argues a real, specific position

Weaknesses
• Reviews from 98 to 128 are mostly filler
• Cover stacks too many names and flashes

Verdict: Recommended — Strong hook and label history, weighed down by a long reviews tail.