Arctic Monkeys Vinyl: LPs, EPs and Singles To Keep an Eye Out For
In the United Kingdom's vibrant music scene, few bands have left an unforgettable mark quite like the Arctic Monkeys. With their infectious melodies, zeitgeist-capturing lyrics, and constantly evolving sound, the Sheffield-born quartet has become a cornerstone (no pun intended) of modern British music culture.
With their vinyl constantly charting on the best-selling lists every year, they’re a band with plenty of material to explore. So, for avid collectors and music enthusiasts, the Arctic Monkeys' vinyl discography is well worth getting stuck into.
In this blog, we delve into the world of Arctic Monkeys vinyl, spotlighting the LPs, EPs and singles that we think all collectors across the UK should keep an eye out for.
But before we begin… if you’re missing a few classic Arctic Monkeys LPs then click here to complete the collection.
Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys (2005)
Released shortly before their explosive debut album, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys is one of the ‘right place, right time’ purchases for anyone lucky enough to pick up a copy on wax.
Released in 2005, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys is a two-track demo distributed by the record label Bang Bang Recordings... you might wonder who Bang Bang Recordings is. Well, Bang Bang Recordings is the record label set up by the band to distribute the single just before they signed to Domino Records. The name, ‘Bang Bang’ is rumoured to be a replacement band name due to the band feeling that Arctic Monkeys sounded “silly”.
The vinyl was limited to just 1,500 CDs and 1,500 vinyl with A-side ‘Fake Tales of San Francisco’ and B-side ‘From the Ritz to the Rubble’. Upon listening, any Arctic Monkeys will recognise that they are much more raw original versions and not the studio tracks that end up on the album. Ultimately, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys is the band in their earliest form - four ordinary lads from Sheffield. Now look at them!
R U Mine? (Record Store Day) (2012)
Picture this; Arctic Monkeys are following up their fourth studio album Suck It And See, and drop a riff-heavy arena rock track available on purple 7” vinyl for the 2012 Record Store Day event. Only 1,340 copies are available and all of a sudden, initial glimmers of Arctic Monkeys’ classic album, AM emerge.
Released with no cover art, the single flew off the shelves and is an incredibly rare disc to come across. If you manage to stumble across this gem, you can experience the B-side ‘Electricity’ which channels equal measures of AM-era riffs that so many Arctic Monkeys fans love.
Cornerstone (2009)
Domino Records describe Cornerstone as featuring ‘a gently-strummed guitar and Turner's trademark all-too-relatable lyrics’ - and we couldn’t have put it better ourselves. ‘Cornerstone’ is a staple track of the Arctic Monkeys catalogue, but the value comes in the form of the 10” vinyl, featuring three extra tracks, ‘Catapult’, ‘Sketchhead’, and ‘Fright Lined Dining Room’.
With production credits being equally shared across the four tracks by James Ford and Josh Homme, the 10” vinyl is now only available second-hand.
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (Vinyl Me, Please exclusive) (2018)
Released twelve years after the classic debut, the grey smoke pressing of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is a special edition release that sent Arctic Monkeys fans wild.
Featuring timeless classics like ‘A Certain Romance,’ ‘Mardy Bum,’ and ‘The View From the Afternoon,’ this exclusive pressing is part of the Vinyl Me, Please subscription club. The vinyl itself is a grey translucent colour with a black smoke effect; a tricky one to find on resale!
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (2005)
The single that started it all. ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ is an undeniable modern classic. An inescapable blast of pure energy, ‘Dancefloor’ kicked open the doors for Arctic Monkeys and put their name firmly on the radar of music fans across the UK.
When released, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor came in the form of a 10” single, accompanied by tracks ‘Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts’, and ‘Chun Li Flying Bird Kick’. Turner’s obsession with martial arts was clear from day one, wasn’t it?
If you ever come across a 10” single of I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor then don’t waste any time in picking it up. Contrary to what Turner says, you should believe the hype.
Leave Before the Lights Come On (2006)
This standalone single is one of the most popular moments of the Arctic Monkeys’ discography. Released between their debut and sophomore albums, Leave Before the Lights Come On tells a captivating story that captures the band's razor-sharp lyricism and musical abilities firing on all cylinders.
The B-side to Leave Before the Lights Come On features a cover of the Barbara Lewis track, ‘Baby I’m Yours’, where Turner shares vocal responsibilities with Oisin Leech, lead singer of the 747s.
Crying Lightning (2009)
In the sonic tapestry of Arctic Monkeys' discography, Crying Lightning emerges as a truly epic 10” single from their third studio album, Humbug. The album saw the band’s first major musical shift where they experimented with a distinctive blend of psychedelic and desert rock.
This 10” vinyl not only encapsulates the band's first shift in sound but also serves as a collector's delight. The B-sides, ‘I Haven’t Got My Strange’ and a cover of Nick Cave's ‘Red Right Hand,’ make the vinyl a track-for-track listening experience.
Brianstorm (2007)
‘Brianstorm’ explodes from the speakers with pure energy, marked by the rapid-fire vocal delivery of Alex Turner and unmistakable heavy-hitting drums courtesy of the ‘Agile Beast’, Matt Helders.
On the 10” single edition of Brianstorm though, listeners get an unexpected feature as Dizzee Rascal delivers a verse on 'Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend’; also appearing with them live to perform the song at Glastonbury in 2007.
Final Thoughts
As we wrap up our exploration of the Arctic Monkeys' vinyl treasure trove, it's clear that the lads from High Green in Sheffield have delivered some much-loved discs. From early days tales of tropical reefs and winding up coppers to setting up a taqueria on the moon and demanding mirrorballs, Turner and company have curated a treasure trove of valuable vinyl.
But, whether it’s the raw energy of Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys, the searing riffs of R U Mine? or the pub-romance melodies of Cornerstone, these vinyl records are pieces of music history that all Monkeys fans should look out for - and you never know what might end up at Dig In Records!
Did you know that we also buy used records? If you have any vinyl that you fancy selling, get in touch! Whether your records are gathering dust or taking up too much room at home, we can help out; just send us a message.