Olivia Rodrigo kicked off her GUTS World Tour earlier this year, starting in Palm Springs, California. The album, GUTS, originally dropped on September 8, 2023. With over sixty million listeners and more than fifty shows, fans have been anticipating the release of the bonus tracks that were exclusively released with the four different vinyl variants following the debut of Rodrigo’s album, GUTS.
In her show in Chicago, on March 20, 2024, Rodrigo announced the deluxe version of her album, GUTS (spilled), will be released on streaming services on March 22, 2024. In the deluxe version, five songs are being added to the album.
The bonus tracks follow a storyline of emotional evolution, from feelings of insecurity to self-affirmation. It delves into the journey of self-discovery, navigating heartbreak, then finding new love and vulnerability. Through the sounds of punk pop, the album showcases Rodrigo’s storytelling abilities and personal growth.
Depending on the colored vinyl you buy from her website, you will get a different bonus song.
With the color red vinyl, you get the bonus track, “Obsessed,” with white, you get the song, “Scared of My Guitar,” with blue, you get the track “Stranger,” and with purple, you get the song, “Girl I’ve Always Been.” The album’s closer “So American,” was a new track, recorded three weeks before the deluxe release.
However, listed are four out of the ten vinyl variations available to purchase. Different colors or packaging make it appealing to fans to buy multiple editions of the same album. The trend of releasing multiple vinyl variants for an album has become increasingly common within the music industry. Fans eagerly collect these variants because they’re marketed as limited edition and highly collectible items. The sense of exclusivity adds to their appeal, driving fans of all artists to spend large amounts of money to get them.
Furthermore, the appeal of possessing something so rare drives the resale market to reach high prices. Some exclusive vinyls have a resale price of more than triple the original price. A prime example of this is the exclusive Record Store Day edition vinyl Rodrigo released last year. RSD edition vinyls are variants exclusively sold in participating stores on Record Store Day, primarily local record stores.
Last Black Friday, Rodrigo released a collectible RSD vinyl, featuring four bonus tracks: “Obsessed,” “Scared of My Guitar,” “Stranger,” and “Girl I’ve Always Been.” Only 7,500 copies were distributed, originally priced at around $20. Now, you can find it on eBay starting at $170.
While fans love the new colors and intricate details offered by the multiple vinyl variants of Olivia Rodrigo’s album, it creates a sense of division for those who can’t afford to buy the variants. In response, some fans have uploaded the bonus songs as podcasts on platforms like Spotify. By doing so, they make these tracks accessible to a wider audience who may not have the means to purchase the vinyl records.
These tracks serve as a powerful reflection of Rodrigo’s evolution as a musician and individual, which captures the complexities of identity, love, and emotional growth. Olivia Rodrigo’s music has fostered relationships and bonds over lyrics that hit close to home. Fans continue to collect vinyls, driven by their devotion to the artist, they “might just be in la la la la la love,” as Rodrigo said.
