Record Store Day 2015: Best UK vinyl exclusives from David Bowie to Mumford & Sons

Set your alarm and make sure you skip the queues to bag the best bargains

Record Store Day, held in April, helps contribute to an increase in sales at independent record stores in Britain (Getty Images)

News of the first vinyl-only chart finally arriving has come just in time for this year's Record Store Day, when hoardes of music fans will rush to more than 200 vinyl shops nationwide to bag some rare exclusives.

The idea for the increasingly popular event originated in the US nine years ago. The UK swiftly followed suit the next year to unite hundreds of independent record stores and celebrate their unique culture.

Many shops, including London's Rough Trade and Casbah Records, celebrate with special events, from live performances to raffles and giveaways.

Over 500 acts are releasing exclusive music for 2015, including Mumford & Sons, George Ezra, David Bowie, Calvin Harris and Foo Fighters.

One of the rarest records on the list is the official re-issue of Northern Soul classic "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson, famously worth thousands in its original format.

For those who enjoy the nostalgia Record Store Day promises, there's the re-issue of the very first Now That's What I Call Music! Compilation from 1983.

One-off Record Store Day releases are generally available on a first come, first served basis, so don’t be surprised if you come up against a street-long queue. Some die-hard vinyl aficionados will have been waiting since 5am, so heed our warning and get there early.

Flick through the gallery above for some of the best exclusives out there for the picking (and we mean some, as there are hundreds). Stephen Hawking's limited edition cover of Monty Python's "Galaxy Song" surely deserves a look-in.