Time for us to wave goodbye.

A special wave goes out to birthday boy Mr I.Pop, who'll celebrates his 70th tonight (no doubt with a couple of cheeky ginger beers).

A shout out too below for Bill Murray as he ventures into the world of music and auf weidershen (pet) to Maximo Park who have just released their socially-conscious yet funky and spacious new album.

It's Record Store Day tomorrow...don't forget to get in touch if you manage to dig out that special Kate Tempest record anywhere.

Finally listen out for Radio 3's Andrew McGregor celebrating RSD and 60 years of Record Review with a special programme live from a listening café in London. Nice.

We're off to drink to Iggy...and another rock 'n' roll god who also shares a birthday with our Queen today. 

He's got 12 years on Iggy mind. Take it away Robert...

How did Rat Boy find out he was on the new Kendrick Lamar LP?

On social media of course.

Come on it's 2017, where else?

Good to see Mistajam back in his comfort zone interviewing human beings.

Image source, Getty Images

Not now his new single is out anyway.

The singer told US publication Billboard that: "The minute I wrote this song I knew I wanted to get it out before my tour started, to give fans something new and fresh..."

Well that's good of him. If you are one of the above mentioned fans then you should check it out below seeing as he's gone to all that effort for you.

Murdoc and 2D from Gorillaz have given their first ever 'live' interview. 

The animated band members took part in the live-streamed conversation with BBC Radio 1's Mistajam, taking questions from fans.

He learned that it's true you should never work with children, animals or cartoons.

The half-hour Q&A saw 2D and Murdoc answer questions in character the whole time.

Predictably, the fans lapped it up.

Gorillaz were formed in 1998 by Blur's Damon Albarn, external and artist Jamie Hewlett.

The band's four animated avatars are 2D, Murdoc, Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs.

Their new album Humanz is out next week.

*Apart from that back-to-back bank holidays are the best!

1) Lady Gaga and Prince William plan to hook up in October.

Not like that. Honestly.

The US pop queen and the Prince of Wales are joining forces in an attempt to 'normalise' mental health issues.

They set up the rendezvous in a chummy Facetime chat this week.

Handily someone filmed it for your audio-visual pleasure above.

Read more.

2) The Police can pun with the best of them

Check out Greater Manchester Police's response to a local artist with a penchant for writing Smiths lyrics on a road markings around the city.

A GMP spokesperson told the BBC: “We don’t want to cause panic on the streets of Manchester and we do understand that some crimes are bigger than others, but this is still a criminal offence...

Stop us if you think that you've heard these ones before.

Read more.

3) A new rock legend walks amongst us

What where you doing at 12-years-old?

Settling into secondary school life? Perhaps nervously attending your first school disco.

Well how's about rocking Colombia with metal legends Korn?

Ladies and gents, introducing Tye Trujillo (above).

Take a bow son.

Read more.

4) Beyonce is the modern-day Mona Lisa.

Not our words by the way.

The words of the man who took this very picture above.

Awol Erizku told Front Row that the shoot was the coming together of "two geniuses".

Clearly.

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

5) Harry Styles fully commits to his Mick Jagger impression.

We didn't say whether it was any good or not.

That's for you Stylesphiles to decide (check it 1 min, 25 secs in below).

Read more.

Image source, Getty Images

That's according to the band themselves. Well their current incarnation, Spiritualized, at least.

While there's lots of Record Store Day excitement around today (scroll down), Jason Pierce and co are asking fans not to purchase any of their old band's new releases tomorrow.

Apparently it's a legal matter, baby.

See below.

Image source, Getty Images

Actor and comedian Bill Murray can add another string to his bow.

The Ghostbusters star is turning musician with the release of an album of classic tunes and literary readings.

The New York Times, external said the album, entitled New Worlds, will see Murray singing Gershwin, West Side Story and reading selections from Whitman, Twain and Hemingway.

Murray will be accompanied by professional musicians for the album which “explore themes of American history and identity.”

Wonder if he'll be spitting out this American classic on the record?

BBC Radio 2

More new music now.

Glasgow's finest Texas are back with their ninth studio album, Jump On Board.

And in an era where nothing lasts, it's good to see the rockers are still going strong after 31 years.

Earlier today singer Sharleen Spitiri spoke to Radio 2 about the new album and the prospect of playing in front of Barack Obama.

Yikes.

In the meantime, here she is playing just for you...oh, and everyone else who is reading this.

So maybe just you after all.

BBC 6 Music

Image source, Getty Images

A year ago today the music world was rocked by Prince's death.

Here's 12 things we've learned since the sad day, in case you missed it.

Make that 13 now as to mark the date Hot Chipper and Prince-enthusiast Alexis Taylor was on hand today to provide a live Desert Island Disco mix, featuring a selection of the purple one’s finest music.

Alexis said: "There is so much depth in the music.

"I just find more in it each time I go back to it."

And who better to be stuck on an island with?

This could easily soundtrack a section of your kitchen party this weekend.

BBC Radio 1

We love a good bit of grammar over here at Music News LIVE.

Their forthcoming album Truth Is A Beautiful is out in June and now they've release a third track from it called Oh Woman Oh Man.

MistaJam is a fan. Officially.

Are you?

BBC 6 Music

He's probably just having a quiet one with his feet up, isn't he? Knowing Iggy.

Whatever he's doing today to celebrate three score years and ten we intend to honour him.

Click above to hear a preview of his chat with Mary Anne Hobbs, which airs in full this weekend on 6 Music. In fact there's all sorts of Pop-shaped fun over at 6 music.

Including Jarvis Cocker and Chilly Gonzales performing Happy Birthday in the style of Iggy’s hit The Passenger.

Move over Marilyn Monroe...

BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Getty Images

One of the team behind Record Store Day has said major labels "don't have a monopoly" over the event.

Tomorrow's event celebrates the UK's independent record stores.

However, some retailers, external say bigger labels featuring among the day's special releases takes away from that.

Phil Barton, from the Entertainment Retailers Association panel which selects the releases, said: "Anyone who has something to release, can release something on Record Store Day."

Read more.

This could be good or bad depending on whether you got your tickets last night.

Sunday, remember Sunday. You'll get your chance #believe.

The festival has just revealed the lineup for the Field Of Avalon, which includes Busted, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Lucy Rose, Scouting for Girls and erm...Kiefer Sutherland?

Isn't that Jack Bauer? He's probably only be there for the day though.

One day. Get it? 24...oh, forget it.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty

You would be forgiven for thinking you had stepped back in time today.

Steps, Sheryl Crow, Ray Davies and Barry Manilow ALL have new albums out.

"Bolshy pop with new energy" is how The Guardian described, external the latest offering from Lee, Claire, Lisa, Faye and Ian 'H' Watkins, aka Steps.

The Huffington Post was even more generous, external, giving the album 4/5 in their review and hailing them "the saviours of pop", nonetheless. 

But don't take their word for it. You can judge their debut track Scared Of The Dark for yourself. 

It's also a return to the 1990s for Sheryl Crow who is back, back, BACK with tunes harking back to her folk/pop prime with Be Myself.

The Guardian was less enamored, external with the latest offering from Ray Davies, likening the Kinks frontman's Americana to an "Alan Partridge-presented country happy hour". Ouch. 

Fans of Sir Ray (so that's pretty much everyone else) will no doubt prefer The Evening Standard's verdict which was "something of a star-spangled success".

There's nothing more Americana than a cowboy shirt.

Sticking to the US theme is Barry Manilow, whose album This Is My Town: Songs of New York is also out today.

It's an album all about, you guessed it, New York. 

BBC Newsbeat

Now this is pretty cool. Whatever kind of music you're into.

London rapper Kate Tempest has recorded two new tracks directly to vinyl for a special Record Store Day release.

Joined by long-term collaborator Dan Carey, the spoken word artist performed People's Faces and Intravenous at London's Abbey Road studio.

The songs were cut on a vinyl lathe in one take. ONE TAKE!

The only physical copy of the 10" has been hidden in an independent record store somewhere in the UK for a music fan to find tomorrow.

If you find it, get in touch with BBC Music will you! 

Read more.

Paul Glynn
Music News LIVE reporter

Image source, Getty Images

More new music now and North-East indie icons Maximo Park have just dropped their new album Risk to Exist.

*Is it still cool to say 'dropped?'

Anyway it's out and we spoke to frontman Paul Smith last week, who told us that their sixth album, recorded in Chicago, is "more spacious, groovier and funkier" than they've been before. 

It even includes a horn section. So you have been warned.

But fear not Maximo fans, like always the band are still tackling social issues like immigration, economic isolation and fabricated national identity head on...in perhaps their most overt way yet.

Paul said: "In the past, it's been more buried in lyrics or metaphorical. This album is more explicit.

"When we recording it the presidential debates were on and the issues debated were very frivolous and there was a lot of muck-raking.

"The lyrics on the record are about people in powerful positions who abuse that position and don’t help the people they’ve been elected to help."

He added: "And some of the most vulnerable people in society who are being attacked, like cuts to disabled peoples benefits and the humanitarian conflict that’s going on.

"Some of these themes have become even more relevant since we recorded it."

Image source, Getty Images

Previous Maximo hits down the years have tackled political issues, whether you realized it or not dancing away on that sticky indie club dancefloor.

Our Velocity was influenced by wars in the Middle East, Girls Who Play Guitars was inspired by Paul reading outraged articles saying women shouldn’t drink too much (but men can).

The singer says the band have always written songs about what they care about and they care about making you all dance still.

"It’s a simple impulse and we care about the world that we live in.

"Especially if it feels It’s becoming a bit alien and away from the ideals that you have, of course your going to express that in some way.

Perhaps why so many major artists steer well clear of such politically-charged topics?

"I don’t blame bands for not dealing with these subjects. You have to reflect who you are in your songs and it was something we had to do.

"I believe in the power of music to change people and change minds.

"When I listen to music it changes my perception of the world, even it’s just for three minutes."

Or three minutes, 45 seconds in this case below.

BBC Radio 3

Speaking of Record Store Day...

...ahead of the event Late Junction’s Verity Sharp and the co-founder of Finders Keepers Records, Andy Votel, disappeared into the BBC Archives in search of obscure vinyl recordings and rare oddities. 

They found a surprising, tiny delight…

Read more.

BBC 6 Music

As you know by now it's Record Store Day tomorrow and so 6 Music DJ Lauren has headed up to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire to broadcast live from a rather brilliantly-named music shop.

And you can join them.

Listen live now.

Image source, Getty Images

Can Ed Sheeran do anything wrong?

Not in the eyes of BFF Taylor Swift or, you know, Time Magazine.

Sheeran has been named among the magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2017.

And Tay-Tay was on hand to write a tribute about the Thinking Out Loud star and his cultural significance.

She wrote: "A few years ago, in a rare moment of admitting feeling defeated, Ed said to me, 'I'm never going to win a Grammy.'

"Yes, you are, I said. You're going to sweep the whole thing one of these years'."

She added: "It was a few weeks later when he met me in a dance shoe store in London, where I was picking out rehearsal outfits, and said, 'You have to hear this.'

"It was a song he'd just finished called Thinking Out Loud, which went on to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2016.

We've all got a friend like that though haven't we?

Read Taylor's full tribute to Ed here., external

So you've had some of our top tips for Record Store Day (scroll down).

Now let's hear from five independent music shops around the UK shall we? I mean, they should know what they're on about.

They've kindly contributed to a special bespoke RSD playlist, especially for us.

And you of course. Mostly you.

Enjoy.