Assuming this wasn't just a rumor from the start, I wouldn't expect much from a rarities set sandwiched between the Deluxe Ya Ya's and Exile, a delay would seem perfectly logical to me and maybe that's all this is.  Not to mention all those "remasters" aren't exactly flying off the shelves so I don't think getting another product in time for the Christmas season is something they need to be too concerned with at this point.  Maybe they are taking their time with this archive set it and will release something good - that would be something they haven't tried in a while.

But who am I kidding? ...

A guy on IORR called HighWireC who seems to have a bit of insight into what Universal are doing is suggesting that an archives project is now more likely to be released AFTER the Stones go on the road next year (presumably after a new studio album)

Gazza wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2009 at 4:31pm:

AngieBlue wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2009 at 5:33pm:


I think you're pretty much right about everything - but just want to add that I was in Best Buy a couple weeks ago and they had just about the whole collection of Remasters on display (several of which for $8) that I happened to notice just walking by, wasn't even in the store to look at CD's.  I know its not the same as actually printing ads (btw I have seen a couple), but given the hype surrounding the Beatles right now I would think in-store advertising is the best sales tactic they've got, so I wouldn't say they're not trying at all.  But I'm sure we'll see more surrounding the Exile release.

As for the unreleased set, I think Gazza's info is probably right on.  Until the next album/tour happens people could care less about the Stones.  Anything that might get released at such a low point in their activity cycle wouldn't likely have any more thought put into it than Rarities.  I'm sure if they announced it tomorrow & gave a full tracklisting it would be a joke to us

Pdog wrote on Oct 4^th, 2009 at 7:47am:



Yes, yes, yes! I've been banging my drum about this for months. Their only use for a major label at this point is management of its archives and future reissues from same. Other than that, they need to reconsider how they've done business from '89 onward: the corporate-sponsored late-summer new album/tour package, with the dramatic, stunt-laden announcement. It's stale. They've wrung every dollar they can out of what is essentially a pre-meltdown model.

U2 is putting on a big show, yes -- but they're charging about an average of $55 a head while also opening up a swath of stadium-seating that's typically gobbled up by a stage. Lots of room for lots of warm bodies, in other words.

The Jagger/Cohl approach — gouge a decreasing number of well-heeled fans with ever-increasing severity — is done for.

If they release a standard new album next year, it will attract even fewer ears than did "A Bigger Bang."

If they want to release new material, great. Just give the damn thing away. Better yet, perhaps, sell it in stores, but give it away digitally with each ticket purchase. All things being equal, sales would probably end up the same, but the band could expect more concergoers to actually know the new material.

To expect the word "free" to be incorporated in so far as a new album after the new Universal deal is a stretch I would think.

gimmekeef wrote on Oct 7^th, 2009 at 8:11am:


It wouldn't technically be free; it could be integrated into the price of a ticket, like those notorious parking fees.