Word on the street is that selling your songs through Starbucks is the new rock n roll.

Hot on the heels of Ray Charles, Alanis Morissette and Bob Dylan all signing exclusive record deals to sell CDs exclusively in branches of Starbucks, The Rolling Stones have just announced a deal with the ubiquitous coffee monolith.

The Rolling Stones will release Rarities 1971-2003 through Starbucks
outlets on November 22nd. The 16-track CD is said to be a collection of
B-sides, rarities and cover versions from the decrepit old band who are
currently busy touring the world.

Mick Jagger justified The Rolling Stones’ decision to release Rarities by telling Billboard:

"With every studio session, there are always songs that never appear on
the final album and at the time you think, what a shame that song did
not make it."

Jagger
possibly forgot to add that every unreleased song equals a pile of cash
that he can’t get his tiny girlish hands on, and that by signing with the
coffee overlords at Starbucks he might be able to afford some more
ridiculously-coloured jackets to prance around in.

However, following outcries after Alanis Morissette and Bob Dylan
released CDs exclusively through Starbucks – especially from HMV Canada
who have indefinitely stopped selling their albums, The Rolling Stones
have smartened up.

They’ve signed a non-exclusive contract with Starbucks, meaning that
Rarities will go on general release in normal record stores as well as
smug pretend aspirational lifestyle coffee houses. The band has
previously felt the pinch of flogging stuff exclusively through one
chain. In 2003, they only sold copies of their Four Flicks DVD through
Best Buy, leading to independent record stores removing their back
catalogue from sale.

Starbucks was involved in the manufacture, marketing and
distribution of Rarities, but won’t go into too much detail about the
amount of money it has at stake for the project.

Don’t get too excited about Rarities 1971-2003, though. The Rolling
Stones have beefed-up the tracklisting with something that will turn
the stomach of most of their fans – the Dance Party Remix. Eurgh.

Pre-order Rarities 1971-2003 by The Rolling Stones from CD Wow for just £8.75 inc. free delivery

Read more:

STARBUCKS HEAR MUSIC AND VIRGIN RECORDS TO RELEASE ROLLING STONES RARITIES CD – Starbucks Press Release

[story by Stuart Heritage]