Starbucks (SBUX) to re-release McCartney's 'Memory Almost Full'

Billboard reported yesterday that Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX)'s Hear Music will re-release Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full album next month, with "new" tracks and a live DVD. The album was originally released in early June and debuted in the Billboard 200 at number 3, before going gold in the United States and achieving similar status around the world. For Starbucks, the album signaled a promising start for the coffee chain's music label, which enjoyed another high chart placement last week with Joni Mitchell's Shine debuting at #14 (Mitchell was the second artist to sign up with the label).

This second release of the McCartney album features three so-called "unreleased" tracks, but careful fans and listeners should note that "In Private," "Why So Blue" and "222" were originally released as a limited edition bonus disc upon the original June release. For the new release, these tracks are added to the original 13 and bundled with a live DVD that features the performance from a June concert at London's Electric Ballroom. It also comes at a time when McCartney is only performing at limited venues and is not embarking on the same kind of stadium world tour that followed the release of his two previous albums in 2002 and 2005.

Though the album signaled success for Hear Music and gave McCartney his highest charting album in ten years, it is all too clear that the coffee chain is hoping to gain more from this second release of Hear Music's initial success. The live DVD is a nice addition, but forcing fans and listeners to buy another copy of the album is far too reminiscent of what music lovers have been subjected to in the music industry. And it seemed like Hear Music was going to break that mold and be more in tune with listeners.