should FM release the album without SN's songs?

[Dex]

Originally Posted by elle

albums don't sell anyway so why would that matter?

old acts release albums for their soul, and tour for the money and media hype. just looks at how many cobbled together old acts in their 60s are touring and raking in money for the last 2 years!! Rumours 5 are legendary and new kids will want to go see them for their legendary hits of the 5, not for the new material. although it's true that hipster kids will care whether they are still relevant and putting out new material.

I take your point, but I honestly think this whole planned studio release is motivated by a sense of "well... the fans REALLY want it", which would be lost if Stevie was missing. The "for their soul" argument sounds good on paper, but has this band honestly found working as a fivesome at all artistically gratifying or even enjoyable since 1977? Maybe very ocassionally, but for the most part I think these members wouldn't find it worth the hassle except for the fans. This move seems to be more about rewarding fan response (be it monetary or something more abstract) than anything else.