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Collective Soul Information
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'Collective Soul' is an alternative rock or post-grunge band from Stockbridge, Georgia, USA. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, they enjoyed moderate popularity on alternative and mainstream rock radio, as they created hook-laden melodies on top of crunchy guitar riffs reminiscent of classic rock bands from the '70s and '80s. Lead singer Ed Roland cites Elton John, The Cars, The Beatles as the band's main influences.
Collective Soul was one of the most successful bands among the mid-1990s rock scene. They had 19 different singles appear on the Billboard Charts between 1994-2001 along with multi-platinum sales, though they were initially labeled as a 1 or 2 hit wonder after their initial success in 1994.
History
Collective Soul broke through in 1994 after being signed to Atlantic Records after years of trial and error. They struck it big with their #1 rock hit "Shine" from Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid. The album climbed all way to #15 on Billboard 200, eventually going double platinum in 1996. "Shine" became the #1 Album Rock Song of 1994 and won a Billboard award for the Top Rock Track that year. The subsequent single "Breathe" also did well on the rock charts. The band performed at Woodstock 1994 to over 150,000 people.
In 1995 they returned to the studio to record their highest-selling album to date, the self-titled Collective Soul. It was certified triple-platinum in 1996 and spent 76 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at #23. The album showcased heavy riffs and grunge and classic rock influences while showcasing the band's own originality. The album had 3 singles peak at #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart ("December," "The World I Know" and "Where The River Flows"), and "Gel" and "Smashing Young Man" both made appearances in the top 10. "December" won the Billboard award for the top rock song of 1995. Their singles continued to get tons of airplay over the two years after the albums release. MTV and Much Music regularly showed their videos. They went on tour after releasing the album and spent part of the tour supporting rock legends Van Halen.
The band's third studio effort, Disciplined Breakdown, did not sell as well as the previous two albums. However, it did have two #1 rock hits with "Precious Declaration" and "Listen" and the moderate hit "Blame." It was their highest debuting album ever at #16. Prior to the album's release, the band had gone through a long lawsuit with former management (which inspired the cutting lyrics on the aforementioned "Smashing Young Man") and were left with little money, forcing the album to be recorded in a cabin-like studio. Critics did not favor the album as much as the fans.
In 1999, Collective Soul released Dosage, peaking at #21. It saw the band experiment with pop sounds, effects and loops going for a more polished pop/rock sound. Two tracks, "Heavy" and "Run," were simultaneously released to radio. "Heavy" became a huge hit on Rock radio staying at #1 for a then-record-breaking 14 weeks. "Run," a softer ballad, found success on Pop and Hot AC. "No More, No Less" and "Tremble For My Beloved" both received moderate airplay. At the end of 1999, "Heavy" was the #2 rock song of the year. The album eventually went platinum.
Collective Soul was one of the five most-played bands on the Mainstream Rock format during the 1990s, scoring seven #1 hits and two #2 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and many more charting singles. In 2000, Collective Soul released its fifth studio album, Blender, which had a more pop-friendly feel. They also used more modern recording techniques. However, the album achieved only moderate success. It entered the Billboard 200 at #22 and eventually went gold, but produced only one bona fide hit with "Why, Pt. 2", though "Perfect Day" (a duet with Elton John) and "Vent" were moderate radio hits. Their reputation as an impressive live act continued to grow.
In 2001, they went to Morocco to do acoustic/jam performances of some of their hits/favorites at various cultural settings. This was later packaged into a DVD/Video release. Music in High Places: Live from Morocco. They did this in the midst of locals, markets and desert areas of the beautiful lands. The DVD showscases them interacting and perfoming with the citizens and children in a laid back vibe.
Longtime lead guitarist Ross Childress left the band in late 2001 after the release of 7EVEN Year Itch which was a Greatest Hits retrospective spanning their time with Atlantic Records. Replacing Ross was guitar tech Joel Kosche. In November 2004, Collective Soul released their long awaited sixth studio album, Youth, under their own label, El Music Group. The album debuted at #66 on the Billboard 200, after a string of promotional club and radio appearances. The band scored a Top 10 Rock smash with "Counting The Days." The album was seen as a success based on the circumstances. The second single, "Better Now," fared moderately well on rock radio but garnered more airplay on Hot AC and Pop formats.
Collective Soul performed two shows with the April 23 and 24, 2005, to highly favorable reviews and a DVD release of the performance set to release in February 2006. On May 24, 2005, they released an acoustic EP of past hits/favorites titled "From the Ground Up."
Current Members
* Ed Roland - lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, main-songwriter and producer
* Joel Kosche - lead guitars
* Will Turpin - bass, percussion, back-up vocals
* Dean Roland - rhythm guitars
* Ryan Hoyle - drums, percussion (joined in 2004/05)
* Shane Evans - drums, percussion (did not tour for most of 2005)
Former Members
* Ross Childress - lead and rhythm guitars, songwriter (1993-2001)
Discography
Studio albums
#Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, (1993), Atlantic
#Collective Soul, (1995), Atlantic
#Disciplined Breakdown, (1997), Atlantic
#Dosage, (1999), Atlantic
#Blender, (2000), Atlantic
#Youth, (2004), EL Music Group
Compilations
*7EVEN Year Itch, (2001), Atlantic
*From the Ground Up, (2005), EL Music Group (Acoustic EP)
DVDs/Videos
*Music in High Places: Live from Morocco, (2001)
Singles 26 in total
* from Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid
** 1994 Shine
** 1994 Breathe
** 1994 Wasting Time
* from Collective Soul
** 1995 Gel
** 1995 December
** 1995 Smashing Young Man
** 1995 The World I Know
** 1996 Where The River Flows
** 1996 Reunion
* from Disciplined Breakdown
** 1997 Precious Declaration
** 1997 Listen
** 1997 Blame
** 1997 Maybe
* 1998 "She Said" (Scream 2 Soundtrack)
* from Dosage
** 1999 Heavy
** 1999 Run
** 1999 No More No Less
** 1999 Needs
** 1999 Tremble For My Beloved
* from Blender
** 2000 Why Pt 2
** 2001 Vent
** 2001 Perfect Day
*from '7EVEN Year Itch
** 2001 Next Homecoming
* from Youth
** 2004 Counting The Days
** 2005 Better Now
** 2005 How Do You Love
Billboard Hot 100
Shine #-11,
The World I Know #-19,
December # 20,
Precious Declaration #-65,
Listen #-72,
Heavy #-73,
Run #-76
Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart #1 Hits
Shine (8 weeks), The World I Know (4 weeks), December (9 weeks), Where The River Flows (2 weeks), Precious Declaration, Listen, Heavy (14 weeks)
Music Videos
* Shine
* Breathe
* Gel
* December
* Smashing Young Man
* The World I Know
* Precious Declaration
* Listen
* Blame
* She Said
* Run
* Needs
* Why Pt.2
* Perfect Day
* Better Now
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