Atlanta, GA.
COLLECTIVE SOUL:
“BUZZ” Article: Feb- Mar 2013 (#23-W)
Hello, Hello It’s good to be back,
Recently when I asked for input on my article’s I heard many things, 1 being “You only cover Vintage bands, nothing contemporary” So this time I decided to cover 1 of my favorite bands from the 90s & 2000s, so for you vinyl collectors this means “No, they are not on Vinyl Record LPs, this is a CD & Cassette Band” I first heard of “Collective Soul” about Jun 1994 I would guess, as our customers continued to come in and ask for the new “Skynyrd” song “Shine” we then figured out they were in fact asking for “Collective Soul” we sold tons of the “Cassingle” (the format that replaced 45 Vinyl Singles about that same time) of “Shine” (the flipside contained an edited version) at The “RecordShop #66” @ Southridge Mall, where I worked from 1991- 1995. COLLECTIVE SOUL released 8 CDs & 29 Cassingle/ CD Singles & 22 Music Videos starting in 1993 and it goes like this;
> Breathe < It all started in Stockton (Atlanta), Georgia home of other bands like "B-52s" "R.E.M." & "Black Crowes" Drummer Steve Gorman in Nov 2008 "Yea, we used to play a lot shows with those guys (Collective Soul) back home (Georgia)" when Ed Roland (Edgar Eugene Jr. 3 Aug 1963) & his younger brother guitarist Dean (10 Oct 1972) & Drummer Shane Evans (who had been in the band 'Marching Two Step’ with Ed in the 80s & 90s) & Bassist Will Turpin (William Ross 8 Feb 1971) who's father owned the recording studio where Ed Roland worked, & recorded demos that would end up being released as the bands 1st CD, & finally Guitarist Ross Childress, were put together to tour behind a demo "Shine" recorded by Ed Roland, that was getting airplay on a Florida radio station. > Love Lifted Me < "Hints, Allegations & Things Unsaid" This 1st CD was mainly recorded by Ed Rolland as demos but ended up getting released originally on Rising Storm Records in Jun 1993, then cleaned up a bit and re-released on Atlantic Records 22 Mar 1994 with "Shine" hitting #11 Mar 1993. I have to admit "Shine" is my favorite song of this CD with "Love Lifted Me" being 2nd. The band was asked to play "Woodstock '94" on Fri 12 Aug 1994 having only 1 Cd & 1 Hit under their belt. In Feb 1995 the "Jerky Boys: Movie" came out with a new song by the band "Gel" which I thought was great follow up to "Shine" followed by "The Blue Album" on 14 Mar 1995, my favorite off this CD is "Where The River Flows". This CD has the hits: "December" a #20 hit in Mar 1995 (on Cassette Maxi- Single with these other tracks: "Sister Don't Cry" (acoustic non-album) "Where The River Flows" & "December" live from 14 Mar 95 @ Thunderdome in St. Petersburg, FL. & later "World I Know" hit #19 on Nov 1995 with B-Side: "When the Water Falls" (Live Acoustic Version) also this same year they recorded these songs for these various CDs 'Jealous Guy' on "Working Class Hero" & 'The Bugaloos' on "Saturday Morning Cartoons" & 'Blue Christmas' on "You Sleigh Me" & a RAAIN: Public Service Announcement, the band was very busy in 1995. > Precious Declaration < The band's 3rd CD "Disciplined Breakdown" is released on 11 Mar 1997 with "Precious Declaration" being my favorite off this CD. This album was recorded under strenuous circumstances due to a lawsuit with the band's former manager. Later in Dec97 the ”Scream 2" soundtrack contained an early version of "She Said" "Dosage" the band's 4th comes out on 9 Feb 1999 with "Generate" being my favorite off this CD. The song 'Run' was used on the soundtrack "Varsity Blues" released in Jan99 & 'Heavy' was used on the video game PS2 "NHL 2001" released on 25oct2000 but the song "She Said" was actually a hidden track on the CD “Dosage” Ed Roland "So in a wise move we made the most popular song on the CD a hidden track?" As well as a PC only track "Almost You" Ross Childers "The model (on the cover) was a real trooper, they put honey on her face and used actual bees, it gave me the willies, most people think the bees were added (to the photo)" The band's 5th CD "Blender" is released on 10 Oct 2000 my favorite off this one is "You Speak My Language" a song not written by the band. This, the bands most blatant attempt at a Pop Top 40 CD, 2 singles are released off this CD "Why Pt2" & “Perfect Day" with Elton John. > Next Homecoming < The band losses its contract with Atlantic Records. A Label Rep. I spoke with at the time commented "Well, that haven't had any really big hits since the 1st 2 CDs, & we have been cleaning house on non-performing bands (Top 40 selling bands) so we decided it was time to let them go" So a 'Greatest Hits' package is released "7 Year Itch" on 18 Sep 2001 with 2 new tracks "Energy" &”Next Homecoming" both being stellar in my opinion. Then comes the 1st time I get to see the band in concert & a brief interview afterwards: Northrop Auditorium 19 April 2001 Opener "Fastball" Sponsored by Nokia, Ed announces during the show "Well, if you're gonna get a Cell Phone you might as well get a good one that works" Where the River Flows Precious Declaration Goodnight Good Guy 10 Years Later December Compliment Boast The World I Know Vent Blame Unknown Song She Said Perfect Day Why, Pt. 2 Gel Heavy *Encore: Run Simple Shine During the show a fan holds up a sign that reads: "Dean is Yummy" Ed reads out loud and responds, "Well that's interesting, as I have never tasted my brother I would not know, if that's true" Will Turpin: when asked if we was a good ol' boy "Yes sir, we're from Atlanta" Shane Evans: "Oh, I have been playing with these guys almost all my life, since Jr. High" Dean Roland "Thanks, man" in response to asking him to sign my CD & informing him I really love his style of guitar playing. Ross Childress: "Wow, you have 1 of these (1st Issue of CD), Ed look at this" Ed Roland "Sorry, I'm late, I had to take a shower" when asked where he's from "From Atlanta, born and raised" To a fan next to me "Oh, you have 1 of these I think there was only a few thousand pressed, basically this was just the demos I did, Atlantic cleaned them up a bit, but it's very close to how I originally recorded it" After the tour ends in 2001 Childress is released from the band & replaced by his guitar tech Joel Sefton Kosche (20Sep1969), then in 2003 Evans leaves the band, replaced by: Ryan Hoyle from 2003- 2008. > Rocket Science < I then caught the band a 2nd time on 29 Aug 2004 in Minneapolis @ The Quest. I was able to talk with Bass Player Will Turpin after the show: Turpin "Yep, I'm an O.G. 1 of the 3 originals left" On Ross, “Well he did some things the rest of us didn't agree with, so he sort of wore out his welcome. On Drummer Evans "He told us he was going on sabbatical and never came back" The band now form their own record label "EL Music Group" handled by: 'Rocket Science' the release "Youth" on 16 Nov 2004 "Counting The Days" I feel is the strongest track on this CD, this song uses a Metallica sample & also used in NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience. 2 other singles are released from this CD "Better Days" & "How Do You Love". On 24 May 2005 "From The Ground Up" is released this is more or less an "Un-Plugged" EP-CD. Then my friend Steve R. got me & my friend Lisa into see the band on 8 Nov 2005 in Maplewood @ The Myth with "Better Than Ezra" opening. Ed Roland to me "And who's this lovely young lady (Lisa F.)" Steve to me: "Look at Ed, he's such a Rock Star" Drummer Hoyle "We'll I had to adapt to their signature sound of alternating on 2 snare drums" on being asked what was the most difficult part of taking over for Evans on drums The next time I saw the band live they were opening for KISS @ Rockfest in Cadot, WI. 23 Jul 2007 the thing I remember most is Guitarist Kosche sang lead on "I Don't Need Anymore Friends" the 1st time I ever saw anyone sing lead besides Ed, come to find out this is a song from their next CD "Afterwords" that came out on 28 Aug 2007 an exclusive to Target (which opened their 1st store right here in Roseville in 1962) but later came out with a bonus disc released on 9 Dec 2008 with "An Evening With" "Ain't That Enough” & "Give" The last time I saw the band was in Des Moines, IA. on 26 Jun 2009 for the Arts Festival with Gavin DeGraw as an opener with their new & 3rd drummer Cheney Brannon. Once again shortly before their new CD is released "Rabbit" is released on 25 Aug 2009 & once again this one contained a bonus disc with "Staring Down" "She Does" & "Heart To Heart" this band is very prolific & reminding me of the 60s bands I have written about in the fact they have so many extra tracks they could release another full CD of songs not on other CDs, some 27 bonus, alternate or Non-LP tracks overall, outstanding. In closing I really feel this band could do it all, from hard rock to catchy ballads, one of my all time favorites to come out of the 90s into the 2000s & still together. MrZERo: RLSchwinden
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