Collective Soul
American five-piece group Collective Soul achieved worldwide success in 1994 via their debut single Shine, which peaked at No. 8 on the Australian music chart. Further success followed in the 1990s with enduring hits such as Gel and The World I Know.
This year, the group celebrates its 30th anniversary and continues to be as busy as ever. They just released a new album titled Here To Eternity last week.
In today’s world of streaming hits and digital singles, the group took the path less travelled with the new album by issuing it as a double album.
“We originally made a double album about five years ago,” Ed Roland, the group’s singer-songwriter and guitarist, said. We recorded it, but management was like, ‘Today’s world doesn’t accept a double album!’
“So, we split it up and released it as two separate albums: Blood (2019) and Vibrating (2022).”
“And this time, we went in with the intention to do a single album. We recorded it at Elvis Presley’s estate in Palm Springs and got so inspired we ended up doing about 24 songs, and management was this time like, ‘okay, you’re just giving us too many songs, so we’re doing it this time as a double album’.”
Thirty years on, Roland is as passionate and dedicated to his musical craft as he was when the band first signed its record deal.
“Once we got that first (record) deal, and people started paying attention to us, and we built a brand, we literally thought, alright, this is what we’re going to do, so we’re not going to stop,” he says.
“And we have never considered stopping.
“All I ever wanted to be was a songwriter, and I feel very blessed that this band allows me to do it.
“And it’s my job, though I hate using the word ‘job’, as it’s not really a job, as it’s what I dreamed of doing as a child.
“And after 30 years, I don’t care what line of business you’re in; you should have gained not only experience but also confidence and a better ability to do what you do.
“It’s an extension of who I am personally.”
Looking to the future, Roland reveals they still have more music to come.
“We have two records in the can now besides the double album,” he says.
“And I just finished writing another album.
“So, there are three more records that will basically be done by the end of the year.”
For more on Collective Soul, visit www.collectivesoul.com
Music news
Becoming Led Zeppelin, the first official documentary and one authorised by the band, is finally set for a theatrical release, though the release date is yet to be announced.
Speaking of docos, the Bruce Springsteen documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will hit streaming platform Disney+ in October.
Former Finley residents Spiderbait will embark on a national tour from August to October to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Tonight Alright, which is home to their No 1 hit, Black Betty.
Former The Jam frontman and ‘modfather’ Paul Weller will celebrate turning 66 this weekend by releasing his 17th solo album, 66, on Friday, May 24.
Grinspoon is back! This week saw the release of Unknown Pretenders, the first slice of new music from the group in 12 years. The single is the lead track from the group’s upcoming eighth studio album, titled Whatever, which is due for release on August 9. The group has also announced a 45-date Australian tour in support of the new album that will commence in September and will take in regional centres.
Last week, AC/DC kicked off its new Power Up world tour with a European jaunt. The first show was performed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and the European leg will wrap up in August. The group will announce further dates for the rest of the world tour (including Australia) in due course.
This week’s global music charts
United States: Billboard Hot 100 No 1: Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
UK: Official Singles Top 100: Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
Australia: ARIA Top 50 No 1: I Had Some Help - Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
Book review
Too Late to Stop Now: More Rock ’n’ Roll War Stories is the latest tome by Allan Jones, an award-winning British music journalist. The book is also the follow-up to his acclaimed 2017 book Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down. Just like his first volume, this new book continues on a similar route, detailing many of the encounters Jones experienced first as a music writer for the English weekly music magazine, Melody Maker, and then as editor of said magazine before departing to launch the popular monthly magazine Uncut.
Jones shares stories of his time during music journalism’s halcyon days of the 1970s and 1980s. He writes vividly, with a no-holds-barred restraint, bringing to life a time when the fine line between journalist and artist (there are even encounters with some film world people) became blurred and writers would jet-set to exotic locales for interviews and partake in alcohol-fuelled parties at the expense of the record companies.
Jones’ free-form writing is powerful and piques interest in the artists he writes about, while inducing a yearning for nostalgia. Jones also details the undue pressures that were part and parcel of writing for a national music publication back then. It’s a document of a time that we may never see again. And hopefully, Jones has more stories to share for a third volume.
Fun fact
English singer Lita Roza became the first woman to score a number one single in the UK in 1953 with the song (How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
Then, in 1978, Kate Bush scored a number one hit with Wuthering Heights, earning her the title of the first track self-penned by a woman to hit number one in the UK.
Joe Matera is a local singer-songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist providing readers with all the latest music news.