Double album includes newly remastered audio, rare outtakes from the original sessions, plus a previously unreleased concert from 1997, captured in its entirety
Set for release June 17th and available to pre-order/pre-save beginning today
Craft Recordings celebrates the 25th anniversary of Collective Soul’s acclaimed third album, Disciplined Breakdown, with a bonus-filled reissue. Available June 17, the deluxe 2-CD/digital anniversary edition includes the cathartic album (featuring such hits as “Precious Declaration” and “Listen”), rare studio outtakes, plus a previously unreleased concert from 1997, captured in its entirety at Chicago’s Park West. Featuring newly remastered audio by the GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Paul Blakemore, the reissue also includes insightful new liner notes by music journalist Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Senior Editor, Pop at Xperi).
Disciplined Breakdown is available for pre-order today, while the previously unreleased studio track “Precious Declaration (Salvation Mix)” can be streamed or downloaded here.
On June 18, fans can find a Record Store Day exclusive edition of Disciplined Breakdown on translucent red vinyl at select independent record stores. The newly remastered pressing with lacquers cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio is limited to 5,000 units worldwide. For a full list of participating Record Store Day retailers, visit recordstoreday.com. Additionally, for those seeking an enhanced listening experience, the original 12-track album will be available in hi-res digital audio on June 17.
When Southern alt-rockers Collective Soul began work on their third studio album, they were one of the biggest bands in the country, with multiple hits on the airwaves and a growing collection of gold and platinum records. Yet, despite appearances, they were struggling emotionally and financially, while embroiled in a messy legal battle with their former manager. From this difficult period, however, came Disciplined Breakdown: an album that found the band going back to basics and pouring their frustrations into their songwriting. Decades later, it not only marks a commercial high point in the band’s career, but also a triumphant token of resiliency.
The story of Disciplined Breakdown begins several years earlier; when the Stockbridge, GA, band scored a regional hit with “Shine,” a song written by frontman Ed Roland and recorded as a demo alongside his brother, rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, and bassist Will Turpin. It was the early ’90s, amid the rise of grunge, and record labels were eager to find the next big act. As “Shine” became a national hit, eventually peaking at No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.1 on the Mainstream Rock chart, Roland signed a management agreement and turned Collective Soul into a five-piece, rounding out the group with drummer Shane Evansand lead guitarist Ross Childress. In a whirlwind, they released a full-length debut, Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid (1994), and, upon signing to Atlantic Records, followed with 1995’s Collective Soul.
Over the next year, Collective Soul scored five more Mainstream Rock hits, topping the chart once again with “December” and “The World I Know.” They went on tour with Van Halen and made numerous appearances on late-night TV. As the album’s promotional cycle slowed, however, a new reality began to take shape. As Erlewine notes, “the rise of Collective Soul as a band is intertwined with [Ed] Roland’s increased alienation from management…So much was happening, that the band didn’t realize how the dispute between Roland and management had metastasized.”
Amid legal battles with their former manager, the band’s assets were frozen. There was little that they could do. Returning to Stockbridge, Roland channeled his emotions into songwriting. He borrowed a cabin on a friend’s farm, bringing in three ADAT machines for tracking. And then, the band began to record the album that would become Disciplined Breakdown. Evans recalls, “there were days when each of us would walk into the cabin…and we’d be like, ‘I don’t know if I can deal with this any longer.’” But, as Roland reveals, a stronger will prevailed. “Somehow we kept our sanity because we want[ed] this career and want[ed] to stay together as a band. But it’s tough when the first thing you do each day is to talk to lawyers.”
The song titles (“Blame,” “Forgiveness,” “Listen”) certainly mirror the band’s ongoing struggles, as do many of the lyrics. The anthemic lead single, “Precious Declaration,” for instance, details the moment that the band and management settled in court. Yet, despite the record’s heavy themes, Disciplined Breakdown is full of accessible, post-grunge tunes—an element that is reflected in the album’s commercial success.
Following its release in March 1997, Disciplined Breakdown landed in the Billboard 200’s Top 20 and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. Abroad, it peaked in the Top 5 in Canada and New Zealand and landed in Australia’s Top 40. The album also spawned several hit singles, including “Precious Declaration,” and “Listen,” both of which topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, while the former song peaked at No.5 on the Canadian pop charts. Other highlights included the harmony-filled “Link,” the dynamic third single, “Blame,” and the soulful “Full Circle,” featuring a cameo by the legendary Memphis Horns. In his notes, Erlewine argues that Disciplined Breakdown “amounts to the richest album Collective Soul delivered during their prime, an album where their deep musicality shines within the compositions and performances alike.”
The same can be said for their appearances on stage, following the album’s release. One such concert, featured on the deluxe edition of Disciplined Breakdown, finds the band at their absolute best, as they play to fans at Chicago’s Park West. The 18-song set spans a range of material, including songs from Disciplined Breakdown, a range of hits off their first two albums and an electrifying cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.” As a special bonus, the reissue also offers two rare studio tracks: an alternate version of “She Said,”which originally appeared on the Scream 2 soundtrack, as well as the dramatic “Salvation Mix” of “Precious Declaration.”
Now, 28 years and ten studio albums later, Collective Soul still maintains the same determined spirit and love for their craft that kept them going during their most challenging times. With a lineup that includes founding members Ed Roland, Will Turpin and Dean Roland, plus drummer Johnny Rabb and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett, the band is nearing their 30th anniversary—a milestone achieved by few of their peers. “So much of what we do is based on the camaraderie-ship of the band,” shared Roland, following the release of 2019’s Blood. “The five of us continue to work together as a family, and I’ve never been at more ease—and never been more pleased—than going onstage with these guys night after night.”
Click here to pre-order/pre-save Disciplined Breakdown (Expanded Edition).
Tour Dates:
20 May – Richardson, TX- Wildflower Music & Arts Fest
21 May – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live
22 May – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theatre
28 May – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort
11 June – Fort Collins, CO – Taste of Fort Collins
19 June – Birmingham, AL – Euphonious Fest
24 June – Joliet, IL – Taste of Joliet
25 June – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre
4 July – Traverse City, MI – National Cherry Festival
8 July – Prior Lake, MN – Lakefront Music Fest
Collective Soul with Switchfoot:
15 July – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Casino
16 July – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Council Bluffs – Stir Cove
17 July – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
19 July – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
29 July – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! – Indoor Music Hall
23 July – Fond du Lac, WI – Fond du Lac Fair
24 July- Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center
26 July – Newport, KY – PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION
27 July – Midlothian, VA – AfterHours Southside
30 July – Grantville, PA – Penn National Racecourse – Hollywood Casino
31 July – Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
2 August – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
3 August – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
4 August – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
6 August – Webster, MA – Indian Ranch
7 August – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
8 August – Jackson, MI – Jackson County Fairgrounds
13 August – Billings, MT – MetraPark – First Interstate Arena
14 August – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
15 August – Sandy, UT – Sandy City Amphitheater
17 August – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion
20 August – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
21 August – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery
23 August – Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater
24 August – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
26 August – Henderson, NV – Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater
27 August – Flagstaff, AZ – Fort Tuthill Park – Pepsi Amphitheater
5 September – New Haven, KY – The Amphitheater at Dant Crossing
7 September – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
9 September – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater – Sottile Ballroom
10 September – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Park Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
11 September – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry House
13 September – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
14 September – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
16 September – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
17 September – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
20 September – New Orleans, LA – Mahalia Jackson Theater
21 September – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre
23 September – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live
24 September – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre
Disciplined Breakdown 25th Anniversary Edition tracklist (CD):
CD 1
Precious Declaration
Listen
Maybe
Full Circle
Blame
Disciplined Breakdown
Forgiveness
Link
Giving
In Between
Crowded Head
Everything
Precious Declaration (Salvation Mix)
She Said (Alternate Version)
Listen (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Disciplined Breakdown (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Gel (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Breathe (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
CD 2
Precious Declaration (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Maybe (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Shine (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Crowded Head (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Collection Of Goods (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
In Between (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Blame (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Smashing Young Man (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Forgiveness (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Where The River Flows (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Crazy Train (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
December (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Simple (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
The World I Know (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Disciplined Breakdown 25th Anniversary Edition tracklist (digital):
Precious Declaration
Listen
Maybe
Full Circle
Blame
Disciplined Breakdown
Forgiveness
Link
Giving
In Between
Crowded Head
Everything
Precious Declaration (Salvation Mix)
She Said (Alternate Version)
Listen (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Disciplined Breakdown (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Gel (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Breathe (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Precious Declaration (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Maybe (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Shine (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Crowded Head (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Collection Of Goods (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
In Between (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Blame (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Smashing Young Man (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Forgiveness (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Where The River Flows (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Crazy Train (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
December (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Simple (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
The World I Know (Live at Park West, Chicago, IL / 1997)
Disciplined Breakdown 25th Anniversary Edition tracklist (Hi-Res Digital)
Precious Declaration
Listen
Maybe
Full Circle
Blame
Disciplined Breakdown
Forgiveness
Link
Giving
In Between
Crowded Head
Everything
