On February 7, 2006, Multi Platinum recording artists Collective Soul will release their first-ever live DVD entitled Home: A Live Concert Recording With The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. The forthcoming DVD will be released on the band’s own El Music Group record label and will also be available as a two CD set. Recorded in April 2005, the concerts were filmed in the band’s hometown of Atlanta during two special sold-out performances featuring the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. The 20-song collection spans ninety minutes and encompasses hits from throughout Collective Soul’s seven studio albums, including their latest CD Youth. DirecTV will also broadcast the concert film as its’ “Free View Concert” throughout December. Recording in an orchestral musical setting was a new experience for Collective Soul and enabled them to reinterpret their own #1 hits. Songs such as “Shine,” “December,” as well as “The World I Know” and “Precious Declaration” have all been given a new twist due to the sound of the recording and the fact that the newly independent band now have the rights to their own songs and can give them new life. Seamlessly merging their music with the symphonic arrangements, the DVD enables fans to experience Collective Soul founders Ed Roland (vocals/guitars/keyboards), Dean Roland (guitars) and Will Turpin (bass/percussion) along with Joel Kosche (guitars) and Ryan Hoyle (drums) like they never have before. Comments Ed Roland: “Working with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra was really a unique experience. I never imagined that all of these young musicians could make our songs sound so beautiful in the most classic sense.” “The kids really brought everything up a level by helping to create another dimension in the music” states Dean Roland. “Those two nights were one of the highlights of my career thus far. After the first night of rehearsals, both the band and symphony found an amazing blend of two musical entities.” Adds Will Turpin: “We had been dreaming about this idea for a decade, to finally perform Collective Soul songs with a full orchestra was truly a dream come true. Performing with the “Youth Symphony” was a big part of the energy level, the kids and the band felt excited and privileged to be a part of that evening.” Collective Soul is celebrating one of their best years ever being able to release new music on their own El Music Group. Selling over 250,000 copies, the Youth CD is highlighted by the album’s three singles: “Counting The Days” (which hit #4 on the Rock Radio Charts), “Better Now” (which hit the Top Ten on both the R&R and Billboard Hot AC charts), and the newly-released third single “How Do You Love” which is the fastest-charting single in the band’s history. Beyond traditional radio play, “Better Now” is included in high-profile NASCAR promos, Kellogg’s Special K commercials, and was included on Denise Richards’ TV show “Sex, Love & Secrets.” “How Do You Love” is also featured in the new Richard Gere film “Bee Season.” Collective Soul were recently featured on Dentyne’s “Live It Loud” tour where concertgoers took home “Instant Live” recordings of the show and were able to bid on an autographed Fender Guitar with proceeds going to the MusicCares Foundation. The band will also be performing at Atlanta’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in November and will perform the Peach Drop at the Underground in Atlanta on New Years Eve. Upcoming Collective Soul tour dates to be announced soon.