Ed Englerth - Earthen Vessel

When and where were you born? Are you originally from East Lansing, Michigan? When did you first begin to have a fascination with music? What was growing up like for you?

I was born and raised about an hour from East Lansing. I was born in Hastings, MI. I was fascinated with music from as far back as I can remember. I would make up fun little songs even as a child. Just before starting high school, I was asked to join a band as a lead vocalist. They didn’t have a bass player so bought a bass and a small amp.

Ed with his grandpa.

Ed attending YMCA camp.

Was music something that was relevant around your household? Do you have any siblings? What was a typical weekend like for you prior to playing in bands? What would you and your friends do for fun? Did you have any other fascinations and interests outside of music? When and where did you attend your first live concert? When did it dawn on you that you wanted to pursue music as something rather serious? What group(s) left a heavy impression on you in those early days?

My mom played keyboards and my dad sang around the house. My brother played harmonica. The day to day, prior to music, was just basic kids playing games, climbing trees, etc.. the neighborhood was mainly just guys. Summers we spent at the lake, and we fished and swam, and water skied etc. There was a teen club in Hastings called The Cobra that I’d go to and see bands. My cousin Gene played in a band and encouraged be to start playing double bass if I was serious about playing music. I played in orchestra and sang in choir in high school. There were so many, I was young. Vanilla Fudge, Electric Prunes, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Traffic, The Mothers of Invention, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Steppenwolf, Jethro Tull, The Blues Magoos, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, The Who, Pink Floyd, James Gang, Alice Cooper, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles.

Senior High grad pic. My mom told me I had to put my hair all up in a bun in back so the photo wouldn't show my long hair. After we got done and we were out in the car I took my hair down and my mom said, "oh, your hair looks so nice today, we should have had some pictures taken with your hair down." I told her it was a little late for that now.

Did you participate in any groups prior to Earthen Vessel? How did you initially meet your bandmates? What were your first impressions of everyone and what initially led to the decision to start the group? What was the band’s process and approach for writing music? Did you guys start out playing covers, or did you immediately begin writing your own original material?

I played in various rock bands while in high school. While going to high school a friend of mine told be about this band called Earthen Vessel that played at a club in Lansing, MI called The Catacombs. We went a few times to hear them play. The first version of Earthen Vessel had been formed before I met them. I met the other musicians at rehearsal. I learned the songs the band was already playing. When we started working on other songs often times one of the members would bring it to the band and express to the other members how they wanted the song to go.

What were those early shows like and what was the band’s set up gear wise? What did you guys want to express and or achieve with your music that was different from allot of the other bands coming out around that time?

For a while Earthen Vessel had a bus, but later traveled in a van with a trailer behind. In the beginning we played using all West amps and speaker cabinets. The cabinets were very heavy, but they sounded great. Later we started using various other gear. What Eathen Vessel was doing caused a few problems for the band. Even though lyrically we were distinctly Christian, we did not hide our psychedelic sounds and appearance. This offended some church leaders, who decided the band members were on drugs and living the rock & roll lifestyle. We wanted to provide a counter-cultural image of religious life that countered the mistaken traditional narrow Christian image. There was even a scheduled nine-day tour of Sweden, though after a particularly loud concert in Stockholm on the first night of the tour, Earthen Vessel was banned from playing again and Caudill had to finish the tour as a solo folksinger. The main reason we were out there playing was because two-fold. To express our faith in ways that we felt were relevant for the times and we liked playing that style of music. The name Earthen Vessel is a biblical reference. The band played at music festivals, at churches, in parks, etc. There were a few times they even put us on a float in a parade. The speakers staid in place but the drummer’s cymbals were held in place by some of the people that had brought us into play.

Tell me about the band’s rehearsal space, or where you would practice. Can you tell me about writing as well as recording the band’s debut record “Hard Rock/Everlasting Life”? You guys worked with TN based producer David Wayne Mathes, correct? When and where did the recording take place and what was that experience like for you? How long did it take to record those from start to finish?

We either practiced at the house or we used a school that allowed us to rehearse on a full stage so, we could get used to playing in a larger area. The chemistry was pretty good among the band members. Yes, we did work with Dave Mathes. Writing of the album was done over several months. The recording of the album was done very quickly in about 12 hours, in Nashville, TN. The band played at much louder volumes than the studio was used to. After the first note, there were several adjustments made.

How did the deal with NRS Records come about for that LP and the single? What was the first order of business once the record was released? Did you guys tour, or set up a string of shows in order to support the release of the album? What was it like to finally have a physical copy of your music in hand? What eventually happened to the band after 1971?

The whole deal with NRS Records was set up with Leon Morton. It felt cool to finally have a physical copy of the music in hand. However, even though the band played many places, sadly the album did not sell as well as was hoped. The original band formed by Leon Morton included Eddie Johnson on drums; bassist John Sprunger; vocalist Sharon Keel; vocalist/keyboardist Ken Fitch; and guitarist Dave Caudill. With the grueling wear of the road and the album’s failure, as well as the various college and career plans, coaxed the band members into disbanding by the summer of 1972. Earthen Vessel was reformed by Leon Morton. Ed Englerth – bass and vocals, Dan Vigus – drums and vibes, Greg Miller – guitar, Bob Sperlazzo – guitar and lead vocal. I (Ed) played in both the original Earthen Vessel (after John Sprunger left) traveling with that version of the band to several gigs. After the second group was together, they stayed together for about one year doing gigs around the Midwest and disbanded as the money evaporated and members of the band followed other interests.

What do you think about a whole new generation of fans and listeners digging the band so many years later?

It's great to have a whole new generation of listeners listing and thinking about the music we played. I think Earthen Vessel was a bunch of people who had the good fortune to be together with enough support to let keep us playing for a while. For further information about myself and/or my music EdEnglerth.com . EdEnglerth.bandcamp.com Check out the album “Real Thin Dream” for live rockin’ of my trio.

Dakota Brown