Originally released in 1975, Earthen Vessels was the second album from the St. Louis Jesuits and continues to be one of the best-selling albums of Catholic music ever recorded. Now you can discover once again how the Holy Spirit inspired five young men to create this extraordinary music that continues to enjoy a cherished place in the hearts of generations of Christians around the world.
With its familiar track sequence, this commemorative collection of Earthen Vessels will keep you entranced throughout, transporting you back to your coming of age in your relationship with God. Youth of today who have heard parish choirs sing these songs can now experience them as the composers intended. As an added bonus, this unique anniversary edition features five never-before released tracks from the group's original recording sessions in 1974.
Playfully dubbed "The Berkeley Basement Tapes," these tracks offer a rare glimpse into the creative process of this influential music group. Though new at the time, these recordings have the same form and arrangement in which they were eventually released, almost as if they burst forth whole from the composers. The vocals on these tracks are an amazing testimony to how well their voices blended, even at this early stage of their career: the trademark harmonies, the detailed guitar lines—it's all here.
This special anniversary edition also includes a 24-page booklet with rare photos of the young Jesuits and the story of the making of Earthen Vessels, written by historian Ken Canedo. As Ken concludes, "We hold a treasure, indeed!"