Week 13: Rapture
Hello, friends!
First of all, sorry about our absence and the lack of updates – we’ve all been kept busy elsewhere…way too busy. But we’re back – and with us we bring both good news and good music! Because this week we are real proud to present you all with an exclusive promo sampler for what may well be the best album you’ll buy this year!
But don’t thank us – this is all coming together thanks to our new acquaintance Dan, who runs one of the finest little reissue labels out there, Family Groove Records! We got to know about Dan and his label through our good friend Calisoulbrother, who recommended us to check out a limited edition 7″ vinyl reissue of Lillian Alexander’s “A Dream Without You”. Which instantly had me wanting to know more about both Lillian and the Family Groove catalogue. So I sent an e-mail with some questions – and Dan responded within minutes! In his response he enclosed a track that blew me away…which basically is what Week 13 will be all about!
It’s gonna be all about The HE3 Project, the album “Chapter 1” (released today, March 30th) and the totally slept-on keyboard wizard/song writer/arranger/Bay Area session musician, Herman Eberitzsch III – who Dan bumped into by chance while doing research for the Lillian Alexander reissue project. I asked Dan about their first encounter – this is what he told me:
I called Herman and asked if he had any photos from the Lillian Alexander recording session, but he barely remembered the session and had no photos available. However, he said ‘I’ve got some tapes you may be interested in.’ I answered ‘what kind of music’ and he said ‘soul & funk.’ I had already planned a trip to San Francisco to work on the Alexander project. So it worked out perfectly. Still, I was a little skeptical until I entered Herman’s basement which he had set up like a private studio. It was like time had stood still in there. Dark, moody, with concert posters on the walls – and he opens up a locker and shows me tapes upon tapes. He played me some of his music, including “Rapture Of The Deep” and I couldn’t believe what I heard. All of this incredible music that had never been released…
Dan also confirmed my guess, that he almost crapped his pants first time he heard Herman’s music. Well, the first time I heard it, I almost did too. It’s just that good!
Still, you just might have heard a Herman Eberitzsch III joint or two unknowingly – at least one penned by him. The batch of songs remastered for release on this first (yes, three more installments are in the works) HE3 Project LP, simply called “Chapter 1”, includes three songs recorded as demos intended for Coke Escovedo’s 1975 debut album “Coke”. “Make It Sweet”, “Life Is A Tortured Love Affair” and “Easy Come Easy Go” made it onto the album (as did a fourth cut called “Rebirth”), and Lord knows I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all three – but after hearing Herman’s versions, none of Coke’s takes stand a chance in comparison! The difference is close to mindblowing – the crisp freshness of the “demos” is overwhelming and win every time.
Check out this short clip featuring both Coke’s and Herman’s versions of “Make It Sweet” – and prepare to be blown away:
Sure, both versions are good, but one is better than good – more like awesome…right?!
And it doesn’t stop at the Coke collab – Herman has worked with Lee Oskar (War), Greg Errico (Sly & The Family Stone), Little Esther Phillips and Linda Tillery, just to mention a few.
For more background info on the HE3 Project, check out our special HE3 Project page – also including a Herman Eberitzsch III artist bio…real must-read stuff!
In my opinion, the “Chapter 1” LP is just chock-full of never heard before greatness, including instant favourites like “Rapture Of The Deep”, “Funk Punk, “Easy Come Easy Go” and “In A Soft And Subtle Way” – from spacey jazz and psych, to raw funk and smooth soul music. Definitely the best “rare” funk/soul album so far this year…can’t wait for the second installment! Hopefully, with these HE3 Project releases (and our support) Herman finally gets the recognition deserved!
All in all, “Rapture” really is the spot on headline for this HE3 Project post…with rapture being best defined as An expression of ecstatic feeling or The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven – well, to me it means Ecstatic trip to crate-digger heaven!
Download the “HE3 Chapter 1 Promo Sampler” (including “Easy Come Easy Go”, “Make It Sweet” and “Rapture Of The Deep”) right here – or via this SoundCloud preview. Enjoy the goodness, peeps!
Now, do yourself a favour – buy HE3’s “Chapter 1” already today! Available on vinyl, CD or as MP3’s over at Family Groove Records!
You won’t regret it! :¬)
And hey, if you’re in the Bay Area, why not book King Herman for a gig – I know would!
Mad props to Dan and Family Groove Records for their hard work digging up the good stuff! But first and foremost, Herman Eberitzsch III – thank you for the music!
/Lafayette
37 comments on “Week 13: Rapture”
Leave a reply to SoulSizzle Cancel reply
4BB | Album Of The Week 
Enjoy the rapture!
Big thanks to Herman, Dan & Family Groove Records – and a special shout-out to Gorque for helping out with the Promo Sampler!
Show your support – please leave a comment if you like the music!
LISTEN:
zShare >>
BUY THE ALBUM:
Family Groove Records >>
Congratulations to Dan for this excellent find! Stories like this make me nuts because I think of all the amazing unreleased tapes that are languishing in some dusty attic, basement or vault that will never see the light of day. It is so imperative that we support labels like Family Groove and Numero with our dollars, so that more of these gems will come to light. Good work, Laf.
The clip was quite sweet; HE3 has Coke beat by a mile! Looks like it’s time to spend some more money. Great job, Dan! 😀
Peace and blessings.
Wow, you’re back!
I thought the site had gone private or something.
Nah! 🙂
/L
Welcome back, it’s been a minute. Looking I’ll check this out when I get a chance it sounds dope.
Thanks, Styles!
And yeah, this really is some serious goodness!
/L
Really fascinating, thanks Lafayette and thanks to Dan and King Herman. Can’t wait to get a CD copy of Chapter 1.
A gem indeed! It is great that Family Groove and Numero are dusting off and preserving such great music for us. Their hard work and dedication deserves our support! I will definitely be picking this up…..Great post Laf!
now that’s what I call digging… thanks Dan & Mr Herman & of course Laf for sharing
My copy of the vinyl just hit the mailbox today… that was FAST service 🙂
The extra 45 inside was a nice surprise… I suspect they are alternate takes? In any event… top work through and through! Big thanks to the entire Family Groove team for bringing the fire!
Peace and blessings.
Welcome back and many thanks
great!
Back in business I see. Now to continue my music education. Ha! Happy days are here again.
Ok….was that a piece of “Tighten Up” starting out om “Make It Sweet”? If not, it sure got me feeling like doing the dance! LOL
[…] especially if you are a fan of Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express or the Lyman Woodward Organisation. Head on over to 4BB Weekly for more information and an exclusive preview sampler. Thanks to the Family Groove team for making […]
Good to see ya’ll back. And with the heat no less!
Uhu…the heat is back on! 😀
/L
Glad to see yall back! …and back with a vengeance!!! what a great post, thanks for this one, looking forward to reading the WHOLE story behind the tunes. you fellas never cease to amaze! thanks again!
Yep, but all props to Dan…really…he’s been working real hard for this release for at least a year! 🙂
/L
Now that’s what I call makin’ it sweet! I’m on it.
Hey, Bowlisha! And yeah, this sure is sweet!
/L
Just read the review – sounds dope!
Didn’t even need to listen to the soundclip! Just headed straight over to the website and bought the album – can’t wait til it shows up on my doorstep so I can give it a thorough thrashing!
Great review, and can’t wait to find out about the forthcoming volumes!
Aight, Kizza! That’s the way to do it!
/L
Wonderful to see you back again! Thanx a lot…
Top Notch!! I’m so happy the brothers are back in action!!
i almost missed this one, im glad i didn’t this is pretty dope little sampler. many thanks!
Dang – incredible. Keep up the good work!
So glad to see you guys back at it!! Missed u guys!
Thanks for this post guys. It turned up in the mail this week from Family Groove. Lovin’ it. Good to see you back too
Thanks for this one 4BB
mm looks and sounds like something i want in my shelf.. though it looks like it might cost me a buck or alotmorethanabuck to get it shipped to sweden.. doh!
Great post I stumbled it
Excellent , a lot of thanks and respect , as usual.
A+ yall … Thanx and stay digging!
Thanks Bros. For this Gem….
It’s been a good while since I visited this Library.
Friends, Do you have a 3 mins version of Sandra Feva – Three Times A Man
big Up!@!