Eric Johnson

[TAC]

OK, I'm going to listen to one album tomorrow night and report back. Not sure which one it'll be.

@ Wolfking, any help?

[KevShmev]

OK, I'm going to listen to one album tomorrow night and report back. Not sure which one it'll be.

@ Wolfking, any help?

He is cursing us right now after getting his sticky ice cream fingers all over his VH CD cases.

[HOF]

Actually, listening to it now, I think I might just say to start with Tones and if you like that don’t stop because you’ll also probably like Ah Via Musicom and Venus Isle. At the very least, you’d probably like the song Zap.

[wolfking]

OK, I'm going to listen to one album tomorrow night and report back. Not sure which one it'll be.

@ Wolfking, any help?

Honestly, I love Tones, but don't go that one, you'll puke.  Go Venus Isle I think, but I think a few of the others here know better than me.  Johnson I like a lot but not as familiar as the shredders I'm known for.

Really you can flip a coin between VI and AVM.

[wolfking]

Actually, listening to it now, I think I might just say to start with Tones and if you like that don’t stop because you’ll also probably like Ah Via Musicom and Venus Isle. At the very least, you’d probably like the song Zap.

Yeah, Tones is the best.  But Tim won't enjoy anything from EJ I really believe.  I don't think Tones is the best place to start for him though.

[HOF]

Actually, listening to it now, I think I might just say to start with Tones and if you like that don’t stop because you’ll also probably like Ah Via Musicom and Venus Isle. At the very least, you’d probably like the song Zap.

Yeah, Tones is the best.  But Tim won't enjoy anything from EJ I really believe.  I don't think Tones is the best place to start for him though.

I suspect he’ll find something to appreciate in some of the instrumental tracks, but will struggle with the vocal ones. If he can hang in there until the solos though he might stand a chance.

[SoundscapeMN]

I first got Tones and if I had to choose, i would still go with that as an introduction.

I also would suggest the Electromagnets album for anyone who enjoys Jazz-Rock.

[Podaar]

I predict Tim will like quite a bit of EJ, he'll just inappropriately compare his playing to either Gary Moore, or Michael Schenker. 

[TAC]

I predict Tim will like quite a bit of EJ, he'll just inappropriately compare his playing to either Gary Moore, or Michael Schenker. 

 
So true..except the inappropriate part.

[Lonk]

I was supposed to see him in March of 2020, but we all know what happened.

[HOF]

I was supposed to see him in March of 2020, but we all know what happened.

I got to see him back in 2016 on his acoustic tour. Just him and his guitar/piano in a really small venue. Very cool way to see him, though I imagine he'd be even more fun to watch playing electric.

[faizoff]

The only Eric Johson track I know is Trademark and man is it a banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPcUsbQQ7IY&ab_channel=EricJohnson

[HOF]

The only Eric Johson track I know is Trademark and man is it a banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPcUsbQQ7IY&ab_channel=EricJohnson

Cliffs of Dover is the big hit from that album that everyone knows, but in some ways I prefer Trademark. Both are great of course.

[RodrigoAltaf]

One song of his that doesn't get mentioned enough, but which I love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P87aMhEsKW4

[HOF]

One song of his that doesn't get mentioned enough, but which I love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P87aMhEsKW4

Yep, this might be my favorite of his.

[TAC]

I lasted three songs on the Venus Aisle album, and I checked the song Rodrigo linked.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I lasted three songs on the Venus Aisle album, and I checked the song Rodrigo linked.

To quote the great philosopher Michael Scott..."why are you the way that you are?"

[HOF]

I lasted three songs on the Venus Aisle album, and I checked the song Rodrigo linked.

I warned you!

[King Postwhore]

Tim, this one.

https://youtu.be/safVhk-Jnkg

[TAC]

Tim, this one.

https://youtu.be/safVhk-Jnkg

I thought you were sending me a Simpson's clip.

That's a bit better.

[HOF]

Tim, this one.

https://youtu.be/safVhk-Jnkg

 

Just noticed that Tommy Taylor busted a snare head during the song. His drumming on those first three EJ albums is phenomenal.

[wolfking]

I lasted three songs on the Venus Aisle album, and I checked the song Rodrigo linked.

I told you.

[T-ski]

Back in college I was the sports director for the campus television station and I would use “Righteous” for all the coaches shows we produced.

Good times.

[Podaar]

I lasted three songs on the Venus Aisle album, and I checked the song Rodrigo linked.

So you never made it to Camel's Night Out...tsk, tsk.

[MrMike]

Check out "Pipeline" off the Collage CD.  My favorite album performance of his.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I'll be interviewing Eric this Tuesday afternoon. Let me know if you have questions for him!

[HOF]

I'll be interviewing Eric this Tuesday afternoon. Let me know if you have questions for him!

That’s great! He seems like a really nice guy. Will try to think of something.

[Dave_Manchester]

I'll be interviewing Eric this Tuesday afternoon. Let me know if you have questions for him!

Please ask him what memories he has of writing and recording the solo for Lonely In The Night (my all-time favourite guitar solo). The song is credited to "Vince Mariani" (listed in the booklet as being responsible for "arrangement") but I'm guessing the solos were written by Eric. How long did he work on that piece? And where does he rank it among his own body of work?

[RodrigoAltaf]

I'll be interviewing Eric this Tuesday afternoon. Let me know if you have questions for him!

Please ask him what memories he has of writing and recording the solo for Lonely In The Night (my all-time favourite guitar solo). The song is credited to "Vince Mariani" (listed in the booklet as being responsible for "arrangement") but I'm guessing the solos were written by Eric. How long did he work on that piece? And where does he rank it among his own body of work?

Yes, I was planning to ask about that, and it's my favorite EJ song as well!

[HOF]

Well this is sad and oddly coincidental. Eric just posted a tribute Vince Mariani on FB. He apparently died of an extended illness just recently. He mentions how he wrote Lonely in the Night and also contributed other song and album titles.

https://m.facebook.com/#!/story.php?story_fbid=529242981904593&id=100044566863584

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Trademark is still my favorite. Everything about that song is the greatest thing he's ever done.

[Dave_Manchester]

Could you also please ask him if the original recording for Venus Reprise went on for much longer after the fade-out? I'd love to hear the full and original version of that, because he was doing some VERY tasty stuff before the abrupt fade-out. In fact tell him please that I'll make a sacrifice to the God of his choice for a special edition of the Venus Isle record, complete with demos, outtakes, etc. 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Could you also please ask him if the original recording for Venus Reprise went on for much longer after the fade-out? I'd love to hear the full and original version of that, because he was doing some VERY tasty stuff before the abrupt fade-out. In fact tell him please that I'll make a sacrifice to the God of his choice for a special edition of the Venus Isle record, complete with demos, outtakes, etc.

That's a good one! I'll see if I can fit that in!

[RodrigoAltaf]

All done with Eric, and asked him about VEnus Reprise...he said he continued to play for 2 or 3 more minutes after that fade out. Initially that song had vocals, and he wants to re-record it with vocals at some point.

[Dave_Manchester]

All done with Eric, and asked him about VEnus Reprise...he said he continued to play for 2 or 3 more minutes after that fade out. Initially that song had vocals, and he wants to re-record it with vocals at some point.

Yeah, Venus Reprise was originally a vocal number called Mountains...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AlH-fwsPbxA

It's a lovely piece but I think he made the correct decision to edit it to an instrumental, albeit one that was much shorter. Looking forward to the interview, thanks for doing it.