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lucas 
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Joined: February 06 2004
Location: France
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Points: 8138
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 Topic: ERIC JOHNSON
Posted: February 07 2004 at 15:02 |
Let's go out of the prog rock stricto sensu for a while. How many of you know and appreciate Eric Johnson's work, from his debut in the Electromagnets in 1974 ('a Mahavishnu with a sense of humour' dixit Zappa) to his last effort released in 2003, a compilation of unreleased tracks. His solos are unique and full of emotions (the best comparison is Steve Morse), and he also sings very well. Electromagnets, the fusion group in which he began his career, is a must for all fusion fans. Between 1976 and 1978 Eric wrote tracks that were later included in an album called 'Seven worlds', with still a fusion feel to it but with a more pop direction. In 1986, Eric released 'Tones', one of my favourite Eric's solo efforts, and it was the first of three albums featuring superb guitar work and a fine rythm section, not far from what can be heard on Rush's 'Power windows' or Saga's 'Behaviour'. In 1990, Eric released 'Ah via musicom', an album that made him at last famous. In 1996, 'Venus isle' was another beautifully written album. Then, after seven years of silence, Eric came back with some new material and previously unreleased tracks. If you like Steve Morse's solo career, you should give a chance to Eric Johnson, he is no less imaginative than Morse. If you want to share your impressions about Eric's work, please reply to my topic. 
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"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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Stormcrow
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Joined: February 05 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 400
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 15:35 |
While I unfortunately don't know Johnson's work in the Electromagnets, I quite enjoy his solo albums. I appreciate any player with a style and/or tone that makes their playing distinct and recognizable.
To my ear, Eric Johnson bridges a gap between heavy blues influenced guitar slingers like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Billie Gibbons, and the big names in the prog guitar world.
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Dan Bobrowski
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Joined: February 02 2004
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Points: 5243
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Posted: February 07 2004 at 19:31 |
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Eric Johnson is in my favorite Three; Allan Holdsworth, Eric Johnson and Steve Morse. I'd love to see all three on a tour together. Anyway, Yeah, I really dig the Elctromagnets. Ah Via Music is my favorite. Have you seen EJ and is he going to tour soon?
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Runaway
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Joined: September 15 2005
Location: Mexico
Status: Offline
Points: 130
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 04:43 |
Eric Johnson is awesome ! 
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
Location: Sweden
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 04:50 |
lucas: His latest effort is the album Bloom, released just a couple of months ago:
I like it very much - it's a very decent Jazz album. I'd compare it to Venus Isle.
Edit: It's not really a "Jazz album" ... I wanted to say that it's Jazzier than his other albums.
Edited by MikeEnRegalia
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kunangkunangku
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2005
Location: Indonesia
Status: Offline
Points: 22
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:25 |
hi... this is my first post.
wow... eric johnson!  i think he is among the very few guitarist who successfully developed a true signature style. his playing and sound is so unique -- and he always raise the bar. my favorite album is "ah via musicom" (and the best track to me is the almost unbelievable "cliffs of dover").
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i don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
- b.b. king
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
Location: Sweden
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:26 |
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lucas
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Joined: February 06 2004
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:30 |
 MikeEnRegalia wrote:
lucas: His latest effort is the album Bloom, released just a couple of months ago:
I like it very much - it's a very decent Jazz album. I'd compare it to Venus Isle.
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Actually it's not an entirely jazz album, only two or three tracks are jazz, and I think this album is a mixed bag, containing some good songs and others really useless.
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"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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richeym
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 23 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 148
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:35 |
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the only Johnson i've ever heard was off a 30-40 minute live video of him i have on my comp.
his style is excellent, and he plays very very tastefully at all time.
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:35 |
^ useless is a cruel word.
Some of the songs are Jazzier than anything he's ever done. Most of the others are quite like those on Venus Isle or Ah Via Musicom ... they're not for everyone, but hardly useless.
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kunangkunangku
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Joined: July 14 2005
Location: Indonesia
Status: Offline
Points: 22
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 09:58 |
yup. but for me, even playing it acurately at the lowest possible speed is still something i have yet to master. 
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i don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
- b.b. king
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 10:01 |
Do you know the Line6 GuitarPort? They have Cliffs of Dover, and Trademark too.
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kunangkunangku
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2005
Location: Indonesia
Status: Offline
Points: 22
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 11:08 |
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
Do you know the Line6 GuitarPort? They have Cliffs of Dover, and Trademark too. |
no, i don't.  what is it?
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i don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
- b.b. king
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
Location: Sweden
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 11:25 |
www.guitarport.com
It's a neat little device (priced around $150) which you connect to your computer via USB. You then can subscribe to their online service ($8/month) and download many nice backing tracks and lessons.
The GuitarPort contains much of the amp & effects modelling of the POD XT / Vetta, so all you need to jam to the backing tracks are your guitar, the GuitarPort + subscription and a computer.
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kunangkunangku
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2005
Location: Indonesia
Status: Offline
Points: 22
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 13:03 |
MikeEnRegalia wrote:
www.guitarport.com
It's a neat little device (priced around $150) which you connect to your computer via USB. You then can subscribe to their online service ($8/month) and download many nice backing tracks and lessons.
The GuitarPort contains much of the amp & effects modelling of the POD XT / Vetta, so all you need to jam to the backing tracks are your guitar, the GuitarPort + subscription and a computer. |
this seems wonderful...
maybe i should give it a try.
usually i use sheet music. but it's too costly.
thanks for sharing this info. 
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i don't think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
- b.b. king
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MikeEnRegalia
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Joined: April 22 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 21604
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 13:05 |
^ no problem.
It should be pointed out though that:
- you'll need a credit card for the subscription (backing tracks and lessons).
- They don't have thousands of backing tracks ... they focus on classic rock and metal bands, some country, some jazz ... but hardly any prog. They have some Pink Floyd though. Alltogether I'd say that they have about 200 backing tracks.
Another great source for backing tracks:
www.jamtrax.com
But they don't have vocals in their backing tracks, the GuitarPort backing tracks all do.
Edited by MikeEnRegalia
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Paradox
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 07 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 1059
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 20:14 |
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I have "Ah Via Musicom" and i am rather disappointed. It seems to consist of a few gems but the remainder is annoying ballads.
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Angeldust
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 18 2005
Location: Greece
Status: Offline
Points: 336
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Posted: September 25 2005 at 20:30 |
Eric Johnson is an incredible and underrated guitar player..The work with the Electromagnets is brilliant and his first solo albums are great too...(Ah Via musicom,Tones,Venus Isle)..I have some songs he did with Steve Morse (Kansas,Dixie Dreggs,Deep purple).Does anybody know if he made an album with him?
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ScreminFlea
Forum Newbie
Joined: July 20 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 14
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Posted: September 26 2005 at 04:22 |
More than just Eric's sound is unique. Just the way he plays is unique. I've been picking out "Cliff's of Dover" on the guitar just lately, and so much of the music feels almost counter intuitive to play. His note progressions are almost bizarre sometimes. Kinda like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, it's just wierd.
He definately developed his own style. I've picked out Vai, Satriani, Van Halen, etc, etc, but nothing is as hard to play as his music in my opinion. Not becuase he does anything that is physically difficult, it's just that his note progressions are sometimes so "out of the ordinary" that it takes awhile to get your fingers to act like you need them to.
The man is just an incredible guitarist.
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lucas
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Joined: February 06 2004
Location: France
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Posted: October 05 2005 at 18:28 |
Angeldust wrote:
Does anybody know if he made an album with him?
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eric johnson sings and plays the guitar on one song ("distant star") of steve morse's second album 'stand up', but I think it's the only collaboration he ever had with steve morse.
Edited by lucas
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"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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