This particular recording and performance has been scientifically proven to be the greatest electric guitar tone ever produced and recorded by humanity. It cannot be surpassed without causing the Space-Time Continuum to collapse on itself. It’s science. Eric Johnson exists in some other, superior dimension of reality.
For this style of music it's a beautiful tone but very subjective. It's all apples to oranges. Of course this wouldn't be a very sought after tone say in a southern rock/or rock blues band. Just sayin!
Some people focus on his speed. But to me, it's his articulation and absolute mastery. Each and every note rings true and is played precisely. Plus that tone, that TONE. There are only a few guitarists who you can always pick out just by their sound. EVH is one, Eric Johnson is another.
Back in the early 80s, I walked into a bar in Columbia, SC and saw this kid named Eric Johnson. The bass player was from Weather Report. Unsure who the drummer was. There were about 5 people in there on an early Thursday night. I was blown away. Back then bands did three nights on the club circuit. I was back for his 2nd and 3rd nights. Place was packed on his last night. Blew me away. He tossed in a Robin Trower cover, and nobody covered Robin Trower back then. Still amazed I happened to catch him that early in his career.
That’s awesome! I hear he’s the nicest guy in the world too. I have a similar story. Was working out of town and asked the girl at the hotel desk where I could go see some live music. It was a Tuesday evening. She sent me to a little place, can’t remember the name for the life of me, and there was this very young guy named Joe bonamassa playing. Cost me 5 bucks to get in.
This version of Cliffs of Dover is just sublime! It literally has every style incorporated into the piece and it’s absolutely flawless! I’ve seen Eric Johnson many times in concert and he is amazing and his tone is out of this world! Great song choice.
Eric Johnson is also a very talented piano player, a fine singer and as you can see, a brilliant guitarist, you will never hear a more beautiful tone coming out of a Strat!
That was by far the best reaction I've seen yet by anybody. You literally never spoke, let it play, and showed your reactions with your facial expressions! Subscribing!!!
The beauty of guys like EJ is that he’s playing pentatonics most of the time. He’s so insane with it that it sounds like some scale you’ve never heard, it’s pentatonics, he’s a master of them!
Saw him for the first time when he was touring for Ah Via Musicom. Small club in San Francisco. What a talent. He definitely doesn't let any of the fretboard stay idle.
So sad he never made it big but he stuck to his convictions. He never cared about the fame,just the deserved respect & Recognition. You can still catch him in small clubs around Austin. Used to see play happy hour at Steamboat on 6'th. street. Insanely good live.
@@tonysmith7702 I guess I phrased that wrong. Personally I like the way he wasn't as well known as some of the others who came out of Austin at the time,Stevie Ray for one. I lived in Austin from '70 to '92 & was lucky to have seen both of them,sometimes the same day,in bars all over town mostly at happy hour.I truly believe him to be as talented as Stevie & liked him better live. I guess it's kind of like the Dead,took them over 40 years to have a hit record simply because they didn't care enough to. And they are one of the most widely followed bands ever.Didn't mean to sound flippant,ABSOLUTELY love the guy. As far as I know,he still plays clubs down there. Hippie Redneck Fort Worth,Tejas 🏜⭐
Eric Johnson is the consummate virtuoso. He can play anything on guitar (electric or acoustic). Plus, he has no problem playing Beethoven or Chopin on piano. He’s also the nicest and most humble man you will ever meet.
In a little club in college station tx one night this kid with an electric guitar played a set. It was mostly a folky place and I don't remember much other than he was really young looking. It was Eric Johnson. He was in his 20s but looked like 16.
Great guitarist and he's quite the singer also! You should check out *Desert Rose* or *High Landrons, Steve's Boogie, Zap* and *Are You Experienced (Jimi Hendrix cover).* By the way if you didn't notice *Cliff's Of Dover* is all written in utilizing the Pentatonic scale as well as his other songs, he happens to play them combined with his string stretching and skipping. *Love ❤️ Peace ✌️ and Happiness 😃 Y'all !!*
I used to go see Eric Johnson play on a regular basis when he was getting his start playing clubs and saw this song played many different ways always great.
Literally pentatonic scales on steroids. And, he's a really nice guy. Met him a while back, standing next to me in line at Starbucks. Humble, soft-spoken, and very approachable.
I've already got my tickets to see him in March at least there is someone who prices their tickets so us poor folks can go too... I'm going to be close to the stage and only paid 47.50 per ticket... I've always loved how versatile he is... Can't wait to go see him...
I worked with a guy who is a really good player. He said he went and saw Eric live and when it was done he wanted to go back to his hotel room and make a bonfire out of all his guitars.
What’s really scary about EJ is that his rhythm and chord usage is as otherworldly as his lead playing. That’s why both Steve Vai and Joe Satriani both say he’s the greatest guitarist living today. Tommy Emanuel has said the same thing. It’s a shame that he’s never included in the Top 100 guitarist lists, while guys like Jack White and Slash are.
SCREW PLAYING IT. That he CONCIEVED the song & intro part is mindboggling. First saw it in Chicago after a gig at 2am on Austin City Limits. 8 months later I opened for him in a Raleigh, NC club and got to see him do it live, different but the same. Those aren't scales they're melodies he wrote. He studied violin approach, very different from blues. Every time it hear or see it I tear up. He is that good live. 150% is EJ low point of gig performance.
His playing is SO CLEAN. I got to see Eric play with Satriani and Vai at a G3 show in Orlando, around 97. Was an amazing show. Been a Vai fan since Zappa, and if you like Vai, you'll like Satriani. These guys have been at the top of the game for the past 30+ years. All virtuoso
Eric Johnson is in Guitar Player Magazine's Hall of Fame*. You need to win the best overall guitarist award 5 years in a row. There are only two other members: Steve Morse and Steve Howe. They actually created it for Steve Howe to kind of give other players a chance ;-> * I've also heard it called The Hall of Greats.
He kind of created a technique with the cascading pentatonics in groups. He does vary from them but his quintessential licks are pentatonic groupings of 7 6 and 6 note runs. It’s that whole Bonamassa thing and of course nobody does it better than Eric Gales
I'm very happy you gave yourself the gift of listening to EJ and now that you have, there are a plethora of players you may want to give a listen to. Have fun!!
I watched this performance on PBS when it came out. Never seen or heard of EJ before that. A buddy and me were sitting out on the trampoline, both of us guitar players, and his dad called us inside to watch what he found while channel surfing. We were mind blown. It was at Austin City Limits, which is surprisingly small. Only a handful of people get to attend a performance. Tickets went on sale ( at least back then), and were announced on the radio the same day of the show. Camera tricks make the place look huge. If you're ever in Austin, at least do the "tour" of set if not a show.
I'm an LP/SG man myself, but no one should EVER underestimate the tonal capabilities of a Stratocaster. The guitar tone on this track alone is like butter, and combined with Johnson's playing, the overall effect is magnificent.
I hear you on that! I was more of an LP then Charvel guy then I got my first good Strat. Then Strats were basically all I've played from then on. Such a versatile instrument. Tonal Capabilities up the ying-yang. And they are pretty much limitless in Johnson's hands. God that rig he put together back then gave him a palette of gorgeous tones to work his magic with too. Like butter indeed!
@@guyfyffe5920 I'm more in the Gilmore school of players. I'm not especially fast or acrobatic on the fretboard, but I can wring a lot of juice out of long, sustained notes and bends.
I’ve watched lots of ‘first time reaction videos’, your Sir was a pleasure…no stopping and talking the video every 30 seconds like other people. You watched then commented, will definitely subscribe and watch more of your stuff, thanks once again.
I was lucky enough to be living in Austin when Eric & Stevie Ray came up through the ranks at the same time. Even went to Stevie's birthday bash at the Colliseum in '82, where they shared the stage. Two great 3-piece bands, and two guitar gods-to-be.
I saw him at a small club in deep ellum in Dallas when either this album or the next had been released and stood 15 feet away. Wow! That was a night! The band was awesome , but Eric was incredible and I almost feel guilty for using such a pedestrian word to describe his talent. I've been a fan ever since. That tone, I love that tone and you instantly know who it is upon hearing it!
I say that EJ is the “finest” guitarist that ever lived. There are only a few guitarist of his caliber but I don’t think any of those guys or gals can write as beautiful songs as Eric. Listen to “When the Sun, Meets the Sky” for a taste of sublime beauty. Rock On 🤘🏼
Fast, lots of notes yet expressive and not at all over played. One of my all time favorites. No such thing as a better electric guitar performance than this one.
Imagine opening for B.B.King and then having the King call you back to the stage to play with him....Happened to Eric Johnson.Not for a song or two.The whole set.He's that good. G3 with Satriani and Vai.This could be a rabbit hole for you.Dive in! 🙂✌🤘👍🤙
A few years later in the 90's he created, in my opinion, one of the few perfect albums in Venus Isle. Oddly enough, one of my favorite songs of his is a piano piece called Song for Lynette on that album.
The “white cliffs of Dover” represented so much to British Sailors & Airmen as they returned from battle sorties,missions, etc. During WWII I believe there was a famous song “Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover”? Can’t say for sure, before my time! Lol
I build amps, but prior to that I repaired guitars. I ended up buying an Eric Johnson Strat having never heard any of his songs.* I bought it because I had three or four come in for setups and fret levelings, and Besides them being perfectly spec'd, exactly as I'd have one made (though I preferred rosewood and they wouldn't come out with one for a year or two after I might it) they were hands down the best designed and executed production Strat they were making. I remember having a couple John Mayer models come in and not being impressed. These were great though: quarter sawn necks, super light bodies, thin finish and absurdly resonant. *Later I realized that I had heard Cliffs of Dover before but had never associated it with him.
In addition to his obvious talent with a guitar, he's one of the most humble artists you'll ever meet. Speaking of "humble"...May I suggest Steve Morse? Live in New York. The song is called "Jammin'". Jaw-dropping mastery of techniques and voicings. Beautiful composition not found on any of his albums that I'm aware of. Enjoy!
I have seen this probably 1000 times, and yet I keep watching it, going to see EJ in a couple of months for probably the 100th time, if he played NYC every night I would be there every single night... he is much more relaxed now or at least looks like he is having fun... check out some of his newer stuff... Strategem is pretty awesome, I find most of his songs have an inherent "joy" in them... also amazing when EJ is out with the Jimi Hedrix experience tour (with Doug Pinnick was the best)... three piece bands.... King's X.... and The Jelly Jam (dream theater/king's x/dixie dregs)
Growing up in WV, we only got a few headline shows a year back in the day. My first experience with Eric was the national anthem on MTV when the did the all star baseball game I believe it was. Love it. Immediately went out and bought his album.
@@tadracket448 Ya know it’s crazy that there’s over 800 million videos on RU-vid. Over 1 billion are watched a day. There’s over 6 billion people in the world and I run into someone from the same place I’m from on a random video that has nothing to do with southern WV. Yet I can never win a scratch off lotto ticket no matter how many times I try. Haha.. good talking to ya bro.
Pentatonics and spread triads. Video from Austin City Limits within a year of the album. He and SRV were roommates in Austin for a time before they “made it”
I have that exact guitar, Eric Johnson model. at house of blues he did a solo that melted half my brain. I been going to his shows since 1985 and once almost had to crack a fool upside his damn head for popping off about EJ. one of the greatest guitar player.i think his tradmark sound comes from alnico pic ups.
Your note about scales - Yes. Been spending the last few months learning new ones and trying to write in them, but then I relisten to something like this and think about how much work I have ahead of me. I've had this CD about 30 years, so right around the entire time I've been playing, and I'm still just not there yet lol - can you imagine even being able to remember all that shit to play it live? It's so close to the studio cut it's honestly kind of surprising. If anything he added more into the intro
