Ah Via Musicom
Encyclopedia
Ah Via Musicom is Eric Johnson
's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 (see 1990 in music
).
Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player
magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal steel guitarist Steve Hennig. Johnson also revealed in the same interview that the song "Song for George" is dedicated to an 80-year-old guitarist friend of his named George Washington. Additionally, "East Wes" is dedicated to jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
and is a take off on the name of the album East-West
by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
without Johnson's input, but was soon dropped. Johnson apologized to fans on his website for the DVD Audio release.
Eric Johnson commented in the September 2005 issue of Guitar Player
magazine that the 5.1 DVD Audio version of "Ah Via Musicom" is in the works, but at this time there is no release date.
except where noted:
Singles – Billboard (North America)
s
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
's platinum-selling third solo album, released in February 1990 (see 1990 in music
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
).
Several of the songs on the album are dedicated to fellow guitarists. Johnson revealed in an interview with Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine in March 1990 that the song "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to Austin pedal steel guitarist Steve Hennig. Johnson also revealed in the same interview that the song "Song for George" is dedicated to an 80-year-old guitarist friend of his named George Washington. Additionally, "East Wes" is dedicated to jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
and is a take off on the name of the album East-West
East-West
-Side two:-Personnel:* Paul Butterfield — vocals, harmonica* Mike Bloomfield — electric guitar* Elvin Bishop — electric guitar, lead vocal on "Never Say No"* Mark Naftalin — piano, organ* Jerome Arnold — bass...
by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Ah Via Musicom DVD
A 5.1 DVD Audio version of Ah Via Musicom was released in 2002 from Capitol RecordsCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
without Johnson's input, but was soon dropped. Johnson apologized to fans on his website for the DVD Audio release.
Eric Johnson commented in the September 2005 issue of Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine that the 5.1 DVD Audio version of "Ah Via Musicom" is in the works, but at this time there is no release date.
Track listing
All songs written by Eric JohnsonEric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
except where noted:
- "Ah Via Musicom" – 2:04 (Johnson, Stephen Barber)
- "Cliffs of DoverCliffs of Dover (song)"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental composition by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. The album version of the song is composed in the key of G major, the song was played with a Gibson ES-335 through a B.K. Butler Tube Driver and an Echoplex plugged into a...
" – 4:10 - "Desert Rose" – 4:55 (Johnson, Vince Mariani)
- "High Landrons" – 5:46
- "Steve's Boogie" – 1:51
- "Trademark" – 4:45
- "Nothing Can Keep Me from You" – 4:23
- "Song for George" – 1:47
- "Righteous" – 3:27
- "Forty Mile Town" – 4:13
- "East Wes" – 3:28
Personnel
- Eric JohnsonEric JohnsonEric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
– Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Pedal Steel, Composer, Vocals, Producer, Sitar (Electric) - Jody Lazo – Vocals
- Stephen Barber – Synthesizer, Keyboards
- Roscoe BeckRoscoe BeckRoscoe Beck is a multi-Grammy Award winning record producer and bassist. He has recorded and played with Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Leonard Cohen, The Dixie Chicks. He also has his own signature electric bass: the Fender Roscoe Beck Bass, used by many other players.After earning a reputation from...
– Bass Guitar - Paul Bissell – Drums
- Kyle Brock – Bass Guitar
- James Fenner – Drums
- Steven Hennig – Guest guitar on 'Steve's Boogie'
- Richard Mullen – Engineer
- Tommy Taylor – Percussion, Drums
- Wee Willie – Harmonica
- Reggie Witty – Bass Guitar
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Billboard 200 | 67 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Cliffs of Dover" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1990 | "High Landrons" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 31 |
| 1990 | "Righteous" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 8 |
| 1991 | "Trademark" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 7 |
Awards
Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Eric Johnson | Best Rock Instrumental Performance Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards... |