Guitar Tricks Insider April/May Digital Edition | Page 6

ESSENTIAL ALBUMS

JEFF BECK HAS IT. SO DOES
EDDIE VAN HALEN, SANTANA,
AND PAT METHENY. THE
GREAT B.B. KING HAD
IT. ALL ARE AMONG THE
SELECT GROUP RECOGNIZED
AND LAUDED FOR THEIR
IDENTIFIABLE SOUND AND
STYLE. GETTING ON THIS IS
THE SINGLE MOST COVETED
ACHIEVEMENT A MUSICIAN
CAN STRIVE FOR.
Another guitarist to join these
legendary ranks is Eric Johnson. His
voice and tone are perhaps the most
precious elements in his playing.
Few would doubt his technical ability
or his talent for writing a tune. His
signature song, “Cliffs of Dover” is
among the most played instrumentals
on American radio in modern times.
Combined, tone, note choice, and
melody is a path worth following. It is
a trail Eric himself followed, and then
laid out for the rest of us when asked
him to name some essential albums. ■

ERIC JOHNSON
1. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton,
by John Mayall
2. Super Session,
by Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper,
Stephen Stills
3. Disraeli Gears, by Cream
4. Wheels of Fire, by Cream
5. Are You Experienced,
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
6. Axis: Bold As Love,
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
7. Electric Ladyland,
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
8. Truth, by Jeff Beck

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APR/MAY