View source for Ah Via Musicom

{{use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Ah Via Musicom
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]]
| cover      = Eric Johson Ah Via Musicom.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|1990|3|20}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Ah Via Musicom |url=https://www.ericjohnson.com/ah-via-musicom |website=ericjohnson.com |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>
| recorded   = March 1988 – June 1989
| venue      =
| studio     = 
* Riverside Sound, Arlyn Studios, Saucer One Studios and Studio Seven ([[Austin, Texas]])
* Reelsound (Buda, Texas)
* Soundcastle (Hollywood, California)
* 
| genre      = [[Instrumental rock]], [[rock music|rock]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=40|s=58}}
| label      = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| producer   = Eric Johnson <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-johnson-interview-2018/|title = Eric Johnson Says He 'Just Killed' Himself Making Breakthrough LP}}</ref>
| prev_title = [[Tones (album)|Tones]]
| prev_year  = 1986
| next_title = [[Venus Isle]]
| next_year  = 1996
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Ah Via Musicom
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = High Landrons
 | single1date = 1990<ref name=allmusicawards>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/ah-via-musicom-mw0000199210/awards "Ah Via Musicom - Eric Johnson | Awards"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2014-11-11.</ref>
 | single2     = Righteous
 | single2date = 1990<ref name=allmusicawards/>
 | single3     = [[Cliffs of Dover (song)|Cliffs of Dover]]
 | single3date = October 1, 1991<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/cliffs-of-dover-mw0000677482 "Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2014-03-27.</ref>
 | single4     = Trademark
 | single4date = 1991<ref name=allmusicawards/>
}}
}}

'''''Ah Via Musicom''''' is the second studio album by guitarist [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]], released in 1990 through [[Capitol Records]].<ref name=allmusic>Taylor, Robert. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/ah-via-musicom-mw0000199210 "Ah Via Musicom - Eric Johnson"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2016-02-25.</ref> The album reached No. 67 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name=allmusicawards/> and remained on that chart for 60 weeks.<ref name=billboard>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=eric johnson|chart=all}} "Eric Johnson - Chart history"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved 2014-03-27.</ref> All four singles charted on ''Billboard'''s [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] chart, with three of them being top 10 hits: "High Landrons" at No. 31, "Righteous" at No. 8, "[[Cliffs of Dover (composition)|Cliffs of Dover]]" at No. 5 and "Trademark" at No. 7. "Cliffs of Dover" went on to win the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance]] at the [[34th Grammy Awards|1992 Grammys]].<ref name=grammy>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/grammys.htm "34th Grammy Awards - 1992"]. Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-03-27.</ref>

==Overview==
Several songs are dedicated to fellow guitarists: Johnson stated in a March 1990 interview with ''[[Guitar Player]]'' magazine that "Steve's Boogie" is dedicated to [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]-based [[pedal steel guitar|pedal steel]] guitarist Steve Hennig, while "Song for George" is dedicated to an 80-year-old guitarist friend of his named George Washington. Furthermore, "East Wes" is dedicated to [[jazz]] guitarist [[Wes Montgomery]], and takes its name from the 1966 album ''[[East-West (The Butterfield Blues Band album)|East-West]]'' by [[The Paul Butterfield Blues Band]].

A [[DVD-Audio]] edition of ''Ah Via Musicom'' was released in 2002 through [[Capitol Records]], but without Johnson's input. After he expressed disappointment in the sound quality and [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], it was soon withdrawn by the label after 2500 copies were sold.<ref>Lieck, Ken (2002-03-29). [http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-03-29/85394/ "Dancing About Architecture"]. ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''. Retrieved 2014-11-11.</ref><ref>Lieck, Ken (2002-06-21). [http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2002-06-21/95430/ "Ah, DIY DVD"]. ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''. Retrieved 2014-11-11.</ref> In an August 2005 issue of ''Guitar Player'', he confirmed that an authorized 5.1 DVD-Audio edition of the album was in the works, but as of 2022 it has not been released.<ref>Leslie, Jimmy (August 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080103154551/http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/obsessive-perfectionist-eric/aug-05/12234 "Obsessive Perfectionist Eric Johnson Is Trying Go With the Flow"]. ''[[Guitar Player]]''. [[NewBay Media]]. Archived from [http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/obsessive-perfectionist-eric/aug-05/12234 the original] on 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2022-04-23.</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1       = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=allmusic/>
}}

Robert Taylor at [[AllMusic]] gave ''Ah Via Musicom'' 4.5 stars out of 5, saying that it has "reached near-classic proportions within the guitar community" and highlighting the varied styles present, namely [[rock music|rock]], [[pop music|pop]], [[blues]], [[country music|country]] and [[jazz]]. Praise was given to Johnson for his "excellent chops and a clear tone" as well as his singing, which was described as "not quite as interesting as his guitar playing", but also for being "not obtrusive and ... at times quite pleasing".<ref name=allmusic/>

"Cliffs of Dover" has endured as Johnson's best-known song and is a mainstay at his concerts.<ref>[http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/eric-johnson-4bd6b3fa.html "Eric Johnson Concert Setlists & Tour Dates"]. setlist.fm. Retrieved 2014-03-27.</ref>{{Original research inline|date=May 2021}} It was ranked No. 17 in a list of "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" by ''[[Guitar World]]'' magazine,<ref>Guitar World Staff (2008-10-21). [http://www.guitarworld.com/100_greatest_guitar_solos_17_quotcliffs_of_doverquot_eric_johnson "100 Greatest Guitar Solos: No. 17 "Cliffs of Dover" (Eric Johnson)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523185238/http://www.guitarworld.com/100_greatest_guitar_solos_17_quotcliffs_of_doverquot_eric_johnson |date=2012-05-23 }}. ''[[Guitar World]]''. [[NewBay Media]]. Retrieved 2013-09-16.</ref> No. 34 in a list of "50 greatest guitar tones of all time" by ''[[Guitarist (magazine)|Guitarist]]'' magazine,<ref>[http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-50-greatest-guitar-tones-of-all-time-ever-136709/17 "The 50 greatest guitar tones of all time... ever!" | Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover, Ah Via Musicom (1990)"]. ''[[Guitarist (magazine)|Guitarist]]''. [[Future plc]]. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2013-09-16.</ref> and remains a highly regarded staple within the guitar community.<ref>Stone, Doug. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/cliffs-of-dover-mw0000677482 "Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2013-09-13.</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = "Part 1"
| all_writing = Eric Johnson, except where noted
| title1 = Ah Via Musicom
| note1 = Johnson, Steve Barber
| length1 = 2:05
| title2 = [[Cliffs of Dover (song)|Cliffs of Dover]]
| length2 = 4:10
| title3 = Desert Rose
| note3 = Johnson, Vince Mariani
| length3 = 4:57
| title4 = High Landrons
| length4 = 5:46
| title5 = Steve's Boogie
| length5 = 1:52
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = "Part 2"
| title6 = Trademark
| length6 = 4:44
| title7 = Nothing Can Keep Me from You
| length7 = 4:23
| title8 = Song for George
| length8 = 1:49
| title9 = Righteous
| length9 = 3:29
| title10 = Forty Mile Town
| length10 = 4:13
| title11 = East Wes
| length11 = 3:30
| total_length = 40:58
}}

== Personnel ==
{{Div col}}
'''Musicians'''
* [[Eric Johnson (guitarist, born 1954)|Eric Johnson]] – guitars (1-7, 9-11), vocals (3, 4, 7, 10), acoustic piano (4, 7), [[lap steel guitar]] (4, 5, 10, 11), [[electric sitar]] (4), acoustic guitars (8)
* [[Stephen Barber (composer)|Steve Barber]] – synthesizers (1, 3, 4, 6, 10), keyboards (7, 11)
* Steven Hennig – guitar solo (5)
* [[Roscoe Beck]] – bass (1, 3, 7, 9, 10)
* Kyle Brock – bass (2-6, 11)
* Reggie Witty – bass (7)
* [[Tommy Taylor (drummer)|Tommy Taylor]] – drums (1-7, 9-11), percussion (4, 7, 10)
* Paul Bissell – percussion (1)
* James Fenner – percussion (10, 11)
* Wee Willie – [[harmonica]] (9)
* Jody Lazo – vocals (7, 10)

'''Music arrangements'''
* Steve Barber
* Roscoe Beck
* Kyle Brock
* Eric Johnson
* Vince Mariani
* Tommy Taylor
* Reggie Witty

'''Production'''
* Cinema Records, Inc. – executive producers
* Eric Johnson – producer, additional engineer 
* Richard Mullen – engineer, mixing (4, 7, 8, 10)
* Michael Frondelli – mixing (1-3, 5-7, 9, 11)
* Chet Himes – additional engineer, technical assistance 
* Bob Lacivita – additional engineer
* Walter New – additional engineer
* Dave Parks – additional engineer, technical assistance
* [[Stuart Sullivan]] – additional engineer
* Jerry Holmes – technical assistance
* Bill Johnson – technical assistance
* [[Bernie Grundman]] – mastering at [[Bernie Grundman Mastering]] (Hollywood, California)
* Denny Somach – project coordinator 
* Jeffrey Fey – art direction, design 
* Tommy Steele – art direction
* Geoff Kern – front cover photography
* Max Crace – back cover photography
* Joe Priesnitz – management 
{{Div col end}}

==Chart performance==
===Album===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Chart !! Position
|-
|1990
|[[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]
|align="center"|67<ref name=allmusicawards/>
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Eric Johnson|title=Ah Via Musicom|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=2003|access-date=August 17, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Chart !! Position
|-
|rowspan="2"|1990
|"High Landrons"
|rowspan="4"|[[Mainstream Rock (chart)|''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock]]
|align="center"|31<ref name=allmusicawards/>
|-
|"Righteous"
|align="center"|8<ref name=allmusicawards/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|1991
|"[[Cliffs of Dover (song)|Cliffs of Dover]]"
|align="center"|5<ref name=allmusicawards/>
|-
|"Trademark"
|align="center"|7<ref name=allmusicawards/>
|}

==Awards==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Event !! Award !! Result
|-
|"Cliffs of Dover"
|[[34th Annual Grammy Awards|1992 Grammys]]
|[[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]]
|align="center"|Won<ref name=grammy/>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.guitar9.com/ahviamusicom.html In Review: Eric Johnson "Ah Via Musicom"] at Guitar Nine Records

{{Eric Johnson}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eric Johnson albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Capitol Records albums]]