For My Sunday Song #124, the instrumental this week is none other than Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover”. The song was released in 1990 and is off his album ‘Ah Via Musicom’. The song garnered Eric a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1992 and it has been named #17 in the list of 100 Greatest Guitar Solos by Guitar World Magazine. That should tell you something about how great this song is.
The song starts off with one wicked guitar solo before kicking in to that familiar riff of the song. What I really love about the song is the melody. It is so infectious and gets stuck in your head. When you hear the song, you immediately strap on your air guitar and strum along. It is taking everything for me to not stop typing and do just that as I am listening to it. Forget, I will be right back…(air guitar strumming)…(still going)….(almost done)…okay, I’m back.
Eric Johnson claims the song came to him quickly and he was done in about 5 minutes. I guess he knew a good thing when he heard it. If it was only that easy for every song. Now, that creative output occurred back in 1982. Eric being the perfectionist that he is spent a lot of time tweaking the song and trying to get it right. He was going to included it on his 1986 debut, but it was nixed by the powers that be. And some 8 years after he first created the song, it was finally released. At least the idea was quick!
The song was named after the White Cliffs of Dover on the English Coast. Here is what they look like if you have never seen them…
I find the song to have this happy vibe to it and you feel like your sailing across the sky in front of those majestic cliffs. It is one of those songs you will never forget and stays with you. Give it a listen below and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Sunday!!!
A buddy of mine seen Johnson open for Rush on the Roll The Bones Tour…
Said it was an excellent show ….
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is probably the only Johnson song I can name, but it is a goodie!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with ya on that
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is some fine air guitar work!
And those cliffs are stunning
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am awesome at the air guitar!!
LikeLike