ARTIST INTERVIEW
ERIC JOHNSON
The Texan virtuoso is at home playing blues, jazz and country as he is when creating blistering rock lines. Jason Sidwell caught up with Eric to discuss his new double album, Yesterday Meets Today and The Book Of Making.
GT
These two albums were a product of lockdown, looking though older recordings and choosing the best from them. How much music is in your vault and how did you quantify what was to be released here?
EJ: I have quite a few more pieces of music in the tape vault. I just started pulling stuff out and I think I pulled out 28 pieces of music. Three of them were not worth finishing particularly. So I ended up with a double album of 18 songs plus a seven-song outtake record which will also be released.
GT: How did you decide what pieces were going to go on each album, and have you themed or fitted them into time periods?
EJ: I just tried to put them in an order that seems to have a nice flow to it. I tried several versions before I decided on this song order.
GT: What songs required the most work to finish? Were some more sketch-like that you were then impelled to finish?