Eric JOHNSON


Venus Isle

(1996)



1. Venus Isle 5'30
(Eric Johnson)
2. Battle We Have Won 5'59
(Eric Johnson)
3. All About You 8'21
(Eric Johnson)
4. S. R. V. 3'03
(Eric Johnson)
5. Lonely In The Night 6'05
(Vince Mariani)
6. Manhattan 4'53
(Eric Johnson)
7. Camel's Night Out 5'17
(Kyle Brock / Mark Younger Smith)
8. Songs For Lynette 4'54
(Eric Johnson)
9. When The Sun Meets The Sky 7'54
(Eric Johnson)
10. Pavilion 5'02
(Eric Johnson)
11. Venus Reprise 1'30
(Eric Johnson)

Total Time: 58:28


  • Eric Johnson - Guitars (1-7, 9-11), Classical Guitar (8), Acoustic Piano (1-3, 5, 6, 9, 11), Synthesizer (8), Lap Steel (1, 2, 9), Guitar Synthesizer (1-3, 5, 10), Vocals (1-3, 5, 9)
  • Jimmie Vaughan - Guest Guitar soloist (4)
  • Steve Barber - Synthesizers (1-4, 8-10), Hammond B3 Organ (4, 6), String Arrangements (5, 8)
  • Scott Mcintosh - Trumpet (8)
  • Richard Kilmer - Strings (5)
  • Bruce Williams- Strings (5)
  • Kyle Brock - Bass (1-2, 4-7, 10)
  • Roscoe Beck - Bass (3, 9, 11), Bass on end section (10)
  • Chris Maresh - Bass (8)
  • Tommy Taylor - Drums (1-7, 9-11), Percussion (3, 10)
  • Bill Maddox - Drums (8)
  • Chris Searles - Percussion (3, 5)
  • James Fenner - Percussion (2, 6, 10)
  • James Fenner - Percussion (5)
  • Amit Chatterjee - Vocal on introduction (1), Additional Vocals (3)
  • Christopher Cross - Additional Vocals (3, 5, 9)
  • Jennifer Bourianoff - Additional Vocals (5)
  • Anthony Stogner - Additional Vocals (5)

    Produced by Eric Johnson and Richard Mullen
    Executive Producer:
    CINEMA RECORDS, Inc.
    Engineered by Richard Mullen
    Additional Engineering by John Fannin, Ethridge Hill, Bill Maddox, Malcolm Harper, John Aguto, Jeff Poe, Stuart Sullivan, Roscoe Beck, Mark Haliman, John Moran, James Hoover, and Eric Johnson
    Studio Technicians; Bill Johnson, Terry McGuire, Duncan Black, Greg Klinginsrnith, Larry Greenhill
    Digital Sampling by Darry! Dunn for Keynote Productions. ProTools editing by Rail Rogut
    Mixed at
    OCEAN WAY RECORDING and RECORD ONE by Richard Mullen
    Assistant Mixing Engineers: Jeff DeMorris, Jim Champagne, Brad Haehnel, Allen Sides
    Mastered by Bernie Grundman
    Assisted by Jimmy McKeever, for
    Bernie GRUNDMAN MASTERING, Hollywood.
    Management; Joe Priesnitz
    Booking; Wayne Forte for ENTOURAGE TALENT ASSOCIATES
    Photography, Design, illustration, and all digital imaging by Max Grace.
    Additional Photos Noted by * on gatetold by PARK STREET
    Model for angel cover illustration: Gay Grace
    EJ Lettering on CD by Vince Mariani

    Recorded at SAUCER STUDIOS, Austin, Texas, in association with Larry TELFORD DIGITAL
    Additional Recording at
    A&M STUDIOS, ARLYN STUDIOS, DIGITAL SERVICES RECORDING, ROCKET RANCH and REELSOUND RECORDING

    Christopher Cross appears Courtesy of RHYTHM SAFARI RECORDS
    Jimmie Vaughan appears Courtesy of
    EPIC RECORDS

    Music Arranged by: Eric Johnson, Tommy Taylor, Kyle Brock, Steve Barber and Vince Mariani

    All Songs, ©1996 AMERITA
    Exeept * ©1996 KINGS CHAMBER MUSIC
    ** ©1996 SUPERKYLITE MUSIC
    *** ©1996 AMERITA / SUNKEN GONG

    For Information on lithographs of the album art, write: PO Box 150543, Austin, Texas USA 78715





    1. Venus Isle

      Long ago, from the wonderland
      Was a girl named Eve
      She came to Earth from the mermaid sea
      That is when love began.

      Speak of love inside you
      With a mystic smile
      Let us be beside you
      Showed us how to be
      But she's just here to stay with us awhile
      There is much more to see

      I'll be seeing you
      Climb into the skyride for a better view
      Let's make connection get on back in style
      While we are here in the Venus Isle

      Then Eve said, "I miss you"
      Now it's time to go
      And, "I love you"
      This is not my home
      A from her isle she said her goodbyes
      And blasted off to the stars

      So it starts with you
      Let there be no secrets, all that we can do
      Let's make a symphony of a thousand smiles
      While we are here in these Venus Isles

    2. Battle We Have Won

      Everywhere are hearts and empty hands,
      With no one there, to understand,
      Future dreams, you're searching for a clue,
      That sun don't shine, you never mind.
      Don't get too discouraged in this life,
      It's just a game, for now we play.
      And soon or later things can work out right
      This you must know, just wait and see
      And after everything is said and done,
      This can be another battle we have won.
      All across the view, hills of desires,
      The Knights, the Kings, the Queens, The Squires.
      The serenading dreams, bound tears of hope,
      They start to fall, keep standing tall.
      So, don't get too discouraged in this life,
      It's just a stage, we act upon.
      Soon or later things, they work out right,
      The sun will shine, the night will dawn.
      And after everything is said and done,
      This can be another battle we have won.
      So don't get too discouraged in this life,
      Our thoughts can breathe, sonnets of love.
      Soon the winds of change will make it right,
      This you must know, just wait and see.
      And after everything is said and done,
      This can be another battle we have won--
      In this life,
      We'll set the sail, inside above.
      Soon or later things they work out right
      This you must know, just wait and see.
      Lord, after everything is said and done,
      This can be another battle we have won.

    3. All About You

      Oh yeah,
      Through the pouring rain
      I still feel the same, all about you
      It's true, many folks agree
      The answer can be all about you

      Circles get broken
      From the destiny's arrows
      Lives set in motion
      Is that how it's got to be?

      All I've got to say
      Please don't slip away, when life abounds you
      And you know (it) hurts a lot, the pain
      'Cause it's not the same withoout you

      Circles get broken
      From the destiny's arrows
      Lives set in motion
      Is that how it's got to be?

      You gave me music first
      I still have the thirst, to love you
      And you know we still have a chance
      Things could still turn right, all within you

      So throw out all those hurting shoes,
      Please don't turn on you, life's about you
      And come on, 'cause you're the king of hearts
      Now a brand new start, is all about you

      Circles get broken
      From the destiny's arrows
      Lives set in motion
      Is that how it's got to be?

      Circles get broken
      From the destiny's arrows
      Lives set in motion
      Is that how it's got to be?

    4. S. R. V.

      (instrumental)

    5. Lonely In The Night

      Here she comes -- alone in the night
      She looks in your eyees while she's breaking your heart
      And her smile -- Mona Lisa style
      She lends you her heart -- Lets you think you're the only one
      But she'll leave you...

      Lonely in the night
      She breaks all her lovers' hearts
      Lonely in the night
      Dreaming of a love that fades away

      When she wants -- she gets what she wants
      She looks in your eyes and you give her everything
      So demure -- so insecure
      Oh how she conceals -- all that she really feels
      And she'll leave you...

      Lonely in the night
      As she breaks another heart (that's)
      Lonely in the night
      Dreaming of a love that fades

      Lonely in the night
      As she breaks another heart (that's)
      Lonely in the night (and)
      Who will be the lonely one tonight

      Lonely in the night
      As she breaks another heart (that's)
      Lonely in the night
      Dreaming of a love that fades

      Lonely in the night
      As she breaks another heart (that's)
      Lonely in the night
      The secret of her love is locked away

    6. Manhattan

      (instrumental)

    7. Camel's Night Out

      (instrumental)

    8. Songs For Lynette

      (instrumental)

    9. When The Sun Meets The Sky

      This Sunday, You were blowin' through my mind
      Like Tuesday, You were burnin' in my eyes.
      I hoped today could be just kind of my way
      'Cause it so much matters that you're there;
      And I'd hoped today could lead me into your way,
      But I fell down in some disrepair

      The sparks here, they can lead me up the town,
      But it's dark here, if I don't have you around.
      So I hoped today would lead me kind of your way,
      And the sun would be shining on my face;
      And I'd hoped the road would lead me to your doorway,
      But I fell down in some disrepair.

      So when the sun, meets the sky
      I'm gonna take a ride,
      And get to where I do;
      When your love is gonna call me home
      I will run to you, the way you want me to;
      Oh we'll sing.

      Oh I hoped today would lead me kind of your way,
      With a love, and treasures we'd find there;
      And through all the fog, the cracks, the cogs, a gateway,
      There I'd find someone to repair me.

      So when the sun, meets that sky,
      I'm gonna take a ride, and get to where I do.
      And with your love is gonna call me home,
      I will run to you, the way you want me to.
      So when the sun starts to shine,
      I'm gonna take a ride, and get to where I do,
      When your love is gonna call me home.
      I return to you, the way you want me to.
      Oh, we'll sing.

    10. Pavilion

      (instrumental)

    11. Venus Reprise

      (instrumental)