Surfing with the Alien

Infobox Album |
Name = Surfing with the Alien
Type = Album
Artist = Joe Satriani


Released = 1987
Recorded = 1986
Genre = Instrumental rock
Length = 37:33
Label = Relativity Records
Epic Records (re-release)
Producer = Joe Satriani and John Cuniberti
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ak1gtq8ztu4o link]
* "Enjoy The Music" Rating|5|5 [http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/music/1007/rock/satriani.htm link] |
Last album = "Not of This Earth"
(1986)
This album = Surfing with the Alien
(1987)
Next album = "Dreaming #11"
(1988)

"Surfing with the Alien" is the second album by instrumental rock solo artist Joe Satriani, released in 1987. "Surfing with the Alien" contributed greatly to establishing Satriani's reputation as a respected rock guitarist. [cite web|last = Carter|first = Phil| title = allmusic ((( Surfing with the Alien > Overview )))|publisher = Allmusic|url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ak1gtq8ztu4o|accessdate = 2008-06-30]

The album contains fast and complex songs such as "Surfing with the Alien" and "Satch Boogie" in addition to the stranger-sounding "Crushing Day" and "Lords of Karma", in contrast to slower, melodic songs like "Always with Me, Always with You" and "Echo" which provide a change of pace. Also notable is "Midnight", which utilizes the technique of two-hand tapping at great speed, resulting in a Latin-American effect. There are also Nashville tuned guitars (on "Echo") and key changes (on "Always with Me, Always with You" and "Echo") to vary the album.

The album cover depicts the Marvel Comics character the Silver Surfer on the front and the hand of Galactus on the back. The image is from Silver Surfer #1 (1982). The artist, John Byrne, has noted that the image was used without his permission and that he has never received payment for its use. The art is lifted from panel 1 of page 6 of SILVER SURFER #1 published in 1982. [cite website|title=Byrne Robotics Frequently Asked Questions Archive|author=John Byrne|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=7&T1=Miscellaneous+Questions|accessdate=2008-03-15] The track "Ice 9" references the fictional apocalyptic substance from Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Cat's Cradle".

As with Satriani's other releases up to his 1995 self-titled album, "Surfing with the Alien" was re-issued in 1997 on Epic Records and again in 2007 for a legacy edition celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release. The Relativity Records version is now out of print.

Track listing

All songs written by Joe Satriani.
# "Surfing with the Alien" – 4:25
# "Ice 9" – 3:59
# "Crushing Day" – 5:14
# "Always with Me, Always with You" – 3:22
# "Satch Boogie" – 3:13
# "Hill of the Skull" – 1:48
# "Circles" – 3:28
# "Lords of Karma" – 4:48
# "Midnight" – 1:42
# "Echo" – 5:37

Personnel

* Joe Satriani - guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, drum programming
* Bongo Bob Smith - drum programming, sound design, percussion
* Jeff Campitelli - drums, percussion
* John Cuniberti - percussion
* Jeff Kreeger - pre-production programming and sound design

All songs written by Joe Satriani
All songs published by Strange Beautiful Music/ASCAP
Produced by Joe Satriani and John Cuniberti
Engineered by John Cuniberti [Original LP liner notes]

Reissue

Epic/Legacy Records reissued the album on August 7, 2007. The two-disc reissue includes a CD of the original album remastered in 2007, expanded liner notes by Joe with amusing stories that comment on the recording of "Surfing..." such as the writing process for the album, how they went over 2x over budget for a low-budget instrumental guitar album, that the iconic name we all know was actually a second choice for the album after the original was mixed, and how in the days before Pro Tools and non-destructive edits, editing decisions were not to be taken lightly as they required physically cutting sections out of the master tape with a razor blade and splicing the ends back together. Also included is a DVD containing a live concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1988, the music videos for "Satch Boogie" and "Always With Me, Always With You" and additional bonus material.

Track List for DVD

* Ice 9
* Memories
* Midnight
* Rubina
* Circles
* Lords of Karma
* Bass Solo
* Echo
* Hordes of Locusts
* Always with Me, Always with You
* Satch Boogie
* Satch Boogie [Video]
* Always with Me, Always with You [Video]
* Bonus Material [DVD]

In addition, Satriani will be playing exclusive club gigs in select cities. [cite news|url=http://www.justpressplay.net/music/joe-satriani/news/joe-satriani-set-to-play-exclusive-club-dates.html |title=Joe Satriani Set to Play Exclusive Club Dates |accessdate=2007-07-17 |date=2007-07-12 |publisher=JustPressPlay.net]

Charts

"Surfing with the Alien" is notable for being one of the first instrumental rock albums to appear in the Top 40 charts at all, although "Flying in a Blue Dream" beat its position in 1989.

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

References