Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien

Surfing With The Alien is the second studio album by American guitarist Joe Satriani, originally released in October 1987 via Relativity Records.

Joe Satriani is one of the world's best and most well-known guitarists. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, and among his students were now famous guitarists Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter and Alex Skolnick. He himself is influenced by blues-rock guitar icons such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck.

Satriani has worked with a range of musicians from several musical genres, including Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, Brian May, Patrick Rondat, Paul Gilbert, Adrian Legg, and Robert Fripp. He is also the lead guitarist for the supergroup Chickenfoot.

Surfing With The Alien is Satriani's second album, becoming his breakthrough to a larger audience. It was the first instrumental rock record to enter the charts in a very long time. Although the album contains fast and complex songs as well as slower, melodic songs Satriani's unique style is always recognisable.

The title track “Surfing With The Alien” is a complex and fast song, together with “Satch Boogie”. Strange sounds feature in “Crushing Day” and “Lords of Karma”, contrasted with the slower more melodic songs such as “Always With Me, Always With You" and "Echo”.

The distinctive album cover artwork features Marvel Comics character Silver Surfer.

The album reached #29 on the US Billboard 200, #10 on the Australian and #16 on the New Zealand Albums charts.

This album is a 2010 reissue on 180 gram black audiophile vinyl housed in a single pocket sleeve with a printed inner sleeve and remastered audio, pressed in Europe via Music On Vinyl.