View source for Surfing with the Alien

{{Infobox album
| name         = Surfing with the Alien
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Joe Satriani]]
| cover        = Joe_Satriani_Surfing_With_the_Alien.jpg
| border       = yes
| alt          = 
| released     = {{Start date|1987|10|15}}
| recorded     = 
| venue        = 
| studio       = {{hlist|[[Alpha & Omega Recording|Alpha & Omega]] ([[San Francisco]])|[[Hyde Street Studios|Hyde Street]] (San Francisco)}}
| genre        = {{flatlist|
* [[Instrumental rock]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[jazz fusion]]
}}
| length       = {{Duration|m=37|s=37}}
| label        = [[Relativity Records|Relativity]]
| producer     = Joe Satriani, John Cuniberti
| prev_title   = [[Not of This Earth (Joe Satriani album)|Not of This Earth]]
| prev_year    = 1986
| next_title   = [[Dreaming No. 11|Dreaming #11]]
| next_year    = 1988
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Surfing with the Alien
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Surfing with the Alien (instrumental)|Surfing with the Alien]]" / "Ice 9
 | single1date = 1987<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Joe-Satriani-Surfing-With-The-Alien/release/3453281 "Joe Satriani – Surfing With The Alien"]. [[Discogs]]. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>
 | single2     = Always with Me, Always with You" / "Hill of the Skull
 | single2date = 1987<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Joe-Satriani-Always-With-Me-Always-With-You/release/4527670 "Joe Satriani – Always With Me, Always With You"]. [[Discogs]]. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>
 | single3     = [[Satch Boogie]]
 | single3date = 1987<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Joe-Satriani-I-Believe/release/2031787 "Joe Satriani – Satch Boogie"]. [[Discogs]]. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>
}}
{{Extra album cover
 | header  = Alternative cover
 | type    = studio
 | cover   = Surfing-with-the-alien-2019@1400x1050trim.jpg
 | caption = 2019 reissue
}}
}}

'''''Surfing with the Alien''''' is the second studio album by American [[rock music|rock]] guitarist [[Joe Satriani]]. It was released on October 15, 1987, by [[Relativity Records]]. The album is one of Satriani's most successful to date and helped establish his reputation as a respected rock guitarist.<ref name=allmusic/>

==Recording==
The album was recorded on a budget of $13,000.<ref name=musicradar17>Astley-Brown, Michael (2017-02-01). [http://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-satriani-talks-surfing-with-the-alien-track-by-track "Joe Satriani talks Surfing With The Alien track-by-track"]. [[MusicRadar]]. [[Future plc]]. Retrieved 2017-02-17.</ref> Satriani's equipment was limited by the budget, consisting of two [[Kramer Pacer]] guitars and an adapted [[Fender Stratocaster|Stratocaster]] guitar, for which he would change the [[Pickup (music technology)|pickups]] to get different sounds.<ref name="musicradar17" /> His guitar effects included a [[Roland Jazz Chorus|Roland JC-120]], a [[Marshall Amplification|Marshall '68 half-stack]], and a [[Scholz Research & Development, Inc.|Rockman]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Darrin |date=2007-07-31 |title=Joe Satriani Reflects on 20 Years of Surfing With the Alien |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/joe-satriani-reflects-on-20-years-of-surfing-with-the-alien |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Guitar Player |language=en}}</ref>

Due to the limited budget, Satriani had to use whatever studio time and rooms were available, and as a result printed his effects to tape while tracking. This proved fortuitous for "[[Surfing with the Alien (instrumental)|Surfing with the Alien]]", whose solo was recorded with a malfunctioning [[Eventide, Inc|Eventide H949]] as his allotted studio time nearly ended.<ref name=":0" />

To save money, the album heavily used [[drum machine]]s, programmed by Bongo Bob Smith, with [[Jeff Campitelli]] recording overdubs of hi-hats, cymbals, toms and snares. Satriani stated this gave the music an "awkward charm", and maintained the combination of loose guitar playing and machine-like drum programming.<ref name="musicradar17" /> 

"[[Satch Boogie]]" is the only song to fully feature live drums, played by Campitelli.<ref name="musicradar17" /> The song was originally recorded to a drum machine pattern, and the quick fade-out disguised the sound of the drum machine being picked up by the amplifier at the end.<ref name="musicradar17" />

== Composition ==
Satriani described the arrangements of the album as follows:<blockquote>"Even though my sensibilities were driving me to be very succinct on the record—with very obvious chorus, bridge, and verse sections—after I tracked the outro to “Surfing,” I dug it so much that it set the template for the rest of the record. As a result, the outros turned into the spots where I could relax a little bit and go nuts."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>The [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]-influenced "Crushing Day" contains the only solo on the album that was worked out beforehand, due to its length; the others are improvised. Satriani expressed regret for this decision later, as he felt constrained when having to play the song on stage.<ref name="musicradar17" />

A [[Casio CZ-101]] was used to record the flute and orchestral instruments on "Midnight".<ref name="musicradar17" />

It contains fast and complex songs such as the title track and "Satch Boogie", which helped to further popularize [[shred guitar]] during that time.<ref name=":0" /> By contrast slower, melodic songs such as "Always with Me, Always with You" and "Echo" provide a change of pace. "Midnight" utilizes the technique of [[tapping#Two-handed tapping|two-handed tapping]] at high tempo,<ref name=":0" /> evoking a Spanish [[fingerstyle guitar|fingerstyle]] effect. "Ice 9" references the fictional apocalyptic substance from [[Kurt Vonnegut]]'s 1963 novel ''[[Cat's Cradle]]''.<ref>''Surfing with the Alien'' liner notes (1999 remaster).</ref>

==Artwork==
The cover art of the original release depicts the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Silver Surfer]] on the front, with the hand of [[Galactus]] on the back cover. The artwork, which was licensed from the publisher,<ref name=nuts>{{cite news |last1=Doyle |first1=Pippa |title=THE STORY BEHIND 'SURFING WITH THE ALIEN' ALBUM ART IS NUTS |url=http://www.96fm.com.au/shows/paul-lise/the-story-behind-the-iconic-surfing-with-the-alien-album-art-is-nuts |access-date=9 January 2019 |work=96fm.com.au |date=21 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Discogs: Joe Satriani – Surfing With The Alien |url=https://www.discogs.com/Joe-Satriani-Surfing-With-The-Alien/release/2778884 |website=Discogs |access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> is taken from a panel from ''[[Silver Surfer (comic book)|Silver Surfer]]'' #1 (1982), drawn by [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]].<ref name=ByrneFAQ>[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]. [http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=7&T1=Miscellaneous+Questions#94 "Byrne Robotics: FAQ"]. byrnerobotics.com. Retrieved 9 January 2019.</ref> Byrne did not receive a royalty for the art's use on the album cover.<ref name=ByrneFAQ/><ref name=SurferToday/> Satriani was unfamiliar with the Silver Surfer and had named the album and title track without the character in mind.<ref name=nuts/><ref name=SurferToday/><ref name="GuitarWorld">{{cite news |title=100 Greatest Guitar Solos: No. 30 "Surfing with the Alien" (Joe Satriani) |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/100-greatest-guitar-solos-no-30-surfing-alien-joe-satriani |access-date=9 January 2019 |work=Guitar World |date=28 October 2008}}</ref> However, Jim Kozlowski, the production manager for [[Relativity Records]], was a comic book fan and had used the nickname "The Silver Surfer" as a [[radio personality|radio DJ]] name.<ref name=nuts/><ref name=SurferToday>{{cite news |title="Surfing With The Alien": The story of a non-surf related masterpiece |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/surfing-with-the-alien-the-story-of-a-non-surf-related-masterpiece |access-date=9 January 2019 |work=Surfer Today |date=23 November 2017}}</ref> He suggested using the character for the album cover. Kozlowski presented the album to Marvel and obtained permission to use the character.<ref name=nuts/><ref name=SurferToday/> Subsequently, Marvel Comics has paid homage to Satriani in Silver Surfer comics ("the planet Satriani") and Satriani has named later compositions after other elements of the Silver Surfer mythos ("[[Flying in a Blue Dream|Back to Shalla-Bal]]", "[[Engines of Creation (album)|The Power Cosmic 2000]]").

The original license to use the character artwork was time-limited. Though the license was renewed multiple times, in 2018, Satriani and Marvel could not come to terms on a price, and so the cover art was replaced.<ref name=nuts/> {{As of|2018}}, digital retailers such as [[iTunes]] and [[Spotify]] display an alternative artwork that does not feature the Silver Surfer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple Music Preview: Surfing with the Alien |url=https://itunes.apple.com/album/surfing-with-the-alien/405602019 |website=Apple Music |date=15 October 1987 |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spotify: Surfing with the Alien: Joe Satriani |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4SFG7APMZeeM97ixKPoQuk |website=Spotify |access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> In 2019 a limited deluxe edition of the album was released featuring a silver guitar [[headstock]] in place of the Silver Surfer. The background and font of this new artwork is very similar to the original with minor differences.

==Release and reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=allmusic>[[Stephen Thomas Erlewine|Erlewine, Stephen Thomas]]. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfing-with-the-alien-mw0000651425 "Surfing with the Alien - Joe Satriani"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|page=2659|title=[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|year=2011|isbn=978-0857125958}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RSguide"/>
| rev4 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev4Score = C+<ref name="Christgau"/>
}}
Released on October 15, 1987, by Relativity Records,<ref name=riaa>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=3&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Satriani "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154611/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=3&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Satriani |date=2015-09-24 }}. [[RIAA]]. Retrieved 2015-03-12.</ref> ''Surfing with the Alien'' [[record chart|charted]] at number 29 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], proving to be Satriani's third highest-charting album in the United States.<ref name=allmusicawards>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfing-with-the-alien-mw0000651425/awards "Surfing with the Alien - Joe Satriani | Awards"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. [[All Media Network]]. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref> It remained on ''Billboard'' 200 for 75 weeks, the longest run of any of his releases.<ref name=billboard>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=joe satriani|chart=all}} "Joe Satriani - Chart history"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref> ''Surfing with the Alien'' was certified [[RIAA certification|Gold]] on February 17, 1989, and [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] on February 3, 1992, having shipped one million copies in the US. It was Satriani's first album to earn platinum certification, and remains his only studio album to have done so.<ref name=riaa/>

Two singles from the album reached ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] chart: "[[Satch Boogie]]" at No. 22 and "[[Surfing with the Alien (instrumental)|Surfing with the Alien]]" at No. 37.<ref name=allmusicawards/> A third single, "Always with Me, Always with You", received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance|Best Pop Instrumental Performance]] at the [[31st Annual Grammy Awards|1989 Grammy Awards]], while the album itself was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]] at the same event,<ref name=grammy>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1989/grammys.htm "31st Grammy Awards - 1989"]. Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref> Satriani's first two of many such nominations. Live versions of "Always with Me, Always with You" would later be nominated for Best Rock Instrumental twice more, at the [[44th Annual Grammy Awards|2002]] and [[50th Annual Grammy Awards|2008 Grammys]].<ref name=grammy2>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2002/grammys.htm "44th Grammy Awards - 2002"]. Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref><ref name=grammy3>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2008/grammys.htm "50th Grammy Awards - 2008"]. Rock On The Net. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>

In a contemporary review for ''[[The Village Voice]]'', music critic [[Robert Christgau]] snidely referred to Satriani as "the latest guitar god" and felt he is too much of a [[wikt:formalist#Noun|formalist]], because he not only composes but [[audio editor|edits]] his guitar melodies: "Thus he delivers both the prowess cultists demand and the comfort they secretly crave".<ref name="Christgau">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|issue=November 29|year=1988|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgvts88-88.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref> In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] was more impressed by his technical abilities and praised ''Surfing with the Alien'', writing that it "can be seen as the gold standard for guitar playing of the mid- to late '80s, an album that captures everything that was good about the glory days of [[Shred guitar|shred]]."<ref name=allmusic/> According to ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' (1992), the record "put Satriani on the map. Beautifully played and well-paced, it manages to capture all the icy fire of fusion jazz without losing any of the visceral power of rock & roll".<ref name="RSguide">{{cite book|editor1-last=DeCurtis|editor1-first=Anthony|editor-link1=Anthony DeCurtis|editor2-last=Henke|editor2-first=James|editor3-last=George-Warren|editor3-first=Holly|year=1992|chapter=Joe Satriani|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|publisher=[[Random House]]|isbn=0679737294|edition=3rd|page=620}}</ref>

==Reissues==
''Surfing with the Alien'' has been reissued several times. A [[remaster]]ed edition of the album was first released on July 27, 1999 through [[Epic Records]], which featured expanded liner notes.<ref>[[Joe Satriani|Satriani, Joe]] (1999-06-08). [http://www.satriani.com/perl/2004/news/main?thread=1&age=new&page=15 "news"]. satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref> A second remaster celebrating the album's 20th anniversary was released on August 7, 2007 through Epic/[[Legacy Recordings]];<ref name=official>[http://www.satriani.com/discography/Surfing_With_The_Alien/ Surfing With The Alien "Surfing With The Alien"]. satriani.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref><ref name="guitarplayer">Fox, Darrin (2007-08-01). [http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/1013/joe-satriani2/16860 "Joe Satriani(2)"]. ''[[Guitar Player]]''. [[NewBay Media]]. Retrieved 2015-03-11.</ref> this is a [[double album|double-disc]] set comprising the album itself with further expanded liner notes, as well as a DVD featuring Satriani's live performance at the 1988 [[Montreux Jazz Festival]], music videos for "Always with Me, Always with You" and "Satch Boogie", and additional bonus material. To promote the 2007 reissue, Satriani played exclusive club gigs in select cities.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080301040343/http://justpressplay.net/music/joe-satriani/news/joe-satriani-set-to-play-exclusive-club-dates.html "Joe Satriani Set to Play Exclusive Club Dates"]. JustPressPlay. 2007-07-12. Archived from [http://justpressplay.net/music/joe-satriani/news/joe-satriani-set-to-play-exclusive-club-dates.html the original] on 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2014-03-22.</ref>

The most recent reissue of ''Surfing with the Alien'' was part of ''[[Joe Satriani: The Complete Studio Recordings|The Complete Studio Recordings]]'', released on April 22, 2014 through [[Legacy Recordings]]; this is a box set compilation containing newly remastered editions of every Satriani studio album from 1986 to 2013.<ref>Bosso, Joe (2014-04-08). [http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/joe-satriani-talks-the-complete-studio-recordings-album-by-album-597821/3 "Joe Satriani talks The Complete Studio Recordings album by album | Surfing With The Alien (1987)"]. ''[[MusicRadar]]''. [[Future plc]]. Retrieved 2015-03-11.</ref>

For Record Store Day Black Friday 2019, the album was re-released as a limited edition, gatefold cover on colored vinyl. The album included a hype sticker that read, "Surfing is now 'Stripped'". "Brand New Limited Edition Features The Original Album + All Of The Backing Tracks. Joe's Leads Have Been Removed, Allowing You To Play Lead On This Iconic Album, The Perfect Audiophile Guitar Player Experience." The release included the original version of the album on red vinyl and the "stripped" version on yellow vinyl.
The album artwork has been modified for this release, showing only the headstock of Joe's guitar, instead of the surfer while the background maintains a similar color scheme as the original.

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_music = Joe Satriani
| title1 = [[Surfing with the Alien (instrumental)|Surfing with the Alien]]
| length1 = 4:25
| title2 = Ice 9
| length2 = 4:00
| title3 = Crushing Day
| length3 = 5:14
| title4 = Always with Me, Always with You
| length4 = 3:22
| title5 = [[Satch Boogie]]
| length5 = 3:13
| title6 = Hill of the Skull
| length6 = 1:48
| title7 = Circles
| length7 = 3:28
| title8 = Lords of Karma
| length8 = 4:48
| title9 = Midnight
| length9 = 1:42
| title10 = Echo
| length10 = 5:37
| total_length = 37:37
}}

===2007 remastered edition bonus DVD===
{{Track listing
| title1 = Ice 9
| title2 = [[Not of This Earth (Joe Satriani album)|Memories]]
| title3 = Midnight
| title4 = [[Not of This Earth (Joe Satriani album)|Rubina]]
| title5 = Circles
| title6 = Lords of Karma
| title7 = Bass solo
| title8 = Echo
| title9 = [[Not of This Earth (Joe Satriani album)|Hordes of Locusts]]
| title10 = Always with Me, Always with You
| title11 = Satch Boogie
| title12 = Satch Boogie
| note12 = music video
| title13 = Always with Me, Always with You
| note13 = music video
| title14 = Bonus material
}}

==Personnel==
<!--All credits sourced from liner notes.-->
*[[Joe Satriani]] – [[guitar]], [[electric sitar]],<ref name=musicradar17/> [[keyboard instrument|keyboard]], [[drum kit|drum]] [[programming (music)|programming]], [[percussion instrument|percussion]], [[bassline|bass]], [[arrangement]], [[record producer|production]]
*Bongo Bob Smith – drum programming, percussion, [[sound design]]
*[[Jeff Campitelli]] – drums, percussion
*John Cuniberti – percussion, [[audio engineer|engineering]], [[remaster]]ing (reissue), production
*Jeff Kreegar – [[pre-production]] programming, sound design
*[[Bernie Grundman]] – [[mastering engineer|mastering]]

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (1987–1990)	
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|Australia|10|album=Surfing with the Alien|artist=Joe Satriani|rowheader=true|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|53|album=Surfing with the Alien|artist=Joe Satriani|chartid=8661|rowheader=true|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|New Zealand|16|album=Surfing with the Alien|artist=Joe Satriani|rowheader=true|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|29|artist=Joe Satriani|rowheader=true|access-date=May 7, 2023}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1989)
!Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/aaFG1cy.png|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – 1989 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 1)|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>
| 72
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|award=Gold|relyear=1987|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=549924 |title=ARIA Gold Sales Award |publisher=Eil.com |access-date=24 January 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124111607/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=549924 |archive-date=January 24, 2016 }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|relyear=2007|artist=Joe Satriani|title=Surfing with the Alien|access-date=24 January 2016|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=9862-2875-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|award=Platinum|relyear=1987|artist=Joe Satriani|title=Surfing with the Alien|access-date=24 January 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.guitar9.com/surfingwith.html In Review: Joe Satriani "Surfing With The Alien"] at Guitar Nine Records

{{Joe Satriani}}
{{Silver Surfer}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Joe Satriani albums]]
[[Category:1987 albums]]
[[Category:Relativity Records albums]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance]]
[[Category:Silver Surfer]]