Joe Satriani

Surfing With the Alien

First released1987

Surfing with the Alien was recorded at Capitol Studios and One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles during 1987, with producer Mick Liggett overseeing the project. The album featured session musicians including bassist Andy West, drummer Jeff Campitelli, and keyboardist Michael Landau, alongside Satriani's guitar work. Satriani utilized advanced guitar synthesizers and effects processing techniques that were cutting-edge for the era, contributing to the album's distinctive sound that blended rock, fusion, and instrumental sophistication. The production emphasized clear, detailed guitar tones achieved through careful microphone placement and studio engineering that showcased Satriani's technical abilities and melodic sensibilities. Released in 1987, the album achieved commercial success on the back of MTV exposure and became instrumental in establishing the instrumental rock and shred guitar genre during the late 1980s.