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Satch's solo masterpiece, starring Marvel Comics' existential superhero, the Silver Surfer
Okay, the closest Joe Satriani’s 1987 album Surfing With The Alien comes to being a surf record is having the word ‘surfing’ in the title. Oh, and there's a surfboard on the cover. But Satch’s second LP is relevant because it proved that instrumental guitar music could sell to people that weren’t just guitarists.
The album reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1987. The following album 1989’s Flying In A Blue Dream did even better. So, the lesson appears to be, even if you can’t find a decent singer you still have a chance of scoring big. Just ask Joe.
Spy guitar was an offshoot of surf music. The classic guitar tone used by Vic Flick when he recorded the James Bond theme is pure surf. In fact, drop the horns, stick Animal from The Muppets in on drums and you’ve got a tidy wee surf track there - watch this Surf King clip for proof. That said, not sure John Barry would approve…
