Joe Satriani – Flying In A Blue Dream

Joe Satriani – Flying In A Blue Dream

Released in 1989, Flying In A Blue Dream is one of Joe Satriani's most celebrated albums, expanding on the success of Surfing With The Alien while showcasing his extraordinary talents as both a guitarist and songwriter. Blending instrumental rock, hard rock, blues, progressive rock, and atmospheric soundscapes, the album remains a landmark recording in modern guitar music.

Unlike its predecessor, Flying In A Blue Dream sees Satriani adding vocals to several tracks, bringing a fresh dimension to his music while retaining the dazzling technical ability and memorable melodies that made him one of the world's most respected guitarists. The album effortlessly moves between soaring instrumental epics, blues-infused rockers, and reflective acoustic moments, demonstrating the remarkable breadth of Satriani's musical vision.

The album opens with the atmospheric title track Flying In A Blue Dream, before launching into the fan-favourite The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing, a showcase of Satriani's incredible technique and infectious groove. Can't Slow Down, Headless, Strange, and I Believe continue Side A with a perfect balance of powerful rock riffs and melodic guitar work, while One Big Rush provides another exhilarating instrumental highlight.

Side B features the blues-rock anthem Big Bad Moon, one of the album's best-known vocal tracks, alongside the atmospheric The Phone Call and Day At The Beach (New Rays From An Ancient Sun). Instrumental gems including Back To The Shalla-Bal, Ride, The Forgotten, and the two-part The Bells Of Lal lead into the beautiful closing piece Into The Light, bringing this remarkable musical journey to a fitting conclusion.

Widely regarded as one of the finest guitar albums ever recorded, Flying In A Blue Dream is an essential addition for fans of Joe Satriani, instrumental rock, virtuoso guitar playing, progressive rock, and classic hard rock. Its combination of technical brilliance, memorable songwriting, and timeless production has earned it a lasting place among the greatest guitar albums of all time.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Flying In A Blue Dream – 5:28
2. The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing – 5:05
3. Can't Slow Down – 4:46
4. Headless – 1:28
5. Strange – 4:55
6. I Believe – 5:50
7. One Big Rush – 3:20

Side B

1. Big Bad Moon – 5:13
2. The Feeling – 0:52
3. The Phone Call – 3:00
4. Day At The Beach (New Rays From An Ancient Sun) – 2:03
5. Back To The Shalla-Bal – 3:15
6. Ride – 4:58
7. The Forgotten (Part One) – 1:10
8. The Forgotten (Part Two) – 5:10
9. The Bells Of Lal (Part One) – 1:19
10. The Bells Of Lal (Part Two) – 4:08
11. Into The Light – 2:25