Joe Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream 12" Vinyl LP Album

Joe Satriani, the axe-wielding wizard of the fretboard, took flight in 1989 with "Flying in a Blue Dream," a double-LP odyssey that blasted off from the hard rock cosmos and soared into uncharted sonic territories. This wasn't just another guitar hero flexing his chops; it was a sprawling, ambitious experiment that dared to push the boundaries of instrumental rock.

Picture this: It's the late '80s, hair metal is in its death throes, and the grunge revolution is still brewing in the Seattle underground. Satriani, fresh off the success of his breakthrough album "Surfing with the Alien," wasn't content to rest on his laurels. Instead, he strapped himself into the cockpit of this double album and embarked on a journey that embraced a kaleidoscope of sounds and styles.

"Flying in a Blue Dream" is a wild ride. It careens from blistering rockers like "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" and "One Big Rush" to dreamy ballads like "I Believe" and "Can't Slow Down." Satriani's guitar work is the star of the show, of course, but it's the sheer variety of his playing that truly dazzles. He's a chameleon, shifting effortlessly from bluesy licks to shredding solos, all while maintaining a melodic sensibility that sets him apart from the mindless shredders of the era.

The album also marked a departure for Satriani, as he stepped up to the microphone for the first time, showcasing his vocal abilities on tracks like "Big Bad Moon" and "Can't Slow Down." This move divided fans and critics, with some praising his versatility and others criticizing his vocal delivery. Regardless, it demonstrated Satriani's willingness to experiment and challenge himself as an artist.

The album's production, helmed by Satriani himself alongside John Cuniberti at Berkeley's Fantasy Studios, is crisp and clear, allowing every note to ring out with crystalline clarity. It's a testament to Satriani's meticulous attention to detail and his refusal to compromise on sonic quality. The album's sonic landscape is rich and textured, with layers of guitars, keyboards, and percussion weaving together to create a vibrant tapestry of sound.

One of the album's standout tracks, "Flying in a Blue Dream," is a sprawling epic that showcases Satriani's ability to craft complex instrumental arrangements that are both technically impressive and emotionally resonant. The song's soaring melodies and intricate harmonies transport the listener to another dimension, a blue dream where anything is possible.

"Flying in a Blue Dream" wasn't just an album; it was an event. It spawned multiple music videos, including the visually stunning "One Big Rush" and the quirky "Big Bad Moon," which further solidified Satriani's status as a guitar hero and a creative visionary.

While "Flying in a Blue Dream" garnered critical acclaim and further cemented Satriani's reputation as a guitar virtuoso, it wasn't without its detractors. Some critics accused him of being too polished, too calculated, lacking the raw edge of his rock and roll peers. But Satriani didn't care about fitting into any preconceived mold. He was on a mission to explore the limitless possibilities of the electric guitar, and "Flying in a Blue Dream" was his sonic manifesto.