Joe Satriani - 1989 "Flying In A Blue Dream"

Flying in a Blue Dream is the third studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released on October 30, 1989 through Relativity Records. It is one of Satriani's most popular albums and his second highest-charting release to date, reaching No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remaining on that chart for 39 weeks, as well as reaching the top 40 in three other countries.

Four singles reached Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart: "I Believe" and "Back to Shalla-Bal" both at No. 17, "Big Bad Moon" at No. 31, and "One Big Rush" at No. 36. Flying in a Blue Dream was certified Gold on January 25, 1990 and received a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards; this being Satriani's third such nomination.

The title track has endured as one of Satriani's best-known songs and is a mainstay at his concerts, as well as "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing". "Can't Slow Down", "Strange", "I Believe", "Big Bad Moon", "The Phone Call" and "Ride" feature him singing for the first time; the most on any of his albums to date. It also marks the first time he plays the Deering six-string banjo-style guitar—"The Feeling" is performed entirely using that instrument—and harmonica, the latter of which features prominently on "Headless", "Big Bad Moon" and "Ride".

"Headless" is a remake of "The Headless Horseman" from Not of This Earth (1986), but with added distorted vocals and harmonica along with a 'squawky' guitar tone making chicken-like sounds. "Day at the Beach (New Rays from an Ancient Sun)" and "The Forgotten (Part One)" are performed using a two-handed tapping technique.

"The Bells of Lal (Part One)" was featured in the 1996 film Sling Blade, during the scene where Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) is sharpening a lawnmower blade to kill the menacing Doyle Hargraves (Dwight Yoakam).

Music videos for the ballad "I Believe" and hard rocker "Big Bad Moon" were included on The Satch Tapes, which was first released on VHS cassette in 1993 and reissued on DVD on November 18, 2003; it also includes excerpts from an MTV performance of "The Feeling". "One Big Rush" was featured in the 1989 film Say Anything...

"Back to Shalla-Bal" refers to Shalla-Bal from the Marvel Comics universe; it is the second reference Satriani has made to the Silver Surfer character, who was first featured on the cover art of Surfing with the Alien (1987). The track was later used as the menu music to the 1996 Sony PlayStation video game Formula 1, which also featured "Summer Song" from The Extremist (1992).

An hour-long disc filled with musical explorations and compositions that defy belief, Flying in a Blue Dream is unquestionably Joe Satriani at his absolute best. Breaking his all-instrumental tradition for the first time, he croons on six of the disc's 18 tracks, including the weird "Strange"; and the bluesy, hard-rocking "Big Bad Moon"; and the driving "Can't Slow Down.

"Satriani's voice isn't extraordinary, but it fits extremely well with the music he creates, especially on the acoustic-tinged, uplifting "I Believe." It's his playing that's the really impressive thing here, though; his unique tone and complex song structures are enhanced by his signature playing style and the incredible array of effects and tricks he wrestles out of his instrument. The disc closes with the high-flying, misty piece "Into the Light," leaving behind a feeling of real wonder. Soaring, powerful, and triumphant, this recording deserves a place in everyone's collection.

This was my first CD, before I had a CD player. I was at a small party, got bored with the conversation, no music playing so I stared glancing thru the guys CD's (which was only about 20). I see this Joe and asked to play it, he asked if I liked it and gave it to me right there on the spot, then he chose another CD and played it. I'm assuming he didn't care for the Joe, lol.
Crimhead420.

Track listing

All tracks written by Joe Satriani.

01.    "Flying in a Blue Dream"    5:23
02.    "The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing"    5:09
03.    "Can't Slow Down"    4:49
04.    "Headless"    1:30
05.    "Strange"    5:02
06.    "I Believe"    5:54
07.    "One Big Rush"    3:25
08.    "Big Bad Moon"    5:15
09.    "The Feeling"    0:50
10.    "The Phone Call"    3:01
11.    "Day at the Beach (New Rays from an Ancient Sun)"    2:03
12.    "Back to Shalla-Bal"    3:14
13.    "Ride"    4:56
14.    "The Forgotten (Part One)"    1:12
15.    "The Forgotten (Part Two)"    5:08
16.    "The Bells of Lal (Part One)"    1:19
17.    "The Bells of Lal (Part Two)"    4:07
18.    "Into the Light"    2:30

Total length:    64:47

Personnel:

Joe Satriani – vocals (3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13), guitar, banjo, keyboard, percussion, programming, pre-production programming, bass, harmonica, arrangement, production
John Cuniberti – sitar, percussion, engineering, production
Jeff Campitelli – drums, percussion, pre-production programming
Bongo Bob Smith – drums (tracks 5, 12, 13), percussion (tracks 5, 12, 13), pre-production programming
Simon Phillips – drums (track 6)
Stuart Hamm – bass (tracks 5, 17)