Satriani

During the Fall '87 semester, while we attended San Francisco high schools, one of my friends, Skull, who was learning to play guitar, lived in the Tenderloin, on Hyde near Turk. I think a bunch of us were at North Beach Playground, listening to the recently-released Surfing With The Alien by Joe Satriani, who was then living across the Bay in Berkeley.

We were reading the cassette's liner notes, which indicated that the album was recorded at Hyde Street Studios. Skull then perked up, "I thought I saw Satriani around home."

You see, Hyde Street (formerly the more well-known Wally Heider) Studios was just two blocks from Skull's home. But you wouldn't know it. It was (still is!) an anonymous, unmarked building, hidden behind two street trees.

Back then, the San Francisco Guitar Center was on, I believe, 9th Street near Mission, not too far from Hyde Street Studios. Recording artists such as Joe Satriani were known to go between Hyde Street Studios and the 9th Street Guitar Center. Hell, Skull himself bought several things from that store.

Thank you for bringing up "Always With Me, Always With You." It made the sunny days of the Spring '88 semester that much better. My friends and I would pack up the sports gear from whichever playground, hop on Muni buses, and go around S.F. That song was with us, when we overlooked water at the Palace Of Fine Arts, Land's End, Ocean Beach, and Fort Funston.

And there is just no forgetting the wonderful time about eight (5 boys, 3 girls?) of us made it to China Beach. Skull, as was his wont, had a little boombox. Surfing With The Alien was all-instrumental, and on that fog-free afternoon, we huddled, and did not say a word. We just took in the vibe, lived in the moment. I can sill feel Janice's head, wavy black hair, and soft shoulder pressing and resting on my right arm. The album ended with "Echo," which made it seem like that halcyon day would just go on forever...

Great player, posted on January 2, 2017 at 11:20:42
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	When he solos. Pretty boring writer and worse yet never has much of a band with him. The drum machine stuff which there is plenty of is terrible. ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

Have seen him Live with some truly terrific accompanying bands, posted on January 3, 2017 at 08:23:40

tcell
Audiophile

Posts: 585
Location: Maryland
Joined: September 5, 2003

The video is just a music store meet and greet. No drum machines at his shows. Stu Hamm, Marco Minnemman (an insanely great drummer), Mike Keneally, Jeff Campitelli, more. Bryan Beller of the Aristocrats. Wow great musicians!!! Agree he is compositionally limited, but he created the solo rock guitar album out of nowhere in the early 80's. He also taught some of the most famous guitarists of the 80's. The Chickenfoor band rocks. I saw him a few years back with Leslie West and they played some sublime blues together!

And so. . . , posted on January 10, 2017 at 10:36:22
John PA Audiophile Posts: 4019 Location: The lower 48. Joined: August 27, 2000	it has. iBasso DX300MAX Ti. Focal Utopia and Stellia. iBasso SR2. Mr. Speakers, Ether II, Voce stats. Manley, Absolute headphone amp. LTA MZ3, Z10e electrostatic amp. Many other headphones, amps, cables etc.

Rocky Road

Satriani

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