Surfing With the Alien vs. Flying in a Blue Dream

[phillybri]

Keeping it simple on this poll. Not which is "better", just which do you prefer...

 

[djp141]

Surfing.

I love "Flying In A Blue Dream", but at 60+ minutes, it's a tougher listen.

"Surfing" gets in and out, in a compact 37 minutes. No filler.

 

[Eddie-Applegate]

Love em both, but “Alien” is my fave

 

[Benz2112]

Flying was an ambitious record, but it also seemed like he was being pressured to be more mainstream. It was his "Sex and Religion" moment, which is also a great record. He bounced back really nicely with "The Extremist". Surfing takes it for me, one of the greatest instrumental guitar records of all time.

 

[ross1shark]

I'm a Satch freak, so choosing is painful. Of the two, I like the songs on Surfing With the Alien better, but I like the guitar tones more on Flying In A Blue Dream. I voted "Surfing" but only by a tiny margin.

 

[taez555]

When I met Joe for the first time I had to decide which CD sleeve I was going to have him autograph. I had him autograph Surfin'.

 

[devicaster]

Blue Dream has good songs, I love Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing almost more than some Surfing songs. But the rest of Blue is just okay, while Surfing is pretty much an 8/10.

 

[Brion]

I spent more time listening to Surfing because I liked it more than the others.

 

[Kentano2000]

It’s gotta be Surfing just for the historical impact and significance, right? And the tunes ARE pretty great too, huh? And the playing? Yeah.

FIABD is fantastic, but Surfing turned the world upside down.

 

[Coopster]

It seriously depends on my mood. If I'm feeling the melodic, Blue Dream. If I'm feeling the weird, Surfing all day.

 

[bugzapper]

When I listen to one of them, listening to the other is not far behind.

 

[Riff the Road Dog]

Keeping it simple on this poll. Not which is "better", just which do you prefer...

Of the two, Surfing. Ice9, Always With Me, Satch Boogie standouts.

However, it's Not Of This Earth / Hordes Of Locusts FTW!

 

[hillbillypolack]

Surfing hits the spot every time. No skipping over songs.

Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing is the standout on ‘Dream’. Just my 2 pesos.

 

[Ozone Baby]

Surfing by far.
I do think "Bells Of Lal Part 2" is one of his best solos though.

Not Of This Earth is still my favorite Satch album.

 

[Sacrifice]

Well that's better. Last couple of polls I was actually in the majority. Now I'm back in the minority where I usually find myself.

Blue Dream is my fav Satch album, although I don't know some of the new ones as well as I'd like. The new-new one has some really good stuff though.

 

[Bucksears]

Love em both, but “Alien” is my fave

This. 'Crushing Day' is on more than one of my 'driving' playlists (and mix CDs, back in the day).
And that genius quad-tapping on 'Midnight'. Yep.

Surfing by far.
I do think "Bells Of Lal Part 2" is one of his best solos though.

Agreed on both counts. I do think 'Bells Part 2' would have made a better closing track than 'Into The Light'.
'Back To Shalla-Bal' is probably my favorite track on FIABD.

 

[Mark Ray]

Blue Dream is my pick of these 2, but it's very close.

Another mention of The Extremist for a good runner-up choice.