ALBUMS: Santana self- titled debut (1969); Abraxas (1979); Love Devotion Surrender w/John McLaughlin (1973); Greatest Hits (1976); Marathon {1979); Havana Moon (1986).
MVC Rating: Santana 4.5 /$$$$ ; Abraxas 4.5/$$$; Love Devotion Surrender 3.5/$$$; Greatest Hits 4.5/$$$$; Marathon 3,5/$$; Havana Moon 4.0/$$$.
Carlos Santana, the Mexican born singer and guitarist, made his bones at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. The young Santana wowed the crowd with his laser sharp guitar runs backed by an ocean of congas. On Soul Sacrifice, Santana had the hippies dancing much faster than they were used to.
He went on to fame and fortune as his debut album came out almost simultaneously with Woodstock. If there’s been a criticism of Santana, keeping him from the very elite of rock guitarists in some people’s minds, is that there’s a sameness in his playing. Listen to his 90’s hit ‘Supernatural’ and then play Black Magic Woman off of Abraxas and you will see what the critics may be talking about. But in my mind that argument has little merit. He’s got a style like other elite guitarists and some go-to moves, but you don’t think Eric Clapton falls in that construct as well? Or, how about Mark Knopfler? When Knopfler plays, no matter the song, you can instantly recognize it.
Santana’s style is fluid and the tone is silky smooth. He enhances the songs and doesn’t overrun them.
If you’re looking to get into Santana I’d recommend the debut album and/or Santana’s Greatest Hits, although you can’t go wrong with ‘Abraxas as well.’
I’d skip the John McLaughlin project with guru Sri Chimnoy — too many roads going nowhere. One of the better Santana albums (although deemed too commercial by the snobbish types) is 1979’s Moonflower with a straight rock cover of the Zombie’s psychedelic ‘She’s not There.’
I saw Santana way back in the 1970s in concert in Atlanta, but it was marred by poor acoustics at the Civic Center. I saw him many years later, not in concert, but drivjng by in his convertible luxury car (believe it was a Jaguar) in Marin County, Calif., where my family lived while my wife was going to seminary.
Santa’s brother plays guitar in a band called ‘Malo, which I wrote about here.
He plays very much like his younger ‘bro.’