SANTANA - 3 (1971) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Santana III is an album that undeservingly stands in the shadows behind the towering legend that is the band's second album, Abraxas. This was also the album that brought guitarist Neal Schon -- who was 17 years old -- into the original core lineup of Santana. Percussionist Thomas "Coke" Escovedo was brought in to replace (temporarily) José Chepitó Areas, who had suffered a brain aneurysm, yet who recovered quickly and rejoined the band. The rest were Carlos, organist Gregg Rolie, drummer Michael Schrieve, bassist David Brown, and conguero Michael Carabello. "Batuka" is the powerful first evidence of something being very different. The band was rawer, darker, and more powerful with twin leads and Schon's harder, edgier rock & roll sound paired with Carlos' blend of ecstatic high notes and soulful fills. It cooks -- funky, mean, and tough. "Batuka" immediately transforms itself into "No One to Depend On," by Escovedo, Carabello, and Rolie. The middle section is highlighted by frantic handclaps, call-and-response lines between Schon and Rolie, and Carlos joining the fray until the entire track explodes into a frenzied finale. And what's most remarkable is that the set just keeps on cooking, from the subtle slow burn of "Taboo" to the percussive jam workout that is "Toussaint l'Overture," a live staple in the band's set list recorded here for the first time (and featuring some cooking Rolie organ work at its beginning). "Everybody's Everything" is here, as is "Guajira" and "Jungle Strut" -- tunes that are still part of Santana's live show. With acoustic guitars, gorgeous hand percussion, and Santana's fragile lead vocal, "Everything's Coming Our Way" is the only "feel good" track here, but it's a fitting way to begin winding the album down with its Schon and Santana guitar breaks. The album ends with a completely transformed reading of Tito Puente's "Para los Rumberos," complete with horns and frantic, almost insanely fast hand drumming and cowbell playing. It's an album that has aged extremely well due to its spare production (by Carlos and the band) and its live sound. This is essential Santana, a record that deserves to be reconsidered in light of its lasting abundance and vision. by Thom Jurek  
Tracklist :
1    Batuka 3:35
Written-By – Santana
2    No One To Depend On 5:31
Backing Vocals – Rico Reyes
Tambourine – Greg Errico
Written-By – C. Escobedo, M. Carabella
3    Taboo 5:33
Written-By – G. Rolie, J. Areas
4    Toussaint L'Overture 5:54
Backing Vocals – Rico Reyes
Written-By – Santana
5    Everybody's Everything 3:27
Backing Vocals – Linda Tillery
Horns – Tower Of Power Horn Section
Written-By – C. Santana, M. Brown, T. Moss
6    Guajira 5:42
Piano [Solo] – Mario Ochoa
Vocals – Rico Reyes
Written-By – C. Reyes, D. Brown, R. Reyes
7    Jungle Strut 5:20
Written-By – G. Ammons
8    Everything's Coming Our Way 3:15
Backing Vocals – Linda Tillery
Written-By – C. Santana
9    Para Los Rumberos 2:46
Backing Vocals – Rico Reyes
Trumpet [Trompeta] – Luis Gasca
Written-By – T. Puente
Credits :,
Backing Vocals, Percussion [Assistance] – Coke Escovedo
Bass – David Brown
Congas, Vocals, Percussion, Tambourine – Michael P. R. Carabello
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Michael Shrieve
Guitar – Neal Schon
Guitar, Vocals – Carlos Santana
Piano, Organ, Vocals – Gregg Rolie
Timbales, Congas, Percussion, Vocals, Drums, Flugelhorn – Jose Chepito Areas

SANTANA - Caravanserai (1972) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Drawing on rock, salsa, and jazz, Santana recorded one imaginative, unpredictable gem after another during the 1970s. But Caravanserai is daring even by Santana's high standards. Carlos Santana was obviously very hip to jazz fusion -- something the innovative guitarist provides a generous dose of on the largely instrumental Caravanserai. Whether its approach is jazz-rock or simply rock, this album is consistently inspired and quite adventurous. Full of heartfelt, introspective guitar solos, it lacks the immediacy of Santana or Abraxas. Like the type of jazz that influenced it, this pearl (which marked the beginning of keyboardist/composer Tom Coster's highly beneficial membership in the band) requires a number of listenings in order to be absorbed and fully appreciated. But make no mistake: this is one of Santana's finest accomplishments. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation 4:28
Acoustic Bass – Tom Rutley
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Neal Schon
Percussion – Carlos Santana, James Mingo Lewis
Piano – Wendy Haas
Saxophone [Introduction] – Hadley Caliman
Written-By – Mike Shrieve, Neal Schon, Tom Rutley
2    Waves Within 3:53
Bass – Douglas Rauch
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Douglas Rauch, Douglas Rodrigues
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – Douglas Rauch, Gregg Rolie
3    Look Up (To See What's Coming Down) 2:59
Bass – Douglas Rauch
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Douglas Rauch, Neal Schon
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Douglas Rauch, Gregg Rolie
4    Just In Time To See The Sun 2:19
Bass – Douglas Rauch
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Neal Schon
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Mike Shrieve
5    Song Of The Wind 6:02
Bass – Douglas Rauch
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Carlos Santana, Neal Schon
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon
6    All The Love Of The Universe 7:36
Acoustic Bass – Tom Rutley
Bass – Douglas Rauch
Castanets – Lenny White
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Carlos Santana, Neal Schon
Organ, Piano – Gregg Rolie
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Vocals – Carlos Santana, James Mingo Lewis, Rico Reyes
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Neal Schon
7    Future Primitive 4:12
Bongos – James Mingo Lewis
Congas – Jose Chepito Areas, James Mingo Lewis
Music By [Additional] – Mike Shrieve
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – Jose Chepito Areas, James Mingo Lewis
8    Stone Flower 6:14
Acoustic Bass – Tom Rutley
Bongos – Jose Chepito Areas
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve, Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Neal Schon
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Percussion – Armando Peraza, Carlos Santana, James Mingo Lewis
Piano – Wendy Haas
Words By – Carlos Santana, Mike Shrieve
9    La Fuente Del Ritmo 4:33
Acoustic Bass – Tom Rutley
Bongos – Armando Peraza
Congas, Percussion – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Guitar – Neal Schon
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Piano [Acoustic] – James Mingo Lewis
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – James Mingo Lewis
10    Every Step Of The Way 9:04
Acoustic Bass – Tom Rutley
Arranged By [Orchestra] – Tom Harrel
Congas – James Mingo Lewis
Drums – Mike Shrieve
Guitar – Carlos Santana, Neal Schon
Organ – Gregg Rolie
Timbales – Jose Chepito Areas
Written-By – Mike Shrieve

CARLOS SANTANA & BUDDY MILES - Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live! (1972) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

From December 1971 to April 1972, Carlos Santana and several other members of Santana toured with drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles, a former member of the Electric Flag and Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys. The resulting live album contained both Santana hits ("Evil Ways") and Buddy Miles hits ("Changes"), plus a 25-minute, side-long jam titled "Free Form Funkafide Filth." It was not, perhaps, the live album Santana fans had been waiting for, but at this point in its career, the band could do no wrong. The album went into the Top Ten and sold a million copies. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Marbles 4:18
John McLaughlin
2     Lava 2:13
Buddy Miles
3     Evil Ways 6:36
Sonny Henry
4     Faith Interlude 2:12
Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana
5     Them Changes 5:51
Buddy Miles
6     Free Form Funkafide Filth 24:53
Greg Errico / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana
Credits :
Bass – Ron Johnson
Congas – Michael Carabello, James Mingo Luis, Victor Pantoja
Drums – Gregg Errico
Drums, Lead Vocals – Buddy Miles
Guitar – Carlos Santana, Neal Schon
Organ – Robert Hogins
Saxophone, Flute – Hadley Caliman
Timbales – Coke Escovedo
Trumpet – Luis Gasca

SANTANA - Welcome (1973) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The mark that the recording of Caravanserai and Love Devotion Surrender had left on Carlos Santana was monumental. The issue of Welcome, the band's fifth album and its first with the new lineup, was a very ambitious affair and was regarded by traditional fans of Santana with even more strangeness than its two predecessors. However, issued as it was at the end of 1973, after Miles had won a Grammy for Bitches Brew and after Weather Report, Return to Forever, and Seventh House had begun to win audiences from the restless pool of rock fans, Santana began to attract the attention of critics as well as jazz fans seeking something outside of the soul-jazz and free jazz realms for sustenance. The vibe that carried over from the previously mentioned two albums plus the addition of vocalist Leon Thomas to the fold added a bluesy, tougher edge to the sound showcased on Caravanserai. The band's hard root was comprised of Carlos, drummer Michael Shrieve, bassist Doug Rauch, and keyboard king Tom Coster. Add to this the percussion section of Armando Peraza and Chepito Areas as well as a second keyboard by Richard Kermode, and space was the place. The John Coltrane influence that inspired the Santana/John McLaughlin pairing on Love Devotion Surrender echoes here on "Going Home," the album's opening track, arranged by Coltrane's widow, pianist and harpist Alice. The deeper jazz fusion/Latin funk edge is articulated on the track "Samba de Sausalito," and to a much more accessible degree on "Love, Devotion & Surrender," which features Thomas growling through the choruses and also features Wendy Haas, a keyboardist on Love Devotion Surrender who is enlisted here as a second vocalist. In fact, her pairing with Thomas on Shrieve's "When I Look Into Your Eyes" is nothing less than beatific. McLaughlin makes a return appearance here on the stunningly beautiful guitar spiritual "Flame Sky." Brazilian song diva Flora Purim is featured on "Yours Is the Light," a gorgeous Afro-Brazilian workout that embraces Cuba son, samba, and soul-jazz. Welcome also marked the first appearance of French soprano saxophonist Jules Broussard on a Santana date. He would later collaborate with Carlos and Alice Coltrane on Illuminations. Ultimately, Welcome is a jazz record with rock elements, not a rock record that flirted with jazz and Latin musical forms. It is understandable why Santana punters would continue to be disenchanted, however. Welcome was merely ahead of its time as a musical journey and is one of the more enduring recordings the band ever made. This is a record that pushes the envelope even today and is one of the most inspired recordings in the voluminous Santana oeuvre. by Thom Jurek
Tracklist :
1     Going Home 4:11
Arranged By – A. Coltrane, A. Peraza, C. Santana, D. Rauch, J. Areas, M. Shrieve, R. Kermode, T. Coster
2     Love, Devotion and Surrender 3:38
Richard Kermode / Carlos Santana
3     Samba de Sausalito 3:11
José "Chepito" Areas
4     When I Look into Your Eyes 5:52
Tom Coster / Michael Shrieve
5     Yours Is the Light 5:45
Richard Kermode / Michael Shrieve
6     Mother Africa 5:55
Tom Coster / Herbie Mann / Carlos Santana
7     Light of Life 3:52
Tom Coster / Richard Kermode / Carlos Santana
8     Flame Sky 11:31
John McLaughlin / Doug Rauch / Carlos Santana
9     Welcome 6:29
John Coltrane
Credits :
Bass – David Brown
Bass, Guitar – Doug Rauch
Drums – Michael Shrieve, Tony Smith
Flute – Bob Yance
Guitar – Douglas Rodrigues, John McLaughlin
Guitar, Vocals – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Richard Kermode, Wendy Haas
Keyboards, Vocals – Tom Coster
Percussion – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Percussion, Vocals – Armando Peraza
Saxophone – Jules Broussard
Strings – Greg Adams
Vocals – Flora Purim, Leon Thomas

SANTANA - Santana's Greatest Hits (1974) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This ten-song sampler presents the best of Santana, 1969-71, the period of its greatest popularity. The hits include "Black Magic Woman," "Evil Ways," "Everybody's Everything," and "Oye Como Va." But note that this is a bare minimum of prime Santana. Not only does the sampler choose from only Santana's first three albums, but it leaves out such seminal numbers as "Nobody to Depend On" and "Soul Sacrifice." Those looking for a more extensive overview should consider Viva Santana! by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1    Evil Ways 3:00
Producer – Brent Dangerfield, C. Santana
Written-By – S. Henry
2    Jingo 2:44
Producer – Brent Dangerfield, C. Santana
Written-By – M. Olatunji
3    Hope You're Feeling Better 4:10
Producer – C. Santana, Fred Catero
Written-By – G. Rolie
4    Samba Pa Ti 4:47
Producer – C. Santana, Fred Catero
Written-By – C. Santana
5    Persuasion 2:34
Producer – Brent Dangerfield, C. Santana
Written-By – Santana Band
6    Black Magic Woman 3:17
Producer – C. Santana, Fred Catero
Written-By – P. Green
7    Oye Como Va 4:19
Producer – C. Santana, Fred Catero
Written-By – T. Puente
8    Everything's Coming Our Way 3:16
Producer – C. Santana
Written-By – C. Santana
9    Se A Cabo 2:51
Producer – C. Santana, Fred Catero
Written-By – J. Areas
10    Everybody's Everything 3:31
Producer – C. Santana
Written-By – C. Santana, M. Brown, T. Moss

SANTANA - Lotus (1974) 2CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded in Japan in July 1973, this massive, three-LP live album was available outside the United States in 1974 but held back from domestic release in the U.S. It features the same "New Santana Band" that recorded Welcome, and combines that group's jazz and spiritual influences with performances of earlier Latin rock favorites like "Oye Como Va." by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist 1 :
1    Going Home 3:33
Arranged By – Alice Coltrane, The New Santana Band
Bass – Doug Rauch
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Organ [Yamaha] – Tom Coster
Percussion – Carlos Santana, Leon Thomas
Percussion [Latin] – Armando Peraza, Jose "Chepito" Areas
2    A-1 Funk 3:13
Bass – Doug Rauch
Bongos, Congas – Armando Peraza
Congas, Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Lead Guitar, Effects [Echo Plex], Percussion – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond], Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Organ [Yamaha] – Tom Coster
Written-By – The New Santana Band
3    Every Step Of The Way 11:30
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Michael Shrieve
4    Black Magic Woman 3:38
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Vocals – Leon Thomas
Written-By – Peter Green
5    Gypsy Queen 3:58
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Gabor Szabo
6    Oye Como Va 5:47
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Tito Puente
7    Yours Is The Light 5:30
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Richard Kermode
8    Batuka 0:55
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Percussion [Latin] – Carlos Santana, Leon Thomas, Richard Kermode, Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – The Old Santana Band
9    Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) 4:13
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Airto
10    Stone Flower (Introduction) 1:14
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
11    Waiting 4:14
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – The Old Santana Band
12    Castillos De Arena, Part 1 (Sand Castle) 2:51
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano, Organ [Yamaha] – Tom Coster
Guitar, Effects [Echo Plex] – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Chick Corea, Joachim Young, The New Santana Band
13    Free Angela 4:26
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Organ [Yamaha] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Bayete
14    Samba De Sausalito 4:02
Bass – Doug Rauch
Bongos, Congas – Armando Peraza
Congas, Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Written-By – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Tracklist 2 :
1    Mantra 7:17
Bass – Doug Rauch
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Effects [Sound Effects], Percussion – Leon Thomas
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Guitar, Percussion – Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Percussion [Latin] – Armando Peraza, Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Michael Shrieve, Tom Coster
2    Kyoto (Drum Solo) 9:58
Drums [Solo] – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
3    Castillos De Arena, Part 2 (Sand Castle) 1:13
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano, Organ [Yamaha] – Tom Coster
Guitar, Effects [Echo Plex] – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Richard Kermode
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Chick Corea, Joachim Young, The New Santana Band
4    Incident At Neshabur 15:57
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Albert Gianquinto, Carlos Santana
5    Se A Cabo 5:39
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar, Vocals – Carlos Santana
Maracas, Vocals – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond], Vocals – Tom Coster
Timbales, Vocals – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Jose "Chepito" Areas
6    Samba Pa Ti 8:56
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – Carlos Santana
7    Mr. Udo 3:07
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano – Richard Kermode
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Maracas – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – The New Santana Band
8    Toussaint L'Overture 7:40
Bass – Doug Rauch
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano, Vocals – Richard Kermode
Guitar, Vocals – Carlos Santana
Maracas, Vocals – Leon Thomas
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Timbales, Vocals – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Written-By – The Old Santana Band
Credits :
Musician – Armando Peraza, Carlos Santana, Doug Rauch, Jose "Chepito" Areas, Leon Thomas, Michael Shrieve, Richard Kermode, Tom Coster

DEVADID CARLOS SANTANA, TURIYA ALICE COLTRANE - Illuminations (1974) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For his third duet album, Carlos Santana performed the works of John Coltrane, paired with Coltrane's widow, harpist/keyboardist Alice Coltrane, on this instrumental album. Side One includes several contemplative, string-filled numbers, while Side Two presents Santana's re-creation of John Coltrane's late free jazz style in "Angel of Sunlight." Columbia Records could not have been pleased at Santana's determined drift into esoteric jazz: Illuminations was the first of the nine Santana-related albums so far released in the U.S. not to go gold. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1    Guru Sri Chinmoy Aphorism 1:10
 Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
Acoustic Bass – David Holland
Cymbal – Jack DeJonnette
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Flute – Jules Broussard
Harp – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Wind Chimes – Devadip Carlos Santana
2    Angel Of Air / Angel Of Water 9:55
Acoustic Bass – David Holland
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Harp – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Soprano Saxophone – Jules Broussard
Written-By – D.C. Santana, T. Coster
3    Bliss: The Eternal Now 5:32
Written-By – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Piano, Harp – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Written-By – T.A. Coltrane
4    Angel Of Sunlight 14:33
Acoustic Bass – David Holland
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Jack DeJonnette
Finger Cymbals, Cymbal – Devadip Carlos Santana, Tom Coster
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Organ [Wurlitzer] – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Soprano Saxophone – Jules Broussard
Tabla – Phil Ford
Tambura – Prabuddha Phil Browne
Written-By – D.C. Santana, T. Coster
5    Illuminations 4:20
Written-By – Devadip Carlos Santana, Tom Coster
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Harp – Turiya Alice Coltrane
Piano – Tom Coster
Written-By – D.C. Santana, T. Coster
Credits :
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Turiya Alice Coltrane (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Bass – James Bond (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Cello – Anne Goodman (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Fred Seykora (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Glenn Grab (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Jackie Lustgarten (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Viola – Alan Harshman (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), David Schwartz (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Marilyn Baker (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Myer Bello (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Myra Kestenbaum (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Rollice Dale (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Violin – Charles Veal (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Gordon Marron (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Nathan Kaproff (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Paul Shure (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Ron Folsom (pistas: 1 to 3, 5), Bill Henderson (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Violin [Concert Master], Concertmaster [Concert Master] – Murray Adler (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)

SANTANA - Borboletta (1974) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Borboletta was the first new Santana band studio album in 11 months and the group's sixth overall. Once again, individual credits were listed for each song. The main problem was that the band seemed to be coasting; Carlos turned in the usual complement of high-pitched lead guitar work, and the percussionists pounded away, but the Santana sound had long since taken over from any individual composition, and the records were starting to sound alike. That, in turn, started to make them inessential; Borboletta spent less time on the charts than any previous Santana album. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Spring Manifestations (Sound Effects) 1:05
Airto Moreira / Flora Purim
Percussion, Effects [Sound Effects] – Airto Moreira, Flora Purim
2     Canto de Los Flores 3:38
Tom Coster / Santana
Bass – David Brown
Congas – Armando Peraza, Jose "Chepito" Areas
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Effects [Echoplex] – Michael Carpenter
Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Percussion – Carlos Santana
3     Life Is Anew 4:22
Carlos Santana / Michael Shrieve
Bongos – Armando Peraza
Congas – Jose "Chepito" Areas
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano, Vocals – Leon Patillo
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Tom Coster
4     Give and Take 5:44
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana / Michael Shrieve
Bass – David Brown
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ, Vocals – Leon Patillo
Piano, Synthesizer [Moog] – Tom Coster
Tenor Saxophone – Jules Broussard
Timbales – Jose "Chepito" Areas
5     One with the Sun 4:21
E. Martini, J. Martini
Bass – David Brown
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Electric Piano, Vocals – Leon Patillo
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ – Tom Coster
6     Aspirations 5:09
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Ndugu (Leon Chancler)
Organ – Tom Coster
Soprano Saxophone – Jules Broussard
7     Practice What You Preach 4:31
Carlos Santana
Bass – David Brown
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Guitar, Congas – Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Vocals – Leon Patillo
8     Mirage 4:42
Leon Patillo
Bass – David Brown
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Michael Shrieve
Guitar, Gong – Carlos Santana
Organ, Synthesizer [Moog] – Tom Coster
Vocals, Piano – Leon Patillo
9     Here and Now 3:01
Armando Peraza / Carlos Santana
Bass – Stanley Clark
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Ndugu (Leon Chancler)
Guitar, Percussion – Carlos Santana
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Soprano Saxophone – Jules Broussard
10     Flor de Canela 2:09
Doug Rauch / Carlos Santana
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Airto Moreira
Electric Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Tom Coster
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Soprano Saxophone – Armando Peraza
11     Promise of a Fisherman 8:17
Dorival Caymmi
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Congas, Bongos – Armando Peraza
Drums, Triangle – Airto Moreira
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond], Electric Piano – Tom Coster
Soprano Saxophone – Jules Broussard
Vocals – Airto Moreira, Carlos Santana, Flora Purim
12     Borboletta 2:48
Airto Moreira
Percussion – Airto Moreira

SANTANA - Amigos (1976) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

By the release of Amigos, the Santana band's seventh album, only Carlos Santana and David Brown remained from the band that conquered Woodstock, and only Carlos had been in the band continuously since. Meanwhile, the group had made some effort to arrest its commercial slide, hiring an outside producer, David Rubinson, and taking a tighter, more up-tempo, and more vocal approach to its music. The overt jazz influences were replaced by strains of R&B/funk and Mexican folk music. The result was an album more dynamic than any since Santana III in 1971. "Let It Shine" (number 77), an R&B-tinged tune, became the group's first chart single in four years, and the album returned Santana to Top Ten status. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) 8:15
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler / Tom Coster / David Rubinson
2     Take Me With You 5:26
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler / Tom Coster
3     Let Me 4:50
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
4     Gitano 6:13
Armando Peraza
5     Tell Me Are You Tired 5:42
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler / Tom Coster
6     Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) 5:06
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
7     Let It Shine 5:42
David Brown / Ray Gardner
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Armando Peraza, Ivory Stone, Julia Tillman Waters, Ndugu Leon Chancler, Maxine Willard Waters, Tom Coster
Bass – David Brown
Congas, Bongos – Armando Peraza
Drums, Timbales, Percussion [Remo Roto-toms], Percussion, Congas – Ndugu Leon Chancler
Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Congas, Performer [Jurro] – Devadip Carlos Santana
Lead Vocals – Greg Walker
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Moog, Arp Pro-soloist, Arp Odyssey, Arp String Ensemble], Clavinet [Hohner D6] – Tom Coster
Vocals – Armando Peraza (pistas: 5)

DEVADID CARLOS SANTANA - Oneness (Silver Dreams-Golden Reality) (1980) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is the first Carlos Santana solo album. It features members of the Santana band as backup, however, so the difference between a group effort and a solo work seems to be primarily in the musical approach, which is more esoteric, and more varied than on a regular band album. The record is mostly instrumental and given over largely to contemplative ballads, although there is also, for example, in the song "Silver Dreams Golden Smiles," a traditional pop ballad sung by Saunders King. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     The Chosen Hour 0:35
Carlos Santana
Vocals – Greg Walker
2     Arise Awake 2:05
Carlos Santana
3     Light Versus Darkness 0:48
Carlos Santana
4     Jim-Jeannie 3:30
C. Hamilton
5     Transformation Day 3:44
Carlos Santana
Organ [Hammond] – Chris Solberg
6     Victory 1:10
Carlos Santana
Strings, Synthesizer – Bob Levy
Timbales – Pete Escovedo
7     Silver Dreams Golden Smiles 4:09
Carlos Santana
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Clare Fisher
Lead Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm] – Saunders King
8     Cry of the Wilderness 3:10
Carlos Santana
9     Guru's Song 3:06
Sri Chinmoy
Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Narada Michael Walden
10     Oneness 6:21
Carlos Santana
11     Life Is Just a Passing Parade 5:14
Carlos Santana
Keyboards, Synthesizer [Moog Solo] – Chris Rhyne
Organ [Hammond], Guitar – Chris Solberg
Vocals – Greg Walker
12     Golden Dawn 2:17
Carlos Santana
13     Free as the Morning Sun 3:16
Carlos Santana
Timbales – Graham Lear
Vocals – Greg Walker
14     I Am Free 1:27
Sri Chinmoy / Carlos Santana
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Clare Fisher
Narrator – Urmila Santana
15     Song for Devadip 5:07
N.M. Walden
Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Narada Michael Walden
Credits :
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Clare Fisher
Bass – David Margen
Drums – Graham Lear
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Tom Coster
Percussion – Armando Peraza, Raul Rekow
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Bells, Vocals – Devadip Carlos Santana

 

SANTANA - Moonflower (1977) 2CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Santana, which was renowned for its concert work dating back to Woodstock, did not release a live album in the U.S. until this one, and it's only partially live, with studio tracks added, notably a cover of the Zombies' "She's Not There" (number 27) that became Santana's first Top 40 hit in five years. The usual comings and goings in band membership had taken place since last time; the track listing was a good mixture of the old -- "Black Magic Woman," "Soul Sacrifice" -- and the recent, and with the added radio play of a hit single, Moonflower went Top Ten and sold a million copies, the first new Santana album to do that since 1972 and the last until Supernatural in 1999. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist 1 :
1     Dawn/Go Within 2:44
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
2     Carnaval 2:18
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
3     Let the Children Play 2:38
Leon Patillo / Carlos Santana
4     Jugando 2:10
José "Chepito" Areas / Carlos Santana
5     I'll Be Waiting 5:17
Carlos Santana
6     Zulu 3:22
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
7     Bahia 1:37
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
8     Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen 6:33
Peter Green / Gabor Szabo
9     Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) 7:45
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler / Tom Coster / David Rubinson
10     Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) 6:07
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
Tracklist 2 :    
1     She's Not There 4:08
Rod Argent
2     Flor d'Luna (Moonflower) 4:59
Tom Coster
3     Soul Sacrifice/Head, Hands & Feet 14:00
Graham Lear / Santana
4     El Morocco 5:02
Tom Coster / Carlos Santana
5     Transcendance 5:13
Carlos Santana
6     Savor/Toussaint l'Overture 12:57
Carlos Santana / Santana
Credits :
Arranged By [String], Performer [String] – Tom Coster
Congas, Bongos, Surdo, Cowbell, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Raul Rekow
Drums [Yamaha], Percussion – Graham Lear
Electric Bass [Fender Bass] – David Margen (pistas: 1.1, 1.6, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5), Pablo Tellez (pistas: 1.2 to 1.4, 1.8 to 1.10, 2.3, 2.6)
Guitar, Congas, Timbales, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Devadip Carlos Santana
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Greg Walker
Organ [Hammond], Electric Piano [Yamaha Electric Grand, Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp Omni, Arp Dgx Pro Solist, Arp Odessey, Arp String Ensemble, Mini Moog], Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba, Backing Vocals – Tom Coster
Synthesizer [Pro Soloist] – Tommy Coster Jr. (pistas: 1.6)
Timbales, Congas, Bell Tree – Jose "Chepito" Areas (pistas: 1.2 to 1.4, 1.8 to 1.10, 2.3, 2.6)
Timbales, Guiro, Maracas – Pete Escovedo (pistas: 1.6, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2)

SANTANA - Festival (1977) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Santana's follow-up to its comeback album, Amigos, was another David Rubinson-produced effort that moved back toward more of a Latin rock feel, although it retained an essentially pop focus -- "The River" was the first real vocal ballad on a Santana album. If any doubt still existed that the group was no longer a band of equals but a platform for its lead guitarist, the current lineup dispelled that; Carlos Santana was now the only original member of the band left. Although the album went gold, the lack of a hit single hurt the album's commercial standing; its number 27 peak was the lowest yet for a Santana band album. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1    Carnaval 2:15
Written-By – D. C. Santana, T. Coster
2    Let The Children Play 3:28
Written-By – D. C. Santana, L. Patillo
3    Jugando 2:12
Written-By – D. C. Santana, L. Patillo
4    Give Me Love 4:29
Bass – Paul Jackson
Lead Vocals – Leon Patillo
Written-By – P. Tellez
5    Verao Vermelho 5:00
Written-By – N. Buzar
6    Let The Music Set You Free 3:39
Bass – Devadip Carlos Santana
Piano – Leon Patillo
Written-By – D. C. Santana, D. Rubinson, L. Patillo, T. Coster
7    Revelations 4:37
Bass – Paul Jackson
Written-By – D. C. Santana, T. Coster
8    Reach Up 5:23
Written-By – D. C. Santana, L. Patillo, P. Jackson, T. Coster
9    The River 4:53
Bass – Devadip Carlos Santana
Piano, Lead Vocals – Leon Patillo
Written-By – D. C. Santana, L. Patillo
10    Try A Little Harder 5:04
Bass – Devadip Carlos Santana
Piano, Lead Vocals – Leon Patillo
Written-By – L. Patillo
11    Maria Caracoles 4:32
Lead Vocals – Pablo Tellez
Written-By – P. African
Credits :
Arranged By [Brass] – Al Bent
Backing Vocals – Francisco Zavala, Joel Badie, Julia Waters, Leon Patillo, Maxine Waters, Orin Waters
Bass, Guitar [Maton], Percussion, Backing Vocals – Pablo Tellez
Congas, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Raul Rekow
Drums, Percussion, Timpani – Gaylord Birch
Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Devadip Carlos Santana
Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Tom Coster
Timbales, Congas, Percussion – Chepito Areas

SANTANA - Inner Secrets (1978) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Since he had joined Santana in 1972, keyboard player Tom Coster had been Carlos Santana's right-hand man, playing, co-writing, co-producing, and generally taking the place of founding member Greg Rolie. But Coster left the band in the spring of 1978, to be replaced by keyboardist/guitarist Chris Solberg and keyboardist Chris Rhyme. Despite the change, the band soldiered on, and with Inner Secrets, they scored three chart singles: the disco-ish "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" (#59), "Stormy" (#32), and a cover of Buddy Holly's "Well All Right" (#69), done in the Blind Faith arrangement. (There seems to be a Steve Winwood fixation here. The album also featured a cover of Traffic's "Dealer.") The singles kept the album on the charts longer than any Santana LP since 1971, but it was still a minor disappointment after Moonflower, and in retrospect seems like one of the band's more compromised efforts. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1      Dealer/Spanish Rose 5:51
Jim Capaldi / Carlos Santana
2     Move On 4:26
Chris Rhyne / Carlos Santana
3     One Chain (Don't Make No Prison) 7:12
Dennis Lambert / Brian Potter
4     Stormy 4:48
Buddy Buie / James Cobb / James B. Cobb Jr.
5     Well All Right 4:11
Jerry Allison / Buddy Holly / Joe Mauldin / Norman Petty
6     Open Invitation 4:47
Dennis Lambert / Desmond Lambert / David Margen / Brian Potter / Carlos Santana / Greg Walker
7     Life Is a Lady/Holiday 3:48
Dennis Lambert / David Santana
8     The Facts of Love 5:32
Dennis Lambert / Brian Potter
9     Wham! 3:27
Pete Escovedo / Graham Lear / Armando Peraza / Raul Rekow / Carlos Santana
Credits :
Bass – David Margen
Bongos, Percussion – Armando Peraza
Clavinet, Backing Vocals – Dennis Lambert
Congas, Percussion – Raul Rekow
Drums – Graham Lear
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Chris Rhyne
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Greg Walker
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Mike Boddicker
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Organ – Chris Solberg
Timbales, Percussion – Pete Escovedo

SANTANA - Marathon (1979) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Marathon marked the addition of keyboard player Alan Pasqua and singer Greg Walker's replacement by singer/guitarist Alex Ligertwood in the Santana lineup. Otherwise, the album was notable for consisting entirely of band-written material, although those songs were in the established R&B/rock style evolved on albums like Amigos, Festival, and Inner Secrets. The formula seemed to be wearing thin by now, however, as, even with a Top 40 hit in "You Know That I Love You" (number 35), Marathon became the first Santana album to fall below the 500,000-sales mark necessary for gold record certification. (It has since made the mark.) by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Marathon 1:27
Carlos Santana
2     Lightning in the Sky 3:51
Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
3     Aqua Marine 5:30
Alan Pasqua / Carlos Santana
4     You Know That I Love You 4:24
Alex Ligertwood / Alan Pasqua / Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
5     All I Ever Wanted 4:02
Alex Ligertwood / Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
6     Stand Up 4:03
David Margen / Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
7     Runnin' 1:39
David Margen
8     Summer Lady 4:22
Alex Ligertwood / Alan Pasqua / Chris Solberg
9     Love 3:22
Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
10     Stay (Beside Me) 3:48
Carlos Santana
11     Hard Times 3:57
Alex Ligertwood / David Margen / Alan Pasqua / Carlos Santana / Chris Solberg
Credits :
Bass – David Margen
Congas – Raul Rekow
Drums – Graham Lear
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana, Chris Solberg
Keyboards – Alan Pasqua
Timbales – Armando Peraza

DEVADIP CARLOS SANTANA - The Swing Of Delight (1980) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

For his second "solo" album, Carlos Santana used Miles Davis' famed '60s group--Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams -- plus members of the current Santana band, for a varied, jazz-oriented session that was one of his more pleasant excursions from the standard Santana sound. (Originally released as a double-LP, The Swing of Delight was reissued on a single CD.) by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Swapan Tari 6:48
Sri Chinmoy
2     Love Theme from "Spartacus" 6:52
Alex North
3     Phuler Matan 5:55
Sri Chinmoy
4     Song for My Brother 6:58
Carlos Santana
5     Gardenia 7:10
Carlos Santana
6     Jharna Kala 7:13
Sri Chinmoy
7     La Llave 3:42
Carlos Santana
Congas – Francisco Aguabella
Vocals – Alex Ligertwood
8     Golden Hours 6:39
Carlos Santana
Flute – Russell Tubbs
9     Shere Khan, the Tiger 5:47
Wayne Shorter
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Ron Carter (pistas: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9)
Artwork By [Design Concept] – Devadip Carlos Santana
Artwork By [Front Cover Art] – Sri Chinmoy
Bass – David Margen (pistas: 1, 4, 5, 8,)
Congas, Bongos, Percussion – Armando Peraza
Congas, Percussion, Vocals – Raul Rekow
Drums – Tony Williams (pistas: 1, 3, 6), Graham Lear (pistas: 5, 8), Harvey Mason (pistas: 2, 4, 7, 9)
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [12-string], Percussion, Vocals – Devadip Carlos Santana
Piano [Acoustic], Piano [Rhodes Electric], Clavinet, Synthesizer [Clavitar, Prophet 5, Yamaha Cs-80, Oberheim 8 Voice, Brass, Strings] – Herbie Hancock
Saxophone [Soprano] – Russell Tubbs (pistas: 1, 3), Wayne Shorter (pistas: 2, 6, 9)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Russell Tubbs (pistas: 4, 5), Wayne Shorter (pistas: 3, 9)
Timbales, Percussion, Vocals – Orestes Vilato

SANTANA - Zebop! (1981) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

After teaming up with Herbie Hancock for the jazz-flavored The Swing of Delight album, Carlos Santana reentered the pop/rock realm with the rest of his band for 1981's Zebop!. He still managed to include a little bit of his famed Latino sound into a few of the tracks ("E Papa Re," "American Gypsy"), albeit only slightly, but Zebop!'s overall feel is that of commercial rock, with the guitar arriving at the forefront through most of the cuts. Santana does a marvelous job at covering Russ Ballard's "Winning," taking it to number 17 on the charts, while "The Sensitive Kind" is built around the same type of radio-friendly structure yet it stalled at number 56. Zebop!'s formula is simple, and all of the songs carry an appeal that is aimed at a wider and more marketable audience base, with "Changes," "Searchin," and "I Love You Much Too Much" coming through as efficient yet not overly extravagant rock & roll efforts. The album's adjustable rhythms and accommodating structures kept the band alive as the decade rolled over, peaking at number 33 in the U.K. but cracking the Top Ten in the United States, which eventually led to Zebop! going gold. Actually, "Winning" followed in the same footsteps as Santana's last couple of Top 40 singles in "You Know That I Love You" from 1980 and "Stormy" from 1979. Shango, the album that came after Zebop!, gave them another hit with "Hold On," sung by bandmember Alex Ligertwood. by Mike DeGagne  
Tracklist :
1     Changes 4:28
Cat Stevens
2     E Papa Ré 4:32
Written-By – Alexander J. Ligertwood, Devadip Carlos Santana, David Margen, Orestes Vilato, Richard Baker
3     Primera Invasion 2:09
Graham Lear / David Margen / Alan Pasqua / Carlos Santana / David Santana / Chris Solberg
4     Searchin' 3:55
Alex Ligertwood / David Santana / Chris Solberg
5     Over and Over 4:49
Written-By – Rick Meyers
6     Winning 3:29
Russ Ballard
7     Tales of Kilimanjaro 3:26
Alan Pasqua / Armando Peraza / Raul Rekow / Carlos Santana / David Santana
8     The Sensitive Kind 3:36
J.J. Cale
9     American Gypsy 3:39
Richard Baker / Russ Ballard / Graham Lear / Alex Ligertwood / David Margen / Armando Peraza / Raul Rekow / Carlos Santana / David Santana / Orestes Vilató
10     I Love You Much Too Much 4:44
Alexander Olshanetsky / Don Raye / Chaim Towber
11     Brightest Star 4:50
Alex Ligertwood / Carlos Santana
12     Hannibal 3:42
Alex Ligertwood / Marcus Miller / Alan Pasqua / Raul Rekow / Carlos Santana
Credits :
Arranged By – Santana
Bass – David Margen
Bongos, Percussion – Armando Peraza
Congas, Percussion, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Raul Rékow
Drums – Graham Lear
Keyboards, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Alan Pasqua (pistas: 3, 4, 6)
Lead Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals [Background Vocal] – Devadip Carlos Santana
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Alexander J. Ligertwood
Percussion, Timbales, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Orestes Vilato
Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Chris Solberg (pistas: 3, 4, 6)

SANTANA - Freedom (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Freedom marked several reunions in the Santana band, which was now a nonet. In addition to Carlos, the band consisted of percussionists Armando Pereza, Orestes Vilato, and Raul Rekow; returning drummer Graham Lear; bassist Alphonso Johnson; returning keyboardist Tom Coster, keyboardist Chester Thompson, and, on lead vocals, Buddy Miles, who had made a duet album with Santana 15 years before. Credited as an "additional musician" was keyboard player Greg Rolie, an original member. The music also marked a return from the hyper-pop sound of Val Garay on Beyond Appearances to a more traditional Santana Latin rock style. Thus, Freedom was a literal return to form, but, unfortunately, not to the quality of early Santana albums. And the group's commercial decline continued, with the LP getting to only Number 95. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Veracruz 4:29
J. Cohen / Buddy Miles / Gregg Rolie / Carlos Santana / C. Thompson
2     She Can't Let Go 4:49
Jeffrey Cohen / Tom Coster / Alphonso Johnson / Cory Lerios / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana
3     Once It's Gotcha 5:46
Jeffrey Cohen / Tom Coster / Alphonso Johnson / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
4     Love Is You 4:01
Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
5     Songs of Freedom 4:24
Tom Coster / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
6     Deeper, Dig Deeper 4:21
Sterling Crew / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
7     Praise 4:41
Sterling Crew / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
8     Mandela 5:33
Armando Peraza
9     Before We Go 3:46
Jim Capaldi / Carlos Santana
10     Victim of Circumstance 5:23
Sterling Crew / Buddy Miles / Gary Rashid / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
Performer – Alphonso Johnson, Armando Peraza, Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Graham Lear, Orestes Vilató, Raul Rekow, Tom Coster

 

CARLOS SANTANA - Blues for Salvador (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

On previous "solo" albums, Carlos Santana had made noticeable stylistic changes and worked with jazz, pop, and even country musicians. On this, his fourth Carlos Santana release, the line between a "solo" and a "group" project is blurred; this record is really a catchall of Santana band outtakes and stray tracks. For example, included are an instrumental version of "Deeper, Dig Deeper" from Freedom, and an alternate take of "Hannibal" from Zebop!, as well as "Now That You Know" from the group's 1985 tour. Given the variety of material, the album is somewhat less focused than most Santana band albums, but there are individual tracks that are impressive, notably "trane," which features Tony Williams on drums. (Blues for Salvador won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance). by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1     Bella 4:31
Sterling Crew / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
2     Bailando/Aquatic Park 5:46
Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson / Orestes Vilató
3     'trane 3:11
Carlos Santana
4     I'm Gone 3:08
Sterling Crew / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
5     Deeper, Dig Deeper 6:09
Sterling Crew / Buddy Miles / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
6     Mingus 1:26
Sterling Crew / Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
7     Blues for Salvador 5:57
Carlos Santana / Chester Thompson
8     Now That You Know 10:29
Carlos Santana
9     Hannibal 4:28
Alex Ligertwood / Alan Pasqua / Raul Rekow / Carlos Santana
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Chris Solberg (pistas: 8)
Bass – Alfonso Johnson (pistas: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9), David Margen (pistas: 8)
Drums – Tony Williams (pistas: 4), Buddy Miles (pistas: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9), Graham Lear (pistas: 1 to 3, 5 to 9)
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Chester Thompson (pistas: 1 to 7, 9)
Percussion – Armando Peraza, Orestes Vilato, Patrick Ahern (pistas: 4), Raul Rekow
Piano – Alan Pasqua (pistas: 8)
Vocals – Alex Ligertwood (pistas: 7), Greg Walker (pistas: 7)

SANTANA - Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Following a 1989 20th anniversary reunion tour to promote Viva Santana!, Carlos Santana reorganized the band as a sextet consisting of himself, singer/guitarist Alex Ligertwood, singer/keyboardist Chester Thompson, bass player Benny Rietveld, drummer Walfredo Reyes and percussionist Armando Peraza. This unit, with such guest stars as Vernon Reid (of Living Colour), Wayne Shorter, and Bobby Womack, recorded Spirits Dancing In The Flesh, Santana's 15th and final studio album for Columbia Records. It was an unusually eclectic collection, featuring songs by Curtis Mayfield ("Gypsy Woman"), The Isley Brothers ("Who's That Lady"), and Olatunji ("Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"), as well as interpolations of John Coltrane's "Peace On Earth" and Jimi Hendrix's "Third Stone From The Sun" into Santana's "Mother Earth." (The Olatunji song is the original version of the tune adapted as "Jingo" that became Santana's first hit in 1969.) For all those influences, it was more of a straightforward, guitar-heavy rock album than usual. Coming more than three years after Santana's last new album, Freedom, it sold to the band's core audience only, reaching #85 by William Ruhlmann  
Tracklist :
1    Let There Be Light / Spirits Dancing In The Flesh 7:22
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Choir – Charisse Dancy, Darryl Williams, De Anna Brown, Kevin Swan Butler, Lovetta Brown, Lynice Pinkard, Marjo Keller, Sandra Hunter
Congas – Armando Peraza
Directed By [Choir Director] – Edwin M. Harper. Jr.
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar, Narrator – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Chester Thompson, Devon Bernardoni
Lead Vocals – Stephen King
Lead Vocals, Narrator – Tramaine Hawkins
Mixed By – Jim Gaines
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines
Vocals – Walter A. Redmond
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
2    Gypsy Woman 4:29
Backing Vocals – Jim Gilstrap, Kevin Dorsey, Oren Waters, Phillip Ingram
Bass – Benny Rietveld
Congas, Bongos – Armando Peraza
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Paul Ericksen
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Chester Thompson
Lead Vocals – Alex Ligertwood
Mixed By – Paul Ericksen
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer, Arranged By – Peter Wolf
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
3    It's A Jungle Out There 4:32
Bass – Keith Jones
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums, Timbales, Percussion – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards [Horns], Organ [Hammond B3] – Chester Thompson
Lead Vocals – Alex Ligertwood, Bobby Womack
Mixed By – Jim Gaines
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines
Written-By – Carlos Santana
4    Soweto (Africa Libre) 5:06
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums, Timbales, Percussion – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Chester Thompson
Mixed By – Jim Gaines
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Written-By – Alphonso Johnson, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
5    Choose 4:13
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar, Tambourine – Carlos Santana
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Chester Thompson
Lead Vocals – Bobby Womack
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Alex Ligertwood
Mixed By – Jim Gaines
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines
Vocals [Group Chant] – Alex Ligertwood, Bruce Kuhlman, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, David Crockett, Ed Adair, Kevin Chisholm
Written-By – Alex Ligertwood, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
6    Peace On Earth…Mother Earth...Third Stone From The Sun 4:22
Bass – Keith Jones
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar – Carlos Santana, Vernon Reid
Keyboards – Chester Thompson
Mixed By – Arne Frager
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines, Vernon Reid
Vocals – Alex Ligertwood
Written-By [Mother Earth] – Carlos Santana
Written-By [Peace On Earth] – John Coltrane
Written-By [Third Stone From The Sun] – Jimi Hendrix
7    Full Moon 4:31
Bass – Benny Rietveld
Bongos – Armando Peraza
Engineer – Bernie Kirsh, Devon Bernardoni
Executive-Producer – Sergio Albonico
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Piano [Acoustic], Keyboards – Paolo Rustichelli
Producer – Paolo Rustichelli
Written-By – Paolo Rustichelli
8    Who's That Lady 4:13
Bass – Benny Rietveld
Congas, Bongos – Armando Peraza
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Paul Ericksen
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Chester Thompson
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Alex Ligertwood
Mixed By – Paul Ericksen
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Producer, Arranged By – Peter Wolf
Written-By – C. Jasper, E. Isley, M. Isley, O. Isley, R. Isley
9    Jin-Go-Lo-Ba 4:46
Backing Vocals – Alex Ligertwood, Hugh "Sweetfoot" Maynard, Rashan Hylton
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Congas – Armando Peraza, Francisco Aguabella
Congas, Vocals – Raul Rekow
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer – Jim Gaines
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Devon Bernardoni
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Carlos Santana
Mixed By – Jim Gaines
Mixed By [Additional Mixing] – Devon Bernardoni
Organ [Hammond B3], Keyboards [Horns], Backing Vocals – Chester Thompson
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines, Vernon Reid
Timbales, Vocals – Orestes Vilato
Written-By – Michael Babatunde Olatunji
10    Goodness And Mercy 4:30
Bass – Keith Jones
Drums – Walfredo Reyes
Engineer [Assistant] – Chris Becker
Engineer [Live Mixing Engineer] – Chris Iacuone
Guitar – Carlos Santana
Keyboards – Chester Thompson
Producer – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson, Jim Gaines
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson

SANTANA - Milagro (1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Santana signed to Polydor in 1991 after 22 years with Columbia Records. On this label debut album, the band has been altered by official addition of frequent sideman Raul Rekow and Karl Perazzols, replacement of longtime percussionist Armando Peraza. But this septet is still led by Carlos Santana and keyboardist Chester Thompson, with Alex Ligertwood singing. The record has a somewhat elegiac tone, beginning with a stage introduction by the late promoter Bill Graham, who was Santana's mentor and unofficial manager, being dedicated to Graham and Miles Davis, who also had died since the last album, and featuring an excerpt from a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., solos taken from Davis and John Coltrane, and music written by Bob Marley, Coltrane, and Gil Evans. Despite the presence of all these heroic ghosts, however, Milagro is only an average Santana release, familiar-sounding but undistinguished, and it failed to arrest the band's commercial slide, becoming the first new Santana studio album not to crack the Top 100. by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1    Milagro 7:34
Voice [Introduction] – Bill Graham
Written-By – Bob Marley, Carlos Santana
2    Somewhere In Heaven 9:26
Written-By – Alex Ligertwood, Carlos Santana
3    Saja/Right On 8:51
Written-By – Earl DeRouen, Joe Roccisano, Marvin Gaye
4    Your Touch 6:34
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
5    Life Is For Living 4:39
Written-By – Pat Sefolosha
6    Red Prophet 5:35
Arranged By, Written-By – Benny Rietveld
Mixed By – Devon Rietveld
7    Agua Que Va Caer 4:22
Arranged By [Horns] – Wayne Wallace
Written-By – Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Eugenio Arango
8    Make Somebody Happy 4:14
Written-By – Alex Ligertwood, Carlos Santana
9    Free All The People (South Africa) 6:04
Written-By – Jackie Holmes
10    Gypsy/Grajonca 7:09
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
11    We Don't Have To Wait 4:34
Written-By – Armando Peraza, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson
12    A Dios 1:21
Written-By – Carlos Santana, Gil Evans, John Coltrane
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Jorge Santana (pistas: 3)
Bass – Benny Rietveld
Chorus – Bad River Singers (pistas: 7)
Congas, Percussion, Vocals – Raul Rekow
Drums – Billy Johnson (pistas: 3, 4)
Drums, Percussion – Walfredo Reyes
Lead Vocals – Larry Graham (pistas: 3)
Piano – Rebeca Mauleón (pistas: 7)
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Percussion – Carlos Santana
Producer, Arranged By, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Chester Thompson
Programmed By [Strings] – John Philip Shenale
Saxophone – Melecio Magdaluyo (pistas: 1, 7, 9)
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – John Coltrane (pistas: 12)
Timbales, Bajo Quinto, Bongos, Vocals – Karl Perazzo
Trombone – Wayne Wallace (pistas: 1, 7, 9)
Trumpet – William Ortiz (pistas: 1, 7, 9), Robert Kwock (pistas: 1, 7, 9)
Trumpet [Solo] – Miles Davis (pistas: 12)
Vocals – Alex Ligertwood (pistas: 2), Linda Tillery (pistas: 6), Lygeia Ferragalo (pistas: 6), Tony Lindsay (pistas: 5, 8)