Does he ever play rhythm anymore? Basically his past few albums have been him adding fills and solos.

theAudience said:

Agreed!! Those were my top, along with this one:








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Harlepolis said:

credit weed and a lot of halucinogenics .

Carlos Santana is one of my top 5 favorite artists.I have every album he's ever recorded and I never miss a Santana concert.If you're just starting to get into his music,a good place to start would be his excellent 3-CD box set 'Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent',released in 1995:

This is a good introduction to his music.It's not really a greatest hits set at all,it's more like a collection of his personal favorites and key album tracks.There's also a few previously unreleased tracks.Disc Two is my favorite....it consists almost entirely of instrumentals,so you really get a chance to enjoy his incredible guitar-playing.The packaging is SUPERB....lots of great pictures and beautiful artwork.I have dozens of box sets but this is by far the most extravagant,in terms of packaging and presentation.

Or if you wanna go straight to the albums,these are the ones I recommend:

Abraxas (1970)
Santana III (1971)
Borboletta (1974) (my favorite Santana album....this one is AMAZING!)
Lotus (1975) (an explosive live album from his most artistic period)
Amigos (1976) (contains alot more funk and R&B than previous albums)
Moonflower (1976) (another live album)
Festival (1977) (my second favorite Santana album)
Zebop (1980) (the best of his 80s work...a strong,consistent album with no filler)
Milagro (1992) (even in the 90s,he was still making great music.)
Sacred Fire (1993) (another explosive live album that KICKS ASS!)


Recent albums like 'Supernatural' and 'Shaman' have their moments too,but to be honest,I prefer hearing Carlos and his band without all the guest stars.I hope he makes another album with just his band.
[Edited 12/19/06 4:59am]

paligap said:

This is a weird,quirky album but I like it This was in the days when he had changed his name to 'Devadip Carlos Santana'.I think Prince was inspired by this album when he came up with 'The Rainbow Children'.

theAudience said:

'Borboletta' is my favorite Santana album.Released in 1974,this album features Carlos and his finest line-up,making the most inspired music of their career.Songs like "Life Is Anew","Give And Take" and the intoxicating "Mirage" are amazing.These songs stay in your head long after the record finishes playing.

Harlepolis said:

I agree,his album covers are sublime.There aren't too many other artists/bands who had album covers this amazing.I'm not sure how much input Carlos had into these designs,but the covers seem to really reflect the music within.

HamsterHuey said:

Carlos has released a ton of live albums.The latest one "Live By Request' was released just a year or so ago.But it's cool because the best way to enjoy his music is in a live setting.His live versions put the studio versions to shame.

I'm surprised that none of you picked this as one of your favorites:

I heard this CD in the 90s when it was released and it made me want to go to a Santana concert.I've been going to his shows ever since.In concert,Carlos is no joke.He kicks ass.

SoulAlive said:

That is a great concert, But I always think of this as a DVD or video -- for me, this one is best seen, as well as heard...actually, one of my all-time favorite filmed concerts! I always tell people, If you can get your hands on the live dvd or vhs from this concert, it's smokin!!! Next best thing to seeing him live!






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SoulAlive said:

Yup, Santana, John Mclaughlin, and Michael Walden were all into guru Sri Chinmoy at the time...John Mclaughlin got the name "Mahavishnu", Carlos got the name "Devadip", and Michael Walden became "Narada" (btw, Narada wrote and plays on that tune, "Song for Devadip" on that Oneness album...)

Also, if you get a chance, check out Narada Michael Walden song, "Awakening"...it features one of my favorite Santana guitar solos!






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[Edited 12/19/06 10:02am]

paligap said:

I have the DVD too

paligap said:

Did you ever read the book "Space Between The Stars" by Deborah Santana (Carlos' wife)? She talks alot about their spiritual phase in the 70s,when they were being advised by the guru.

Released in early 1977,'Festival' is my second favorite Santana album

Like the 1976 album 'Amigos',this project finds Carlos and the guys venturing into R&B/funk territory on funky jams like "Let The Music Set You Free" and "Try A Little Harder".There's even a smooth slow jam "Give Me Love" which is reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire.The album's best track is the funk/jazz workout "Reach Up",a very impressive instrumental."Verao Vermelho" is just as good.These songs are mesmerizing and beautifully composed."Carnaval" and "Maria Caracoles" are fun Latin jams that open and close the album,while "The River" is a stunning ballad that deserved much more attention than it received.This album is a Santana masterpiece,one of his most accomplished works.Everybody raves about 'Abraxas' and 'Supernatural' but I think this album deserves more props.

NorthernLad said:

'Marathon' (1979) and the album that came before it,'Inner Secrets' (1978) are disappointing,imo.During this period,Santana was doing slick,commercial FM rock that wasn't very interesting or inspired.These albums have their moments,but they are far from essential.

silverchild said:

I like this one,too.The studio track "I'll Be Waiting" is nice,very nice

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I bet that this is Prince's favorite Santana album too.It's very experimental and un-conventional.When Carlos recorded it,Clive Davis tried to talk him out of releasing it,saying it could divide his fanbase.But after several years of pop success,Carlos was ready to branch out and experiment.He's a true artist.

theVelvetRoper said:

He also has his own cologne and perfume


I can't blame the guy for cashing in on his newfound popularity.There were many years in the late 70s and 80s when people forgot about him.He's doing what he has to do.However....I bought some of his cologne and it isn't very good.Not really my type of cologne,lol.

I first bought The Ultimate Collection which I liked and I've since bought Caravanserai and I absolutely love it. Stone Flower, Look Up (To See What's Coming Down) and All The Love Of The Universe are incredible songs. Wonderfully experimental and really moving.

Where should I venture next?

MattyJam said:

'Caravanserai' is a very interesting album....very edgy and experimental.In 1972,Clive Davis warned Santana that it would divide his audience...he told him that it wasn't "commercial" enough,that there were no hits on it.Carlos didn't care.By that time,he was heavily into jazz fusion.He's a real artist and must play the music that he feels.

If you like Caravanserai and Carlos' more experimetal music,the next place you should go is 'Welcome',his largely instrumental 1973 album.