“Abraxas” by Santana - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1970 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Much lauded LP from the San Franciscan Latin rock sextet who line up: Carlos Santana (lead guitar, backing vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), David Brown (bass), Michael Shrieve (drums), José 'Chepito' Areas (percussion, conga, timbales) and Michael Carabello (percussion, conga). The cover of “Oye Como Va” (Tito Puente, 1963) is the best thing here, where the latin and rock genres genuinely fuse well. Elsewhere, the session jam vibe is just too much for me to bear.

The Jukebox Rebel
15–Jan–2016

A1	[04:51] Santana - Singing Winds, Crying Beasts (Mike Carabello) Psychedelia
A2	[05:24] Santana - Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen (Peter Green - Gábor Szabó ) Rock
A3	[04:17] Santana - Oye Como Va (Tito Puente) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
A4	[04:58] Santana - Incident at Neshabur (Alberto Gianquinto, Carlos Santana) Prog
B1	[02:50] Santana - Se A Cabo (José Areas) Latin
B2	[04:25] Santana - Mother‘s Daughter (Gregg Rolie) Rock
B3	[04:45] Santana - Samba Pa Ti (Carlos Santana) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B4	[04:10] Santana - Hope You‘re Feeling Better (Gregg Rolie) Rock
B5	[01:30] Santana - El Nicoya (José Areas) Latin