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Santana’s Caravanserai is a brilliant album, one that has stood the test of time well. From the first opening sound of crickets, and the otherworldly saxophone, Santana is announcing to all that this is no ordinary musical offering. If you want to hear some more Black Magic Woman, or Evil Ways, this is possibly not the album for you. The whole album flows smoothly from one song to the next. It wouldn’t matter if the space between tracks were eliminated. It is intended to be listened to as a complete piece of music, the way Pink Floyds Dark Side Of The Moon is intended to be heard. It was not a priority for Carlos to have a top 40 hit, which must have been a concern to the record label, but Santana was onto something different. Although Carlos had successfully combined rock with latin rhythms, at this point in his life he was getting more and more interested in jazz. He was talking with Miles Davis, listening to John Coltrane, and playing music with folks like John McLaughlin. This musical stretching shows up in the songs. Of particular note is the bass playing on the songs “Look Up”, and “All The Love Of The Universe”. The bass is deep and elemental. It has a life of it’s own. It drives the songs along. Gregg Rolie’s Hammond B-3 playing is ever present, swirling and thick, sometimes up front in the mix, sometimes further back. It provides a background for the guitar. When he shows up on the Fender Rhodes electric piano halfway through the song “Stone Flower” it’s a masterpiece of understatement, and a beautiful sound. After this album Gregg Rolie and Neil Schon left the band to create the band Journey, with great success on their own. There is a fantastic guitar solo on “Song of the Wind”. The percussion section is very alive throughout the whole album. On some tracks the congas are almost frantic, but not out of line. On the song “La Fuente Del Ritmo” the percussion is almost saying to the rest of the band, “This is what we do, keep up if you can!” It sounds just as groundbreaking today as it did when it came out. This is the kind of album every great artist wants to put out at some point in their careers. A musical offering that reflects exactly what they wanted to do in the studio without concern about commercial success. Not every artist gets the opportunity, and in this case it is quite an achievement.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
One of the best Carlos Santana albums of all time. This says a lot because Carlos has done so much excellent work in his lifetime. This album is guaranteed to lower your blood pressure a few points.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Regardless your preference of format everybody needs this music in their musical library
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is an old album, and it's really, really beautiful. One of my all time favorites, and I recommend it highly. If you like Carlos (and who doesn't/why wouldn't you?) you really owe it to yourself to check this one out... (Really)
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