Abraxas

Wow! I came into this dreading an album full of 9 minute songs of musical masturbatory guitar solos, but that couldn't have been further from the case. The songs were short and rocking. Guitar work was tasteful and impressive and I was blown away by the percussion section. It felt like a jazz album of rock with a Latin feel.

Wow… what an album! Of course I was super familiar with “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Cómo Va" and went in loving them. But hearing these in the context of the album was almost like hearing them for the first time with “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts” leading in and “Gypsy Queen” in between taking these songs to an entirely new level. I’ve really been missing out only hearing them as singles. Side A is rounded out by “Incident and Neshabur” - another fantastic song. It’s complex with time signature changes flowing along on a wave of incredible percussion - an utter joy to experience. I can only imagine how great this would be live. Side B doesn’t let up and I absolutely loved it at first listen. From the joyous instrumental “Se a Cabo” into the sultry opening of “Mother’s Daughter” there is a lot to love here. The vocal performance in the latter is fantastic. A great song that I’m surprised I haven’t heard before. “Samba Pa Ti” I have heard before somewhere, but not sure it was from Santana. Really beautiful song with some incredible guitar work. “Hope Your Feeling Better” leans more towards a funk/rock vibe supported by that incredible organ and guitar work that runs through the entire album. The album closes with and exciting finish on the percussive chant-heavy “El Nicoya.”

Really good at recreational drugs, very good at guitar, pretty good at polyrhythmic rock, only okay at turning it into songs.

Making a mental note to listen to this the next time I'm on Schedule I drugs

So Mexico didn’t pay for the wall but I had tacos for dinner and Santana is awesome It’s hard for me to assign 5 stars to an album I’m mostly hearing for the first time (except a couple songs).. but I really got into this one. His guitar sound and riffs are so nice - and the other instruments esp percussion really create a certain feeling. I’m sure I’ll listen again

whoa - this album is incredible. I went through Santana's wikipedia and they legitimately have 60 former members

You know I love Santana. This one feels a lot more jammier than their debut. We do get some ventures into Jazz Rock on Incident at Neshabur. I don’t think anything is like mindblowingly incredible, but Carlos is ON POINT and the songs kick ass. They fuck. Not in love with the intro, but all the other songs absolutely go hard.

Santana has been a major figure in psychedelic and Latin Rock since their self-titled debut album in 1969. And after having big success because of the Woodstock appearance, the follow up album was only more spectacular and even better. 'Abraxas' shines with the sprawling guitar work by Carlos Santana as well as the overall warmth the album gives out. I think it's a bit sad that this is the only Santana inclusion in the 1001 albums list, as at least one or two more would be more deserving for such a guitar legend. But at least they chose the right one to include here. 'Singing Winds, Crying Beasts' opens the album with ominous and nocturnal sounds made by piano and some sort of wind chimes. The guitar enters like a beast and from then on the song blends Latin Rock with Jazz Fusion elements and keeps the ominous and spiritual vibe from the beginning. A great instrumental intro track that really stands apart from most other songs on here. The following 'Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen' is the first song to really show the incredible guitar ability that Santana can offer. The song goes a much blues-ier way and the vocals just emphasize that, mainly because they feel like something you'd hear on a Cream record if they were doing Latin Rock. The fast outro just ends the song perfectly. An incredible song and easily one of the best ones in the entire Santana catalogue. In my opinion even better is 'Oye como va', just because the chorus is what comes to my ears every time I think about Santana. It is burned into my brain like only a few other things. The drive of the song, the bridge, the guitar, the extra tropical feeling because of the Spanish vocals and slight Salsa influence... It just flows like honey except the honey as a little bit of LSD added. The first half ends with 'Incident at Neshabur' that goes into more Jazz influence again and it works perfectly. While the song might not be as great as the song before, it is without a doubt one of the best ones on this album. Especially with that piano/guitar duo near the end. 'Se a cabo' opens the second side with a loud and rambling sound that climaxes into a stunning amalgamation of all instruments before turning quieter for a moment just to comes back as loud as before to throw you from your socks once again. More lyrics and vocals return with 'Mother's Daughter' and like before this feels very much like Cream only better and more diverse. The guitar really works as the chorus-like peak everytime it appears. Another highlight is the Samba inspired 'Samba pa ti' that features a very emotional and deeply connecting guitar solo that hooks you the moment it first comes to ear. It is my favourite song on the album, simply because I rarely hear a guitar solo that makes me as emotional as this. To compensate the very sentimental track from before 'Hope You're Feeling Better' is much more up-lifting and hard hitting including characteristics from Acid Rock and Heavy Psych as well as some Funk. It is incredibely groovy and full of delicous highlights. The album closes with Conga music which means it's the only song that isn't rock music at all and while it does close the album pretty nicely, I think the song just isn't as interesting compared to the incredible rest. favourites: Samba pa ti, Oye como va, Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen, Hope You're Feeling Better, Se a cabo least favourites: El nicoya Rating: decent to strong 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

I really loved this album. Santana is such an incredible guitarist, and the arrangements on this album are so complex and interesting. An all timer.

In this 1001 albums project, I feel like I have sat through a zillion late 60s white-boy psychedelic rock records, and they bore me to death. Really, when I think about it, they don't have a lot of life in them, and they meander around without much drive and they just shit me. In that context, I can see why Santana were such a dramatic success when they suddenly emerged in 1969. Their career-making appearance at Woodstock was the highlight of the festival (as far as I can tell from the film). Because they knew how to groove. The energetic rhythm drives everything, which is what all those other bands could never really get right. The Santana band can noodle as much as much as they like (and they sure do like to noodle, especially live) because you can dance to it. Despite Carlos Santana's name on the marquee, I'd like to call out Greg Rolie as the most valuable player here. His organ playing and singing really lift this record, and "Hope You're Feeling Better" is the standout original track on the record for me. That said, five (that's more than half) tracks from this album turn up on the 1974 Greatest Hits album, and deservedly so. As time went by, it became clear that Carlos Santana is a bit of a one trick pony, but it a pretty bloody great trick, and never displayed better than on this record. Personally, I prefer the self-titled album, but it's a near thing really. Between the self-titled album and Abraxas, you have all the Santana you'll ever need, but you really do need it.

Argued with myself on this one, undeniably a great album but you have to be in the right mood/frame of mind to listen to it.

Can't believe I've never heard more than 2 songs from this album before.

Santana is undoubtedly a great guitar player. This album has black magic woman and oye como va. Overall the album isn't that great but santana needs a mention on this list

Every time I am about to listen to some Santana, I expect to like it, but end up disappointed. I do like this kind of jazz-rock with strong latin influence, but I keep feeling that something is missing.

There were a couple of ageing guitar enthusiasts on my uni course who used to rave about Santana. I was 17 and into Techno, so always associated this music with the double denim crew. Listening now I wish I had given Santana more of a chance as this album is incredible.

Santana. That name says it all in regards to guitar, and music in general. this was the first album, I had heard of Santana growing up, and it is still an amazing listen to this day

Always hated having to play black magic woman on guitar hero, what a bloated hunk of fudge that song is. In adulthood, it’s not bad, but not impressive. If you came up to me and said “my uncle just recorded an album, check it out!” And then started spinning this, I’d simply say “oh that’s cool” and then go on my phone

this is a hellovah album. never heard befroe, but bet everyone who hears it remembers where they were when they first heard it. its very scenic atmospheric dramatic witchy swirling mesmerizing. i watched pigeons flying in the distance swooping and turning in the sky with a mountain and a far off highway behind them as listened to this, and that felt just right for the opening songs. does santana sing? does he play piano? i have lots of uestions wiki would like to answer. really cool album.

This is a flawless album. Everything about it from drums, vocals, rhythm, lead guitar and more are executed perfectly and beautifully. Perfect

fantastic, tasteful culmination of Latin, jazz, and rock

While I've always considered myself a Santana fan, I've mostly been a greatest hits guy. I can't remember listening to an entire Santana album except for Supernatural until this past year. I did see Santana live on the Supernatural tour in 2002-2003 timeframe and even got to meet him after the show through a radio meet-and-greet. Anyway, Abraxas is basically a Santana greatest hits! Great album by a transcendent guitarist. I listened to this one three times over the last 24 hours. My favorite tracks are "Oye Como Va", "Se a Cabo", "Samba Pa Ti", and "I Hope You're Feeling Better".

Excellent. Very cool beats.

This fucking hit different. The guitar was everywhere all at once and just kept hitting. One of my favourite albums I have never heard of.

Listened to it twice.

Now we're talking! A couple of favorites here!

My uncle gave me and my brother this album. I've owned this my entire adult life. An all time classic. The most 5 star album I've come across on 1001 albums so far

Awesome album from beginning to end. Santana is a rock god.

Discazo

Latin rock / psych rock / jazz fusion Heavily latin-influenced album that constantly transitions to new musical ideas, similar to prog rock. 9/10

Este disco me gustó mucho, y como comenté en MDH, creo que una razón por la que me gusta es porque no es "tan Santana", en el sentido de que por lo general se asocia a Santana con requintos atascadísimos y eternos de guitarra (no que sea algo malo, por cierto). Este disco no es "sólo" de requintos de Santana. Es una mezcla exquisita de rock ácido con influencias latinas y africanas. Just sit, listen, and relax.

Spy Kids

I didn't go into this with an open mind - I'm not a jam band listener, and that's what I was expecting this to be. It's not that! It's tight, it's rhythmic, it's coherent as a full album but also as independent songs and feels like a true piece of art. I listened through once and realized that I want to hear it again to see what I wasn't paying attention to. It's really great all the way through. Only track that I'd probably be tempted to skip is 2nd to last.

First listen to Santana, I really expected something else. There were some enjoyable moments especially with the guitar, also the jazz parts, I don’t know exactly how to describe them. It was interesting and new I’ll probably warm up to it eventually. 7.5/10, the expectations I had ruined the initial experience, thankfully I listened to it more, admittedly it’s quite good.

Wham bam Santana man

This definitely seems like the quintessential Santana album to include in this collection, and impressive that three of the tracks have survived so long on the airwaves. It's equally impressive that two of the three tracks are covers ("Black magic woman" and "Oye como va"), but with a definite Santana spin to them; ironically, the other hit from this album (which I'll admit I'm far less familiar with), "Samba pa ti", sounds more like an Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck instrumental than Santana's. (I actually thought "Hope you're feeling better" was a better track.) I also had no idea that the lead vocals (and some impressive organ pieces) are performed by none other than Gregg Rolie of (future) Journey fame. It's kind of tough to rate this album, as the main hits feel like it's a solid four stars, but then the rest of the album feels a bit nondescript with largely instrumental pieces (or as Robert Christgau uncharitably put it, "a not disreputable performance, most likely a failed experiment or a pleasant piece of hackwork"). This would have been an easy four (or five) stars if it included "No one to depend on" and "Evil ways", but I feel like Santana himself deserves four stars for hanging in there and exploring all sorts of music.

Abraxas is one of those albums where I can appreciate the musicianship without ever really feeling all that moved by it. Santana’s guitar tone is iconic, and the blend of Latin rhythms with rock is undeniably unique, but for me, it all starts to blur together after a while. The percussion work is tight, and there's a real sense of groove across the whole album, but the emotional pull just isn’t there for me. I do enjoy "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va" — they’re great showcases of what Santana does best, with a strong sense of rhythm and a guitar voice that’s instantly recognisable. But once you get past those tracks, it feels like the album slips into a kind of background vibe that doesn’t demand much attention. It’s pleasant enough, technically impressive in parts, but I can’t say it’s something I’m eager to revisit often. Just a solid, but not particularly essential, listen.

Very smooth but I did wish I was listening to Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) because Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) is one of the smoothest songs of all time and when I hear Smooth feat. Rob Thomas (1999) life just feels so smooth.

Cool grooves from time to time, but it’s a little one note for my taste. I did enjoy it, but I doubt I’ll really remember it.

I really dug me some Santana during the late-90's "Latin takeover" of popular music (Smooth featuring Rob Thomas? ¡Muy buena!). I always felt like a poser though, because classic Santana didn't do much for me - although there are some awesome remixes of Oye como va out there. And turns out it still doesn't - it's not bad, and you do have to respect a Latino artist bringing Spanish-language tracks and the Cali experience to the mainstream for the first time since Richie Valens (is this true? Don't know, but sounds good). But most of it sounds like the jam part of a Grateful Dead album, if Jerry Garcia were really good on guitar. So #Respect Carlos, but you're still getting a big tres from me.

Cool cafe sort of music but doesn’t grab me. Don’t get the hype on Carlos’ playing.

Je sais plus ce que c'était

Honestly didn't really enjoy this. It hasn't aged well and it is certainly note memorable or remarkable. In fact, as I am writing this my memories of having heard this album are fading....

Smooth.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album, especially Oye Como Va and Incident at Neshabur. I particularly appreciated how many instrumental (or almost instrumental) songs it had.

This album did it for me since I was a kid.

Das Album Abraxas von Santana wurde 1970 veröffentlicht und in den Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco sowie in den Pacific Recording Studios in San Mateo aufgenommen. Die Bandmitglieder stammen überwiegend aus den USA und Lateinamerika, was sich in der stilistischen Ausrichtung des Albums widerspiegelt. Musikalisch bewegt sich Abraxas zwischen Latin Rock, Blues Rock und Jazz-Einflüssen. Die Verbindung von afrokaribischen Rhythmen mit Rock-Instrumentierung ist für das Werk charakteristisch. Besonders prägend sind Stücke wie „Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen“, das mit einem fließenden Übergang zweier musikalischer Themen arbeitet, sowie das Instrumentalstück „Samba Pa Ti“, das sich durch seine schlichte Melodieführung und eine klar strukturierte Dynamik auszeichnet. Auch „Oye Como Va“, eine Adaption eines Tito-Puente-Titels, wurde zu einem der bekanntesten Songs des Albums. Das Zusammenspiel der Band ist präzise und rhythmisch differenziert, wobei die Gitarrenarbeit von Carlos Santana in mehreren Stücken eine zentrale Rolle übernimmt, ohne sich in Vordergründigkeit zu verlieren. Abraxas ist ein sorgfältig produziertes Album, das verschiedene musikalische Einflüsse verbindet und einen eigenständigen Sound entwickelt. Die Stücke wirken auch aus heutiger Sicht geschlossen und durchdacht.

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩✩ Higlighted songs: Black Magic Woman / Gipsy Queen, Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti, Hope You're Feeling Better Por el culooooooooo

Carlos Santana is an unparalleled guitarist, delivering soulful, masterful playing throughout the album. But it's not just him. The entire band brings an incredible level of skill and energy. From the rhythm section to the percussion and keys, every instrument adds to a rich and electrifying sound. It's nonstop musical excellence from start to finish.

Santana. Enough said.

For someone who hates jazz, this is an awesome album. Front to back, all the way, I was hooked by every song. Layered, transcendental, wonderful. I got lost in the songs and was left wanting more. My Rating: 5/5

one of the instances that make me sad i don't do drugs, but then again, this album feels like a high in the best way possible, so i guess drugs are not needed. this album is surprisingly timeless. sure, it makes sense it came out`70 but i als would not have been surprised if you told me it was released by some niche underground band last year. the perussion is truly to die for and the guitar solos are hawwwwt!

Smooth, sexy, stylish. This album is wonderful and well put together. Amazing instrumentals with great vocals! Easy 5. 'Black Magic Woman' takes the fave spot for me.

This album absolutely rules.

A favourite album since I was a kid.

Really enjoyable

Holy shit this album rocked my world! First off I just knew Santana as that guy who made that song with Rob Thomas that you could escape in the early 2000s cause it was EVERYWHERE! (Which is a guilty pleasure now cause it’s so nostalgic for that time in my life) But seriously, this album fucking rocks! It’s got a lot of crazy impressive and emotional guitar playing and instrumentation. Like I know this is Santana’s band and it all built around his playing, but he has some great musicians in his band to accompany him. I knew I liked black magic woman, and I knew I liked “oyo como va” cause both of those songs have been saved in my phone for as long as I can remember but I never listened to the album as a whole actually better that way. There’s so much going on in this album you really gotta give it a try. It’s fantastic!

4.5

Legendary. Part of the Holy Trinity of Santana albums: - Santana (1969) - Abraxas (1970) - Santana III (1971) **All respect and admiration is due.

Awesome album

Fantastic

Jävla nice rocky rock rockigt som helvete. Nästan fyra egentligen men den får en femma

It was fantastic. I really enjoyed this one, the songs, the Rhythms, the melodies, the splendid Guitar solos from Santana, the magical arrangements . Masterpiece !

A reminder of my childhood! This must be Santana’s best album because I recognize all these songs. So beautiful!

Fantastic guitar heavy album. The “feel” is on point.

Evry song on this is a save, even the instrumentals.

I really love this album - listened to my dad’s copy of the vinyl growing up, and it was one of the first CDs I purchased. Santana is such an incredible guitarist, and the arrangements on this album are so complex and interesting. Truly a classic that deserves its place on the list! 5⭐️

Effortlessly switches between jazz and rock, always with a cinematic grandness

Excellent

What a funky, psych-y album! Filled with grooves, singing guitars, and the best kind of fuzzy keyboards, this record is filled with a ton of latin soul and good old fashioned rock. The two singles Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va are pretty good indicators of the styles contained within, but do yourself a favor and explore the rest.

Absolutely sublime. He only plays about 5 notes across the whole album, but what 5 notes they are.

I liked this. Short and sweet. Plus I like all the song titles. And Oye Como Va is the song my mom wouldn’t get out of the car (even if we needed to get out) when it was playing - always at max vol.

je veux vraiment lui donner 5☆ en partie à cause que les deux chansons que je connaissais déjà de cet album sont des 5☆ pour moi. j’ai un peu moins trippé sur le reste (quoique c’est quand même très bon), mais il faut quand même que je commence à donner des 5☆ à moment donné

bel vibe

Very nice

Great album, inspiring latin rock sound since the 70s and being one of the most influential figures of Woodstock

Not every dong is a 10 outta 10 but the sum of its widdly woodly parts is one bitchin record.

Absolutely brilliant.

Brings back memories days in the past, out in and abandoned area of east Orlando, Jim Smith's van doors open, this album (and many others) playing on the stereo ... Good times, good times indeed. Always worth a listen.

THIS RIPS!!!! I LOVE YOU LATIN MUSIC I LOVE YOU HIPPIE MUSIC I LOVE YOU CARLOS SANTANA!!!!

Truly amazing considering the album was released in 1970. Latin percussion was really tasteful. Nice vocal performance and impeccable production. He knows what he’s doing and understands where the boundaries are. I can imaging him tryna woo a nun but still always in awe. A very solid timeless album.

True story. I once met a nun who told me she lived on the same street as Santana in the 60s or 70s and that she turned him down when he asked her out. I imagine it was the raw sexual energy that leads one to try banging a nun that fuels an album such as this.

Carlos offers up some sweet, iconic riffage on an album that gets a lot of airplay on classic rock radio, and what your dad would call a "cultural" album. It's hard to argue this record should be given anything other than 5 stars. There's just something about it that's so...smooth... I'll uh, I'll see myself out.

Santana's Abraxas embodies its titular deity's paradoxical nature, fusing technical virtuosity with raw intuition, cultural tradition with psychedelic exploration, and spiritual ascension with earthly groove.

Amazing album, dancing the whole way through

Abraxas is one of those albums that changes your musical taste forever. Santana and his all star crew take you on a spiritual journey across the globe and then into the cosmos and beyond. It is so pure and perfectly jammy, yet psychadelic and groovy all in one. A masterclass of a piece that fits so many different environments. Tender and emotional yet fierce as a tiger and directly to your face. A must have in any collection, but not perfection. 9/10

So many of his hits!

I mean, yeah. It is an absolute classic. It's Carlos Santana at his best, with indigenous-inspired percussion, Mexican songs with a nicely overdriven twist and impeccable guitar work. Amazing how something so lyrically minimal can have so many iconic and memorable songs. This album in particular will have you realize just how many Santana songs have made their way passively into your head. Great album, 5*.

This review could have been more substantial but the instant this album starts I smell herb and feel sleepy. Santana knows how to bring it up then lay it down.

An easy one to judge. I don't dissent from the general world-view of this work.

Scorching psychedelic Latin jams. Exactly the kind of music that's up my alley! The B-side just needs to sink in a bit before I rate it higher, but already it's a 9/10.

It took almost two weeks of album listening, but we finally have my first 5-star! Santana has always been one of my dad’s favorites, and so I grew to appreciate them as well and it’s a very important band to me. Saw them live in 2023 and it was one of the best live performances I’ve ever seen. This album has two songs I already knew, Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen and Oye Como Va (which are both bangers), and I think you kind of get the whole Santana experience in those two, between the keyboard playing, drums, and guitar. Certainly helped by Carlos Santana being one of the greatest guitarists of all time. But I enjoyed the rest of the album too (Mother’s Daughter stood out to me), and there weren’t any songs I hated and wanted to immediately skip. Great album.

Absolute banger from beginning to end. Layered, jazzy, funky, with some fresh latin flavor and a dash of psychedelic. Easy 5⭐on first listen.

This album was difficult for me to rate, but on my fourth listen (which is significant in itself, in my opinion) I realized what I was doing wrong. This album demands your full attention. When listening while driving or working, I couldn't appreciate it. When I sat down and did nothing but listen, it was like an entirely different album.

I had no idea what I was missing. This was an absolute blast to listen to and several songs have entered my regular rotation. I had a more detailed review, but it got lost.

This sounds just as good to me now as it did 55 years ago when I was 12. 5 stars or A.

Amazing all the way through.

Fantastic record. I’ve never listened to it all the way through but loved it. Santanas guitar playing is unmatched in its psychadelic rawness

Full of life and soul ✨

brutal

Listened to this for the first time in 9th grade Spanish class. Mr. Alsip played "Oye como va." I bought a copy of the album sometime later that year. I still think about him when I listen to it.