Abraxas
Santana
1970
Album Summary
Abraxas is the second studio album by Latin rock band Santana. It was released on September 23, 1970 by Columbia Records and became the band's first album to reach number one in the United States.
WikipediaReally good at recreational drugs, very good at guitar, pretty good at polyrhythmic rock, only okay at turning it into songs.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Latin rock / psych rock / jazz fusion Heavily latin-influenced album that constantly transitions to new musical ideas, similar to prog rock. 9/10
whoa - this album is incredible. I went through Santana's wikipedia and they legitimately have 60 former members
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.
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
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....
Very good, I love Santana. Black Magic Woman and Oyler Como Va were obviously the best, but all the songs were amazing
Sublime guitar work. Really can hear how he shape it for the next gen and the next gen
It’s quite good, mixing their Latin music with the musical stylings of free form jazz to create an exiting listen
overall thoughts: honestly? a near-perfect if not perfect album. i could play this from beginning to end and not run into a song that don't hit. i mean, what's not to like?? sick guitar playing, percussion, keyboard, everythiiing. had a wicked headache before putting this record on, and guess what, I'm chill af now. gotta love psychedelic latin rock. a classic, 5/5. fave tracks: black magic woman, samba pa ti, mother's daughter, oye como va, hope you're feeling better (they're all great tho)
Another amazing one! Loved Santana as a kid but don’t think I realized he was making this stuff back in 1970. Killer
Now this is the stuff I'm talking about. Smooth, sexy, and confident, but with an underlying rhythmic thrust that keeps driving forward. You have classics like Black Magic Woman and Oye Come Va on this and one of the most visually striking covers ever so...come on.
Santana could probably record his fart sounds played over guitar and drums and I would love it
Fucking kickass album. Favorite tracks are Black Magic Woman, Mother's Daughter, and Oye Como Va.
4.5/5 Quite a bit of variety, consistently exciting. Still coming around to Oye Como Va.
This is a staple album, definitely belongs on this list. Santana is an incredible guitarist and musicion, blending his culture with some amazing classic rock styles. Must listen.
Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen is a great track. Oye Como Va is also pretty sick. Incident at Neshabur is also also pretty sick. Really enjoy Mother's Daughter and Samba Pa Ti is also great - loving this album so far! Hope You're Feeling Better is sick. Honestly, what a great album! Every song is at least good and nearly all are great. First time listening through a full Santana album and I don't regret it.
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.”
I am certainly familiar with Santana, but I have never listened to this (nor any Santana) album before. I was quite pleased with it all. Honestly, previous to listening to this album, I thought that I didn't like Santana in that way. The occasional song here and there was all I thought that I was interested in. I have changed my mind on that for sure...at least for this album. I will check some other Santana albums out now too.
Santana is its own thing, isn't it? Like a genre unto itself. Instantly recognizable but hard to describe. It's even more interesting to me as the songs are from a variety of songwriters (Fleetwood Mac! Tito Puente!) and yet sound so cohesive. How is it that no one else plays the guitar like that? Copyright? Trademark? I mean, 29 years later, with another big hit album, you knew it was Santana again. Having never heard this album besides the two big songs, I really loved the ride this took me on.
the album with Oye como Va. This album was really fucking solid. Also, the album artwork absolutely fucks.
An incredible album even by today's standards. This is easily one of Santana's finest works that continues to offer me joy with each listen. Favorites: "Black Magic Woman", Oye Como Va", "Hope You're Feeling Better"
Brilliant fusion of jazz rock funk soul latin music. 1970 as well, i didn’t know how early this was. I could listen to this all day and not get bored or annoyed.
Not a single weak song on this whole album. I only knew the singles but I thought every track held up. Hard to believe this gem is over 50 years old, it feels just as fresh today. 5/5 stars
I got a black magic woman Got me so blind I can't see That she's a black magic woman She's tryin' to make a devil out of me
First intentional brush with the legend, and I think it was an incredible first brush.
Excellent fusion of genres. You have latin, jazz, blues-rock, and jam all under the hood on Abraxas. This album captures a lot of different ideas that were happening at the time in music and presents it masterfully to the world.
Thia album is beautiful, so much going on- so much rythemic and melodic texture, some of the songs even move like mini classical pieces with the way they proceed and resolve. The standout for me is Incident at Neshabur. Of course, Oye Como Va is a standout as well-along with the other hit Black Magic Women. All in all, amazing!
Love me some Santana! Amazing guitar and great mix of rock, Latin flair and jazziness...just so entertaining and fun musically! Listened to this during my childhood and it more than holds up!!
All around great album: this song has great Latin stuff in Oye Como Va as well as bluesier stuff like Hope You’re Feeling Better.
Trop bon, tellememt de classique. J'ai toujours ete fan de santana 1 et celui ci edt la suite logique. Mervi a peter green pour blacl magic woman !
This is a great album. This has all the hits. This also led me to finally listen to Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, since he essentially wrote Black Magic Woman. This is the definitive starting ground for Santana's discography and a lot of jam bands from the era.
Great Album all the way through. Every track brings something new and worth listening too. Overall fantastic .
Had no Idea that Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va we're off the same album, let alone right after one another. Great album all the way down. Incedent in Neshabur is a great tune as well. Santana is one of those bands that is cleshae to like, right? They're great
I've heard Black Magic Woman before, but I forgot what a RIDE it is!!! Also, so smooth throughout. Love the guitar and organ so far. Fun bass, lots of fun percussion. The opening track is a great instrumental. Makes you wanna shake it! The rhythm section here is doing SO MUCH work. Lush composition, very sensual, good flow and shift. This feels like a record bands like Yes or King Crimson hump at bigtime. Fuck, this shift in Incident At Neshabur feels like 70s prog rock with different percussion syncopation. Surprised I haven't heard more prog nerds sucking off Santana. Nah, this is really good, and I want to listen to more! Jazzy, fusion-y maybe?, latin rhythms, good mix of motion and technical showiness and melody.
I know I've heard this before and remember thinking it was pretty cool. Some cruisy Latin nonsense is just what I need to ease me through this morning's mild hangover. 4/5.
I've listened to Black Magic Woman before, of course. "Accidentally", thanks to its reach, and on purpose a few times at least. It's a fine song if familiar. On Abraxas, its position in the tracklist does no favors. The harshest juxtapositions between rock and jazz are there, but they turn out to be evidence of the band dipping in and out of genre before weaving the rest of the tracks masterfully. There's a lot of range on the rest of the record, and as far as I can tell the keystone is the percussion, informing the electric instruments and blending in the jazzier elements. Fantastic playing and no drags.
Chill and vibrant, with many colors. Good background, didn't pay enough attention to songs with lyrics unfortunately.
The problem I always have with Santana is that the instrumentals always sound like they were designed to have a lyric, it's just been removed, or the track has remained unfinished. The vocal tracks are awesome though, and obviously the guitar is stunning throughout. This is a really good album to stick on while you're doing other things.
Cool, classic rock, with a little Latin flair - exactly what I expect from Santana. Black Magic Woman is iconic.
Mucho mejor de lo que me esperaba. Sí, es un disco que tiene canciones que quemaron hasta durante la cena en bodas y graduaciones, pero poniéndolo en su contexto original debió ser un disco que sorprendía la gente y le presentaba ritmos latinos y bailables a los rockeros y hippies. Me gustó aprender que 'Black Magic Woman' es un cover a Fleetwod Mac y me gustó en especial 'Incident at Neshabur' en la que ponen el énfasis en el piano y la guitarra haciendo una especie de duelo.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con Santana. Por un lado es el disco que más canciones tiene que creo conoce el mundo, es una perfecta mezcla de rock-jazz fussion-salsa que te hace vibrar con cada instrumento. Por el otro lado no dejo de pensar en un maestraxo de música que tuve y era contemporáneo de Santana y decía que lo que tocaba Carlos era amanzapendejos por qué siempre hace los mismos shrederings solo que con diferente distorsion, repetitivos una y otra vez. Pero 3ste dicho en especial si me gusta
Love the atmospheric instrumental opening. Really got lost in it. Kinda prefer the more instrumental passages throughout the album.
heard alot of these tracks in passing (radio, random occurences) but man this guy knows how to make the guitar sing
This album showcases why Santana is considered one of the greatest guitarists ever. Giving mixes of jazz, rock, funk and of corse Latin dance rhythms. Most would be turned off by mixing of so many sounds in one album but for Santana it's a stage for how great his music really is. Transcending genres and remaining timeless.
Good Album! Knew a lot of the songs, just didn’t know they were all from the same album!
Aunque el inicio no me encanta, siento que el album va de 'menos' (Black Magic Woman) a (mucho) más (Mother's-Samba-Hope). Al inicio de las 3 vueltas no me sentía muy atraído pero constantemente retomó mi atención hacia el final, es momento de fiesta y alguien deme una cerveza!! El uso de otros sonidos lo hace agradable sin ser muy denso o ecléctico. Termina por ser muy disfrutable y variado, momentos lentos, de muchas percusiones o incluso pesados. Los riffs son una maravilla y la ejecución es perfecta. 3.5 que sube a 4. Songs: Mother's Daughter, Hope You're Feeling Better, Samba Pa Ti
Liked it a lot. Didn't know Black Magic Woman was covered in this album too. Really dug the soft instrumentals and the feel of the album as a whole. 8/10.
Music you can get lost in... A remarkable listen, with a good mix of straight-shooting hard rock and Latin jazz instrumental classics. Also nice that it’s short and sweet, and doesn’t prolong the fun. STANDOUTS: -Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen -Oye Como Va -Incident at Neshabur -Mother’s Daughter -Samba Pa Ti -Hope You’re Feeling Better
It's a classic, and even though I'm no big fan of Santana's later output, I recognize he was at his most creative here.
I really enjoyed this blend of Latin and rock music. And this was also pushed higher because I recently learned Santana is apart of ringos all star band which is pretty neat
I don’t quite think this should be a 4, but I went back and forth on going higher or lower and finally settled on giving it the four. There were plenty of cool songs on here and the others were solid jams, but not the most interesting. Solid album. Favorite track(s): “Black Magic Woman,” “Mother’s Daughter,” and “Hope You’re Feeling Better”
I wasn't expecting the majority of the album to be instrumental, but I enjoyed it a lot despite that. I could see myself putting this on in the background while I work.
Schwül, heiß, pulsierend. So viel zum - absolut korrekten - Klischee. Und ich finds geil und wäre gern dabei gewesen; glaube die Raves damals waren ziemlich wild! Gewinne aber (neu, erst beim jetzigen Durchhören aufgefallen) den Eindruck, dass so einige Leute aus Düsseldorf dieser Platte und bei Santanas Live-Performances sehr gut zugehört und das dann in ihre spezifische Form neuer deutscher Musik aka Krautrock mit einfließen lassen haben. Freut mich sehr!
some iconic songs for sure, but when I think of the actual album I just remember the part from A Serious Man where he doesn't want Columbia House to send him Santana Abraxas
The problem I always have with Santana is that the instrumentals always sound like they were designed to have a lyric, it's just been removed, or the track has remained unfinished. The vocal tracks are awesome though, and obviously the guitar is stunning throughout. This is a really good album to stick on while you're doing other things.
This album highlights Santana as a solo act (still with his band), but without a parading group of featured artists. His iconic guitar soars as several of his more memorable tracks emerge from this record, in a much more polished effort from his debut.
Guitar-centric Similar electric organ/synths to Bitches Brew Same album artist did Abraxas as Bitches Brew
It was good. Had some songs I'd heard outside of this album but it's a good distillation of his work
Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va, the main draws that gave this album worldwide acclaim, are good. Liking this Latin Rock. nice stuff.
It's Santana. This album features THE classic Santana guitar tone, music style, level of expression, and so on. Not my absolute favourite so gets 4/5 but probably should get 5/5
The album starts strong but looses a bit of steam about halfway through. I still enjoyed it overall, although not as much as other Santana albums.
Shockingly accessible for a guitar driven album. The melodies felt familiar. Very listenable and enjoyable.
Pretty great album, fusing rock, latin music, and jazz in a really coherent way. Closer to a 4.5
i hope spider dijon was on bongos for this album. i enjoyed this more than i was expecting.
Really interesting combination of 70s classic rock and more world music latin vibe. Great guitarwork and drumming throughout.
In my late teens and twenties, I listened to Santana with some frequency, and saw them in concert a couple times. I can't quite explain why, but in the decades since I just kind of lost interest in them, while other bands I listened to from both that era and genre in music and time in my life are still interesting to me. I suppose that's a reflection of how personal tastes and interests wax and wane and evolve over time. Long windup for me to say that this is the first time in a long, long time I've listened to Santana. I enjoyed quite a few tracks on this one. Some truly great musicianship and performances. Glad I had the opportunity to listen to this all the way through.
Genuinely a little surprised by how much I liked this album. For an album clearly recorded to be listened to whilst high, none of the songs stayed around too long and flowed nicely.
I was glad to see Santana on the list as I have always enjoyed his music, albeit more from a singles perspective. Abraxas is no exception with two great singles that I have loved for 40 years. The rest of the album is good from largely an instrumental perspective, and makes for great background music. This is where I wish a 10 point system was being used because I would give it a 9. As it is, it isn’t quite a 10.
Really good instrumental and melody in the album. Moved my body while listening to the album.
En este disco esta todo lo que conozco de Santana. Para mi lo mejor fue la base rítmica. Bajo y batería
Hieno levy ja vaikken usein niitä samoja vakkari-Santanoja jaksa kuunnella, niin tässä meni ympäri muutamaan kertaan ja mieluusti
I shouldn't assume my childhood tastes are the same as my adult tastes. I went into this with memories of childhood listens and the thought "Okay 3-stars, let's get this over with". I was so wrong. I'm toying with the idea of giving this a 5-star, but it isn't quite perfect.
An absolute classic. The rhythmic percussions and hypnotic guitar combine to make this album an escape from everything else around you.
Surprised that I didn't listen to this one sooner. I was introduced to Santana by the song Smooth which was probably not the best. This was a lot more fun than his 1999 release, Supernatural.
One of those never aging classic albums I can always go back and listen to (which I often do).
This album contains multiple classic Santana songs that I was unaware are on the same album. Of the lesser known songs, I enjoyed "Hope You're Feeling Better." The whole album is enjoyable. There's really not a single song I'd want to skip. It's also very classic Santana. A very worthwhile listen.
Didn't have the time that I'd like to focus and listen a few times but I enjoyed the time I had with this album today. Great guitar, organ, and percussion. I particularly liked Mother's Daughter.
Listening to Santana makes you want to dance all night long beachside with a margarita in one hand as Santana's band played on till early at dawn.
Hard to top songs like Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman when you put them at the start of the album. That being said, Carlos Santana is one of the greats. Super solid record. Give it a listen
Not sure how much the cover art influenced my decision to pull this out the Electric Fetus record store’s used bin back in 1984, but I’m pretty sure it factored into the decision. Cool riffs from Carlos throughout - love the pop songs, and the rest is good too.
I have heard "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Cómo Va" from this album, and a few other tracks from Santana many times before. This might be my first listen to a full album from the band. My favorite tracks may have been the instrumental tracks (from beginning to end), but I liked every track. An easy 4 stars.
Absolutely love Santana and was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it seems like this is pretty much his weakest record. The three opening songs in particular are rather weak (especially the massively overrated Oye Como Va). From Incident at Nashbur on the album was pure fire however, right up to the outro which was a bit of a stinker again. I'd really like to give this a 4.5. The amazing parts are absolutely amazing and tracks 4-8 are a straight 5. But tracks 1/3/9 are a 3 at best. Rounding this down because Santana really can (and did) do better than Abraxas.
Not as guitary as I was expecting. Very groovy, of course. Bit bothered that most of the songs with English lyrics are of the 'evil woman' school.