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.

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

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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....

dope album, that's all. I only knew santana from smooth with rob thomas of matchbox 20 but dayyum my love for intrumental makes this album a great experience

The guitar and percussion were pretty amazing on this album. I rather enjoyed the instrumentals in the album.

Que album mas hermoso, lloré. Obra maestra.

Santana, 1970, Latin Rock Standouts: Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti, Hope You're Feeling Better 4.5

WOW! The man with the electric guitar!! Excellent.

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.

Un disco excelente. Fusión pionera de blues, ritmos latinos y psicodelia, con temas icónicos que mejoran todavía más en el contexto del álbum completo. Y no solo destaca Santana a la guitarra, sino que la sección rítmica es también de una calidad enorme, sobre todo la tremenda percusión de influencia afro-latina.

This is #day204 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie, and... how about a record from 55 years ago? As I write this, it's the last day of winter 2025 in my hometown, Lviv—+3°C and drizzling outside. I was initially skeptical when I saw the name Santana and the genre Latin rock, among others. I figured it would be a solid 3 at best. But after giving it a listen... wow! This album turned out to be incredibly fun. Of course, I recognized "Black Magic Woman" (though I didn't know it was a cover) and "Oye Como Va," but there’s so much more to explore here—from jazz fusion to psychedelic rock and beyond. The guitar work and Latin American and African rhythms are out of this world. I honestly think this is one of those albums you must hear before you die. A very pleasant surprise. I can't believe it, but I’m giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day205.

Santana is a great guitar player, and he's an even better collaborator. H stays in his lane, works with great musicians, and together they make art. The absolute monster banger "I Hope You're Feeling Better" from side two? Not written by Santana. But it belongs in "Santana". Fantastic album. Beautiful instrumentals. Latin-infused Jazz. Love this one.

I listened to this while changing bike tires in the garage. I pictured myself being a cool 60's mechanic covered in grease, wearing a jumpsuit and smoking hand roll cigarettes. It was a good image and a good album. Album cover: (A-) There's a lot going on there.

"Black Magic Woman" is such a smooth song. I'm loving it. Latin Rock is not a genre I'm super familiar with but I am really digging this. "Oye Como Va" is a song I recognize, and it's amazing. The album has some awesome technical guitar playing, but in a more accessible way than Hendrix. When Jimi is twiddling on the strings it all just blends into 'guitar noises', but this has a lot more subtlety. There's a lot of layers and I like them all. The bass line and bongos (?) on "Se a Cabo" are rocking. 9/10

Every song slaps, not just the big hits....so good.

Great stuff

Fuck man, this album just goes hard. Every track has some spark of genius guitar playing that truly only few have touched

Wow… Just wow, This has been one of the greatest recommendations I have ever gotten. Took me through a journey and I don’t regret the 37 Minutes I spent listening to this Album. 9.3/10

Santana makes the guitar sing in a way that is beautiful. This album also stands out for the range in genres while also being uniquely Santana.

Ja geweldig. Top album. Top timing ook, allez, op het moment dat ik dit luister alleszins. Zonnetje begint te schijnen, het wordt wat warmer en dan is Samba Pa Ti de ideale soundtrack. 4.5

The best so far

You know I love everything my Mexican brethren do 🇲🇽

Beautiful

++: Singing Winds, Crying Beats, Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Oye Cómo Va, Incident at Neshabur, Se a Cabó, Mother's Daughter, Hope You're Feeling Better, El Nicoya +: Samba Pa Ti 9,9/10

I liked this one

Loved a bunch of songs on this, really liked the Latin rock/jazz fusion

This makes me wanna take controlled substances. Only reason this isn’t a 5 is because I wasn’t high as a kite

Awesome. These guys know how to rock.

03/02/2025 I have never listened actively to Santana and this was a good album for how I was feeling.

This is a very smooth album. Latin rock generally has an elegant feel to it. This album could go on and on. I love its psychedelic vibes.

I am trying to find a reason not to give this album 5 stars. I mean, if you like a guitar god who not only shreds (and who doesn't), but brings a latin-jazz-funk flavor to the proceedings, then Santana is your choice. The playing is frankly breathtaking. The Latin percussion enervating. We are moved gracefully from one style to another - jazz, blues-rock, psych, traditional Latin grooves. Fantastic album. Carlos Santana is truly a wizard, and a chaotic good one at that.

Carlos Santana basically can do one thing, but in context of other people doing other things that may become something great. Their debut, this one and Lotus, a little bit of Welcome, Borboletta and Caravanserai represent everything you need to understand the goods. Moonflower shows you how context becomes badly and his / their post seventies output mainly shows how his trick doesn't work. Said that, this is the most consistent of their outputs, and it is a damn fine record.

BEST SONGS: - Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen - Se a Cabo

I loved this more than I could have imagined! Very specific highlight was that crazily panned drum fill on Se a Cabó

10/10 Favorites: All

I was today years old when i learned Black Magic Woman is originally from Fleetwood Mac. The argument I’m trying to make here is that it belongs to Santana in the same way that “Hurt” belongs to Johnny Cash and not NIN.

Amazing. Nice add to my listening profile

Tem Samba Pa Ti, a expressão musical perfeita de toda sensualidade dos sons das guitarras. Lembrança deliciosa dos quadris Dela.

classic Santana, grew up learning all these songs on my guitar.

Amazing album with some stunning guitar playing

This album is a classic.

This is what I want to listen to as the world ends. Best Songs: Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti, Hope You're Feeling Better Worst Songs: NA

5 out of 5. This album is fire.

Absolute classic. So many good songs and nothing but shredding on the guitar. Short and sweet. Get in, rock, get out. Loved every second of it. Over before I knew it. The perfect amount of vocals. They hold out singing long enough to build some tension. A fun mix of instruments outside of guitar drums bass, etc. overall I had a blast listening to this. Listened front to back maybe 4 times throughout the day.

great album. still relevant today.

Phenomenal latin jazz/blues.

fantastic album

What a vibe, really fantastic.

Lovely!

A classic

Great grooves, great guitar playing, and great rhythm section. Just an all around great album. One of my favorite gags in the Big Lebowski is when it hard cuts to them in their beat up car eating in and out burger and Oye Como Va is playing. High 5.

Kedvenc/Favourite: Hope You're Feeling Better Nagyon tetszett a latin-amerikai vonal, még több színt vitt egy egyébként is változatos albumba. Könnyen hallgatható, minden dala egyéniség. Egy élmény volt. I really liked the Latin-American elements, it brought more colour to an already diverse album. It's easy to listen to, each song has its own personality. It was an amazing experience.

Awesome album. 'Nuff said.

Un vrai ETERNAL BAAAANNNGER. Le mix de rock et de sonorités latinos est une bouffée d’air frais dans le landscape psychédélique. Les solos de guitares sont comme qui dirait très gucci, le bassiste est solidement ancré dans le tempo, tout comme les 18 percussionnistes qui viennent rajouter une profondeur vibrante dans le mix. N’oublions pas le claviériste, ce sacré Gerry au moulinet de feu. Pour résumer, c’est d’la bombe

Brilliant

Abraxas is the second studio album by Santana, originally released in 1970. Santana was so unique at the time. Psych rock with a strong latin influence. This record was sort of a departure from the sound of their debut. Their first album is marked by its rawness and organ-driven tunes. The band got a lot more rehearsed and practiced for this album, as it is very jazzy and jammy. It predicts was the band would go on to do on later albums. Overall this album absolutely rips. Everyone in the band is on-point.

Eclectically brilliant

I don't know why I haven't heard about this artist before. I love this characteristic soul coming from the 70's where they improvise and create wonderful melodies along awesome harmonies

Absolutely phenomenal album with not a single duff track on it.

This was awesome, I listened to it twice. Five stars.

So f’ing good

A really cool mostly instrumental psychedelic rock record. Lots of latin rock infusion (as I think Santana, according to this site, popularized it). The guitar playing is the obvious stand out as it's legendary. Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va and Samba Pa Ti are great stand out singles. All the other tracks are great. A very unique rock record with good balance and as close to a five star as anything else on here.

So groovy.

This is not just Santana. This is M&S Santana. A reference for any Americans reading this, there. First heard this getting stoned with my new housemates in 1999 or something, thinking what is this mystical noise? For some reason I can quite fathom, in the intervening 25 years I haven't been absolutely mainlining this shit. Love the chilled out groove which beckons us into the record. Love how Black Magic Woman tickles the edges of the Fleetwood Mac song before morphing into a monster Love the transition to mambo with Oye Como Va. Those two tracks alone make me want to go listen to early Mac and Tito Puente after this, while still loving what I am currently listening to. What more can you possibly ask of music? Incident at Neshabur is a heady groove full of beats, puts me in mind of I am the Black Gold of the Sun, and Ozric Tentacles. More Ozrics with Se a Cabo. Samba Pi Ti. Nice to hear the rest of it as obviously Marks have made the start into a porno soundtrack advert in all of our minds. This is just all absolutely tremendous. The more straight ahead 70s rockers Mother's Daughter and Hope You're Feeling Better are less engaging but they're absolutely both still good, and sit well amongst such greatness. Hope is great, actually. I wanted El Nicoya to go longer. It's positively rude to lay down a beat like that and just leave us hanging at the end of the album. A storm swirled outside and the day never got properly light, and this was pretty much perfect for staying in, cosy and warm to. Unfortunately, I have to go out!

Elite intro track and genuine grooves the whole way through. Great lounge album

General impression: it’s so fucking cool Detailed review: Might give this a 5 even though I’m not exactly in the mood for this album right now. It’s just hard to deny the kickass composition and playing all across this album. Even beyond “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va,” which, come on, are fucking masterpieces, the rest of the album keeps the party going. I remember when I got my first Santana CD and loved the instrumental and Spanish language deep cuts even more than the pop hits. I guess that’s a tradition with Santana! Deeper thoughts (context): Score: 4.7 Number of albums left to review: 933 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 40 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 28

This is one of the sexiest albums I've ever heard! The swing and synergy of the percussions and Santana's iconic guitars make you freely wander imaginatively through the curves of this Black Magic Woman on the album cover!

This is so close to a perfect album! It has the melodicity and to-the-point-ness of pop, the exploration of prog, the virtuosity of jazz and the energy of hard rock. The production is also absolutley outstanding. Love it!