Abraxas

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.

Every song is unique, very replayable for a mostly instrumental album. Great guitar and very nice latin vibe

mahtavaa. en itseasiassa ole koskaan kuunnellut koko albumia ainakaan muistaakseni, ja olen tahallaan pidätellyt viimeiset pari vuotta kun tätä listaa kolunut läpi.. enkä ole ollenkaan pettynyt.. noh olen kuitenkin melkein kaikki biisit silti kuullut.. kymmeniä.. ei.. satoja kertoja. omg niin huume pskydeleeinnen kokemus uskomaton huumausalbumi.. huumealbumi so much druuggg dso muhc druuugssszzz.. harmi että on pretentious ja tylsä ja vanhoille papoille heh.. sea a cabo

This is just wonderful. Full of great guitars and latin flair.

Santana is Latina god

# Album Name: Abraxas # Artist: Santana # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Wow, what a great album. I loved it. Its very instrument driven and focussed. The band and the music is the centre piece. Vocals not so much. The guitar work is amazing, the drums are fantastic. This album has it. The songs that are more vocal driven really shine such as black magic women, mothers daughter, feelin better and Oye como va. This is such a fucking banger. Dont let it fly by. Enjoy it. # Top Tunes: The whole thing was a great listen. # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Legendary riffs by a legendary guitarist.

This album fucking owns, I love it.

Fire

Panico il mix rockettino e latino

Amazing album very instrumental

Iconic

Hadn't huge expectations for this but I really enjoyed it, mix of Latin music, jazz, and psychedelic rock. Mostly instrumental, has a live improv feel to it. It's strength comes with the mix of styles, it never gets boring or repetitive. Most definitely an album for a particular mood.

Incredible blend of latin music, rock, blues, jazz

A fantastic álbum with tracks like ye como va. Santana is an amazing guitar player. And this álbum is delicious from top to bottom

I've decided that me and Santana are even, re: Smooth by Rob Thomas feat. Santana.

I may have heard this album too much in my life but it's still really good so it's okay, yay

Really solid album that brings back a lot of fun hazy memories.

10/10 One of the most pristine Latin Rock albums to ever grace the earth (thank you Latinas). I love the middle ground that this record reaches where we find ourselves in these mystical soundscapes and insanely groovy jams fronted by one of the greatest guitar players in history, Abraxas is a God tier Rock record that requires as much attention to detail as it requires soul and energy. Fuck Supernatural tho and fuck Taco Bell https://tenor.com/view/jerma985-jerma-mexico-gif-22209801

4-5 estrelas. Definiu o som do CS

Fantastic album, love the pink floyd covers!

great album. i’m so glad the cow bells and bongos stuck around for every song. it all sort of blended in together, but i really enjoyed that. it was really loud but still quite ambient if that makes sense. like background music but in a really good way, it stand out enough where i recognise it and it’s like “oh yeah” but i can sorta zone out. not really sure i’ve articulated this very well but all that matters is i enjoyed it a lot.

I love the opening track and the way it softly transitions into one of the greatest songs of all time as if it's no big deal. Oye Como Va has a really smooth Doors-ian organ section which carries out through the rest of the album. I love the variety in all the songs and I love how they manage to make songs that sound like 10 minute prog epics only 4 minutes long, which means the album is under 40 minutes, which I feel like any longer and the album starts to drag. I ended up really enjoying Mother's Daughter that and Hope You're Feeling Better, it feels wrong to keep comparing this album to others but it had a real Maggot Brain vibe to it with the faster guitar. Samba Pa Ti sounds incredibly familiar, I think I must've heard the Masayoshi Takanaka cover some time, but wow, what a beautiful song. This song would've been a 5 star just for black magic woman but the rest of the album is exactly what i hoped it would be.

What a pleasant surprise!  I went into this thinking it would be a 2-star album, but Abraxas is a consistent album with great leads from Santana (of course) and excellent percussion throughout. I'm usually not a fan if Santana's playing or songs, I'll happily listen to this again! Liked Songs Added: Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen Oye Como Va Se A Cabo Mother's Daughter Hope You're Feeling Better

Love the way each track flows into the next. Imagine the first time you hear "BMW"?

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.

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.

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.

Crazy good instrumentals. Kinda trippy but also coherent at the same time. 5/5

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!

Last song is not needed but excluded that it is a perfect hispano album.

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!

Disco fundamental de uno de los guitarristas más brillantes de la historia. Su carrera ha sido tan larga como dispersa, con álbumes de excelente rock latino (antes de que esto existiera), otros más etéreos (su época setentera con largos desarrollos instrumentales y new age) o ese resurgir en los 90-00´s con dos aclamados discos de colaboraciones. Este es el mejor de todos, sin duda. Black Magic Woman, es una joya. La versión original de Green se queda desnuda ante el empuje y magia que le insufla Santana. Otro tanto pasa con Oye como va. Samba pa ti, Mother´s Daughter, Hope you´re feeling better... un disco inmaculado. The Beatles- Let it be, Paul McCartney-McCartney, George Harrison- All Things Must Pass, John Lennon- John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, LED ZEPPELIN-III, THE KINKS- Lola versus Powerman and the moneygoround, VAN MORRISON - Moondance, THE STOOGES - Fun house, THE DOORS - Morrison hotel, NEIL YOUNG - After the gold rush, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - Loaded, BADFINGER - No dice, GEORGE HARRISON - All things must pass, FLAMIN' GROOVIES - Flamingo, IKE & TINA TURNER - Come together, ERIC BURDON & WAR - The Black-Man's Burdon, MC5 - Back in the USA, DAVID BOWIE - The man who sold the world, WILLIE DIXON - I am the blues, FLYING BURRITO BROS - Burrito Deluxe, SANTANA- Abraxas, Miles Davis- Bitches brew, Simon and Grafunkel- Bridge over Troubled Water, SIXTO RODRIGUEZ- Cold fact, THE SOFT MACHINE -III, DEREK AND THE DOMINOS- Layla and other assorted love songs, JJ PERREY- Moog Indigo, Carpenters- Close to you, SPIRIT- Twelve dreams or Dr. Sardonicus, DEEP PRUPLE- In rock, THE WHO- Live at Leeds, Credence Clearwater Revival. Cosmo's factory y Pendulum... y debuts de Black Sabbath (además de Paranoid),Elton John, Stephen Stills y Kraftwerk.

I’ve had a used copy of this record for decades but hadn’t listened in some time. I was blown away! Not only because of Carlos’ guitar playing but also the song craft and amazing rhythm section. A true masterpiece.

A visionary in guitar rock that transcends time.

Santana has been on my radar for a long time, I've enjoyed his Woodstock performance on several occasions, but I've mostly listened to the self titled album. I actually have a version of this album in my collection, but can't remember when I've listened to it the last time! And once again it's a joy, lots of latin vibes, "world music" meshed with rock, psychedelia and mysticism. I love it.

Carlos!! 5

Grooving, dancing, vibing to this album

Fact of the matter is that this holds up in ANY arena. No one can honestly soy they don't like this at all. It's totally infectious. This should represent 20th century are for millennia

cool Jazzy guitar driven instrumental

A river of creative guitar playing that is dripping with genius

Love it!

Mega! Samba Pa Ti

Suddenly I'm motivated to retake Atzlan

Very smooth and cool!

This is such a good album. Santana is just absolutely amazing, and his talent is in full display here. The entire first half is gorgeous and flows together perfectly. Practically flawless. The second half, while still great, doesn’t quite live up, but “Hope You're Feeling Better” might be the best song on the entire album. But still, it’s early Santana, where he’s arguably at his best. Easy 5 stars.

Þetta var frábær plata. Ég elskaði hana alveg í tætlur og mun hlusta á hana mörgum sinnum í viðbót. Ég þekkti mörg lögin en hafði aldrei hlustað á plötu með Santana áður. Frábært stöff.

An exceptional album. Santana has always had such a signature sound. And this is beautifully done.

Classics from his distinctive style, good for many occasions.

amazingly hot and diverse album. Extraordinary guitar and really captures a time and place.

One of a kind. Spiritual, soulful, mystical jams.

It's honestly really incredible how quality this sounds from the get-go, and it just never really stops. Black Magic Woman is obviously the well-known hit from this album, but in the context of the other songs, it really doesn't actually stand out all that much, because everything on this album is that good. I do wish there was some more vocals, just to help me differentiate the songs from one another, but that's really only a minor complaint. The vibes on this album never really stop. Favorite Song(s): Oye Como Va

I've left this unrated for literal months, coming back to it again for another listen to decide. My first introduction to Santana was, and I can't believe this is true, HS marching band where Santana was adapted to the show music. So I have a soft spot for Black Magic Woman & Oye Como Va. Anyway, I don't know why I took so long. It's obviously fantastic.

I’ve been listening to this since I found it in my father’s record collection when I was 10 years old. Love it. Santana is a master of the guitar.

it was a whole experience listening to this album, I was amazed because at first, I thought it would be a more difficult listen (like the music you have to be previously acquainted with) but most of the songs are easily enjoyable and instantly likable

Great album

Definitely a great guitar album here. Not that I expected anything different from Santana but it was still wonderful to discover how good the whole thing was. Knew a few songs off of here already but fell in love with some new ones too. I feel like this is one where you are either really with it, or really not. I'm certainly the former though.

Tremendous guitar album obviously, the Latin rock Santana brings is upbeat and brings in additional instrumentation you won't find on other albums, or presented in a different way than you might have heard before. I particularly like how the organ is used in songs like Hope You're Feeling Better and Oye Como Va. The limited vocals on the album make it great to have on behind the scenes as well.

Goddamn, Carlos Santana can play a mean solo. Very Easy 5 for me.

One of the easiest 5’s yet. Arguably a 10. That was just blissful for me – what a stunning combination of Latin instrumentation, jazz standards, and rock music, all anchored by Carlos Santana’s fucking insane wizardry with the guitar. I knew he was good, but hearing him seemingly at his peak and his prime like this is fucking crazy – I don’t know that I’ve heard a guitar sound that good ever. Maybe on a Led Zeppelin album, or a Hendrix one, but besides those (which are already amazing in their own right), this feels like a golden standard. There is not a single miss here, only a slightly lackluster ending (El Nicoya really feels like it could’ve been at the very start as opposed to the last track), but I could care less – this is packed to the brim, and it feels like I could listen to it 10 times and still miss stuff. Just a masterclass in composing, instrumentation, and production tricks; the occasional panning really sells a lot of the depth of these tracks, but much like Kind of Blue, everything is so perfectly mixed that you can still pick out just about every instrument, while giving them each time to breathe. Seriously, I’m annoyed at myself for only giving Santana credit for the limited amount of stuff I’ve heard on Supernatural – this is excellent. One of the best albums we’ve gotten yet. Very easy 5, and a highly, highly recommended listen.

Santana is just so cool. Latin infusion, heavy jazz influences, and it just flat out rocks. Another Guitar Hero classic for me with Black Magic Woman, but I think my favorites are Incident at Neshabur and the reflective Samba Pa Ti. Santana is so expressive with his guitar, it's really one of a kind.

Beautiful blend of Latin, Jazz, and Rock. Each instrument feels like it tells own feeling in each song (most prominently, the guitar, obviously) and has a good mix of dance music to jam and groove to, to one's that make you appreciate the composition and listen to the instruments as they unleash their potentials. I'd give the album a 9/10.

Pretty good

Good intro great album

oye como va

This was exactly my kind of album. So smooth and just effortlessly moves from track to track. I could listen to it multiple times on repeat, in fact, I already did.

An iconic album by Santana.

Santana was a staple of classic rock radio in the 70s and 80s and this album had some of his greatest classics. Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman are incredible tracks that would be on any Sanata greatest hits collection. This album basically grabs you with the raw energy of the first track and doesn't let go til the end. All time classic rock release.

\"Singing Winds, Crying Beasts\" as the extended intro to \"Black Magic Woman\"? Pure perfection! This album was peak Santana.

Awesome guitar work.

Fuck yeah! Normally I hate guitar heavy recordings. But Santana makes that bitch sing. This is a work of art.

I'd forgotten how good Carlos Santana was. I had this album 40 years ago but hadn't played it straight through for decades. A proper guitar god. There are tiny moments of unforgetable guitar beauty all over this album.

9/10…

Santana is great.

Easiest 5-star yet. The beginning of this album takes you for a slow and mellow ride with the nearly 5-minute intro. Then it fades into an absolute classic that is Black Magic Woman. After that, you get hit with another banger (Oye Como Va), and after that, an incredible psychedelic Latin jazz fusion jam that hits you out of nowhere. The tone switches, the slow hypnotic guitar, and the unbelievable percussion on this album are astonishing. Samba Pa Ti and the rest after it were high points for me. It ends with a percussion-heavy, almost tribal chant, which was the cherry on top. This shit was so beautiful from start to finish. Best - Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen, Oye Como Va, Incident At Neshabur, Se a Cabo, Samba Pa Ti (MPF), and El Nicoya Worst - no bad no mid not even good every song on this was GREAT 6/5

Really like the guitar and Latino combination of Santana. Atmospheric and chilled out music. Nice listen 👍

Santana is very nostalgic for me as I grew up listening to the albums in my house. I would certainly play some of this album at a dinner party and others while driving cross country. Favorites - Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen - Samba Pa Ti

My 3rd favorite Santana album <3

A deservedly classic album that sounds like one long jam session, Abraxas successfully infuses rock guitar with Latin rhythms. What an absolute vibe. The Tito Puente cover “Oye Como Va” might be my favorite track—a great song to just groove to. “Hope You’re Feeling Better” is the hard rock delineation the album needed. And of course “Black Magic Woman” is the dad rock song that played on repeat throughout my childhood— so it all feels nostalgic.

Beautiful album, with fine cuts throughout. Moonflower is my favorite, has been since the 70’s. But this is one of their best.

I love early Santana, the first three albums being my favorites. These records feature some of the era's most compelling album cover art and showcase Santana's profound influence on music long before the pop-rock era of Supernatural. There are many moments in the original trilogy of Santana albums that were obviously influential to 90’s and 2000’s bands like 311 and The Mars Volta. The musicianship displayed on Abraxas is incredible, the rhythm section is so tight and in the pocket and I could listen to them jam all day. Santana was still at a point to where his abilities were fresh to him, I feel like over time this is something that faded as he grew more comfortable in his role. Here he’s delivering with intensity and conviction and general excitement to be a part of this extremely talented band. All the songs here are highlights for me and this album will continue to be a regular in my music rotation.

This is groovy. Nice cover art! Track 2, all I can think of is the little, drunk Vietnamese gentleman that would sing this at karaoke every Saturday when I hosted. It was great, great tune too. I can't hear Oye Como Va without smiling. This is a wonderful mix of psychedelic rock with Latin beats and some jazz mixed in. Great album! Incident at Neshabur was my favorite here.

Oh wow. I hadn't heard this in such a long time. It's so damned good. One of the best groove albums on the planet. Got me revisiting the first and third Santana albums -- which are also fire. Seriously, have a puff of your favorite combustible, pour yourself a drink, slap on the cans, and just let ol' Carlos take the reins.

This is a great album, I've already owned and listened to this a lot

Yeah, a superb piece of music. It feels timeless and if feels like a peak of musicality. I've heard parts of it many many times, but the whole is just so easy to enjoy. It's going to get my rare five star rating. Why ... It's got so much more potential to enjoy as time passes. Thanks 1001, a worthy addition.

gostei pkrl e é isso aí. queria dar 4½ estrelas mas esse site fascista não deixa.

Legit classic.

Absolute fire. All the instruments here are firing on all cylinders and feel so tight. The pronounced Latin influence mixes so effectively with the psych rock elements.

Fun album, can’t give anything less than 5 stars. Favorite track: Oye como va other picks: black magic woman, se a cabo (reminds me of mi2 theme), incident at neshabur and the jazzy samba pa ti https://music.apple.com/us/station/the-abraxas-special-santana/ra.1532120202 (Miles Davis called Santana to offer complements to the album 😊)

Good album. Nice variety of sounds.

Santanas masterpiece. Superb music and musicians. Great arrangements, great lyrics, overall awesome and runs smoothly. The intro is mot great bit after that its pure fire.

Excellent work

This is a five for me. A genius guitarist who does not "show off" but always prioritises musicality. Very recognisable style yet varied and never boring. I'm not that much into latin styles but this is fantastic. I knew several songs from the album but never listened to it in its entirety. Every song is good. For all these reasons and because Santana is really influential, a decent five.

Love it

Black Magic Woman // Oye Como Va // Incident at Neshabur // Samba Pa Ti // Hope You’re Feeling Better // 4.5/5

Fun fact, this album had a sticker on the cover that contained a Time magazine review of Santana to cover the breasts of the woman for commercial sales.

I have never listened to an entire Santana album before listening to Abraxas. It had as many instrumentals as I expected, which isn't such a bad thing. "Hope You're Feeling Better" is a jam. How it was not a hit on the radio does not make sense to me, as it is right down the middle of what was playing on early 70's radio. The problem for Santana is people confuse them with their output from the late 90's with "Smooth." The band is more than just a few pop songs. None of the songs stick around too long as an effort to show off just how great Santana is at playing guitar. Carlos Santana is not aggressive in his playing to where the listener just "gets it" and wants to stop listening to the album. The hits are still great and the album tracks are a nice find. This album absolutely deserves to be on this list and I would recommend it to others.

Loved it. Fantastic sounds and perfect for a car ride

Probably the album that did more than any other to add Latin beat/percussion to 60's music

Ok Santana! Ok groovy time! Ok wind chimes! Oh “Black Magic Woman”…. A song that sounds kinda like sex should. Come on cowbell in “Oye Como Va”! I love the guitar on this album of course—shout out the solo on “Hope You’re Feeling Better”—but I think the diversity of instrumentation on the album is especially noteworthy.

This classical Santana album has everything you need including the wonderfully esoteric ambientish intro. We don't need to say anything about the hit songs.

A Masterpiece! funnily enough im not one to usually be able to get through mostly instrumental albums on one listen, but every song on this album felt so fun and so interesting that it never occured to me to turn the music off. Santana is a legend and this album was a definite must listen. 9.5/10

Absolute nailed on stone cold classic. The vibe on this album conveys so much fun and integrity. It's like they did it because they really enjoyed jamming together. I bet they were great to watch live too.

Didn’t think I was going to enjoy this but turns out I really thought it was great. Using the Apple Music rating system gave this album an average of 4.6 out of 5 for me. Stand out track for me was Mother’s Daughter. Also on a side note the production of the album is top notch. Thanks for introducing me to this great album.

Never would have listened to this album if not for this site. Fantastic music

This was my first time listening to this entire album, and it’s very impressive to hear the blend of genres. It’s obviously a crossover of Latin music, jazz, and blues, but it also shares many characteristics with prog rock and has a bit of psychedelic influence as well. While Carlos Santana’s guitar work garners much acclaim, the musicianship across the board is top-notch. The bass, keyboards, organ, and percussion each contribute significantly, so that every member complements and elevates the others.

i luv it. it makes me feel nice. it's smooth.

Best Song: Oye Como Va Worst Song: Singing Winds, Crying Beasts

1. Arrechísima y chill out, liked 2. I know it's a clasicazo. Arrechísima too. 3. Siempre la amé 4. Chilleo, se pone sabroso al 3:08, riquito pa background effing 5. Muf de bodi, like amigos invisibles 6. Alto riff intro, sabrosón. Calidá 7. Samba Pa Ti, pues. 8. Sounds kinda triple equis and Hendrix, like the people who made Peach Fuzz from VH1. Buena. 9. Outro con tamborcito y charrasca

This album is great. I've heard it many times before. Carlos Santana's excellent guitar work is at the forefront here. But the album has everything you want too - good mood building at the start, really solid tracks throughout and several incredible songs.

Nice to hear this album as a whole.

Favorite Track: Black Magic Woman

A solid first album to kick things off. Solidifies for me that Santana has one of, if not THE, most distinct tones and playing styles of all the guitar greats. I didn’t realize how prof his early stuff was as I really got to know him during his “Supernatural” days when I was younger.

I'm happy to see this record on here, I've always loved it. Santana is one of those guys who can play one note and you know it's him. He has such a unique style and sound and there's just an unmistakable tonal quality to his playing that nobody else can replicate. And I really think this album has some of his best playing. The whole fusion of Latin jazz, rock, even samba is something that everyone should hear and I think most would appreciate. I can understand that this kind of music might not be up everyone's alley, but you can't deny the musicianship on this record is top notch. Production is great too - such a big sound and very well recorded. I just wish it was longer. 4.5/5

Really enjoyed that album, start to finish. Makes me want some straight tequila

Really excellent atmospheric sounds, a solid album. Good flow, good tracks, awesome guitar work from Santana, he makes his instrument sing.

That Santana's Greatest Hits everyone had...this is virtually it!

Incredible album. If you know and like most of the tracks without ever listening to the album itself, this must be a banger.

Amazing.. no surprise this is on the list. Love the guitar (of course..), also all the melody/rift changes

How can an album with so much going on at once sound so clean? I love the crispness of Carlos Santana’s playing, you notice every note. This is another album that may not be enjoyed by everyone, but it’s a fantastic master class (especially for guitar and organ).

Concise, decluttered, engineered, clean and punchy. Represents all of their best with hits on board. Remarkably replayable.

A true classic.

I assumed this was younger, but apparently, it's the 70s. Classic Santana

Latin Jazz fusion at its finest. What a legend.

Some tasty little jams throughout. Greggie on the vox and keys!

5/5 - love this album

Carlos rocks. A must listen to - you know the hits, but the rest is great as well. Only complaint - - 37 minutes!

Thoughts before listening: Another album that I own, so I always enjoy being able to grab the record in the morning instead of queueing up Spotify. Early Santana has a very cool sound with Latin inspired music mixed with heavy rock and virtuoso, jazz-based guitar playing. Excited to revisit this album today. Review: Yeah this album is as great as I remember it. The hits are huge: "Black Magic woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va" have become mainstays of classic rock radio for a reason, and the album maintains this quality throughout. I especially enjoy the one-two punch of the heavy rock of "Mother's Daughter" followed by the latin-flavored instrumental "Samba Pa Ti". The stars of this album are of course Santana's guitar playing, but also the Latin percussion throughout. 5-stars

Had absolutely no idea Black Magic Woman was a cover. Can confirm this one is way better than the original. This is one of those records that needs to be in the collection for pure playability, it literally fits any time or mood and for that reason verges on perfection. How incredible is his voice too.

not an ounce of fat on this bad boy

Guitarristas que pactan con entidades del submundo y hacen estas maravillas

First of all, that album art is fucking amazing. I don't know what's going on there but it feels like weird renaissance art made on a persian carpet and that's pretty awesome. The music itself is great, nothing bad to say about it. I'd give it 4.5 but I'll put 5 because of that cover art lol

Fantastic. Very progressive at times with a he time changes. Carlos sounds effortless in his brilliance. Classic album.

Legendary music from one of the greatest guitars of all time.

The GOAT album for Carlos

Love it! Always have

Rock, Jazz, 1970 -> 5

Wow, what a trip! The album started off as a wonderful Latin Jazz / Samba jam session (and a GREAT one at that), complete with the two very familiar singles of Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va. of course, the guitar work was phenomenal, but so was everything else! Then, it transitioned into Prog Rock, and holy shit, they are really, really good at that as well. The Samba influences and jazz tracks are still there of course. Then the album closes with a solid Latin Jazz / Samba piece. Hearing the two singles as part of the whole album allowed me to hear these works in a way I never had before. I was pretty sure I would like this one, but I was surprised it was such a solid 5-star.

Solid album. Pretty good.

Thiago: Experiência musical sensacional e indescritível Mother's Daughter me fez agradecer por estar vivo Ecstasy musical

This is a good working album bc it has good beats. Kind of like KGLW

First time with the complete album. Great. His guitar sound is legendary

A really worth listening album.

9/10 very good album got me in a good mood

Black Magic Woman Oye Comp Va Se a Cabo Samba Pa Ti Hope You’re Feeling Better Banger of an album. This is the type of album I think of when I say I want to listen to an album. Feels like it was constructed as one big piece to listen to rather then just a bunch of songs threw together. What a great listen.

Santana brought a Latin element to 60's psychedelic rock. Abraxas is the second studio album, which includes some of their biggest hits, like "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va." Santana combines Latin rhythms with the wailing guitar of 60's psychedelic rock, and the combination was so successful that Santana's music is part of the songbook of classic rock.

Brilliant album. Amazing music

"Samba Pa Ti", Black Magic Woman" und "Oye Como va" sind schon große Klassiker. Wenn man aber noch das Große Ganze in einem Rutsch hört, dann gehört es zurecht zu den Meisterwerken der Musikgeschichte: Latino, Jazz, Rock mit viel Percussion und unglaublichen Gitarrensoli. Ein Traum

Some very good songs, though did not listen all the way through

All of that

Just incredible!

jaunty funky latin rock with a strong progressive structure throughout its runtime. some tracks are slow and steady, others get so unbelievably epic you'll be on the edge of your seat. dig those crazy congas.

Blast from the past!

Big fan of this album. My older brother shared this with me when I was in probably 7th or 8th grade, and it has been as fun to listen to now as it was then. I will keep coming back to it every once in a while.

Smoking a joint with my dad and listening to Santana is what I would've wanted the most but unfortunately the least likely thing to ever have happened ever.

Latin rock. I say Latin rock but there is a mix of blues, jazz, prog, psychedelic, etc all held together with the Latin roots. Incredibly raw and powerful guitar playing throughout the entire album, Santana is a god on the instrument. But while the guitar is amazing, I have to point out how important all of the percussion is on the album. It's what gives the album the Latin vibes the most I think. A bunch of fun jams that are easy to lose yourself in, I listened to this album twice in a row I was so into it. There is not a single weak moment on this album. I really can't wait to listen to this again. 5/5

What a way to start my journey. Heard the most famous song before but it's one of those albums that the not that famous songs are way better.

This album makes me feel like I'm jamming in a South American jungle. I love Santana's vibes. My favorite is the way he's able to project the guitar into the foreground where it almost sounds like it is singing. So much expression in that guitar. The real vocals fall to the background with the rest of the instruments and prop up the guitar as it shines.

Insane, zieke voorloper, elk nummer een banger

Great from start to finish.

Fantastic latin psychedelic rock. I have a lot of respect for this band & Carlos Santana. Nearly all of their songs sound like Santeria practiced through their guitars & percussion. I have a memory of doing a full on performance with maracas to Black Magic Woman at a party when I was in my 20s. No other music could make me move like that. 4.5 stars

Fantastic album from one of the great guitarists of our time. Start to finish this one kept me moving.

I hadn't listened to this album in ages - probably literally decades - and forgot how great it is. Some of Santana's most popular and best tracks on here, but the whole album is great from start to finish. Carlos Santana's tone on guitar is unmistakable and he's on fire for this entire album. The rest of the band is also impressive with some fantastic percussion & organ that stood out to me on multiple tracks - all incorporating a Latin Rock/Jazz/Funk feel throughout. This is one of the few \"Albums of the Day\" recently that I immediately went back and listened to again.

Awesome album with a great fusion of classic rock sounds and Latin-inspired rhythms. Santana's guitar work is particularly outstanding and I love every track (with maybe the exception of the last one but that's more of a short outro than anything)

I wore this out in high school and in college study sessions. I haven't listened to it in a very long time, but it slams. The flow is great and easy to listen to with minimal lyrical involvement. Good grooves.

The opening track hits you right away with the smooth psychedelic/latin beats and is a great reminder that Santana is not just Carlos and his guitar, but a very talented band. Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va became classics for a reason. Black Magic Woman in particular is one sexy song. There is not a single song on this album I did not like. This is a straight 5 - great sound, great skill, a pleasure to listen to.

This album is loaded, a must have.

Uff, este discazo me acompañó durante varios meses cuando vivia solo en el extranjero. Una salvada gloriosa.

Super cool

I’ve never been a fan of Santana, probably because of that terrible 2000s pop song with Rob Thomas. However, this album was awesome. I liked it all a lot. Fave Tracks: Oye Como Va, Se a Cabo, Mothers Daughter 4.9/5

Never properly listened to santana but this was great, particularly the first track

This album is exactly why I wanted to use the album generator. While I have heard some mid 2000s Santana I was never impressed. This album is a work of art, brimming with passion and feeling and I am so happy to be introduced to it.

Great music. Enjoyed that it had the feeling of a live show.

I'd never listened to Abraxas, but I love the old Greatest Hits album. So it turns out I'd already listened to most of this album. What a wonderful album. Couldn't be happier.

Classic album, a Must listen

Love Santana from a long time ago forward! Great album.

Nothing quite like Santana

Pure Psychedelic/Latin Rock GOLD. Me hizo sacarme unos pasitos antiguos de herencia latina.

Classic, own the vinyl

My child loved this 5*

Pretty solid, the instrumentals were great. Perfect for a long car ride.

Santana is an amazing guitarist. I've always loved this album.

Nice drumming

What’s there to say other than..Brilliant! As played by Carlos Santana.

This was really nice

10/10

Great album!

One of his better ones !

Unbelievable, felt like I was on the edge of the universe looking in on something otherworldly

Loved it! I’m a huge Santana fan.

vibe! did not expect mostly instrumental tho 6/7

So good!

Legendary.

Interesring choice to listen, with múltiples and great mix of music from Latinoamérica

Cheerful, easy on the ear

Deliciously good!!!

Very involving. I will listen to this again.

Superb!

Loved it!!! Great for the day shores and mood.

In a word: sultry. I've always been a fan of Santana, and this album rocks. Smooth guitar/lyrics/rhythm. I guess it's also jam band-y, which I didn't really understand about Santana until now. An easy album to put on in the background and simply enjoy. Memorable songs: Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti

I have always been impressed by Carlos Santana’s guitar skills and the album was a lovely reminder of how much I sleep on this good music.

Such a unique guitar tone. Great jams that don't overstay. Excellent

I think this is the second time I’ve listened to this album. A brilliant psychedelic/jazzy guitar album with Latin influences. Love the percussion and Santana’s guitar playing is fantastic. As good as any psychedelic album from this era.

Good fun. Very much of its time. Prefer the tunes to the extended instrumental work outs. Haven’t listened to it for years. Good to go back to.

Really great album

Supreme!

Lots of awesome songs that bring back memories.

Love, love, love this album. Banger through and through.

Fucking awesome. Silky with a bite

OYE COMO VA MI RITMO BUENO PA GOZAR MULATA *the most delicious fkin solos ever* HUH!!

This wasn’t the Incident at Neshabur, but I Hope You’re Feeling Better after listening to this. Like Singing Winds, Crying Beasts, this album was great

This is a superb album.

Classic. Smooth and elegant guitar, psychedelic melodies and latin american rhythms

One of my all-time favorites from almost half a century ago!

One of Santana’s best

First rate guitar. Love the accompaniments throughout too.

This album covers a wide range of genres while always keeping a consistent focus on Santana’s style. From funk to jazz to rock and psychedelia, Carlos manages to perfectly execute each song. I have no complaints with any of it. 5/5

I came into this from the Wikipedia article expecting to give it 3 or 4 stars, and left very surprised. It's pretty darn great. I'm familiar with a couple of the tracks (Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti) as jazz charts, but this overall modern Latin-rock genre is quite unfamiliar to me. And Santana Latin-rocks the house down. Every song is great - even the mysterious, atmospheric Singing Winds, Crying Beasts - and the album was over as soon as it had begun. Excellent guitar work and a fitting, precise-yet-jammy vocal performance.

Mein lieblings Album von Santana. All Killers No Fillers.

Gänsehaut und Flashbacks! Ich bin nicht auf dem Laufenden: gibt es solche Musik heute noch?

In meiner Zeit gab es mehrere Monate einen Santana-Hype. Abraxas gehört zu den 3 Alben die richtig gut waren.

Het regent, de oliebollen zijn op, je moet een of andere bankrekening aan de praat krijgen bij een bank waar je eigenlijk een grafhekel aan hebt. En dan zet je Santana op en dan is ineens je dag toch weer goed. De kracht van muziek. En dan ook nog eens een keer dit zwikkie klassiekers. Als er iemand toch de sfeer van een tequila bij zonsondergang aan een tropisch strand wist te vatten (zo stel ik me het tenminste maar voor) is het Santana wel.

Hier was ik even aan toe. Een kwaliteitsplaat in de lijst. Het toont de luisteraar alle mogelijkheden van de instrumenten, zowel het individuele spel als het samenspel. Het maakt deze band niet uit of het latin, jazzy of stevige rock is. Ze weten er wel raad mee. De zang is ongeforceerd. De zang komt alleen terug waar het versterkt. Mooi. Laat de instrumenten maar spreken. Ik ga hem nu lekker voor de derde keer opzetten.

Love it

Perfect way to start a morning. Seamlessly transitions from the chillest beats to some some hot guitar solos. I love how Santana has a such a distinct sound, but without all of his songs sounding the exact same. One of my favorite stories my mom tells is about the time she blacked out at a Santana concert at Merriweather.

Amazing listen. Must wear headphones!!! A classic album with great musicians and a fascinating aesthetic.

Sultry. Transporting. He makes that guitar sing. An absolute gem.

Masterful work by Carlos Santana. The true pinnacle of Classic Latin Rock for all time!

This dude just riffs for the entire album and it's so amazing to listen to. I don't even have that much to say because there's not some introspective reason behind it I just end up nodding my head to each song. Amazing work and his best hits are on this album as well. 9/10

Banger followed by absolute jam followed by banger followed by absolute jam. What a solid sound this album has. Everything aspect of this album is clean. I did actually prefer the bits with no singing which was most of the album as instrumentals were just so good. Fantastic listen. 9/10

Nice.

Excellent album. Highlighting Carlos Santana as an extraordinary guitar player.

This album has consensual sexual intercourse.

A blast from the past. I’d forgotten how amazing this album is. Thank you

Lyrics: Multilingual Poetry: The album's lyrics seamlessly blend English with Spanish, adding a unique cultural and linguistic richness to the songs. The bilingual approach is particularly evident in tracks like "Oye Como Va" and "Samba Pa Ti" [[2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraxas_(album)]. Spiritual and Mystical Themes: "Abraxas" explores spiritual themes, drawing inspiration from various mystical traditions. This is evident in songs like "Black Magic Woman," creating an enigmatic atmosphere that captivates listeners. Music: Innovative Fusion: Santana masterfully blends rock, blues, jazz, and Latin rhythms, creating a genre-defying sound. The guitar work of Carlos Santana is a standout, characterized by his signature tone and improvisational prowess. Diverse Instrumentation: The album features a diverse array of instruments, including congas, timbales, and organ, contributing to a rich sonic tapestry that distinguishes each track. Production: Timeless Sound: The production of "Abraxas" remains remarkably timeless. The seamless integration of various elements showcases the expertise of the production team, allowing the album to transcend its era. Studio Experimentation: The album reflects a willingness to experiment in the studio, evident in the psychedelic elements of "Singing Winds, Crying Beasts," showcasing the band's artistic exploration [4]. Themes: Cultural Fusion: "Abraxas" celebrates cultural diversity, intertwining Latin American and Western influences. This theme contributes to the album's universal appeal and enduring relevance. Mysticism and Spirituality: The mystical and spiritual undertones in the album's themes create a profound listening experience, inviting contemplation and reflection. Influence: Global Impact: "Abraxas" has had a significant impact globally, influencing subsequent generations of musicians. Its fusion of genres paved the way for the development of world music, leaving an enduring legacy [5]. Cross-Genre Influence: Santana's innovative approach to blending genres has inspired artists across various musical landscapes, from rock to Latin and beyond. Pros: Innovative Fusion: The groundbreaking fusion of genres sets "Abraxas" apart, contributing to its lasting appeal. Guitar Mastery: Carlos Santana's exceptional guitar work remains a highlight, showcasing technical skill and emotional depth. Cons: Uneven Pacing: Some may find the pacing uneven, with slower, introspective tracks contrasting sharply with more energetic pieces. Limited Vocal Variety: The album primarily relies on instrumental prowess, which may be a drawback for listeners seeking more vocal diversity. In conclusion, "Abraxas" stands as a testament to Santana's musical genius, offering a transformative journey through its diverse soundscape. Its influence on subsequent generations cements its status as a classic, despite minor pacing and vocal considerations.

11/16/23. Mad at myself for not listening to more Santana. I was expecting a guitar heavy album, but instead was surprised with very solid, fun songs and instruments! This will definitely be added to the rotation and maybe influence my own playing.

Love this album. Great stuff.

Amazing