SANTANA - ABRAXAS

'Black Magic Woman'

On this day in music history: October 24, 1970 - “Abraxas”, the second album by Santana hits #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for 6 weeks (non-consecutive). Produced by Fred Catero and Carlos Santana, it is recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, CA from April 17 - May 2, 1970. Recorded in only two weeks and released just thirteen months after their self-titled debut, it is an even greater success for the San Francisco based rock band. The album takes its title from a line in German author and poet Herman Hesse’s (“Steppenwolf”, “Siddhartha”) book “Demian”, which is quoted on the back of the original LP jacket. The albums’ now iconic cover art features a painting by artist Mati Klarwein (“Bitches Brew”, “Live-Evil”) titled “Annunciation”, painted in 1961. A major critical and commercial success upon its release, it spins off three singles including covers of the Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) penned “Black Magic Woman” (#4 Pop) and the Tito Puente latin jazz classic “Oye Como Va” (#13 Pop), both becoming FM rock radio staples as well as major pop hits. Sony Music issues a remastered CD of “Abraxas” in 1998 featuring three live bonus tracks. Long a favorite of audiophiles, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases of a limited edition double vinyl LP mastered at 45 RPM in October of 2016, pressed with MFSL’s “one step” pressing method for unsurpassed sound quality. “Abraxas” is certified 5x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, and is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999.

Of course bought when it came out and I think the first two albums (at least) mark a period of discovery for many British listeners as they were transported by Carlos' wonderful playing and the Latin American beat introduced to a wider audience that may not have understood anything past say Tito Puente in the fifties but Santana broke new ground for sure and this is them at the very peak. It has to go with a mention to the author of 'Black Magic Woman' and us Brits were astonished at Carlos nod of acknowledgement toward one of our own great guitar heroes who we felt we had lost by then but the Fleetwood Mac we adored was both with Peter and Danny to whom I dedicated this entry

Turn it up . . . it deserves to rattle your windows . . . . . . . 

Source: Live at The Boston Tea Party 1970