CARAVANSERAI

I am a huge Santana fan but, believe it or not, this is the first time since perhaps ten years I listen to this highly acclaimed Santana effort here on Prog Archives, what a cascade of 5 star ratings!

While listening to this album I also enjoyed the pleasure of looking at the mindblowing LP cover and looking at the impressive list of involved musicians, from Mingo Lewis on congas to later Santana keyboard player Tom Coster on electric piano. There is wonderful flow on this album, when I started listening I quickly got into the exciting Latin- rock sound and l was carried away until the last second. The music is very melodic with lots of Hammond organ waves and assorted percussion (congas, bongos, timbales) as a solid and powerful foundation for the compelling guitar soli by mainly Carlos Santana but also Neal Schon (because of him I became Journey fan) with his distinctive, often biting and wah-wah drenched guitar runs. My highlights are All The Love Of The Universe (a delicate Spanish flavor - like a Malaguena - , splendid guitar soli, swirling Hammond solo and warm vocals), La Fuente Del Ritmo (exciting percussive Caribbean climate with great work by Santana on guitar, Tom Coster on Fender Rhodes electric piano and Greg Rolie on Hammond organ) and finally Every Step Of The Way, in my opinion one of the best compositions ever made on Santana albums (by drummer Mike Shrieve) : a great build-up, the surprising blend of an orchestra and excellent work on organ, flute, percussion and especially guitar, what an exciting, often howling and even blistering runs!

A very good album but I prefer Abraxas and Live At The Filmore '68. This was Santana his last genuine Latin-rock album before his convertion to jazzrock/fusion, not really my taste.