SANTANA

It's been very interesting for me to make a review of an album that was released during the period of late sixties until seventies. It seems like I'm making "The Story of I" (lending these words from Patrick Moraz' legendary album) because I have grown up with rock music. 1969 was not my formative year of falling in love with rock music but for sure at that time I was making my foundation to take off with rock music as a choice. But at that time I was listening to The Beatles and Indonesian pop group heroes like Koes Bersaudara, Koes Plus, Panbers, Rasela, Gembel's, AKA, Trenchem and the like. And my first introduction to Santana happened when I heard "No One To Depend On" song which really blew me away. Simply speaking, "No One To Depend On" was like an original soundtrack of "The Story of I" at that time. Since then I explored other albums of Santana. With the help of magazine like Aktuil (Indonesia) and Muzik Express (Dutch) I could finally locate some other albums of Santana.

This debut album by Santana was a logical follow-up of the band's appearance at Fillmore West in 1968. The music represents the sounds that were around during that time which I classify under classic rock sounds. Santana's music has unique texture of latin music combined with electric guitar solo by Carlos Santana and soaring Hammond B3 organ by Gregg Rolie. Santana is basically a partnership of Carlos Santana and Gregg Rolie. The opening track "Waiting" is a stunning instrumental piece combining latin percussion, inventive Hammond B3 organ and unique guitar solo. What follows is the band's first hit "Evil Ways" which was written by Sony Henry who taught the band on writing song with verses and choruses. This was because initially Santana was just "jamming" band where their compositions have no start or middle or ending parts. "We are just playing", Gregg Rolie reckoned Santana's early years.

All other songs are excellent compositions. "Treat" has its roots in blues music (Note: Santana adored BB King) and it has powerful melody and composition. My favorite track is "You Just Don't Care" where it has the roots of seventies sounds with great and unique guitar work by Carlos Santana.

It's a legendary album and it's a must to have this CD. My collection is a two CD boxset with third album wrapped in cardboard with nice sleeve notes and bonus tracks. Recommended!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW