What's Your Favorite Santana Album?

[Alpinist]

Tough call. I love Santana and Abraxas equally. Was very lucky to see them at Bethel Woods (site of the original Woodstock festival) for the 45th anniversary of Woodstock.

 

[witchdoctor]

Tough call. I love Santana and Abraxas equally. Was very lucky to see them at Bethel Woods (site of the original Woodstock festival) for the 45th anniversary of Woodstock.

Was it this show? I watched some of it today online:

http://www.concertvault.com/santana/video/a-love-supreme_101978.html

 

[witchdoctor]

Yes, many are great, but this one is the best (listen to his guitar) and dance, dance to the moonlight till no end:

So, anyone who disagrees? :b

Awesome! The flamenco guitar just leaps out of my JBL's on my desktop, and Lila Downs voice is so smooth. Make sure you check out the live version of "Una Noche en Napoles" on youtube, WOW!!

 

[Steve Williams]

 

[NorthStar]

He's a cool guy, cool tune, cool everything.

 

[NorthStar]

For me, Abraxas, no contest.

If someone know nothing about Santana (eg.; a new young generation cool dude), Abraxas is the number one album to start his Santana high climbing musical journey, one hundred percent no doubt.

 

[witchdoctor]

If you know nothing about Santana (a young new generation cool dude), Abraxas is the number one album to start your Santana journey, one hundred percent no doubt.

It is the one I started mine with for sure.

 

[WLVCA]

Love Santana's music. Had a bad Santana experience though - we booked him to play at my college way back when and I was working student security for the show.

Let's just say he never made it to the stage that night due to an issue beyond our control

I met Santana but he was unresponsive at the time. Funny now, wasn't at the time.

I did see him actually perform one time at San Diego State. It was a great show.

 

[Alpinist]

Was it this show? I watched some of it today online:

http://www.concertvault.com/santana/video/a-love-supreme_101978.html

I saw Santana at Bethel Woods in the Summer of 2014. He said it was his third time there. The 1994 show, the 25th anniversary of the original performance (called Woodstock II ) looked pretty special too.

Ken

 

[XV-1]

Inner Secrets - guitar solo's on Well All Right and Open Invitation are out of this world. the extended versions of One Chain on the US vinyl version is pretty funky as well.

Have a soft spot for Havana Moon as well.

 

[NorthStar]

I wanted to go to a Santana concert after reading these posts so I did the next best thing and went to quello.com. Fired up my Auro 3D immersive mode on my Marantz 7702 and BAM:

https://qello.com/concert/Greatest-Hits-Live-at-Montreux-2011-4247

I was SHOCKED when I recognized the drummer and the conga player from the movie I watched on Netflix last week, A Drummer's Dream.

That was a very cool link, thx! ...Very cool site. ...And you have Auro-Matic ? ! ...That very too.

 

[witchdoctor]

That was a very cool link, thx! ...Very cool site. ...And you have Auro-Matic ? ! ...That very too.

Thanks, that site is such a bargain. For traditional redbook CD's two channel is fine but when you play live recordings immersive audio is SO much closer to the concert experience. I find DTS- NeoX to work excellent if you don't have Auro 3D. That is the older version of DTS-X and with two height channels + two wide channels in addition to the traditional 5.1 or 7.1 it sounds great too.

 

[Philip O Hanlon]

For me, Abraxas, no contest.

Steve,

I concur with your selection. Abraxas is also my favourite Santana album, ever since it was first released. I actually listen to this every year. I still have my original UK pressing, along with a Speaker's Corner reissue etc. Also have the various CDs, SACD...

BTW, I don't know if you got a chance to hear the MoFi One Step 45RPM TP of Abraxas either at AXPONA or Newport. It is absolutely stunning and a HUGE improvement over the regular 33RPM LP. Both at AXPONA & Newport the audience clapped at the end of Side 1. Considerably lower noise floor, more detail.
My only regret is that I have to return the TP this afternoon. Sigh ! Album is probably going to be released in three months time & will be a severely limited edition. I ordered my copy from Music Direct two months ago. No idea as to pricing yet. Expect it to be more expensive than usual, as less copies can be made.

Ciao,
Philip

 

[Alpinist]

My favorite Santana albums are any of the ones that had Mike Shrieve on drums. He is my favorite drummer.

Santana
Abraxas
Santana III
Caravanserai
Welcome
Borboletta

Best,
Ken

 

[Brucemck2]

Northstar, what's the sound quality level via Quello?

 

[Rhapsody]

I listen to Abraxas (fav) and the original album on 15ips tape at least once a week.....mind bending.

 

[jeromelang]

a rundown that comes at a most opportune time getting adquainted with IV

glad that they included "bella"

 

[Hi-FiGuy]

Just spun a recently acquired KC30130 dead wax PAL 30130 1E / PBL 30130 1D Abraxas complete with original poster and Time Magazine sticker over the naughty bits for $4.
The dead wax on 1E has an A scribbled out between the 1 and the E.
The vinyl is NM and will be resting on the table for a bit, only coming off to be turned over, pleasantly blown away!

 

[witchdoctor]

Nice find. $4 well invested!

 

[NorthStar]

Northstar, what's the sound quality level via Quello?

Sorry I missed your post from a while back.

On my end here, only from my laptop's picture and sound quality, I was very pleasantly surprised; it reminded me of some of my best Blu-ray Music concerts in hi-def picture and with lossless uncompressed hi-res audio.
Pretty awesome ? https://qello.com/concert/Greatest-Hits-Live-at-Montreux-2011-4247

* I didn't connect the HDMI cable from my laptop to my TV and surround sound system though...that should work great if no sync issue.

And the Blu is on sale now ($13.39 @ amazon).