Santana – Santana – Columbia/Mobile Fidelity

by | Jan 13, 2008 | Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews | 0 comments

Santana – Santana – Columbia/Mobile Fidelity Gold Ultradisc II CD UDCD 773, 37:24 ****:

Recorded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1968, the first album from Carlos Santana’s band was a huge hit in spite of the hegemony of the Grateful Dead and the many dozens of other rock groups on the scene at that creative time.  Their unique sound mix was raised to high temperature by strong Latin rhythms and blues along with the expected blues and straight rock. The various Latin percussion added a rhythmic spice missing from most of the other bands, and Carlos’ guitar had a plaintive, soaring sound that was distinctive. The big hit here was Evil Ways, but the closing Soul Sacrifice makes a smashing ensemble finish to this hot Latin/rock jam.

In l998 a reissue of the l969 album was made on CD, and it included alternate takes of three of the tracks as performed live at Woodstock that year: Evil Ways, Jingo and Soul Sacrifice. It’s unfortunate that the Mo-Fi reissue didn’t see fit to include those since it’s a premium limited edition.  However, sonically you do get a good deal with what is offered here.  I had the original Columbia LP.  I carefully adjusted my SOTA table, SME arm and Spirit MC cartridge and did an A/B comparison. While previously I don’t recall any gold CDs which surpassed a good LP of the same sonically speaking, this one does. There is more clarity in small details, more transparency, more snap and more extreme high end.


TrackList:

1. Waiting
2. Evil Ways
3. Shades Of TIme
4. Savor
5. Jingo
6. Persuasion
7. Treat
8. You Just Don’t Care
9. Soul Sacrifice

– John Sunier

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