Santana-Abraxas (1970)


 

Artist: Santana

Title: Abraxas

Label: CBS

Format: LP

Cat #: S 64087

Year of Release: 1970

Country and Year of Edition Issue: Holland, early to mid 70's gatefold

Listed Condition: VG+/VG+ $9.99

Sell Date: 11/20/20

Discogs Last Sold: 11/7/20 G+/VG $2.96

Low: $1.22 VG/F

Median: $6.70

High:  $17.68 NM/VG+

Current low price: $1.60 P/VG+, $8.00 VG+/VG

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 60

Have/Want: 3875/305

Where Sold:  South Lake Tahoe, CA

Time it took to sell: 4 years

Where and When Bought: Worcester, That's Entertainment used early 80's $2.99

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

Although I’ve had Abraxas for many years and deemed it excellent upon initial purchase, I felt like there were memory holes. I played it once or twice, filed it away and let life fill in the subliminal knowledge.  A stone cold Commercial classic for sure, 5 times platinum in the US.  For something this psychedelic to be on that level of popularity seems pretty amazing.  Until you break down why.

Two reasons: Woodstock and the two massive career defining mega hits.  Both hits were covers that drew on British blues (Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green era "Black Magic Woman") and The King of Latin Music,  Tito Puente ("Oye Como Va" which translates to "Listen To How My Rhythm Goes" or "Hey! How's It Going!!" depending on where you ask) merged with Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo’s Gypsy Queen.   This side centerpiece is appropriately surrounded by the ethereal “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts” on one end and a raucous “Incident At Neshabur” make it a decidedly artful album side.

Side 2 opens with "Se A Cabo" which percussionist Chepito Areas wrote with a chuckle with the side opener meaning "it's finished" and misspelling "Se acabo."  After surviving an aneurysm, Chepito did a solo album for Columbia in 1974.  The Gregg Rolie written track "Mothers Daughter" is a bit stiff, only played live 3 times over almost 4,000 concerts) but "Hope You're Feeling Better" is a good rocker.  My ears don't deceive me, this got played live over 100 times.   Rolie later went on to Journey keyboards for the pre-Escape era for a half dozen albums with teen guitar prodigy Neal Schon who joined for a short period on the next album.  Santana’s slow burn “Samba Pa Ti” is the standard on this side.

I found this "orange eye" gatefold edition with laminated cover used clean for $3 in the early 80's.  It's definitely my first Santana album, and I consider it their best although the first gives it a run for their money.


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