Here’s what happened. On my way to the local mental health clinic for the chronically confused and clinically indecisive, I fell off my skateboard…and woke up in the Yucatan Peninsula, deep in the jungle. Surrounded by the whispers of elephant grass and moans from the trees, instead of alarm, I felt at peace. Not yet certain where I was, the only thing I could tell for sure was: Something is on the way, a primal cosmic force has been announced.. A looming female presence radiates the tremor coming up from the earth, the vibration in the trees, the multitudes of the forest calling from the same source. Now a distinct cry can be heard from the ravine bordering the trees – the sound of a Gibson SG – oh sweet mother, I’m returning to you…
…and awoke again, this time in the apartment of a nice old man who was kind enough to scrape me off the sidewalk. Santana’s “Abraxas” was on the stereo, so for the next thirty-five minutes we remained silent. Abraxas , a variant of Abrasax, indicates a Gnostic God-concept referring to the “365 spheres.” The seven letters correspond to the seven classic planets (yes people, there’s a pending Greatest Classic Planets List on the way) – Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
Emerging from the San Francisco Flower Power scene, Santana’s self-titled debut completely obliterated any and all connections with “The Scene.” From the word “go” Santana plunges the listener into the deep, dark jungle, leaving us either to find our way back out, or better still, to surrender to the forest of violence harnessed by rhythm. One of the many consequences of “Santana” was the (commercial) birth of Latin Rock. Woodstock happened within months of the release; their unforgettable performance of “Soul Sacrifice” documents the beginning of a new sound that reshaped not only rock, but jazz and soul music.
You Guys Used To Be Cool
With 1970’s “Abraxas” the music comes from the same place, though in a completely different, yet familiar voice. Buoyed by the assistance of producer Fred Catero, Carlos Santana was able to cut a much bolder sonic path. With the addition of Neil Schon on guitar, the dialog was complete; the way he and Carlos trade riffs in this line-up can (and has been) used as a rock guitar primer. On this and the following self-titled album the pair continued to roar; Neil Schon then went his way, taking Gregg Rollie (keyboards and vocals) along to form Journey. People I promise you, before they became popular Journey was cool; an edgy creative, progressive, hard-rock band.
The guitar of Carlos however, is what breathes life into Santana. Influenced by Hendrix, and Jimi Page as well as jazz guitarists Gabor Szabo and John McLaughlin (with whom he often worked and became close) Carlos Santana took a singular approach to guitar, favoring a staccato attack on single lines, supported by altered power chords. Soaked in a chunky-distortion broth to be served up in a scalding brew of spicy heavy metal.
The track leading into “Abraxas,” “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts” speaks for itself, eventually giving way to a brilliant treatment of Peter Green’s “Black Magic Woman,” which had been recorded the previous year by Fleetwood Mac. Grossly overplayed on FM radio these past forty years the song still has bite; in the update, Greg Rollie’s vocal makes the lyric. The instrumental wind-up to “Black Magic Woman” is and will always be one of the most exciting moments in music, finally melting into the opening bars of Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va.”
“Incident At Neshabur” restates the musical forecast, a torrential storm followed by a bittersweet musical r(efr)ain. Several odd originals follow, the smoldering “Se A Cabo” and “Mother’s Daughter” followed by the radiant instrumental ballad “Samba Pa Ti,” when we’re permitted to catch our breath before the powerhouse “I Hope You’re Feeling Better.” The album ends right where it begins, in the midnight jungle, with “El Nicoya.” Leaving us with what is undoubtedly the greatest Latin classic rock album for all time. Now, take out the “Latin” qualifier and we have…
While flipping the record over, back to side one, my gracious host utters his only words to me.
“Better wear a helmet next time.”
Which is the most relevant and by far, repeated piece of advice I’ve ever been offered.
Scott Cramer - Scott lives in Chicago and is an insufferable know-it-all on certain topics. He writes fiction (primarily short stories) much of which ...
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