Santana III [Bonus Tracks]

by Santana

Overview

Santana III is an album that undeservingly stands in the shadows behind the towering legend that is the band's second album, Abraxas. This was also the album that brought guitarist Neal Schon -- who was 17 years old -- into the original core lineup of Santana. Percussionist Thomas "Coke" Escovedo was brought in to replace (temporarily) Jose Chepito Areas, who had suffered a brain aneurysm, yet who recovered quickly and rejoined the band. The rest were Carlos, organist Gregg Rolie, drummer Michael Schrieve, bassist David Brown, and conguero Michael Carabello. "Batuka" is the powerful first evidence of something being very different. The band was rawer, darker, and more powerful with twin leads and Schon's harder, edgier rock & roll sound paired with Carlos' blend of ecstatic high notes and soulful fills. It cooks -- funky, mean, and tough. "Batuka" immediately transforms itself into "No One to Depend On," by Escovedo, Carabello, and Rolie. The middle section is highlighted by frantic handclaps, call-and-response lines between Schon and Rolie, and Carlos joining the fray until the entire track explodes into a frenzied finale. And what's most remarkable is that the set just keeps on cooking, from the subtle slow burn of "Taboo" to the percussive jam workout that is "Toussaint l'Overture," a live staple in the band's set list recorded here for the first time (and featuring some cooking Rolie organ work at its beginning). "Everybody's Everything" is here, as is "Guajira" and "Jungle Strut" -- tunes that are still part of Santana's live show. With acoustic guitars, gorgeous hand percussion, and Santana's fragile lead vocal, "Everything's Coming Our Way" is the only "feel good" track here, but it's a fitting way to begin winding the album down with its Schon and Santana guitar breaks. The album ends with a completely transformed reading of Tito Puente's "Para los Rumberos," complete with horns and frantic, almost insanely fast hand drumming and cowbell playing. It's an album that has aged extremely well due to its spare production (by Carlos and the band) and its live sound. This is essential Santana, a record that deserves to be reconsidered in light of its lasting abundance and vision. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	10/05/2010
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8713748980269
Rank:	42074

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Batuka
2. No One To Depend On
3. Taboo
4. Toussaint L'Overture
5. Everybody's Everything
6. Guajira
7. Jungle Strut
8. Everything's Coming Our Way
9. Para Los Rumberos

Disc 2

10. Gumbo
11. Folsom Street - One
12. Banbeye
13. No One To Depend On

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Santana   Primary Artist
Carlos Santana   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Mike Carabello   Vocals (Background),Congas,Vocals,Percussion,Tambourine
Tower of Power Horns   Horn
Luis Gasca   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Tower of Power   Guest Artist,Horn Section
Rico Reyes   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Coke Escovedo   Timbales,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Greg Errico   Tamboura,Tambourine
Gregg Rolie   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards
Jose "Chepito" Areas   Rums,Drums,Congas,Vocals,Timbales,Flugelhorn,Percussion
Neal Schon   Guitar
Michael Shrieve   Drums,Percussion,Vibraphone
Linda Tillery   Vocals (Background)
David Brown   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Mario Ochoa   Piano,Soloist
Michael Carabello   Congas,Vocals,Tambourine
Tower of Power Horn Section   Horn

Technical Credits

David Brown   Audio Engineer,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Santana   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Glen Kolotkin   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Tower of Power Horns   Group
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Bob Irwin   Compilation Producer
Rico Reyes   Composer
Coke Escovedo   Composer,Percussion Assistant
Gene Ammons   Composer
Carlos Santana   Composer,Producer
Gregg Rolie   Composer,Producer
Tyrone Moss   Composer
Jose "Chepito" Areas   Composer,Producer
Neal Schon   Producer
Milton Brown   Composer
Michael Shrieve   Composer,Producer
Tito Puente   Composer
D. Brown   Engineer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Danny Joe Brown   Composer
Mike Carabello   Composer,Producer
Patti Matheny   A&R
Joan Chase   Design,Photography
Mary Ann Mayer   Design
Teddy Moss   Composer
Santana Musicians   Producer
Mike Larner   Engineer
Elizabeth Calleja   Graphic Design
Josh Cheuse   Art Direction