Abraxas (studio album) by Santana

From 1970 - around 1975 i was heavily into heavy rock / metal. Loved bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Budgie, Uriah Heep and Atomic Rooster.

then, in around 1975, I discovered this album. Not sure how I got to meet these folks, probably through an x school friend, I was 17 by now, but I got to know what, at the time I called "The Hippy Lot". They introduced me to loads of great music and this was the first album I heard that this girl in the group owned.

We were sat in her parents living room (they must have been out or Away), after having been down the pub. I remember thinking that her parents must be rich because they had such a big house.

Anyway, she put this album on and it blew my mind. I was used to great heavy music but this was something totally different but equally great. Pretty much my world opened up to a whole new strand of music and I never looked back.

Over the next few months I discovered The Allman Brothers, Traffic, Steve Miller Band, Robin Trower and a whole lot more. At 17 I was a sponge, eager to learn more.

The superb playing pushes very good songs to excellent! 9.5/10!

A much more focused and consistent release across the board with all tracks being of some quality which leads to a cohesive listen. Despite this, there are only 2 songs I would consider to be outstanding and the rest are enjoyable but not something that would draw me back to this release. With that being said, the lead guitar from Santana is absolutely brilliant on here as it completely transforms tracks and is by far the best thing about this release. The percussion is thoroughly enjoyable as well with the opening track being a personal highlight of this for me. Overall, a demonstration of high quality guitar playing that is lead by two fantastic tracks and it makes for a short but enjoyable listen.

Great record

I enjoyed it more than his first album, but I think his music is just not for me. I have to say that Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va are catchy.

From IlMala 02/03/2022 15:48

498 in overall chart? what did Santana do to be so undervalued; this, and at least other 5 albums of his dischography, i considerate at least closed to be masterpieces.

From Jboy56 11/25/2021 20:48

One of my most listened album, cohesive and artistically rewarding experience.
Full of great songs

2 blockbusters plus some great music

From planetneutral 01/03/2021 22:07

Overall, I prefer my Santana live, but this is mostly smoldering. Even the slowdown is top-shelf.

From seb7 12/19/2020 21:57

Turns out that after going through two crates three times each, I still happened to miss this album and My Aim is True. I am an idiot. A happy idiot, but still an idiot.
Edit: IT WAS FUCKING SANTANA SANTANA IN AN ABRAXAS SLEEVE THIS IS SO FUUNNNYYY