Abraxas (album)
| Abraxas | ||||
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Album cover from a painting by Mati Klarwein
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| Studio album by Santana | ||||
| Released | September 1970 | |||
| Recorded | April 17–May 2, 1970 | |||
| Studio | Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California | |||
| Genre | Latin rock, chicano rock, jazz-rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock, hard rock | |||
| Length | 37:10 | |||
| Label |
CBS KC-30130 |
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| Producer | Fred Catero, Carlos Santana | |||
| Santana chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Abraxas | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+ |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Abraxas is the second studio album by latin rock band Santana. Building upon the interest generated by their first album released in August 1969 entitled Santana and their highly acclaimed live performance at the in August 1969, the band released Abraxas in September 1970. The album's mix of rock, blues, jazz, salsa, and other influences was very well received, showing a musical maturation from their first album and refining the band's early sound.
In 2016, the album was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance."
The title of the album, which features Mati Klarwein's 1961 painting, Annunciation, on the cover, comes from a line in Hermann Hesse's book, Demian, quoted on the album's back cover: "We stood before it and began to freeze inside from the exertion. We questioned the painting, berated it, made love to it, prayed to it: We called it mother, called it whore and slut, called it our beloved, called it Abraxas...." The word "Abraxas" has use within Gnostic cosmology.
Abraxas features a mixture of Latin influences with familiar rock themes such as showcased electric guitar, organ, and heavy drums. The album also demonstrates Santana's stylistic versatility, including tracks such as "Samba Pa Ti" (a classic slow-burning piece) and "Incident at Neshabur", both being instrumentals. The latter has several rhythm and time signature changes consistent with its jazz feel. Latin percussion — congas, bongos and timbales, as well as a conventional rock drum setup, expanded Santana's foray into Latin rhythm. The piece 'Samba Pa Ti' was originally recorded in the key of G, and is in fact two separate unfinished pieces which were combined to a single piece comprising a slow emotive first part followed by an extended play out in a faster tempo; This piece along with 'Black Magic Woman,' written by Peter Green, helped underpin the truly unique blend of Latin American / Blues / Rock style created by the artist.
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Wikipedia