EPISODE · Jul 31, 2025 · 1H
UAWIL #245: Santana - Abraxas
from The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast · host Mac B.
1969 was a big year for Carlos Santana. He played Woodstock one week before his debut album was released and he saw it rise the charts and sell millions in the US. With the wind at his back, he and his band came back with momentum and on September 23, 1970 they released Abraxas which would go onto sell over 5 million copies. To some, it was an introduction to the fusion that Santana and his band created by blending jazz, rock, blues, soul, latin music and psychedelic sounds. Their rendition of Peter Green's (Fleetwood Mac) Black Magic Woman led many American rock fans to believe it was an original (much like Jimi Hendrix and All Along The Watchtower). As this classic turns 55, we gave it out track x track rundown and it had us movin' and groovin'! Thanks to the beats from Michael Shrieve (drums), Jose "Chepito" Areas (percussion, congas) and Michael Carabello (percussion, congas) the band created rhythms that not only made you get up and dance but laid down a groove that was easy for Carlos to play over. Only Carlos Santana can squeeze so much emotion out of every note while keyboardist and vocalist Greg Rolie (Santana, Journey, The Storm) delivers fierce organ and piano textures while offering vocals that fit the tracks. However, most of the songs are instrumentals and the two big hits were covers as Oye Come Va was a Tito Puente song. But because the band put their personal style into the songs, though they weren't much different from the originals, they are now the standards for each. This album was released before we were born so we don't know a world without it but it stands as about the finest offering from Santana is his long and celebrated career. Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website Twitter Threads Instagram YouTube LInkTree www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
1969 was a big year for Carlos Santana. He played Woodstock one week before his debut album was released and he saw it rise the charts and sell millions in the US. With the wind at his back, he and his band came back with momentum and on September 23, 1970 they released Abraxas which would go onto sell over 5 million copies. To some, it was an introduction to the fusion that Santana and his band created by blending jazz, rock, blues, soul, latin music and psychedelic sounds. Their rendition of Peter Green's (Fleetwood Mac) Black Magic Woman led many American rock fans to believe it was an original (much like Jimi Hendrix and All Along The Watchtower). As this classic turns 55, we gave it out track x track rundown and it had us movin' and groovin'! Thanks to the beats from Michael Shrieve (drums), Jose "Chepito" Areas (percussion, congas) and Michael Carabello (percussion, congas) the band created rhythms that not only made you get up and dance but laid down a groove that was easy for Carlos to play over. Only Carlos Santana can squeeze so much emotion out of every note while keyboardist and vocalist Greg Rolie (Santana, Journey, The Storm) delivers fierce organ and piano textures while offering vocals that fit the tracks. However, most of the songs are instrumentals and the two big hits were covers as Oye Come Va was a Tito Puente song. But because the band put their personal style into the songs, though they weren't much different from the originals, they are now the standards for each. This album was released before we were born so we don't know a world without it but it stands as about the finest offering from Santana is his long and celebrated career. Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website Twitter Threads Instagram YouTube LInkTree www.pantheonpodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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UAWIL #245: Santana - Abraxas
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