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Soundboard 9.0 - A little bit of hiss in the background but otherwise a solid, and enjoyable one! -
Soundboard 9.4 -
Soundboard 9.0 - The unmistakable emphasis in this mix is the percussion (and to a lesser extent keyboards) but that makes for an interesting take on this one…you are forced to reckon with the powerhouse engine room for once, and with no regrets either. It’s still a good recording, and everyone else is there but you will know who’s taking the stage in the mix here. Santana Circus Krone Munich, Germany April 20th, 1971 Carlos Santana (g/perc/vo) Neal Schon (g) Gregg Rolie (kbd/vo) David Brown (b) Coke Escovedo (perc) Michael Carabello (perc) Jose "Chepito" Areas (perc) Michael Shrieve (ds) 1 -Incident At Neshabur -5:12 2 -Taboo -5:08 3 -Jungle Strut -5:46 4 -Toussaint L'Overture -6:17 5 -Evil Ways -4:41 6 -Samba Pa Ti -3:45 7 -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen -6:01 8 -Oye Como Va -4:13 9 -Savor-3:59 10 -Jingo- 4:45 11 -Soul Sacrifice -13:11 12 -Gumbo -5:18 13 -Se A Cabo -2:06 14 -Treat 9:19 -
Audience 9.4 - A very tight and brassy sound, super detailed with enough of the surroundings to provide realism…without intrusion. Outstanding!
Santana Pacific Amphitheatre Costa Mesa, CA September 3, 1989 Disc 1 01 Angels All Around Us - Spirits Dancing In The Flesh 02 For Those Who Chant 03 Batuka - No One To Depend On 04 Bella 05 It's A Jungle Out There 06 Unknown 07 Smooth Criminal 08 Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 09 Oye Como Va 10 Unknown 11 Super Boogie 12 Blues For Salvador Disc 2 13 Marbles 14 Unknown 15 Savor - Percussion 16 Goodness And Mercy 17 Everybody's Everything 18 Toussaint L'Overture 19 Soul Sacrifice 20 Love Theme from 'Spartacus' 21 Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) 22 Ponta de Areia - Deeper, Dig Deeper - Band Introductions -
Audience 9.0 - A little bit further away from the stage than the typical Mike “The Mic” recording, nonetheless it’s solid and worthy of the collection. I noticed also more audience interaction, which, because such good equipment is being used, does not detract at all (I would say it lends more authenticity to the recording).Santana Pacific Amphitheatre Costa Mesa, CA September 6, 1991 Disc 1 01 Peace On Earth - Mother Earth - Third Stone From The Sun 02 Save The Children 03 It's A Jungle Out There 04 Somewhere In Heaven 05 Batuka 06 No One To Depend On 07 Unknown Disc 2 08 We Don't Have To Wait 09 Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 10 Oye Como Va 11 The Healer (with John Lee Hooker) 12 Mandela 13 Life Is For Living 14 Right On Disc 3 15 Savor 16 Agua Que Va Caer 17 Stripped Me Naked (with John Lee Hooker) 18 Angels All Around Us - Spirits Dancing In The Flesh 19 Soul Sacrifice - A Love Supreme - Drums 20 Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) 21 Jin-Go-Lo-Ba
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The follow up release to the much lauded Decades Vol.1, this second volume contains all soundboard or superb audience (mostly SDBRD) recordings spanning the ten years between 1968 and 1978. Santana - Decades II 1968-1978 Disc 1 The Matrix, San Francisco CA November 13, 1968 1. -Fried Neckbones 2. -As The Years Go Passing By 3. -Soul Sacrifice 4. -Waiting Berkeley Community Center Berkeley, CA February 6, 1970 5. -Treat 6. -Hope You're Feeling Better 7. -Soul Sacrifice 8. -Incident At Neshabur 9. -Savor 10. -Jingo Disc 2 Fillmore East New York City, N.Y. U.S.A. April 12, 1970 1. -tuning 2. -Se A Cabo 3. -Black Magic Woman 4. -Gypsy Queen 5. -Savor 6. -Jingo 7. -Oye Como Va 8. -Hope You're Feeling Better 9. -Toussaint L'Overture 10. -Evil Ways 11. -Persuasion 12. -Soul Sacrifice 13. -Treat Disc 3 MEMORIAL COLISEUM COLUMBUS, GA 1973-03-30 1. -Going Home - A-1 Funk - Every Step Of The Way 2. -Samba Pa Ti 3. -Look Up (To See What’s Coming Down) 4. -Just In Time To See The Sun 5. -Incident At Neshabur 6. -Bambele 7. -Stone Flower 8. -Batucada 9. -Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) 10. -Waiting - Castillos De Arena, Part 1 (Sand Castle) 11. -Free Angela 12. -Castillos De Arena, Part 2 (Sand Castle) 13. -Earth 14. -Se A Cabo Disc 4 Garden State Summer Music Fair Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey August 12, 1973 1. -Opening Words 2. -Going Home 3. -A-1 Funk 4. -Every Step Of The Way 5. -Black Magic Woman 6. -Gypsy Queen 7. -Oye Como Va 8. -Japan - Bambele - Um Um Um - Yours Is The Light 9. -Batucada 10. -Xibiba (she-ba-ba) 11. -Stone Flower Disc 5 12. -Waiting 13. -Castillos De Arena (Sand Castle) 14. -Free Angela 15. -Samba De Sausalito 16. -Light Of Life 17. -Se A Cabo 18. -Mr Udo 19. -The Creator Has A Master Plan 20. -Savor 21. -Toussant L'Overture 22. -Europa 23. -Incident At Neshabur - My Favorite Things Disc 6 Winterland San Francisco, CA. December 31, 1973 1. -Going Home 2. -A-1 Funk 3. -Every Step Of The Way 4. -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 5. -Oye Como Va 6. -Just In Time To See The Sun 7. -Um-um-um Disc 7 7. -Batucada 8. -Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) 9. -Stone Flower 10. -Castillos De Arena (Sand Castle) 11. -Watch Your Step Jam 12. -Incident At Neshabur 13. -When I Look Into Your Eyes 14. -Se A Cabo Disc 8 Playhouse Edinburgh November 14, 1976 01. -Carnaval - Let The Children Play - Jugando 02. -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 03. -Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) 04. -Let The Music Set You Free 05. -Samba Pa Ti 06. -Savor - Toussaint L’Overture 07. -Let Me 08. -Just In Time To See The Sun 09. -Song Of The Wind 10. -Taboo Disc 9 11. -Soul Sacrifice 12. -Europa 13. -Maria Caracoles Bottom Line New York City, NY October 16th, 1978 2nd show 14. -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 15. -Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) 16. -Europa 17. -Open Invitation Disc 10 Capitol Center Landover, Maryland March 19, 1977 1. -Carnaval - Let The Children Play - Jugando 2. -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 3. -Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana) 4. -Europa 5. -Oye Como Va 6. -Let Me 7. -Give Me Love 8. -Savor 9. -Toussaint L'overture 10. -Soul Sacrifice (with Roy Ayers) 11. -Transcendance with band intros -
Soundboard 9.4 - Clear and bold (especially percussion) capturing a very fine creative period of the band (the dual guitar with Neal Schon being especially notable). I did notice a slight amount of distortion in the lower frequencies but it's barely noticeable. The mix does change towards the end of No One To Depend On and a lot of the boominess and excessive volume is dialed back so it mitigates any distortion present. SANTANA Denver Coliseum Denver, CO. September 28, 1971 1. Batuka 2. No One To Depend On 3. Taboo 4. Se A Cabo 5. Waiting 6. Incident At Neshabur 7. Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 8. Oye Como Va 9. In A Silent Way 10. Toussaint L'overture 11. Evil Ways 12. Para Los Rumberos 13. Soul Sacrifice Neal Schon - guitar Gregg Rolie - keyboards, vocals Tom Rutley - bass Michael Shrieve - drums Michael Carabello - congas Coke Escovedo - percussion -
Soundboard 9.1 - A somewhat dated sounding tape (a touch of hiss, and a very slight amount of distortion on the cymbals during at least the first 20 minutes as the soundman dials it in) but it is a treat to hear these songs in such good quality. My review is subjective, I think it's a fine recording but I have to nitpick seeing as there's a very steady supply of Santana soundboards. Santana Masonic Auditorium Detroit, MI November 21, 1979 Late Show (Soundboard) Disc 1 01 Marathon - Well Alright 02 All I Ever Wanted 03 Tales Of Kilimanjaro 04 Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 05 Open Invitation 06 Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) 07 Batuka 08 No One To Depend On 09 Toussaint L'Overture 10 Aqua Marine 11 Just In Time To See The Sun 12 Song Of The Wind 13 Lightning In The Sky Disc 2 14 Savor 15 Jingo 16 Stand Up - Runnin' 17 Percussion Solo - Soul Sacrifice - Drum Solo 18 She's Not There - Marbles 19 Transcendance 20 Band Introductions 21 Oye Como Va 22 Evil Ways -
Audience 8.8 - This is a really nice one, pretty atmospheric without being reverby and hollow and the live sound mix is pretty right-on. The sound separation here presents itself as what feels like stereo to me, whether or not taper used two mics I do not know but it does sound like it. The band is really hot! -
Soundboard 9.4 - Having received a refreshing facelift, this old and trusty board sounds more alive and vibrant than ever before…and that is great news because these early period Santana shows are essential listening experiences. This one is a must! Santana Waikiki Shell Honolulu, HI, USA May 22, 1970 01 -Se A Cabo (3:49) 02 -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen (4:55) 03 -Savor (3:26) 04 -Jingo (4:33) 05 -Oye Como Va (4:46) 06 -Toussaint L'Overture (4:02) 07 -Evil Ways (4:02) 08 -Treat (5:57) 09 -Gumbo (4:47) 10 -Waiting (4:20) 11 -Hope You're Feeling Better (4:18) 12 -Conquistador Rides Again (3:59) Carlos Santana - Lead Guitar Gregg Rolie - Vocals, Keyboards David Brown - Bass Guitar Michael Carabello - Percussion, Backing Vocals Jose "Chepito" Areas - Percussion, Backing Vocals Michael Shrieve - Drums -
Soundboard 9.5 - The evening before this show in Kansas City, the band had just played a stadium with a stacked line-up, so they were probably pretty amped up for this show. They got to showcase some of the Marathon LP material in front of an appreciative, but much smaller crowd than the night before. A great one! -
Soundboard 9.7 -
Soundboard 8.8 - A good and clear tape. -
Audience 9.6 - Stunning! It’s bright and clear and super dynamic with a palpable sense of positional awareness as you can hear the sound envelope you and the waves of excitement washing over the audience in seemingly 360 degrees. I take this over any soundboard tape any day of the week. Santana Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA July 15, 1990 Disc 1 01 Angels All Around Us > Spirits Dancing In The Flesh 02 Somewhere In Heaven 03 It's A Jungle Out There 04 Soweto (Africa Libre) 05 Peace On Earth...Mother Earth...Third Stone From The Sun (Jimi Hendrix cover) 06 The Healer (John Lee Hooker cover) 07 Batuka 08 No One To Depend On 09 We Don't Have To Wait Disc 2 10 Bass Solo 11 Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen 12 Oye Como Va 13 Mandela 14 For Those Who Chant 15 Savor 16 Blues For Salvador Disc 3 17 Choose 18 She's Not There (Zombies cover) > Marbles 19 Toussaint L'Ouverture 20 Soul Sacrifice > A Love Supreme 21 Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) 22 Jin-Go-Lo-Ba -
Soundboard 9.5 - Blistering and aggressive in all the best ways. Great guitar tone, and everything mixed expertly together to bring a very appealing soundscape.Santana Jai Alai Fronton Miami, FL October 6, 1974 Disc 1 01 Going Home - A-1 Funk - Every Step Of The Way 02 Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 03 Oye Como Va 04 Mirage 05 Just In Time To See The Sun 06 Bambele Disc 2 07 Give And Take 08 Incident At Neshabur 09 Soul Sacrifice 10 Samba Pa Ti 11 Savor 12 Toussaint L'Overture -
Audience 8.7 - This slightly above average tape sounds like it has been re-mastered and life restored to it, but the mix favors percussion and keys. The rest of the band is a little behind them but thankfully Carlos’ solos rise up above much more in the mix. I did find it an interesting tape with an atmosphere that lets you kind of soak up the Italian vibe – between the chatter and the feel of the venue itself it is kind of strangely…renaissance. Let’s just say the recording captures a little more than just the rock band that evening and it adds a lot to the experience. That is why I can still recommend this to fans, and the fact that it is 1971 which is that interesting period with Neil Schon. Santana Palaido Milano, Italy April 27, 1971 1. -Waiting 2. -Incident At Neshabur 3. -Toussaint L'Overture 4. -Taboo 5. -Batuka 6. -Evil Ways 7. -Soul Sacrifice 8. -Samba Pa Ti 9. -Black Magic Woman - Gypsy Queen 10. -Oye Como Va 11. -Savor 12. -Jingo