Santana
Supernatural

Review By Steven R. Rochlin
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Classic Records 19080-1
www.classicrecs.com

  It's about f@<kin' time! That is my exact words while watching the Grammy Awards last year. While i was personally invited to attend the Grammy Awards, it was smack dab in the middle of my planned, much needed Florida island vacation. Watching it on TV is not the same as being there. Never the less, why did it take so long for one of the world's greatest musicians, Carlos Santana, to finally get the recognition he deserved. No, make that earned.

Ok, so this past year was the year of Latin music. What, with the likes of Menudo fame Ricky Martin do "Livin' La Vida Loca" and what's his names son shacking their ass to make up for their lack of real talent. Will he last or will Ricky be another Macarena fad? Yet here we have a true musician with more talent in his pinky then Ricky has in his entire body (including Ricky's shacking a$$-ettes).

Santana was formed in San Francisco in the mid-1960s while their debut self-titled album was a great success with the song "Evil Ways" reaching the fourth spot on the top section of the charts. Santana's next album titled Abraxas in 1970 was numero uno for six weeks! Surly you have heard of such hits as "Black Magic Woman" and the now classic "Oye Como Va". Santana III, their next album, was numero uno for five weeks back in 1971.

With Santana's 1999 release Supernatural we have Carlos with such greats as Rob Thomas and (who some call G-d) Eric Clapton. This album was recorded in many different places, different studios, at different times. The sound quality is that of today's multi-track pop releases. Quite good but i surely wish for something more, well, natural and realistic sounding... or supernatural as it were (pun intended).

Many engineers, many studios, many people... That is just part of what makes this album so diverse. The mastering for this Classic Records release and cutting for the vinyl record was done by none other than Bernie Grundman from the original masters. Here we have some songs mastered in analog while the others were sourced from digital audio tape (DAT) masters.

The music ranges from the classic Santana sound with the song "(Da Le) Yaleo" to that pop sound of "Put Your Lights On" as Carlos joined with the band Everlast. The music on this two 180 gram vinyl album is endearing as we get small glimpses of the true talent that resides within Carlos Santana. A large part of me yearns for hearing Carlos and his band as they were back in the early 1970's. Time waits for no one... progress, newer and possibly better. The sound quality all in all is quite good. Clean and clear if a bit sterile.

What can i say, here is a pop album featuring the legendary Carlos Santana with other famous musicians/bands on various songs. Is it worth the $45 entrance fee for the Classic Records reissue? That may be up to you as half the music was sourced from digital tape. Me? i would rather buy the vinyl of his self-titled album, Abraxas and Santana III. Of course huge pop hits like "Smooth" with Rob Thomas might make your $45 investment seems less painful. Call me old fashioned, yet give me the classics please.

In the end this album helped Carlos receive the fame he so well deserved. The 1970 album Abraxas was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame Awards in 1999. He also won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Album Of The Year and also the Best Rock Album for Supernatural in 1999. Then another Grammy award in 1999 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, the best Record Of The Year, Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist). So please support the real musicians in the world and buy Supernatural. If not, then we just might find ourselves in a world filled with N'Sync and that pop chick who makes me sick, but Opps, She Did It Again (as i look for another barf bag).

Enjoyment: 90

Sound Quality: 90