Abraxas

Released

Santana’s second album, 1970’s Abraxas, includes the group’s two classic hits, a medley of Fleetwood Mac’s “Black Magic Woman” and Gabor Szabo’s “Gypsy Queen” and a cover of Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va,” but the original compositions hint at the inclinations toward fusion and even spiritual jazz that would propel a revamped lineup’s journey to the stars a couple of years later. The opener, “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts,” with its panning cymbal washes and ominous harp and piano, promises a weirder album than we get, but tracks like “Incident at Neshabur,” the Rare Earth-ish “Hope You’re Feeling Better,” and “Se a Cabo” surge like the ocean, Gregg Rolie’s hard-driving organ and Carlos Santana’s searing guitar charging forth on a bed of complex rhythm.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
After Hours cover

After Hours

Gary Moore
Ritual de lo Habitual cover

Ritual de lo Habitual

Jane's Addiction
Presence cover

Presence

Led Zeppelin
The Truth cover

The Truth

D.R. Hooker
Stand! cover

Stand!

Sly & the Family Stone
Third Degree cover

Third Degree

Johnny Winter
Junkyard cover

Junkyard

Junkyard
O’Keefe cover

O’Keefe

Danny O'Keefe