Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent [Box set]

Santana | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AL6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,049 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best comes first, June 2, 2002

By 

Jinkyu - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance of the Rainbow Serpent (Audio CD)

The bulk of the songs on this greatest hits or anthology (whatever you want to call it) Santana CD is composed of studio tracks from Santana albums. However, there are some in the combined category of live, unreleased, outtake, video, and appearances on albums by other artists, with a nod to John Lee Hooker on two songs. Carlos was quite even-handed on his extensive output with regard to inclusion. It is clear he did not favor the early period too much, selecting only seven songs from his superb first three albums knowing people would want more. At the same time, he did not leave out the less-commercially-successful but brilliant jazzy period of the early- to mid-70s, except that there is nothing from Borboletta, which is my biggest disappointment, for the Mexican guitar wizard has not done many things better than "Aspirations" or "Promise of a Fisherman." As to the later stuff, a blatant omission is "She's Not There," perhaps reflecting a desire by Carlos not to put on too much pop, but it still should have been included. However, he is on target with "Europa," of course, as well as "Mudbone" from Havana Moon, "Bella" and the title cut from Blues for Salvador, and "I'll Be Waiting" from Moonflower. The bottom line is that Santana's work deteriorated after Borboletta, bouncing back briefly only with Moonflower. This makes makes Discs 2 and 3 uneven listens, but Disc 1 is a gem.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great place to start your Santana collection, February 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Winnipeg, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance of the Rainbow Serpent (Audio CD)

I'm biased. I think Carlos Santana is one of music's greatest contributors. I like just about everything he's recorded. Since 1969, he has put together some outstanding band line-ups and has performed some of the best latin-blues-rock-jazz-funk ever. I'm trying to be as objective as I can.

This box set is a fitting introduction to his vast catalogue of music. His hits are (almost) all here: Soul Sacrifice, Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Oye Como Va, Samba Pa Ti, etc...(where's Jingo?) Unfortunately, with the exception of Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Tower of Power-fuelled Everybody's Everything, Santana III is largely neglected.

Most of the other selections are strong and represent the ever-evolving Carlos Santana vision. Like I've said, this is a great place to start for anyone who wants three CDs worth of hits. However, don't expect a full rendering of Santana's work because it's impossible to get in such limited disc space.

The reason I didn't give it 5 stars (and it's hard for me not to give Santana 5 stars) is because of a disturbing trend I've discovered since expanding my Santana collection. This trend is the editing of songs. The Woodstock version of Soul Sacrifice is pared down two whole minutes. I think they took it out of the drum solo. Also, Milagro's Somewhere in Heaven is missing the entire middle section. The album version of the song is reminiscent of Clapton's Blind Faith offering, Presence of the Lord with a blistering chunk of funky wah-wahed guitar and organ solo dropped right in the middle.

If you're less anal than I am (and most people are), this glaring omission probably won't ruffle your feathers but I can't help wonder if I'm being short-changed on any other songs.

Nonetheless, I would recommend this box set as a fitting tip of the iceberg for anyone just becoming acquainted with Santana. If, however, you're looking for more, the first three albums (Santana, Abraxas, and Santana III) are worth their weight in gold.

30 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the casual fan or the serious collector, December 8, 1999

By 

Brian O'Marra (Little Rock, AR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent (Audio CD)

Another example of what happens when the artist compiles a set to his liking without the fan in mind. The fan is the one who is going to purchase this release. Carlos categorized his music (arranged somewhat chronologically) Soul, Heart & Spirit. The love songs which comprise disc two (Open Invitation, Bella, Europa, Aqua Marine, etc. should have been labeled "heart." They are labeled "soul." The same illogic applies to disc one. The classics Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, Oye Como Va comprise the very soul or essence of what Santana is all about. This is labeled "heart."

This is a bad start to this box. Curious is the fact that those who are devoted fans relish their peak years (1969-1972) and albums (Santana/Abraxas/Santana III). Yet only five songs are culled from these albums. Soul Sacrifice is an edited live version as released on Viva!

The casual fan is looking for a career retrospective of their classic songs, yet Jingo, No One To Depend On, She's Not There, Dance Little Sister, Hold On, Winning, Stormy, Well Alright, and You Know That I Love You are all missing. Carlos may have not wanted pop songs to adorn this, but if that is the reason...why is The River on this?

The serious fan is looking for a wealth of unreleased songs. Except for a few that appear on disc three (Sweet Black Cherry Pie and Every Now And Then) the box comes up short.

The positive notes are the release of In A Silent Way - (live) and a couple of tracks from Caravanserai. But one expects more from a box than that.

The single disc Best Of Santana (which has been rated far lower than the box) has all but two of the top forty singles of Santana, and covers the peak years more thoroughly. Thus it gets the nod over the box.