Customer Reviews

Inner Secrets/Amigos

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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This is probably the band's most underrated work, and a great way to introduce new fans to Santana's music. From my point of view they don't put a foot wrong on this one: from the hard punch of 'Open Invitation' to the smooth caress of 'Stormy', the lyrical cleverness, compulsive bass, and vocal depth sustain a creation of genuine, unpretentious beauty.

Yes it's DIFFERENT from earlier material like Abraxas / Borboletta and nowhere does his guitar reach the same transcendental heights, nor does the music evoke the same unearthly, consciousness-expanding quality as elsewhere - but then this one was created to alternately energize and soothe, and that it does admirably well.

Don't miss out.

The addition of Greg walker to the band was a welcome addition.
Alex Ligertwood was okay but I don't want Santana to sound like Journey. Greg Walker, in my opinion, is second only to Greg Rollie as a good fit to Santana. This CD doesn't set the world on fire but it wasn't meant to. It is very listenable and the remakes of the older songs are well done. They are songs I never thought I would see on a Santana album but when you can actually improve on Buddy Holly, Classics Four, and the Zombies then you've earned four stars in my book.

Inner Secrets has always been my favorite Santana CD. There is not clunker in the bunch. It may sound a little too polished in places but how can you refuse the power of "Open Invitation", "Well Alright", "One Chain" or "Dealer" - great tunes. The band definitely do not sound bored - well worth the small investment.

I longly hesitated before buying this cd because of three reasons :

1. It is an oldie 2. I have lots of Santana records, and several tracks from Inner Secrets are on those other cds 3. The reviews here seem to say it is a so/so album

In fact, I should have bought it a long time ago ! This album is smashing. Among other things you have THE voice of Greg Walker (I never really liked Alex Lighertwood), Graham Lear on drums (he has played with lots of super artists, for instance Gino Vanelli), or Pete Escovedo (to me, Sheila E's daddy is one of the big ones now that Tito Puente has abandoned us). They all are there to put a unique value added to Santana's characteristic touch.

"Move on" is marvelous (just listen to the last two minutes), "One chain" has an incredible beat, "Open invitation" really rocks, and the cover version is not cheesy at all. You also have the penetrating "Life is a Lady", with Santana superstar from the beginning to the end, just like in the famous "Europa" or "Moonflower". "Dealer" reminds me of my dear Spain. Latin touches are everywhere, but the two closing tracks are jewels... And THE PLAYERS ARE PLAYING (you have very little programmed music here)

This album doesn't sound outdated, and I understand it disappoints people who like the Caravan-Borboletto-Abraxas period, but to me it is one of the super Santana records (not the case for Havana Moon or Blues for Salvador for instance). My recommendation is that you get it. I'll be ready to bet with you that you will still enjoy it in, say, 20 years from now.

First heard this album in 1978. It hasn't lost anything. Has to be his most underrated work. Every song is worth listening to. I think it's better than his greatest hits. "Open Invitation" ,"One Chain Don't Make No Prison", they are all fantastic. Johnny Black's review proves he doesn't know music. How can anyone who listens to this album say the band sounds bored? "Dealer" and "The Facts of Love" are (I hate to repeat myself) great!! Well worth the $10.

I have many santana albums and have been to his concerts. This particular album (along with festival) is one of my favorite santana albums. I guess I like his spiritual-like wordless tunes the best (revelations, verao vermelho and others). I think his guitar playing is tragically underrated.

Along with 1976's "Amigos" this album better evokes the
Santana Bands late 70's latin funk-rock fixation,even if in far more of a highly produced way.Nowhere is this more evident then on the stomping dance number "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison",
the fierce groove of "Move One" and driving covers of Traffic's
"Dealer" and Buddy Holly/Blind Faith's "Well All Right".Other
albums by Santana of this sort failed to keep up the momentum but this one KICKED!!!

I had entirely forgotten about this album until recently, having worn out my cassette years ago. Then it appeared in the used CD bin of a Hollywood music store and for the price I just couldn't pass it up.
Being one of those who was a Santana fan from the beginning, I still think after all these years that his best albums are Abraxas and Santana III. Granted, its hard to duplicate that kind of quality album after album, but he never again issued an album that approached them in greatness. However, he did manage to put out an occasional winner like Inner Secrets.
Some fans complain that his albums don't all sound like Abraxas, but as much as I like that classic, I am glad they don't. Carlos Santana is a working, continually evolving musician and most of his recordings reflect to a certain degree the times in which they are issued. OK, so Inner Secrets is a little funky here, a little disco-y there, and it may not have all the Latin touch we hope for, but that was the way of the late 70s. Santana didn't immerse himself in the style of the day, he merely sampled it as he has sampled diverse styles throughout his career.
My favorites here are the opening cut which begins and ends with some tasty guitar work, One Chain Don't Make No Prison, Well All Right, the funky Facts of Love, and the obligatory instrumental Life Is A Lady/Holiday. There is nothing on the CD at all unlistenable.
If you haven't heard this CD before, the price here makes it a worthwhile acquisition with one disclaimer: the quality of the remaster is primitive, so you will have to crank it up to enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Some of the recent reviews seem a little weighted against this album and I thought it was time to buck the trend!

This is probably the band's most underrated work, and a great way to introduce new fans to Santana's music. From my point of view they don't put a foot wrong on this one: from the hard punch of 'Open Invitation' to the smooth caress of 'Stormy', the lyrical cleverness, compulsive bass, and vocal depth sustain a creation of genuine, unpretentious beauty.

Yes it's DIFFERENT from earlier material like Abraxas / Borboletta and nowhere does his guitar reach the same transcendental heights, nor does the music evoke the same unearthly, consciousness-expanding quality as elsewhere - but then this one was created to alternately energize and soothe, and that it admirably well.

Don't miss out.

I'm surprised at all the one and two-star reviews of Inner Secrets. This was in the middle of a good period for Carlos & Company (76 Moonflower - 82 Shango) and produced some intelligently crafted works with pop overtones. The opening "Dealer/Spanish Rose" alternating medley is an interesting progression of the band. "Move On" is so-so, but this leads to the album's best work - a seven-minute funkified take on the Motown classic "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)," featuring a sweet groove from bassist Dave Margen and always-underrated drummer Graham Lear, stellar playing from Carlos and atmospheric keyboard work. Yes, it has some dance/disco influences, but remember that the album came out in 1978 and that was style de rigeur in those days. The band then produces two more solid covers, the moody "Stormy" and the dual guitar assault on "Well All Right." I read some strong criticism about "Open Invitation" and I disagree - I think it is a solid straight rocker with a powerful conclusion. The remaining three tracks are so-so as well, listenable but not phenomenal.
What this album needs is a better CD mix. I had the LP and the sound quality was superior. Sony has issued domestic remastered versions of Santana - Welcome and Moonflower, it's time to give Festival and Amigos - Beyond Apperances the same treatment.