Live

Santana, Buddy Miles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: SBME Special Markets
• ASIN: B0012GMW6Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,743 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Marbles

2. Lava

3. Evil Ways

4. Faith Interlude

5. Them Changes

6. Free Form Funkafide Filth

Editorial Reviews

These molten grooves were recorded in Hawaii right on a volcanic crater. Carlos Santana together with drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles and several members of Santana channel Evil Ways; Marbles; Lava; Them Changes , and nearly a half hour of Free Form Funkafide Filth ! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is a beautiful recording; an energized live concert., June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles: Live! (Audio CD)

For those who love the tradional Santana and are acquainted with the deep-hearted rythm and blues of Buddy Miles this recording represents the combined talents and exhausting efforts of these two great artists into one exhilirating, energized hour of music. The quality of the recording is phenominal; an acoustic adventure at best - I actually wore out my first album.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mythical, April 15, 2008

By 

Don Schmittdiel "running_man" (Clinton Twp., MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

There seem to be all sorts of urban legends surrounding this 1972 Top Ten album from Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles. Some people claim that the concert never took place, which seems unlikely since Santana and Miles toured together extensively in late 1971 and early 1972. Others suggest that Carlos played little on the disc, and while I respect the six-string talents of Neal Schon (who legend also says turned down an invitation from Eric Clapton to flesh out Derek and the Dominos to play with Santana's band, and who built a great reputation for himself as lead guitarist for Journey), there are numerous guitar runs on 'Live!' that have S-A-N-T-A-N-A written all over them. I think many of the myth-makers are deluded by the overly-engineered master tapes. It was common practice in the early seventies to modulate the amplitude of the crowd noise, as is evident on programs such as ABC-TV's 'In Concert' late night program, and this seems to be what was done with 'Live!'. While it sounds hokey at times, that doesn't mean the performances didn't happen.

Perhaps also lending to the controversy is the liner notes listing the recording date as "January 0, 1972", a non-existant date, suggesting the concert never happened. But the concert actually took place in Hawaii, in the center of the Diamond Head volcanic crater, on January 1, 1972 during the 'Sunshine '72 Festival'. Supporting that fact is a collage of about fourteen photographs from the concert itself. I can see Carlos playing guitar in several of them, and there's a number of Hawaiian-looking people standing around as well. That's proof enough for me. I guess this one doesn't rise to the level of the McCartney death hoax!

Fortunately, the music does rise to the occasion. I first acquired a copy of this disc as one of my 12 "free" records when I joined the Columbia Record Club. I wasn't sure if I would like it, but in 1972 most people were convinced you couldn't go wrong with Carlos Santana, and I was one of them. I wasn't disappointed. While it may take a little time and a few listens for the 25 minute plus 'Free Form Funkafide Filth' to grow on you... it does. I'm not sure how 'free form' this filth is (it's credited to Miles, Santana, drummer Gregg Errico, and bassist Ron Johnson), but it manages to hit a funk groove on several occasions and passes the ample running time (especially for a vinyl disc) admirably.

The real gem, however, is side one. While the track listing lists five seperate tracks, tracks one and two ('Marbles' and 'Lava') and tracks four and five ('Faith Interlude' and Mile's best known composition, 'Them Changes') segue seamlessly into one another, creating a musical suite. Only an upbeat, horn augmented version of 'Evil Ways' stands alone, almost as a centerpiece. All of these tracks, save 'Faith Interlude', which is perfectly titled given it's bouyant strains, are funky tomes of dynamite. Robert Hogins on organ and Coke Escovedo on timbales, along with a trio of conga players, do yoeman's work keeping up with Santana, Schon, and Miles. Over the years these tracks have merged in my mind, and belong together as one piece of work every bit as much as the flip side of the original vinyl disc.

This is at least the third time this disc has been reissued, having been remastered in 1994 and reissued in 2005. The pressed copies of the 2005 release must have gone quickly, explaining the need for this 2008 reissue. Sadly, no additional tracks have ever been added to any of the reissues, suggesting that no additional quality recordings from the concert exist. That's a little hard to believe, but what else could explain it? If additional material comparable to what is being offered here is ever released, criminal negligence charges should be levied against Bob Irwin, the "Reissue Producer", for keeping it under wraps for so long. Regardless, your classic rock collection isn't complete without this one.

25 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Live Album of All Time !, March 14, 2004

By 

dakotamoviefan (South Dakota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles: Live! (Audio CD)

I purchased Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles Live on eight track tape in 1972 when it was first released, and I still consider it my favorite live music album (I now own the CD version). The brass sound that was popular in the early 1970's adds energy and pop to this live recording. I first heard the fast version of Evil Ways on this CD, and I still prefer it to the slower studio recording that is on the Santana Greatest Hits album. In fact, the first five cuts on this live CD are a wild ride. If I have a possible complaint about Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles live, it would be that it is too short. This is a foot pounding, energy induced, live album, and if you like Carlos Santana's music give it a listen.