Customer Reviews

Sacred Fire

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're new to Santana as a result of the phenomenal "Supernatural" try this CD. You won't find any other pop stars contributing on this CD, just classic Santana. Here you'll find many of his standard numbers including "Samba Pa Ti", "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Soul Sacrifice". The live performance is inspired and full of great improvisational work. Case in point is how he breaks into some Coltrane and Doors riffs during "Soul Sacrifice". He uses other familiar tunes on some other tracks including a borrowing of some riffs from an old Joe Cuba Septet number "El Pito"(I'll never go back to Georgia). The concert was from a tour in 1993 and many of the songs are 30 years old but they still rock. "Europa" is guaranteed to get your partner in the mood, a steamy romantic tune that is hot, hot, hot. You'll also hear Santana addressing the crowd in Mexico, his birthplace, with his message of love, peace and harmony. This is vintage Santana playing some of his best music for his Latino brothers and sisters live. This is the exception regarding live performances as the music is recorded excellently, just enough audience to capture the mood but stronger on the masters guitar work. One of his best of many fabulous albums. You won't be disappointed with the video either. Viva Santana!

Still remember when I got this CD. I left the store and played it in my car. "No One to Depend On" sent me through the roof. I called a friend of mine who also likes Carlos' music, picked him up, and drove to Old San Juan. Drove across a boulevard, watching the sea waves, and listening to Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, etc. over and over. The LD really complemented the album with "Batuka" and "Wings of Fire"... I knew it was a matter time before Carlos would hit the charts again and remain there with multi platinum sales; i.e., Supernatural. !Que Viva Santana!

I had this album in my dorm room in college, and this was the most exciting and enjoyable album I had during my college years. This is fun, fast, heavy Santana at his best, backed by an excellent band. On the strength of this album, I have become a very devout Santana fan, but Sacred Fire was his best.

Sacred Fire: Santana Live in South America is a nice recording of an early 90's Santana concert.
The sound quality is first-rate.
The musicians, while very good, are no match for the Santana band of the late 60's and early 70's.
Of course, Carlos Santana's fiery guitar still has the power to carry the show.
I didn't particularly care for a few of songs on this album (like Esperando and Make Someone Happy) but the renditions of their earlier works like "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Toussaint L'Overture" are fantastic.
Overall a rewarding musical experience but for the best live recording of a Santana performance I'll stick to "Lotus".

...and don't already own this CD, you really should be ashamed of yourself.

So buy it now while you still can. It might take a minute to get over the 80's synth stylie on the keyboards, but don't let that fool you - This CD is MONEY!!! First he breaks into 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' during Oye Como Va. Then he hits some Breezin' by George Benson during Samba Pa Ti, and finally tops it off by bridging into Marvin Gay's "I Want You" during Europa. Unbelievable! Best Sanatana CD I own - Bar Nun!

This really is a 5* item. I bought this after seeing it several times on TV (PBS). The music is great, the footage really does seem to have captured a particularly magical concert. The Mexico City footage is also inspiring. For not much more than a CD you get a great selection of music, a visual spectical and a chance to watch Carlos play (I am a guitarist -- so I like to watch how he plays). Wonderful!

[Isn't Mexico considered Central America rather than South America though?!]

If you love music with a good beat, hot guitar licks and a pure latino sound, this is one to get. Carlos Santana gives what I believe is his best performance of Black Magic Woman, and in fact his performance throughout the CD is nothing short of a masterpiece. But let's not forget about the rest of the band, their performances are spectacular as well. I enjoy listening to this CD over and over again. This band always, I repeat, always gives 100% to the fans. Years ago I seen a video clip of Santana playing in some country "South of the Border", I just can't recall which one, anyway, a thunderstorm had come up and it began to rain hard, but did Carlos stop playing? No, he kept right on playing even though there was the threat of lightning hitting the stage at any moment. It was so inspiring it made me cry. This is Dedication to Excellence ! And this same dedication to excellence is what you will hear on this magnificent CD. Nothing but hit after hit of Steaming Hot Latin Rock Music !

This is a great live album of the classics recorded in Mexico in 93'. The songs are done well, but don't sound as good as the original live versions of these songs. I would recommend the other two Santana live albums (Lotus and Moonflower) over this one.

This is from a period when Santana still rocked, and there was still some fire left in his soul. All the tunes reflect that feeling, where spirit and flesh merge in an alchemy of soul-delight, to paraphrase Santana's former spiritual master, Sri Chinmoy. That soulful fusion that he was known for in the Golden Decade can still be felt here, in the extended jams. I was lucky to have been in one of the shows on that tour, and this album captures the feel and mystical atmosphere of a Santana live show wonderfully. Definitely his best release of the 80's and 90's, which has made his old-time fans very happy (before alienating them in the new Millennium with his big pop sellout)

This is a "must have" cd for any Santana fan. It captures the mood and energy of seeing Santana live very well. In fact, I would consider it the best live album I've ever heard. It's got the dialog (in spanish) between songs and at the beginning of the show. I find the words and music to be very inspiring. I could go on and on but to put it simply, this is one of my all time favorite cds. An amazing performance by an amazing band. Just buy it!!