Viva Santana

Santana | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: October 4, 1988
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026L1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,233 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Compilation of Latin/Rock Fusion From Santana, October 29, 2001

By 

J. E FELL "boogaloojef" (Carterville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Viva Santana (Audio CD)

This 2 cd compilation was the first Santana disk I purchased. I do not understand why it is not a better seller. The set traces the evolution of the band from 1967 to 1986. You can trace the band's progression from blues to jazz to more pop influenced. The set contains many unreleased, rare and live tracks (always a plus with Santana). In addition, it also contains the album versions of some of their hits. The musicianship on this set is excellent. Neal Schon, Gregg Rollie, Armando Peraza, John McLaughlin, Michael Shrieve, and Chester Thompson are just of a few of the musicians who appear on this set. When the percussion section is locked in and the organ and guitar are wailing the musicians who appear here create some awe inspiring music. The music here can be both danceable and spiritual depending upon the song itself. Highlights on this set are too many to mention. Among the rarities and unissued cuts I enjoy are live versions of "Jungle Strut", "Incident At Neshabur", "Super Boogie/Hong Kong Blues", and an unissued version of "Persuasion" from the original Woodstock. Beautiful and stunning live versions of "Song Of The Wind" and "Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) are also included. The earliest track is a smokin' unissued studio track called "Ballin'" from 1967. Carlos Santana shows with this set that not only is he a great guitarist and band leader but he is also adept at selecting cover material. Songs such as "Evil Ways" and "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" (included on both disks in studio and live versions) have become his own and trademarks of the band even though he did not compose them.

It may be useful to compare this 2 cd set with the 3 cd "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" box set. If prefer this set to that one mainly for the rarities. While "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" contains such essential cuts as "Samba Pa Ti" and "Toussaint L'Overature" and later period cuts such as "All I Ever Wanted" and "Blues For Salvador" which are not included on the "Viva Santana" set. However, the "Viva Santana" set contains such essential cuts as "Jungle Strut" "Jingo", "Incident At Neshabur", and "Persuasion" not included on the "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" set. In a perfect world the "Viva Santana" set would be remastered with an extra disk added containing the aforementioned cuts as well as the great live cover of Miles Davis' "In A Silent Way" included on "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" and such omissions from both sets like "No One To Depend On", "Hope You're Feeling Better", "Hold On" "Winning", and "Well All Right" among others. Do not let these omissions deter you from purchasing this set. It costs less and it is compiled more effectively than the "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" 3 cd set. Beware! The music of Santana is highly addicting. I also highly recommend at a minimum the first three studio cds (now newly remastered with bonus live tracks) and the "Live At The Fillmore 68" 2 cd set.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Santana Compilation, December 16, 1999

By 

"skapunkbluesjazzrock" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viva Santana (Audio CD)

This is probably the best available Santana compilation. It features many classics (live and studio) as well as many great unrealeased Santana live and studio tracks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an unusual, yet compelling collection, May 2, 2000

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viva Santana (Audio CD)

I'm truly suprised to find so few reviews of this collection. It's a strange brew of hits (some studio, some live) and unreleased cuts; yet somehow it all gels very well and, in my opinion, provides the best overview of Santana's (the band) work. It's finds it way to my stereo far more frequently than Santana, Abraxus or Santana 3. And that surprises even me.