Santana III SA-CD Multi Hybrid Edition [Limited Edition] Customer Reviews

This beautiful 7 inch version on Super Audio CD by Santana, Santana 3 should not be missing in your collection if you enjoy Carlos' fantastic guitar playing. Beautiful sound in stereo and in multi-channel, super nice. recommended!

I have listened to Santana many times, but never listened to Santana III from start to finish. I completely enjoyed the quad layer and think this album is as good as Abraxas. The brass coming from the surround speakers with bold authority is thrilling. These quad layer releases from Sony place the listener in the middle of the instruments. Recommended!

Could Santana realize the hat trick? Well I don't think they even thought about it beforehand, and probably never realized it after they achieved it. Again another superb/stunning gatefold artwork, the group presents a teenage Neal Schon as second guitarist, but it will not change their overall sound, still favoring this high energy fusion between rock, jazz-rock and latino musics. Right from the opening Batuka, you just know you are in for yet another classic Santana ride that will bring you to heaven and back. The band can go from sheer power (Jungle Strut is awesome) to real suave moments (check out Taboo) and some rebellious moments (Toussaint L'Overture was a slave rebel if memory serves) and ethnic (Guajira) interludes. One of the sadly-forgotten classic is the closing Rumberos where Areas' trumpet is used sparingly but with great effect. Although the album is still as good as its predecessors (and even better in some respects, but less jazz-rock) it was clear that the group was playing it safe, just content on maintaining the formula of Abraxas.

I could not believe this old recording sounds so good. I am going to buy the rest of the Santana Quadphonic SACD. Good packaging and fast shipping from CDJapan.